One Piece: Buggy and Shanks’ Relationship, Explained

One Piece: Buggy and Shanks' Relationship, Explained

Key Takeaways

  • Buggy and Shanks began as friends on Gol D. Roger’s crew, both sharing a friendly rivalry.
  • Shanks rose to become a powerful Yonko, while Buggy’s luck led him to become a Warlord and Emperor.
  • Despite past grudges, Buggy and Shanks reunite, with Buggy realizing he’s now in the running to become Pirate King.

As a gamer who has sailed countless virtual seas and navigated through numerous digital islands, I must say that the friendship between Shanks and Buggy in One Piece is one of the most intriguing and captivating tales I’ve ever witnessed. The journey of these two characters from apprentices on Gol D. Roger’s crew to Emperors of the Sea is a testament to the power of camaraderie, rivalry, and the unpredictable twists life can take.


In essence, friendship takes center stage throughout the epic tale of One Piece. This is evident through the main characters, particularly Luffy, who is undeniably the protagonist, whose journey and adventures across the seas drive the narrative. Despite his significance, it’s safe to say that he wouldn’t have progressed nearly as far without his crew, each of whom complements him by filling in the gaps where he falls short.

Friendship is a recurring theme in the series, connecting both the protagonists and antagonists. A powerful friendship that stands out in “One Piece” is that between Shanks and Buggy, who were initially apprentices on Gol D. Roger’s crew. Now, they each hold the title of an Emperor of the Sea! Let’s delve into this intriguing bond to understand why fans are so captivated by the contrast in their characters.

Humble Origins

The beginning of Buggy and Shanks’ journey

One Piece: Buggy and Shanks' Relationship, Explained
Shanks’ First AppearanceOne Piece, Episode 4, “Luffy’s Past! The Red-Haired Shanks Appears!”
Buggy’s First AppearanceOne Piece, Episode 4, “Luffy’s Past! The Red-Haired Shanks Appears!”

In the world of One Piece, Buggy and Shanks are currently two of the most significant characters due to their roles as Sea Emperors. Interestingly, these two had a history that stretches back to when they were part of the crew of the legendary Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. As youngsters, they were close friends, even though they often quarreled and engaged in fights. Despite their constant disagreements, they stood by each other and harbored a friendly competition.

With Roger’s pirate crew, these two individuals traversed a significant portion of the globe, witnessing pivotal moments during the quest for the One Piece treasure. However, they chose to depart when their comrades were on the brink of sailing to Laugh Tale, the final island in this epic journey. For instance, they could have been present at Water 7 while meeting Tom the Shipwright, or they might have engaged in the intense three-day battle against the Whitebeard Pirates.

One day, Buggy decided to swipe a Devil Fruit from his crew for the purpose of covertly selling it and funding the establishment of his own pirate group later on. However, an unexpected encounter with Shanks left him startled, causing Buggy to instinctively consume the fruit instead. This unintended action granted him his distinctive abilities but thwarted his original scheme. Since then, he has held a grudge against Shanks, not only for this incident, but also because of how Shanks inadvertently misplaced the treasure map that Buggy had been relentlessly seeking.

Furthermore, Buggy often believed that Shanks would carry on Roger’s legacy as the future King, causing him to abandon his aspirations for the same title. He recognized that Shanks outshone him in terms of potential. On the day of Roger’s execution, they met again, and Buggy was taken aback when he learned that Shanks had no intention of seeking the One Piece. Contrary to Buggy’s expectations, Shanks did not follow in Roger’s footsteps, which led Buggy to conclude that his old friend wasn’t the person he thought he was. As a result, Buggy left to form his own crew, expressing disappointment that his friend didn’t turn out as he had envisioned.

You’re not the next generation’s king?! I misjudged you, Shanks!

From Apprentices To Emperors

How Buggy and Shanks rule the seas

One Piece: Buggy and Shanks' Relationship, Explained

To numerous individuals, Shanks is often compared to the reincarnation of Gol D. Roger; he’s a highly potent character with an equally formidable crew and one who relies solely on his proficiency in Haki. His unmatched strength and daunting reputation have allowed him to ascend through the ranks, transforming from a minor captain into what is now believed to be the strongest of the Yonko.

Despite popular belief, Buggy’s tale took a unique turn. Throughout most of his pirating days, he was seen as quite insignificant by many, particularly after being bested by Luffy at the onset of his voyage. However, his fortunes changed drastically when he found himself in Impel Down. Remarkably, he orchestrated a daring escape, accompanied by a group of fellow convicts who pledged loyalty to him for reasons as trivial as a simple nod. This man’s luck was so extraordinary that these men began to regard him as a near-divine figure, believing that everything always seemed to fall into place miraculously for him, even when he himself was clueless about how it happened.

It was during this prison break that he met up with Shanks for the first time in years, though he still held a grudge against his former crewmate. Shanks, on the other hand, was quite happy to see Buggy and still considered him his old friend, claiming that he wished that they had still kept in touch.

Over time, even though Buggy didn’t understand the mechanics behind it, his power continued to expand. This escalated to him becoming a Sea Warlord and ultimately an Emperor, eventually finding himself alongside Shanks. With this latest development, Buggy recognized that by sheer fortune, he was now on par with his former adversary and confidant. He declared that he had rekindled his childhood aspiration and was now equally qualified to claim the title of Pirate King, just like Shanks and the other Emperors!

One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

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2024-09-12 22:03