Luffy vs Shanks: The Shocking Final Showdown That Will Change Everything

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Summary

  • Shanks influenced Luffy’s pirate career and life choices significantly.
  • Growing fan sentiment predicts Luffy and Shanks will fight at the series’ end.
  • Luffy’s battle with Shanks would be a test of strength and skills, with Luffy likely to win due to his mastery of Haki and, more importantly, his overpowered God Fruit.

In the world of One Piece, Shanks has had an unparalleled impact on Luffy’s journey and life as a pirate. It was under Shanks’ influence that Luffy decided to embark on a life of piracy in pursuit of freedom and adventure. This connection between the two powerful pirates was acknowledged by Garp during the Battle of Marineford. Despite being Yonko, they have yet to cross paths since the beginning of the series.

This scenario hints at their forthcoming reunion being a key turning point in the storyline of “One Piece.” Nevertheless, numerous enthusiasts are skeptical that this encounter won’t turn out as harmonious as some anticipate. In this write-up, we delve into why fans think Luffy and Shanks may come to blows at the end of the series, exploring what the aftermath of such a confrontation might entail.

Why Luffy And Shanks Will Fight At The End

The Fated Battle Between Luffy And His Idol

First Appearance Of Both One Piece, Chapter 1, “Romance Dawn – The Dawn of Adventure”
Debut Date July 19, 1997
Story Arc Romance Dawn

In the course of the One Piece series, it’s hard to find a bond more significant to Luffy than the one he shares with his role model, Shanks. This is evident throughout the narrative, as Luffy’s anger towards anyone who disparages his mentor becomes obvious, such as in the Elbaf arc where Luffy didn’t think twice before attacking a subdued Loki when the Accursed Prince insulted Shanks directly.

This demonstrates just how significant Shanks is to the story’s main character, who views him as an older brother figure. For years, fans have been anticipating their long-awaited reunion, which promises to be deeply emotional given that every time they’ve nearly crossed paths, something has intervened, keeping them apart. In the Wano arc, for instance, they were kept apart by national boundaries, and at the end of the Marineford War, Luffy fainted from shock, thus thwarting a reunion.

Red Hair… The one who put Luffy on the path to become a pirate!

Despite their strong connection, a growing opinion within the community suggests that Shanks and Luffy will face off near the end of the series. This belief is based on two primary reasons. Firstly, they are both determined to find the One Piece treasure and become the Pirate King, which puts them on a potential collision course. While fans previously thought Shanks was merely preparing the way for Luffy’s achievement, his personal acquisition of Road Poneglyph readings hints at a more complex situation.

At some point following the events of Wano, Shanks conversed with Benn Beckman and expressed his belief that they should embark on a quest to discover the One Piece. However, if Shanks merely intended to nurture Luffy into becoming the Pirate King, he would have neither harbored the drive to seek the legendary artifact nor given it a second thought, much like Whitebeard did. Moreover, some are beginning to speculate that Shanks may possess sinister intentions, leading one to presume that he will eventually clash with Luffy in the future.

It’s more plausible that Shanks will serve as Luffy’s ultimate challenge in the concluding chapter of One Piece. Luffy is the successor of Joyboy’s and Roger’s legacy, and it has been verified that he shares the same ambition as the original Pirate King. Given that Shanks has consistently supported Luffy since the start of his voyage, it seems probable that he will be the decisive test for Luffy in the story’s end to determine if he possesses the strength required to vanquish Imu and usher in a new era for the world.

In terms of theme, Shanks is ideally suited for this task due to his immense power being widely renowned and him being the most proficient user of Advanced Conqueror’s Haki at present. This may explain why he remains stronger than Luffy, making him potentially the young Yonko’s ultimate challenge in refining his abilities and strength to prove himself worthy of unearthing the One Piece treasure and fulfilling Joyboy’s 800-year-old scheme.

How Would This Battle Between Them Play Out?

Who Would Be The Victor?

  • Shanks’ Conqueror’s Haki will be more than enough to challenge Luffy’s strength.
  • However, Luffy will be the victor in the end.

At present, it’s a close call as to which one of the two characters is more powerful. Given Shanks’ remarkable abilities with Advanced Conqueror’s and Observation Haki, there isn’t anyone else who has demonstrated feats even remotely similar. This is the reason why most people believe that he is stronger than Luffy at this moment. If they were to engage in a fight now, Shanks would likely emerge victorious with ease.

In terms of plot development, such a scenario wouldn’t fit well. Although it could be Luffy’s most challenging battle at that stage in the story, he would still emerge victorious because he possesses Advanced Haki forms. The decisive factor, however, would be the Nika fruit, which is believed to be the strongest Devil Fruit in the series. With this fruit, Luffy has immense power, and given his ancestry as an inheritor of Joyboy’s ancient power, a confrontation between him and his mentor would likely end with Luffy as the victor.

One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

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2025-04-22 15:17