One Piece: Shanks’s Mysterious Siblings, Explained 

This article contains spoilers from One Piece’s Elbaf Arc.

Summary

• Shanks was born before God Valley Incident – significant plot detail.
• Shanks is not an only child, has mysterious siblings.
• Shanks’s siblings’ whereabouts remain unknown, potential tie to God’s Knights.

Shanks is one of the most mysterious One Piece characters, despite having been introduced quite early into the series. This is largely down to the fact that the author has saved him for the Final Saga and intends to use him in this particular segment of the story. Although fans do know quite a bit about Shanks now, as is expected after about 1130 plus chapters of the story, fans still don’t know much about his past, his origins, and, at the same time, his family.

In fact, Shanks’s family was recently introduced in the story as a major plot point, and it is now going to be more important than ever before in the Final Saga. It has essentially been confirmed that Shanks is not an only child and that he actually has siblings as well. Although these individuals have not appeared properly in One Piece so far, they will go on to make an impression soon enough and fans absolutely cannot wait to see that.

Shanks’s Birth And The Mystery Of His Siblings

• Shanks Was Born Before The God Valley Incident
• Shanks Is Not An Only Child

Fans know that Shanks was born 39 years ago in the One Piece world. Up until recently, fans did not know anything about Shanks’s past other than that. But, during One Piece Film Red, Shanks was tied to the Figarland Family, which is a Celestial Dragon family in the One Piece world. This led fans to wonder whether Shanks had ulterior motives, or if he was, in some way, abandoned by the Celestial Dragons. Eventually, Kuma’s flashback gave fans additional context and it was finally revealed that during the God Valley Incident, Shanks was present. At this point, Shanks would have been almost 1-year-old, meaning that he was still a baby. The God Valley Incident was shown in detail during the flashback, although the battles that took place on the island on that day remain obscured still.

Watch carefully, children! – Saint Garling Figarland

Regardless of that, fans found out a very interesting bit of information here. Saint Garling Figarland, whom Shanks was linked to in Film Red, was shown to be exactly like Shanks in terms of appearance, only with a different haircut. Garling, as fans know, served as a member of the God’s Knights, and he fought against the pirates on that day. It is here that he earned the title of Champion of God Valley, which makes quite a lot of sense, given his high level of strength and stature.

Garling’s performance might not be all that important in the grand scheme of things, but what stood out here is his speaking to his own children. In a particular panel in the God Valley Incident, Garling spoke to his children and asked them to observe him closely. Of course, if Garling only had one child, then, he would use the appropriate word. But, he specifically referred to multiple children and ordered them to observe him in battle carefully. This essentially gave birth to the idea that Shanks wasn’t an only child and that he likely has some older siblings or, potentially even a twin.

Of course, as fans know, the God Valley Incident was utterly chaotic and in the midst of all this chaos, the Roger Pirates found Shanks here. After carrying loot to their ship following the conclusion of the war, they had a young redhead child at their hands and decided to raise him on the Oro Jackson. This is precisely how Shanks ended up going from a Celestial Dragon baby to a member of the Roger Pirates and the one who inherited Roger’s will. However, the same cannot be said for the other children Saint Garling Figarland, who remain unknown to this day.

Where Are Shanks’s Siblings Right Now?

The Whereabouts Of Shanks’s Siblings Are Unknown

The fate of Shanks’s siblings remains unknown in One Piece so far. All fans know that Shanks managed to find his way to Roger and that he grew up away from the Celestial Dragons completely from that day onwards. As for his siblings, fans do not know much.

It is unclear as to how many siblings Shanks has, and it is also unclear whether they are connected to the Figarland Family still. It is possible that Shanks was the only one who got separated on that day, and the others are still working for the World Government. At the same time, it is also possible that the other children got separated as well and they are at different places in the world of One Piece right now. Fans can’t be sure as to where they are, but what they know for a fact is that these characters are going to be involved in the story in one way or another.

I want to talk about a certain pirate. – Shanks Lookalike

One hint that fans got rather recently was pertaining to the members of the God’s Knights. As fans know, these are powerful fighters within the ranks of the Celestial Dragons who take control of the defense of Marijoa, and at the same time, handle the judiciary matters as well. One of the members of the God’s Knights, who appears to be their leader, resembles Shanks in terms of silhouette. Even the sword that this individual wields looks very similar to that of Shanks. Perhaps, this person is Shanks’s brother and will be important in One Piece later down the line.

More recently, in One Piece chapter 1124, Oda gave fans a glimpse of a certain silhouette individual who looked just like Shanks and carried a saber like his as well. Fans don’t know who this character is and what role he has to play in the grand scheme of things, but, it is safe to say that he resembles Shanks and is going to be very important.

Why Shanks’s Siblings Have A Major Role To Play

Shanks’s Family Secrets Will Finally Start Being Revealed

In the Final Saga of One Piece, Shanks is going to be a major player, as is his family. Saint Garling Figarland has been specifically introduced by Oda in the Final Saga. The characters who look similar to Shanks have been introduced by Oda on purpose here as well. Shanks is going to be expanded upon greatly in this part of the story, so it makes sense that all the members of his family are important as well. Fans will most definitely get to see more about Shanks and his lost family members, and readers absolutely cannot wait to see what Oda has planned next for the red-haired Emperor.

Fans know that the island of Elbaf is connected to Shanks greatly, which might indicate to them that this is where Oda intends to reveal major information about Shanks and, at the same time, deliver exciting bits of information pertaining to Garling Figarland and his other children as well. All fans need to do is sit back patiently and wait for Oda to draw these incredible mysteries of the One Piece world.

One Piece is available to read via Viz Media. The series can be read by the fans officially and for free on the Shonen Jump and the Manga Plus apps. The release date for the next chapter of One Piece, One Piece 1134, is set to be December 22, 2024.