One Piece: Everything You Need To Know About Shanks (So Far), Explained

Over the course of One Piece's long-running story, fans have seen Monkey D. Luffy grow from a new pirate establishing his own crew to a seasoned warrior capable of taking down some of the world's strongest characters. Luffy's journey is one of remarkable growth, and he's had help from numerous allies on his sea-faring adventures. But the catalyst in Luffy's grand journey is a very specific figure.

One of the most mysterious and influential characters in One Piece's story is the Red-Haired Pirate Shanks. While he hasn't always been in the spotlight, Shanks has played an important role in many of the franchise's major events -- from Luffy's origin story all the way to the series' current arcs. Shanks' involvement in the series so far has had a far-reaching impact on the story, and as One Piece's Final Saga continues, it's very likely he will be one of the key characters as the story draws to a close.

Who is Shanks in One Piece?

The Red-Haired Pirate is a Key Figure in Luffy's Journey

Shanks is the captain of the Red Hair Pirates in One Piece as well as one of the Four Emperors that rule over the New World. He has sailed with the legendary Roger Pirates ever since he was a child and was an apprentice alongside Buggy the Clown. After Roger's death, Shanks formed his own crew, inspiring Luffy to go on his own pirate journey. Since the very beginning of One Piece, Shanks has played an important role in the story -- but he often operates as a background character and catalyst for other events in the spotlight.

Nonetheless, Shanks' impact on both Luffy's story and One Piece as a whole is incredible. He is one of the world's most notorious pirates, with a remarkable bounty of over 4 Billion Berries — the highest among the Emperors. Perhaps most remarkable of all is that Shanks has reached such an incredible level of notoriety and power without consuming a Devil Fruit, giving him the rare ability to swim in the ocean.

Shanks is also an incredible swordsman, having competed in regular duels with Dracule Mihawk — the Strongest Swordsman in the World, whom Zoro wishes to surpass. Shanks is also one of the few characters in One Piece capable of utilizing all three types of Haki, including Conquerors' Haki, Armament Haki and Observation Haki. All of these factors combined easily makes Shanks one of the story's deadliest characters — a valuable ally and a terrifying enemy to all who oppose him.

Shanks was the Catalyst for Luffy's Amazing Story

Shanks Inspired Luffy to Become a Pirate in His Youth

Shanks' interaction with young Monkey D. Luffy led to the two having an inseparable bond that inspired Luffy to set out in search of the One Piece treasure himself. While operating in the East Blue, Shanks was the one responsible for providing Luffy with the Gomu Gomu no Mi Devil Fruit. Shanks scolded Luffy for eating the fruit, warning him that it meant he wouldn't be able to swim again.

Shortly after, Shanks and his crew left Luffy behind, and the young boy was eventually taken hostage. Shanks risked his life to save Luffy's, saving him from his captors and jumping into the ocean to save him. Because Shanks had not consumed a Devil Fruit, he was able to swim to Luffy and defend him from the monstrous Sea King known as The Lord of the Coast. While saving Luffy, Shanks unfortunately lost his left arm, but he didn't seem to hold a grudge.

After Luffy was safely back on land, Shanks gave him his prized straw hat, telling him to return it once he had become a great pirate. This fateful encounter led to both characters being tied to each other, with Luffy taking the straw hat and incorporating it into every aspect of his pirate journey. He'd go on to take Shanks' gift and use it as a symbol of freedom and responsibility.

Shanks Rose to Power as an Emperor

Shanks Maintains Peace in One Piece's World

After serving as the catalyst for One Piece's story, Shanks soon left Luffy behind and returned to the Grand Line. Despite losing his arm and straw hat, six years later he would become recognized as one of the Four Emperors. One of the Three Great Powers, the Emperors are the pirates considered to be the most notorious in the world, and they often remain autonomous, using their influence to maintain peace.

Shanks' role as one of the Emperors puts him at odds with Luffy and other pirates at times, with Shanks trying to quell conflict between the Marines and pirates. Nonetheless, Shanks has been shown multiple times throughout the story to be proud of how far Luffy has come at achieving his dreams. During Loguetown, Shanks smiled and threw a party upon learning of Luffy's 30 million Berry Bounty, and he was also quick to make friends with Portgas D. Ace after learning that he was associated with Luffy and Makino, the bartender from Luffy's hometown of Foosha Village.

