Shanks‘ past has been a source of speculation among One Piece fans for years, but these revelations were a shock even to the most devout theorists.
“Red-Haired” Shanks is definitely one of the most fascinating characters in One Piece. He was originally introduced as a random, honorable pirate who inspired Luffy to follow his dreams, but the manga slowly revealed more and more information about his past and motivations, blowing the minds of fans around the world on more than one occasion.
There’s no denying that the Shanks who One Piece readers met back in Chapter 1 is quite different from the version of the character actively participating in the story nowadays. This is because author Eiichiro Oda has revealed numerous mind-blowing details about Shanks over the years, but the following eight are the most shocking ones so far. 8
He Was Part Of Gol D. Roger’s Crew
Revealed In: Chapter 434 (Manga) Episode 316 (Anime)
Two prominent characters shaped Luffy’s ideals and inspired his dream to find the One Piece: “Red-Haired” Shanks and Gol D. Roger, the legendary Pirate King. Little did he know, however, that both of his role models had not only met each other in the past, but that they were actually very close.
Shanks was an apprentice of the Roger Pirates when he was a kid, a revelation that was especially fascinating because the story had already previously established that he and Buggy were part of the same pirate crew when they were younger, but most fans did not expect them to have been part of the Pirate King’s crew. Furthermore, this information also completely re-contextualized Shanks‘ decision to bet on the future and give Luffy his beloved straw hat, as it was also confirmed that it had once belonged to Gol D. Roger himself. 7
He Used Conqueror’s Haki To Save Luffy
Revealed In: Chapter 434 (Manga) Episode 316 (Anime)
The scene in which Shanks saved Luffy from the Lord of the Coast remains one of the most important and iconic moments in One Piece, but it actually contained a small clue about a special power, years before it was officially revealed. It turns out that the Sea King didn’t run away just because he was intimidated by Shanks’ glare, but because the pirate had used Conqueror’s Haki on him.
The story later established that, even though he didn’t eat a Devil Fruit, Shanks became such a formidable pirate because he has complete mastery over the three types of Haki, with his Conqueror’s Haki being the strongest one in his arsenal. This means that he knew how to use this power from the very beginning, and he intentionally used it to save the life of the young boy who would inherit his straw hat and become a great pirate in his own right. 6
He Wants To Claim The One Piece
Revealed In: Chapter 1054 (Manga) Episode 1081 (Anime)
The conclusion of the Wano Country arc was a decisive moment for the main plot of One Piece.
