One Piece: Why 2025 Is The Year Of Shanks

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

Summary

Shanks will have a significant role in One Piece’s Final Saga.
Oda promised major moves from Shanks in the upcoming years.
Fans anticipate Shanks to appear more as One Piece approaches its end.

So far, the grand finale of “One Piece” has delivered an exhilarating experience, with the Egghead arc standing out as one of the finest in the series and arguably the most compelling opening to any saga within the narrative. As we move forward, we can expect more high-impact arcs, and given what fans have come to expect, the Elbaf storyline is currently unfolding. Oda has hinted that the final saga will provide significant roles for a multitude of major characters who have been largely absent up until now.

According to the author’s earlier statement, this segment will undeniably be thrilling as a large number of characters, including those not part of the Straw Hat Pirates, are set to take action. Above all, fans eagerly anticipate Shanks taking center stage with some spectacular moves in the Final Saga, and it could very well be his time to shine in 2025.

Oda’s Promise For Shanks In The Final Saga

Shanks Has Been On The Sidelines For Many Years
Oda Stated Shanks’s Appearance Means One Piece Is Close To The End

In the final arc of “One Piece,” Shanks stands out as one of the most influential characters, perhaps even the most significant. Since his early introduction into the storyline, he held great importance in Luffy’s life, serving as a catalyst for Luffy embarking on his journey to become a pirate. Although Shanks left Luffy’s story relatively quickly, he fulfilled his role as a mentor. Fans had a hunch that despite being absent for the initial chapters, Shanks would reappear and play a crucial part later on. It may have been unexpected for him to stay in the background as long as he has, but now that we’re in the final saga of “One Piece,” creator Eiichiro Oda has promised the fans that Shanks will make significant strides forward.

When Shanks starts appearing more frequently, you can assume One Piece is in the final saga. – Oda

Back in 1999, I, an ardent One Piece fan, was thrilled to learn from the creator himself, Eiichiro Oda, that the series would make it evident when we reached the Final Saga. This is because Shanks, a character previously seen less frequently, would take on a significant role in these final chapters.

This prediction was reinforced by another statement from Oda, where he hinted that the Straw Hat Pirates wouldn’t be the sole protagonists of the Final Saga. While the Straw Hats have been the heart and soul of One Piece thus far, it seems that Oda has plans to shine the limelight on a multitude of side characters as well in these final chapters.

One key factor fueling Oda’s immense enthusiasm for sketching the Final Saga was the prospect of delving into characters beyond Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates. It was an opportunity to incorporate these side characters into the story too. Among all the side characters, Shanks stands out as the most significant one. With Elbaf now in sight, fans can expect Oda to significantly involve Shanks in the narrative, somehow or other.

Why 2025 Is Going To Be Massive For Shanks

Shanks And His Family Will Be Involved Massively

2025 promises a significant revelation about the character Shanks in the popular series “One Piece.” The narrative is currently unfolding in the Elbaf Arc, which holds direct ties to Shanks, who serves as the guardian of this land. Essentially, Elbaf is under his protective jurisdiction while at sea. As Elbaf takes center stage, so too will Shanks, even though he’s not physically present there.

Shanks has been sailing the seas for a crucial mission – to avenge an offense by Bartolomeo and thwart Blackbeard in his tracks. He successfully dealt with Bartolomeo and is still pursuing Blackbeard, having been on this quest all along. It’s plausible that their paths may cross soon.

I want to talk about a certain pirate. – Shanks’s Look Alike

There’s a strong possibility that the long-awaited showdown between Shanks and Blackbeard might occur in 2025. However, if it doesn’t, followers of One Piece are well aware that Shanks is bound for the land of the Giants, Elbaf. Interestingly, Elbaf is currently governed by another Yonko, none other than our series’ hero, Luffy. It’s also worth mentioning that Luffy and Shanks share a deep bond, and their paths are destined to cross before Luffy lays claim to the One Piece.

Most significantly, Luffy has sworn to return his hat to him when he becomes a formidable Pirate. This promise, which he has now fulfilled, sets in motion a series of crucial events within the storyline. The upcoming encounter between Luffy and Shanks in 2025 could potentially provide fans with a long-awaited reunion and an exciting battle. However, the direction of the Elbaf Arc may determine whether or not Shanks will be present in 2025. If he’s not, readers can still expect to learn more about Shanks through alternative means.

How Shanks Can Be Central To The Story In More Ways Than One

The Figarland Family Is Already Deeply Involved

From an onlooker’s perspective, so far, it seems like Shanks might either engage in a battle with Blackbeard or revisit Elbaf by 2025. But here’s the intriguing part – even if neither of these scenarios unfold and Shanks sails towards an enigmatic destination, seldom appearing in the narrative as much as fans anticipate, they will still be treated to significant revelations about this character. This is due to the central role that the Figarland family, especially St Garling Figarland, Shanks’s father, is expected to play in the Elbaf Arc. In a recent development, it has been unveiled that St Garling Figarland rose through the ranks of the Five Elders, implying a crucial part in the unfolding events.

Beyond just being similar in appearance, it’s been confirmed that a man who closely resembles Shanks and is believed to be his twin brother, born from Saint Garling, has just arrived on Elbaf. This individual is expected to play a significant role and will undoubtedly cross paths with Luffy in the near future, as he appears to be the primary antagonist of the current storyline. The Shanks’ doppelgänger is on a quest to find Loki, and it seems that this character also possesses secrets about Shanks that he intends to reveal to Luffy – though there may be a cost associated with such information.

It’s apparent that fans will learn much about Shanks, despite him not returning to Elbaf, as his brother will likely reveal a wealth of history and Luffy may engage in combat with him. Furthermore, Loki holds hidden secrets regarding Shanks which have yet to be disclosed to Luffy. This year is set to be the year of Shanks, as fans are expected to uncover details about his family background, past, and his ties to Elbaf. They might also catch a glimpse of his true power, and if Shanks is involved in significant battles, such as against Blackbeard, then 2025 could be the best year in One Piece’s history yet.

You can legally access “One Piece” through Viz Media’s platforms. Fans can read it officially and at no cost on the Shonen Jump and Manga Plus apps. The upcoming chapter of “One Piece,” titled “One Piece 1136,” will be released on January 19, 2025.

2025-01-11 01:04