One of the biggest examples of Shanks' peacekeeping abilities was during the Marineford Arc. Despite arriving late to the conflict, Shanks was ready to put an end to the war after the deaths of Ace and Whitebeard. He arrived in time to save Koby from being killed by Akainu, and even praised the young Marine for his actions. With his fearsome crew at his side, Shanks was quickly able to bring the fighting to an end.

Shanks Has a Complicated Relationship with One Piece's Villains

Shanks Has Been Seen Working with the Villainous Elders in the Story

Shanks' arrival at Marineford was an incredible flex of his power: he announced to both the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates that he and his crew would fight those who wished to continue the war. This was a testament to Shanks' strength, with even the notorious pirate Blackbeard deciding to leave rather than face Shanks in battle. Shanks was able to restore some semblance of balance between the Marines and the pirates, but in later arcs his role as an Emperor would become more complicated.

During the Levely Arc, Shanks made the surprising decision to request a meeting with the Five Elders — One Piece's overarching villains controlling the World Government. The conversation was an ominous one, with the Elders questioning Shanks about why he wanted to speak with them, and Shanks revealing he wanted to discuss a "certain pirate".

Whether or not Shanks was discussing Luffy with the Elders has yet to be revealed, but the meeting certainly hinted that there may be conflict between the two in the future. During the Wano arc, Shanks kept tabs on Luffy's growth as a pirate but declined to meet Luffy. Instead, Shanks and his allies turned their attention to reclaiming their territory that had been ravaged by Bartolomeo and setting their sights on the One Piece treasure.

Shanks Is Getting An Even More Critical Role in the Final Saga

Shanks vs. Luffy May Soon Become a Reality In One Piece

Shanks' involvement with the World Government during the Levely arc and his decision to claim the One Piece treasure in Wano hints that the relationship between Shanks and Luffy may no longer be as friendly as it was at the start of Luffy's adventures in the series. With One Piece's Final Saga currently unfolding, some fans have theorized whether Gear 5 Luffy is strong enough to beat Shanks, if a battle between the two were to unfold.

For most of the story, Shanks has been a valuable ally to the Straw Hats -- even if he does often arrive late, like at Marineford. He seems to be virtually unrivaled in power, and every brief appearance he makes in the story is an impactful one. Recently, Shanks and his crew overheard Vegapunk's shocking worldwide broadcast, where he announced that the fate of the world is tied to whoever locates the One Piece.

In the Elbaph Arc, Shanks and his allies turned their focus on the Barto Club — one of the ships in the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. While this was not enough to turn Luffy against him, it certainly hints that Shanks isn't afraid to go up against anyone who dares cross him — including Luffy and his allies.

Whether Shanks is Friend or Foe Remains to be Seen

The Powerful Emperor Could Easily Become The Greatest Threat to Luffy and The Straw Hats

Shanks' constant presence throughout One Piece as one of the most powerful background characters may have been quietly setting him up to be an antagonist as the Final Saga reaches its climax. At the beginning of Luffy's story, Shanks was a mentor, role model and inspiration, but his complex ties to the World Government and role as Emperor may have corroded the connection the two shared.

It would certainly be a huge twist were Shanks to end up being one of Luffy's final villains in One Piece, but this also seems to be quite unlikely. Shanks' relationship with Gol D. Roger is one that carries an important theme in the story, with Shanks acting as an heir to Roger's will and dreams, embodying freedom and the spirit of piracy despite trying to balance the chaos in the New World.

Luffy and Shanks may still go head-to-head, however, with their ultimate goals of obtaining the One Piece treasure putting them at odds with one another. Knowing their past, it seems the two may battle it out before putting their differences aside and uniting against the true forces of evil in One Piece's story: the wicked government run by the Five Elders and Imu. With Shanks on his side, Luffy will be completely unstoppable at starting a revolution and changing One Piece's world forever.