By Rei Penber
The strongest pirate alive in the current story of One Piece is Red Hair Shanks.
One Piece is currently in its Final Saga, focusing on the events of the Egghead Island Arc. With the beginning of the Final Saga comes screen time for characters who have previously lacked it, but are also very important to the overarching plot of the story, such as Shanks. Shanks is an exceptionally important character for Luffy.
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After all, he is the man who Luffy tries to emulate the most and is, in more than one way, his goal. Shanks also set Luffy on the path to becoming the Pirate King and, thus, one day, Luffy will have to stand before him and prove himself. For that reason, it is evident that Shanks himself needs to be exceptionally powerful and his recent demonstration in the story of One Piece just goes to prove that. Fans already knew Shanks to be one of the Four Emperors of the Sea, however, a true demonstration of his might was only given recently during his fight against Kid.
Shanks Vs. Eustass Kid
Shanks has been heavily involved in One Piece now, more than ever. In the Egghead Island arc, fans saw Eustass Kid, one of the members of the Worst Generation who recently acquired a 3 billion berries bounty in Wano, head to Elbaf and there, engage with the Emperor, Red-haired Shanks, in combat. Kid was greeted by Shanks's fleet and he decided to use his rail gun technique, Damned Punk, to wipe them all out in a matter of 10 seconds. It was then that Shanks decided to jump into combat and take care of Kid all by himself. By seeing the future, Shanks was able to avert a very bad outcome and with his sword Gryphon, he was able to attack Kid with sheer ferocity.
Shanks was seen coating his sword in Conqueror's Haki and then unleashing a powerful strike, called Divine Departure, at him. Fans are already aware of the technique, having seen the former Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, use it during his fight against Kozuki Oden when the two met on an island on the Grand Line in the Oden flashback of Wano. This technique was so ferocious that it took down Kid in a single blow. What's more, it also took out Killer, Kid's right-hand man, as he was attempting to block the technique.
How Strong Is Shanks?
Shanks is easily among the strongest pirates in One Piece right now. He is among the Yonko, automatically making him one of the four strongest pirates alive. While he does not have a Devil Fruit ability, Shanks has an exceptionally strong Haki. A display of this was given to the fans during his fight against Kid. Shanks appears to be the best user of Haki in One Piece at the moment and the fact that he takes after Roger, the former Pirate King, only hammers home this fact even more. When it comes to Haki, Shanks is a user of all three types and he can also use all of them in their advanced forms. Shanks is certainly a user of Ryuo, and although he has not been seen demonstrating that ability, it is nothing so complex for a Yonko to pull off. Given that both Big Mom and Kaido could make use of it, it is only natural that Shanks can as well.
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When it comes to the Color of Observation, Shanks can see the future for 10 seconds or more, which is a staggering ability and possibly the best Future Sight Haki in One Piece so far. His Supreme King Haki is, by far, the best that fans have seen so far. Just a single attack from him was able to take down Kid, and this is nothing short of staggering, given that Kid has a bounty of 3 billion berries on his head. Undoubtedly, it is his Supreme King Haki that makes him the strongest right now. From what fans have been shown so far, no user of Supreme King Haki even comes close to Shanks.
Why Shanks Is The Strongest Right Now
Fans have not yet seen a full display of what Shanks is capable of. However, just a glimpse of his skill is enough to tell that he is the strongest pirate alive. It must be remembered that Kid recently fought two Yonko in Wano, Kaido and Big Mom. On the rooftop, Kid engaged in combat with both of them and was able to hold his own very well. In fact, he didn't even suffer a major injury against either of them. Shortly after descending from the rooftop, he took on Yonko Big Mom in combat. Although he had the help of Law at his side, it must be remembered that Kid took several attacks in this fight and despite that, was standing. He was at the receiving end of several of Big Mom's Ikoku Sovereignty. Off panel, he took several of her Conqueror's Haki infused attacks as well and was still standing.
Even when Big Mom unleashed her strongest techniques, Kid did not perish. Yet, when faced by Shanks, Kid was taken down and completely knocked out in a single blow. What's more, Shanks also managed to take down Killer with him. While Killer is not as strong as Kid, it must be remembered that he is also a member of the Worst Generation. Wiping out an entire pirate crew in a single attack just goes to show that he is in a league of his own. It must also be remembered that Kaido, while being called the strongest, was specified to be the strongest creature. Shanks, meanwhile, did not have as much hype. But, he was merely playing the role of the mediator up until now. Shanks has now stepped his game up and entered the war for the One Piece and his true strength will only be demonstrated to the fans now. Right now, it goes without saying that Shanks is the strongest pirate in One Piece.
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The article delves into the escalating power dynamics within the One Piece universe, particularly focusing on the character Shanks and his recent display of immense strength. Shanks, a pivotal figure in the series, is highlighted for his role as an influential mentor to Luffy and his significance in Luffy's journey to become the Pirate King.
Shanks's recent demonstration of power against Eustass Kid during the Egghead Island Arc serves as a testament to his formidable abilities. In this encounter, Shanks showcases mastery in Haki, a fundamental power in the One Piece world. His proficiency in all three Haki types and their advanced forms, notably his exceptional Future Sight Haki, solidify his status as an immensely powerful character.
A key highlight is Shanks utilizing Conqueror's Haki to deliver a devastating strike, the "Divine Departure," which swiftly incapacitates Kid and even affects his subordinate, Killer. This single attack, empowered by Shanks's Supreme King Haki, speaks volumes about his unparalleled strength among current pirates, surpassing even those with significant bounties like Kid.
The article compares Shanks's prowess to other formidable figures, emphasizing his distinctive strength by illustrating how he effortlessly neutralized Kid despite Kid's previous engagements with powerful entities like Kaido and Big Mom. The significance lies in the fact that Kid managed to withstand multiple attacks from these adversaries, yet Shanks effortlessly overpowered him in a single strike.
This analysis firmly establishes Shanks as among the top-tier characters in the series, positioned as one of the Four Emperors of the Sea and arguably the strongest among them due to his unparalleled mastery of Haki, especially his Supreme King Haki.
In summary, the article emphasizes Shanks's recent feats, highlighting his unmatched strength, mastery of Haki, and his pivotal role in the escalating conflicts within the One Piece storyline. This portrayal cements Shanks's position as the current strongest pirate in the One Piece universe, setting the stage for further revelations of his true power in the ongoing Final Saga.
