Everything You Need To Know About Shanks’s Secret Devil Fruit Power In One Piece

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

Shanks is a hugely important character in One Piece, and many fans believe he’ll be central to the story’s final arc. The author, Oda, has always enjoyed drawing Shanks and is now increasingly featuring him as the story progresses. As one of the Four Emperors, Shanks has been a powerful figure for six years, but his influence goes even deeper. He’s also known as the ‘Child of Destiny’ and is the one who originally inspired Luffy to become a pirate.

Fans agree that Shanks is a hugely important character, and characters like that are usually very powerful. While Shanks is primarily known for his mastery of Haki, many believe he also has a Devil Fruit power – something the author, Oda, has hinted at. It would be surprising to learn that Shanks does have a Devil Fruit, but there’s growing evidence in the manga to support this idea. Here’s a breakdown of the evidence and what power he might have.

Shanks’s Sword Might Hold A Devil Fruit Power

Image by Toei Animation

Shanks is best known for his incredible mastery of Haki, a spiritual power he uses in battle. He developed this ability very early in life – even before age 15, he could use advanced Conqueror’s Haki, as the author of the series confirmed. Many fans consider Shanks unstoppable due to his Haki skills, and that’s largely true. However, it’s also possible that Shanks has a Devil Fruit power as well.

I won’t argue that’s unfair, sailor. But attacking those fresh, new leaves – the ones that signaled the end of the old ways of piracy? Isn’t that going too far? Are you really that scared of what’s coming next?

In the first chapter of One Piece, Shanks rescued Luffy from drowning, meaning he couldn’t have had his Devil Fruit powers at that time. However, he doesn’t need to have eaten a Devil Fruit to possess such power. The key to Shanks’s abilities likely lies within his sword – a truly powerful, Supreme Grade weapon.

Shanks Changed His Sword After Romance Dawn

Image by Toei Animation

At the start of the One Piece series, Shanks carried a sword with a distinctive handle. He used this sword for a while, but after a significant time jump following chapter 1, Shanks had become much more powerful and influential. By then, he had obtained a new sword, which the author, Oda, named Gryphon. A Gryphon is a legendary creature – it has the body of a lion combined with the head, tail, and wings of an eagle.

Why are you crying? It’s just an arm. I’m just glad you’re safe. — Shanks to Luffy

It’s so cool learning more about Shanks! Did you know Oda actually said his spirit animal is a lion too? That totally fits with the whole Gryphon thing we’ve been seeing. For ages, fans have debated if Shanks even has a Devil Fruit power, but the Elbaf arc is hinting that his sword might be the source – Oda practically confirmed it! It’s getting so exciting!

Shanks’s Sword Has The Power Of A Gryphon

Image by Toei Animation

I was absolutely blown away when we finally met Shamrock Figarland in the Elbaf arc of One Piece – it turns out he’s Shanks’s twin brother! Right away, he showed off his incredible sword, Cerberus, and it was clear Oda was setting up a connection between him and Shanks. The name itself is awesome – Cerberus is the mythical three-headed dog guarding the gates of hell! And it wasn’t just a cool name, because Shamrock actually used the power of a Cerberus, with the beast emerging right from his sword! It was such a fantastic reveal.

Shanks’s sword looks a lot like Shamrock’s, and its name also comes from a legendary creature. It’s easy to see how Shanks embodies the power of the Gryphon. The author, Oda, even intentionally keeps Shanks’s fighting style mysterious, which supports this connection.

Q: What’s the name of Red-Haired Shanks’s sword?

Eiichiro Oda notes that Shanks, a character introduced at the beginning of the story, is now known as “Griffon.” He questions how Shanks actually fights, as his combat abilities haven’t been fully shown yet.

The text also details how Shanks moves around rapidly. We see this during the Paramount War, when he went from the New World to Paradise in an instant. If his sword can become the Gryphon, it would explain how his ship reached Marine Plaza so fast.

The latest chapter of Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece will appear in this week’s Weekly Shonen Jump. Chapter 1167 is officially scheduled for release on December 1, 2025. In Japan, it will be available at midnight on Monday (12:00 AM JST), which translates to 11:00 AM EST and 8:00 AM PT. Readers can access the chapter without charge on both Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump app.

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2025-11-27 00:34