Shanks is one of the most powerful pirates in the world of One Piece. As an Emperor of the Sea, he commands tremendous power and influence. With the death of Whitebeard during the Paramount War, Shanks is considered by many to be one of the top contenders for the title of the strongest pirate alive. But is he really the undisputed strongest now? There are several key factors to consider.
Shanks’ Strengths
Shanks has demonstrated incredible combat ability even without relying on a Devil Fruit power. Some of Shanks’ key strengths include:
- Master Swordsman – Shanks is an extremely skilled swordsman, capable of clashing evenly with Mihawk, the World’s Greatest Swordsman.
- Haki Mastery – He has shown advanced mastery of all three types of Haki, including the rare Conqueror’s Haki.
- Former Roger Pirate – He was once part of Gol D. Roger’s crew, indicating immense power even as a young pirate.
- Political Influence – As an Emperor, he commands territory and allies giving him more crew strength.
- Fearsome Reputation – Noted for rarely taking action, so when he does enemies take it very seriously.
With strengths like these, there is no doubt Shanks is one of the most powerful pirates alive today. Ever since the timeskip, his powers seem to have grown even greater.
How Shanks Compares to Other Top Pirates
While Shanks stands out with his skills and reputation, he is not the only powerful pirate in the New World. When comparing him to other top pirates, several key competitors come to mind:
Kaido
– Called the “Strongest Creature in the World”
– Has immense physical strength and endurance
– Possesses an extremely powerful Mythical Zoan fruit
– Leads a crew of over 500 Artificial Devil Fruit users
– Proved extremely difficult to defeat, even for the alliance in Wano
Big Mom
– One of the few pirates capable of using all 3 Haki types
– Has a Devil Fruit power that lets her steal souls
– Commands a vast fleet and territory
– Nearly indestructible body with immense strength
– Defeated Luffy twice before the Wano arc
Blackbeard
– Only person to wield two Devil Fruit powers at once
– Scarred Shanks before eating a Devil Fruit
– Defeated Ace and took Whitebeard’s Gura Gura no Mi power
– Rapidly rising influence as a cunning and strategic threat
Marines
– The full force of Marine Headquarters and the Admirals poses a formidable threat
– Akainu’s Magu Magu no Mi gives him one of the most destructive Devil Fruits around
– Their Absolute Justice ideology will stop at nothing to take down pirates
Key Feats of Strength
To better compare Shanks to other top pirates, examining some of his key feats of strength on record can give insight into how powerful he is:
| Feat | Description |
|---|---|
| Stopping Kaido | Before Marineford, Shanks was able to intercept Kaido, stopping him from attacking Whitebeard. |
| Clashing with Whitebeard | The clash between Shanks’s and Whitebeard’s weapons split the sky, indicating immense power. |
| Saving Coby | Shanks used Conqueror’s Haki to knock out weak-willed enemies to stop the war. |
| Scarring Teach | Before eating a Devil Fruit, Shanks scarred Blackbeard’s face in a duel. |
These incidents demonstrate Shanks’ mastery of Haki, swordsmanship, reputation, and combat skill at the highest level. He stopped two of the most powerful pirates with his presence and Haki alone.
Counterarguments
While Shanks has incredible strength, there are counterarguments to the idea that he is the undisputed strongest:
Devil Fruit Dependence
Most top pirates like Kaido and Big Mom rely heavily on their Devil Fruit. Shanks not having one could be a disadvantage against their hax abilities.
One Arm
After losing an arm saving Luffy, Shanks may still not have fully adapted his fighting style. This permanent handicap potentially makes him weaker.
Not Enough Feats
As someone who avoids conflict, Shanks does not have as many major battle feats as other Emperors. More feats could cement him as the strongest.
Marine Strength
The full force of Marine Headquarters and the Admirals may rival even the Emperors in power. Their Absolute Justice gives them an unrelenting drive.
Conclusion
In summary, while Shanks stands out as one of the most powerful pirates alive, there are strong arguments on both sides regarding whether he is definitively the strongest. His mastery of Haki, swordsmanship, reputation, and past feats certainly put him near or at the top. However, the extent of his power remains unclear compared to monsters like Kaido or Big Mom. The lack of a Devil Fruit and one arm could also be weaknesses. For now, Shanks can likely be considered one of the top two or three strongest pirates, but he may not be the undisputed #1 strongest until he reveals the full extent of his power. The final saga of One Piece will perhaps provide a definitive answer.