It’s Time To Meet Shanks’s Second Brother After Shamrock Figarland In One Piece

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

The Elbaf arc in One Piece is revealing more and more about the character of Shanks. Years ago, the author, Eiichiro Oda, hinted that when the story begins to heavily feature Shanks, it would signal the start of the final saga. With Shanks now playing a key role in the most exciting events unfolding in Elbaf, it’s clear that this is a crucial stage in the One Piece story.

The Elbaf arc gave fans a deeper look into the history of Red-Haired Shanks, including the introduction of his family: his mother, Garling Figarland, and his twin brother, Shamrock Figarland. Now, in One Piece Chapter 1169, it’s been revealed that Shanks considered Portgas D. Ace to be like a little brother.

Shanks Considered Ace His Second Brother In One Piece

  • Ace Was The Son Of Gol D. Roger
  • Gaban and The Roger Pirates Considered Shanks And Buggy Their Sons

In One Piece Chapter 1169, the story revisited a conversation between Shanks and Gaban that took place in Elbaf 14 years prior. They discussed many things, but a key moment involved Ace. Gaban told Shanks that he had previously learned from Garp that Roger had a son named Ace.

So, Captain Roger had a son? That makes him my little brother, without a doubt. With Roger’s lineage, that boy could very well become the Pirate King someday! — Shanks, speaking about Ace

As a huge One Piece fan, I was totally surprised to learn more about the connections between Gaban, Rayleigh, Shanks, and Ace! For a long time, everyone thought they didn’t even know Ace was born, but Oda actually revealed they all did! Apparently, Shanks immediately declared Ace as his little brother when he found out. It’s amazing because neither of them were blood relatives, but they both saw Roger as a father figure. Shanks genuinely believed Roger was his father, while Ace, despite rejecting him for years, was Roger’s biological son. It just adds so much depth to their relationships!

Family in One Piece isn’t just about blood ties. Eiichiro Oda consistently emphasizes that strong bonds can create family relationships, even without shared blood. The Whitebeard Pirates are a prime example, but we also see this with characters like Luffy, Sabo, and Ace, who formed a deep brotherhood despite not being related. Even Shanks saw Ace as a brother, though Ace didn’t feel the same way initially because he hadn’t known Shanks for very long.

Shanks Tried To Stop Ace From Chasing Blackbeard

Knowing that Shanks saw Ace as a younger brother helps explain his behavior. He didn’t interfere much until he learned Ace was with Whitebeard. However, as soon as Shanks’ crew discovered Ace was hunting Blackbeard to get revenge for Thatch’s death, Shanks immediately tried to meet with Whitebeard.

Shanks pleaded with Whitebeard to bring Ace back, unaware that Ace had already disobeyed orders and gone ahead with the mission. Shanks understood the danger Blackbeard presented and desperately wanted to keep his younger brother safe. Sadly, his efforts failed; Ace was defeated by Blackbeard and ultimately turned over to the World Government, leading to his execution.

Shanks Couldn’t Save Ace In Time In One Piece

Although Shanks couldn’t prevent Ace from battling Blackbeard, he tried to help Ace during the war against the Marines. At the same time, Kaido was preparing to attack Whitebeard. To keep Whitebeard focused on the main fight and avoid a pointless conflict, Shanks confronted Kaido in the New World and made him withdraw to Wano.

Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece focuses on the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates as they sail the seas to lay claim to the grand treasure known as the One Piece. The manga is currently in its Final Saga. One Piece will be featured in this week’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue.

The official release date of One Piece Chapter 1169 is December 21, 2025. In Japan, One Piece drops at 12AM JST on Monday, which is 11:00 AM EST, or 8:00 AM PT. Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump apps. Doing so will ensure that fans always support the author.

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2025-12-20 03:39