One Piece Quietly Teases The Yonko Before Red Haired Shanks

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In the world of One Piece, the ‘Yonko’ are four incredibly powerful pirates who rule over the New World. This system was first mentioned by Monkey D. Garp during the Water Seven arc. Garp explained that these pirates were so strong, even the World Government avoided direct conflict with them. At the time, the Yonko consisted of Whitebeard, Shanks, Big Mom, and Kaido, and it was established that they represented the absolute peak of pirate power, having held this status for a considerable period.

The Yonko—the four most powerful pirates—didn’t exist during the times of Rocks D. Xebec or Gol D. Roger, but they definitely emerged during the current Great Pirate Era, and likely originated then. From the start of the race to find One Piece, the Yonko were always seen as the strongest contenders. Because of this, it’s reasonable to assume they’ve been around for nearly twenty years. Over time, the members of the Yonko have changed, and some past members remain a mystery. Recently, One Piece has hinted at a possible former Yonko named Loki.

Shanks Became A Yonko 6 Years Ago In One Piece

When the Yonko were first shown in One Piece, the group consisted of Whitebeard, Shanks, Kaido, and Big Mom. Whitebeard was the oldest of the four, followed by Big Mom and Kaido, who were of similar age. Shanks was the most recent to become a Yonko, having achieved that status just four years prior.

Before Shanks became a Yonko, another powerful pirate ruled the seas, but their identity was a mystery. Recent events in One Piece suggest this previous Yonko – a major force in the New World before Shanks – has already been revealed. It seems Shanks defeated this person six years ago: Loki, also known as the Accursed Prince of Elbaf.

Loki Could’ve Been The Yonko Before Shanks

It’s not surprising to think of Loki as one of the Four Emperors before Shanks. He’s incredibly powerful, having eaten the famed Devil Fruit of Elbaf – the island’s national treasure. This fruit lets him transform into a massive black dragon, large enough to cover whole countries. Plus, Loki wields Ragnir, a legendary hammer capable of unleashing immense power.

I am the Sun God who will destroy the whole world! — Loki

Fourteen years ago, Loki demonstrated powers that surpassed even those of Rocks D. Xebec when he killed King Harald. Immediately after, he took to the seas with a small crew and spent eight years causing widespread chaos. During this time, the World Government placed a bounty of 2.6 billion berries on his head, classifying it as a “special” bounty. This was likely Loki’s first bounty ever, making it the highest initial bounty for any character in the series, and it was already at the level of the Four Emperors.

  • When Blackbeard initially became a Yonko, his bounty was 2.2476 billion berries. However, Loki’s bounty, designated as ‘special,’ was actually higher at that time. This clearly established Loki as a major power on the seas, alongside the other three Emperors. Essentially, Loki had the strength to be the fourth Emperor before Shanks did.

Loki Was Eventually Beaten By Shanks

Six years ago, Shanks and Loki had a battle, the details of which were previously a mystery. However, Eiichiro Oda has now revealed the outcome: Shanks defeated Loki and brought him to Elbaf. There, Loki, also known as the Accursed Prince, was chained at the base of the Adam Tree in the Underworld. Fans are still wondering how Shanks managed to defeat such a powerful foe.

Eiichiro Oda will probably explain this more clearly in the future, but it’s clear that Shanks became one of the Four Emperors right after defeating Loki. This suggests he took Loki’s place as an Emperor and has remained one ever since. The group of Emperors has changed a lot recently, with Kaido, Big Mom, and Whitebeard all being defeated and replaced by Luffy, Buggy, and Blackbeard. We can expect even more changes to the Yonko as the story continues, and fans are really looking forward to seeing what happens.

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2026-02-21 14:34