This post contains spoilers for One Piece.
Key conclusions
- Shanks is a talented character who learned about Haki from legends in his youth.
- Among characters of the same age, Shanks stands out in his use of advanced Conqueror Haki.
- Shanks is being saved for the final One Piece saga, where he might face off against Blackbeard.
One Piece has many characters, so it is very difficult to stand out. However, some people made an impact almost instantly. One such character is Shanks. He was introduced in the very first One Piece arc where he saved Luffy's life from a vile sea monster. As a result, Shanks lost his left hand, but did not regret anything.
Fans instantly fell in love with the redheaded pirate and have been eagerly awaiting his appearance ever since. In addition to being a well-written character, Shanks is also an elite fighter capable of going up against everyone in One Piece. Most people tend to ignore his talent because he debuted around 40. However, there is a lot of evidence that Shanks is the most talented character in One Piece.

Relatives
The official One Piece account gives an update on Oda's health
One Piece fans can rest easy as Eiichiro Oda's health is improving.
Shanks' mad talent became apparent very early on
Shanks impressed his teammates with his strength
One Piece fans know that Shanks sailed with the Roger Pirates when he was very young. He was only a student at the time, but he was always eager to fight. During his time with the crew, Shanks learned a lot about combat. It was an incredible chance for him, as he was able to learn directly from Gol D. Roger, Silvers Raleigh, Scoper Gabon, Kazuki Oden, etc. Seeing all of these characters in action helped Shanks understand how Haki worked.
All of his experiences paved the way for him to become an expert in the use of Haki. It was recently revealed that Shanks was a genius who managed to surprise every member of Roger's pirates with his talent. Shanks was able to learn Divine Departure, Gol D. Roger's signature move, on his own. He didn't get any help from Roger, which is quite a feat considering no other member of Roger's pirates was able to replicate that. This means that Shanks could have learned to use advanced Conqueror Haki at the age of 15.
Shanks vs. Other characters are the same age
Shanks is ahead of the rest
At 15, Shanks was way ahead of any One Piece character of the same age. Luffy being the ultimate leader had no idea how to use Haki. He only learned to use Haki's weaponry and observation after training with Silvers Rally. Luffy was unable to use the advanced Conqueror Haki until the fight with Kaido. Portgas D. Ace, another talented man, could use Conquerors Haki, but he never mastered it. The rest of the worst generation also fall into the same bracket. Either they don't possess the Conqueror's Haki, or they never control it.
Shanks' Haki control has improved dramatically with age, and he is currently the best Haki user in One Piece. Shanks only displayed his Haki skills a few times, but it was enough for fans to form an opinion about his power. Shanks first used his Haki during his encounter with Whitebeard, causing the heavens to split open, a feat repeated by Kaido and Luffy in Wano. He used his Conqueror Haki at 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.
We are pirates! We don't play by the rules! – Legs
His most notable use of the force came in the Final Saga against Eustace Kidd. The latter went to Elbaf hoping to find the Road Poneglyph that would help him get closer to his goal of becoming the Pirate King. However, Kid had no idea that his dream would be destroyed by the red-haired Emperor. Shanks foresaw a terrible future, so he wasted no time in stopping Eustace Kid. Shanks used Divine Departure to end Kidd's journey. The sheer force of the attack was enough to take down Kid, the Slayer and damage Victoria Punk.
Who will Shanks fight in the final saga?
- Shanks vs. Luffy could happen
- Shanks vs. Blackbeard will most likely take place in the Final Saga
It's pretty obvious that Eiichiro Oda was saving Shanks for the last series. There are still many things that fans don't know about Shanks that will have to be revealed before the story ends. With Shanks' backstory revealed, fans will get a better idea of Shanks' ideology. Also, it would mean that Oda would be able to use it freely.
Shanks will definitely be involved in a few battles in the Final Saga of One Piece, but the big question is who will be his opponent. Many fans believe that Shanks will fight Luffy. They haven't seen each other for many years, but they share a special bond. If they were to fight, it would be emotional and it would touch the heartstrings of the fans.
However, there is a better chance that Shanks will fight Blackbeard. There is a lot of evidence that they will meet each other sooner rather than later. Shanks resents Blackbeard, and Blackbeard reciprocates. Both of them are extremely powerful fighters, so their fight will surely go down in history.

One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The series follows the hero Monkey D. Luffy and his crew of Straw Hat Pirates as they explore the Grand Line to find the Pirate King's greatest treasure, One Piece, to become the next king. The manga's popularity helped it grow into a larger media franchise, including an anime with over 1,000 episodes.
- Release date
- October 20, 1999
- Studio
- Toei animation
- Creator
- Eiichira Oda