Red-Haired Shanks – One-Handed Four Emperors in the One Piece world

One Piece stands tall among Japan’s renowned Shounen anime, captivating audiences with its riveting plot, humorous elements, and an expansive world teeming with a myriad of fascinating characters. Enter the scene, Red-Haired Shanks, one of the mightiest figures in the One Piece universe. Let’s delve into the uniqueness of this character through the lens of One Piece World.

Shanks Appearance & Personality

Shanks, a standout in One Piece, boasts a towering height of approximately 2 meters, with the sun-kissed complexion of a middle-aged man. Surprisingly, within the Yonko, He is the smallest in stature. Yet, his most distinctive feature is the fiery red hair, the very origin of his moniker. Additionally, three parallel scars running across his left eye contribute to the rugged charm of Red-Haired Shanks in the world of One Piece.

In his youth, He often sported a straw hat acquired from Gol D. Roger, his former captain. This became Shanks’ trademark until he passed it on to Luffy. Known as the One-Armed Yonko, Shanks lost his left arm while saving the future captain of the Straw Hat Pirates from a Sea King when Luffy was just a child.

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With a carefree demeanor, he enjoys globe-trotting with his pirate crew. Playful and whimsical, the young Shanks bears a resemblance to Luffy’s personality. He and the Red-Haired crew are often seen reveling in festivities and indulging in lively drinking sessions.

However, He also possesses a calm and courageous demeanor, coupled with remarkable diplomatic skills. Holding the position of one of the Yonko, his words carry immense weight among those familiar with his reputation. He successfully halted the battle between Whitebeard’s crew and the Marine forces at Marineford by persuading Admiral Sengoku to accept his proposal, despite Sengoku’s deep-seated hatred for pirates.

Shanks Relationships

Red-Haired Shanks Friends

Red-Haired Pirates

As the captain of the Red-Haired Pirates, he shares a camaraderie with all members of his crew, earning their respect and the title of “Boss.” The Red-Haired crew includes Benn Beckman (first mate, a loyal and trusted advisor), Lucky Roux (particularly devoted to his captain), Yasopp (a skilled marksman, the first to join the Red-Haired crew), and Rockstar (holds great respect and admiration for Shanks).

Roger Pirates

Details regarding Shanks’ relationships with his former Roger Pirates crewmates are not extensively covered. Through flashbacks, it’s evident that he often quarreled with Buggy about almost everything and received reprimands from Silvers Rayleigh. Shanks met Silvers Rayleigh at Sabaody Archipelago and shared stories about Luffy.

Similar to Buggy, he had a close bond with Gol D. Roger. At the age of 8, Shanks cried when Roger was executed and acquired Roger’s straw hat. He frequently reminisces about Roger, even comparing Luffy to Roger upon their first meeting and later gifting the straw hat to Luffy.

Monkey D. Luffy

Luffy deeply admires Red-Haired Shanks, considering him a childhood hero and an aspirational figure. Initially, he did not take Luffy seriously, mocking his dream of becoming a pirate. However, after Luffy defended him against mountain bandits and declared his intention to surpass Shanks in the future, the dynamic between them shifted.

To signify this shift, he bestowed upon Luffy the straw hat once worn by Captain Roger, a cherished item for Shanks. Both understood the unspoken promise that Luffy would return the hat when he became a great pirate, a commitment held in high regard by both.

He sees Luffy as the future of piracy, a belief he expressed to Whitebeard. Shanks rejoiced at the sight of Luffy’s bounty (reserved for only the strongest pirates), going so far as to organize a celebration. He also comforted Luffy after Ace’s death.

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Additionally, Red-Haired Shanks shares close relationships with several other characters, such as the world’s greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk, the bar owner Makino, Whitebeard Pirates’ 1st division commander Marco, and Fire Fist Portgas D. Ace.

Adversaries

World Government

The World Government views Shanks as a disruptive force but acknowledges his lack of intent to single-handedly alter the world. Despite this, given his Yonko status, they remain wary of his potential to surpass their control and are ready to eliminate him if necessary. The World Government turns a blind eye to Shanks’ actions until the day he crosses a line.

Despite his infamous pirate status, Shanks is permitted private conversations with the Five Elders at Mary Geoise during the Reverie summit.

Marine

The relationship between pirates and the Marine is inherently tumultuous. However, Shanks and Admiral Sengoku still maintain a level of mutual respect. Even as adversaries, both the World Government and the Red-Haired Pirates consider the clash as a last resort. When Shanks arrived at Marineford, declaring that pirates would give Whitebeard and Ace a proper burial, Sengoku agreed, officially ending the war and assuming responsibility.

Vice Admiral Garp blames Red-Haired Shanks for influencing Luffy with ideas of becoming a pirate, conflicting with Garp’s desire for his grandson to become a Marine. Thus, the hero of the Marine harbors a deep-seated grudge against the One-Armed Yonko.

Marshall D. Teach (Blackbeard)

The individual Shanks fears most is Marshall D. Teach. Their first encounter during the clash between Roger and Whitebeard resulted in Shanks acquiring three scars. He is well aware of the unparalleled danger posed by Blackbeard.

Abilities

Strength

Red-Haired Shanks possesses extraordinary physical strength. Even with just one arm, he could hold his own against Whitebeard in combat. Combined with the incredible power of Armament Haki, He could withstand the magma fist of Akainu, an attack of devastating force.

He displays immense endurance and pain tolerance. Even after losing an arm to a Sea King while saving Luffy, he remained unyielding, using Conqueror’s Haki to repel the Sea King. He also demonstrated remarkable agility, intercepting Akainu before he could harm Koby.

Swordsmanship

As the former rival of Mihawk, the world’s greatest swordsman, Shanks himself is a highly skilled and powerful swordsman. He could face Whitebeard in a swordfight even with just one arm, showcasing his formidable swordsmanship.

Before losing his left arm, he likely used it for combat, as seen in flashbacks where he consistently wielded his sword with his left hand. Therefore, he was likely ambidextrous or favoring both hands before the amputation.

Haki

He is one of the very few individuals worldwide proficient in all three forms of Haki: Conqueror’s Haki, Armament Haki, and Observation Haki.

Inspiring and serving as a role model for Luffy’s development, Red-Haired Shanks, while not a frequent presence, plays a crucial role in Luffy’s journey to become the Pirate King