It’s Time To Accept The Death Of The Strongest Yonko In One Piece

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This article contains spoilers for the Final Saga of One Piece.

In the world of One Piece, the Yonko are the four strongest pirates. They’re often described as rulers of the New World, with power that no one can match on the seas. The Yonko control huge areas and have a lot of sway in the criminal underworld. They’re also known for forming powerful alliances, which can even challenge the authority of the World Government.

The four most powerful pirates, known as the Yonko, are essential to the balance of power in the One Piece world and represent a huge danger to the World Government. The final arc of the story will finally showcase their true strength, especially with the massive war that creator Eiichiro Oda has confirmed is coming. This war will undoubtedly result in many casualties, and fans should prepare for the possibility that even the strongest Yonko, Red-Haired Shanks, may not survive, as tragic as that would be.

Oda Doesn’t Like Killing Characters Unless Absolutely Necessary

  • Oda wants to draw big banquets after every arc
  • The Final Saga will still see some big deaths

When fans think about character deaths in the final part of One Piece, the first thing they consider is that Eiichiro Oda, the author, generally avoids killing off characters. Oda has explained that he prefers to end each story arc with big celebrations and parties, which are a common theme throughout the series. Frequent deaths would make these joyful gatherings impossible, as Luffy and the Straw Hat crew wouldn’t be able to properly celebrate. Ultimately, Oda wants to create a positive and uplifting experience for readers, and that’s difficult if characters are constantly dying.

While Eiichiro Oda doesn’t shy away from letting characters die, it’s not something that happens constantly. The deaths of Whitebeard and Ace during the Paramount War were major shocks to fans. However, since the time skip in the story, Oda has killed off many other important characters, including Vergo, Monet, Ashura Doji, Yasuie, Izo, Mjosgard, Stella, Kaido, and Big Mom. More recently, in the final saga, fans were surprised to see the deaths of Emmet, the ancient robot, and the original body of Vegapunk.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that Oda, the creator of One Piece, is willing to kill off important characters as the story reaches its climax. With the start of the Great War, fans should anticipate significant deaths, and Shanks, the red-haired Emperor, is a prime candidate. His past actions and established rivalries strongly suggest he’s in danger. Despite being a hugely important character and Luffy’s idol, Oda might still choose to end Shanks’ story.

Shanks Could Die In The Final Saga Of One Piece

  • Shanks faces danger from Blackbeard
  • Imu has his eyes on Shanks

Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, had mentioned he planned to hold off on a major role for Shanks until the story’s final arc. With the Final Saga now underway, fans are finally seeing Shanks become much more involved in the larger events and begin to shape the current era. It’s been revealed that Shanks intentionally waited for the emergence of Nika before taking action.

What do you say, Blackbeard? Do you want to fight? — Shanks

He’s definitely going to play a much bigger role in the story from now on, and after the events on Elbaf, fans can anticipate a lot of attention being given to him. However, considering how critical the situation is and how perilous things are becoming, it’s not surprising that many signs point towards him being in danger.

Shanks’s Rivalry With Blackbeard And Imu Put Him In Danger

Fans are aware that Shanks and Blackbeard have a long-standing rivalry. Blackbeard famously scarred Shanks before Shanks even traveled to Maryjoa, and that scar has continued to bother him ever since. The story hints that these two will eventually battle, a possibility Oda himself suggested during the Paramount War. They nearly fought at Marineford, but Blackbeard decided he wasn’t strong enough to win at that moment and postponed the fight.

Teach has been steadily regaining his power, and will keep doing so throughout the final arc of the story. When he feels strong enough, he’ll likely target Shanks, as Shanks is a major rival in the race for the One Piece, and Teach will want to eliminate him. Knowing how ruthless Teach is, most fans don’t expect Shanks to come out on top in a fight between them.

Despite being incredibly strong, Shanks could be defeated by Blackbeard, who frequently uses underhanded methods. Blackbeard’s existing rivalry with Luffy makes this scenario even more probable. If Blackbeard were to kill Shanks and then confront Luffy, it would dramatically raise the stakes and create an intensely compelling fight. Therefore, the author might choose to have Shanks die to move the story forward.

Imu Vs Shanks Is A Big Possibility

Shanks’s death is likely connected to more than just Blackbeard. Recent events reveal a significant conflict with Imu, the world’s ruler. While investigating Imu in Marijoa, Shanks was marked with a symbol related to the Shallow Sea Pact. This investigation led Shanks to despise the Celestial Dragons, creating enemies of his father, Saint Garling, his brother Shamrock, and ultimately, Imu himself.

It’s not your fault Harald’s situation happened, stop blaming your origins. You still have important things to do. — Scopper Gaban

Gaban directly informed Shanks that he’ll be involved in the upcoming battle against Imu, suggesting they may even clash at some point. Considering Imu’s immense power, it’s quite possible Shanks could be killed in this conflict.

Eiichiro Oda’s popular manga, One Piece, follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, as they search for the legendary treasure, the One Piece. The story is currently in its final arc. The newest chapter, 1172, will be released in this week’s issue of Weekly Shonen Jump on February 1, 2026. In Japan, it will become available at midnight on Monday (11:00 AM EST / 8:00 AM PST). Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump app, which helps support the creator.

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2026-01-22 00:38