Why Blackbeard Vs Shanks Is Happening Soon, Explained

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

Key Takeaways

• Shanks and Blackbeard’s roles in the final saga revealed.
• Elbaf arc setting stage for inevitable Shanks vs Blackbeard battle.
• Blackbeard vs Shanks clash to shake up One Piece world soon.

The Final Saga of One Piece has seen quite a lot of attention being turned to the likes of Blackbeard and Shanks. These are two mighty individuals that fans know will be very important in this segment of the story and for good reason. Both Blackbeard and Shanks have a deep rivalry that even fans do not know the extent of. They are very well familiar with each other, and, Shanks truly knows the threat that Blackbeard actually poses.

In the Paramount War arc, a confrontation was set up between these two and ever since then, fans have been waiting to see it happen. Now, in the Final Saga of One Piece, but potentially even in Elbaf, this battle might finally happen and fans absolutely cannot wait to see it take place.

Shanks And Blackbeard’s Roles In The Final Saga

• Shanks And Blackbeard Were On The Sidelines Up Until Now
• Oda Finally Reveals The Major Players In The Final Saga

Shanks and Blackbeard are both key players in the Final Saga of One Piece. These are both characters that Oda used sparingly in the early parts of the series, because they had bigger roles to play in the Final Saga. Right now, both Shanks and Blackbeard are a part of the Four Emperors, and while Shanks is certainly the one with the highest bounty, Blackbeard is right behind him. These are two monstrously powerful individuals and characters whose strength is almost unmatched. Before the events of the Wano Country arc, Shanks, the red-haired Emperor, was on the sidelines and did not do much. It was almost as if Shanks was waiting for something to happen before making his move. Once Luffy took down Kaido, Shanks declared his goal of going to claim the One Piece and beating everyone else to it. Now, he is an active player in the battle for the One Piece, and fans absolutely cannot wait to see him join the fray.

It’s not time for us to fight yet! – Blackbeard

Similarly, Blackbeard is more active now than ever before. He became an Emperor around a year ago and, ever since then, has only kept going from strength to strength. Blackbeard has amassed more infamy and at the same time, more power for himself and his crew, and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Right now, Blackbeard is a tremendously powerful foe for anyone to take on in battle, and he keeps on getting stronger, with his goal being to become the king of the entire world.

Curiously enough, Shanks has been on the lookout for Blackbeard for quite a bit now, and this confrontation might very well happen soon. Readers absolutely cannot wait to see it take place, and it will be incredible to see them come head to head, specifically if it happens in the Elbaf Arc.

Why Elbaf Will Be Major For Shanks And Blackbeard

The Winner Takes All In A Clash Of Emperors

Naturally, fans believe that Blackbeard and Shanks will go on to fight at some point. However, not many would think that this fight between these two powerful individuals will come in the Elbaf Arc of One Piece. However, that is precisely where the story is headed right now. As fans know, Shanks, ever since the events of Wano, has been tailing Blackbeard. When Shanks was around the shores of Wano Country, he was there to stop Blackbeard from attacking the next generation, because he feared that he would be nearby. When Shanks left Elbaf, once again, he sought out Blackbeard because he wanted to go and confront him before he did enough damage. Right now, Shanks is sailing the seas somewhere, and his destination is not known. He has already dealt with Bartolomeo, which means that he is most likely going to go to Blackbeard now.

Was Shanks here? What business did he have with you? – Luffy

Of course, Blackbeard himself has his own goals. As fans know, he set out with his crew rather recently, and whatever he plans has to do with the siege of Marijoa. Fans don’t know exactly what Blackbeard intends to do, but it is highly likely that when he sets out on this mission, he will be intercepted by Shanks.

These two are on a path to clash at some point sooner or later, and this might just be the point where they collide properly.

Of course, fans might think that it is too early for these two monsters to collide, but One Piece is already in the end game, and Luffy is incredibly close to claiming the One Piece. Elbaf might be the arc where he figures out where the last Road Poneglyph is, which means that bigger fights need to happen right about now.

The Inevitable Fight Between Shanks And Blackbeard

Shanks Vs Blackbeard Is Happening Soon

The battle between Shanks and Blackbeard is inevitable and it is going to be one of One Piece’s biggest. However, this fight might not go as many fans expected. As things stand, most fans believe that the battle between Shanks and Blackbeard will see Shanks fall and Blackbeard emerge as the victor. However, that is likely not going to happen. This is because Shanks has to fight against Luffy as well, and this reunion that has been built up right from the very first arc of the story, has to come, no matter what. Luffy cannot meet Blackbeard before he fights against Shanks, because if that were to be the case, then a battle between Shanks and Blackbeard wouldn’t make much sense, given that Luffy would most certainly not lose to the fellow Yonko.

Similarly, Blackbeard cannot fight Luffy before he fights Shanks because Luffy will defeat him, and if he is to claim victory against Shanks, then he has to fight him prior. Fans also know, at the same time, that Luffy and Shanks are going to meet in Elbaf, because this is the territory the Shanks is protecting, and Oda has hinted at their reunion in this country for quite a while now. Essentially, this implies that Blackbeard and Shanks are going to meet up in battle very soon and completely shake the entire world of One Piece.

As for how the battle between Shanks and Blackbeard will go, nobody can say for sure what Oda intends to do. But, the fact that Blackbeard cannot fall at the hands of Shanks means that, at the very least, he will not die. At the same time, Shanks cannot fall at the hands of Blackbeard before meeting with Luffy either, which means that their battle could be a stalemate, or, Blackbeard is going to be saved by someone or something, and is going to lose sight of Shanks. That said, this fight is going to be absolutely incredible from start to finish, with both monsters showing their full strength right from the get-go. This is also where Oda will illustrate the past of these characters, and while doing so, fans will find out a lot about Blackbeard’s strange body, his capabilities of holding two devil fruits, and, at the same time, his past as well.

Shanks’s purpose and just about everything else about his character will also be revealed to the fans for the very first time. On top of all that, fans will see an exhilarating battle that could go on to be the very best that One Piece has had to deliver to this date, and it is safe to say that this fight is going to shake not just the world of One Piece, but the fandom as well.

One Piece Chapter 1132 New Release Date

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 1132, is set to be November 17, 2024.