Why Shanks Is The Most Talented Character In One Piece

One Piece has a plethora of characters, so standing out is immensely difficult. However, certain individuals have made an impact almost instantly. One of these characters is Shanks. He was introduced in the very first arc of One Piece, where he saved Luffy’s life from a nefarious sea monster. Shanks ended up losing his left arm, but he had absolutely no regrets.

Fans fell in love with the red-haired pirate at this very moment, and since then they eagerly await his appearances. Aside from being a well-written character, Shanks is also an elite combatant who is capable of fighting against everyone in One Piece. Most people tend to overlook his talent because he made his debut around 40. However, there is a lot of evidence that proves Shanks is the most talented character in One Piece.

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Shanks’ Insane Talent Became Evident Very Early

Shanks Impressed His Crewmates WIth His Strength

One Piece fans know that Shanks sailed with the Roger Pirates when he was very young. At the time, he was just an apprentice, but he was always eager to fight. During his time with the crew, Shanks learned a lot about fighting. It was an incredible chance for him as he got to learn directly from Gol D. Roger, Silvers Rayleigh, Scopper Gaban, Kozuki Oden, etc. Seeing all these characters in action helped Shanks understand how Haki worked.

All his experiences paved the way for him to become an expert at using Haki. Recently, it was revealed that Shanks was a genius who managed to surprise every single member of the Roger Pirates with his talent. Shanks was able to learn Divine Departure, the signature move of Gol D. Roger, by himself. He received no help from Roger, which is a very big feat considering no other member of the Roger Pirates was able to replicate it. This implies that Shanks could have learned to use advanced Conqueror’s Haki at the age of 15.

Shanks Vs. The Other Characters Of The Same Age

SHanks Is Ahead Of The Rest

At 15 years old, Shanks was way ahead of any One Piece character the same age. Luffy, who is the main lead, had zero idea of how to use Haki. He only learned to use Armament and Observation Haki after training with Silvers Rayleigh. Luffy was unable to use advanced Conqueror Haki until his fight with Kaido. Portgas D. Ace, another talented individual, could use Conquerors Haki, but he never mastered it. The other members of the Worst Generation also fall in the same bracket. Either they do not possess Conqueror’s Haki or they never control it.

With age, Shanks’ control over Haki improved drastically, and currently he is the best Haki user in One Piece. Shanks demonstrated his Haki prowess only a handful of times, but it was sufficient for fans to form an opinion about his strength. Shanks first used his Haki during the clash with Whitebeard, which caused the skies to split, a feat that would be replicated by Kaido and Luffy in Wano. He used his Conqueror’s Haki towards the end of the Wano Country arc to stop admiral Ryokugyu from attacking Luffy and the other young pirates who were still on the island.

His most notable use of the power came in the Final Saga against Eustass Kid. The latter traveled to Elbaf in hopes of finding the Road Poneglyph that would help him get closer to his goal of becoming the Pirate King. However, Kid did not realize that his dream would be destroyed by the red-haired Emperor. Shanks foresaw a terrible future, so he wasted no time in stopping Eustass kid. Shanks used Divine Departure to put an end to Kid’s journey. The sheer power of the attack was enough to take out Kid, Killer and damage the Victoria Punk.

Who Will Shanks Fight In The Final Saga?

• Shanks vs. Luffy could happen
• Shanks vs. Blackbeard looks likelier to happen in Final Saga

It is rather obvious that Eiichiro Oda has been saving Shanks for the final stretch of arcs. There are still many things that fans do not know about Shanks, and they will have to be disclosed before the conclusion of the story. After Shanks’ backstory is revealed, fans will get a better idea of Shanks’ ideology. Furthermore, it would mean that Oda would be able to use him freely.

Shanks is definitely going to be involved in several battles in the Final Saga of One Piece, but the big question is who will be his opponent. Many fans believe that Shanks will have a showdown with Luffy. The two haven’t seen each other in years, but they share a special bond. If they were to fight, it would be emotional, and it would tug at the heartstrings of fans.

However, there is a stronger chance of Shanks fighting Blackbeard. There is a lot of evidence that the two will go head-to-head sooner rather than later. Shanks bears a grudge against Blackbeard, and the latter reciprocates his feelings. Both of them are extremely powerful fighters, so their duel will certainly go down in history.

One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The series follows protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew as they explore the Grand Line to find the King of the Pirates’ ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the next king. The manga’s popularity helped it spin off into a larger media franchise, including an anime with more than 1,000 episodes.

Release Date

October 20, 1999

Studio

Toei Animation

Creator

Eiichiro Oda