Unveiling the Swordsmanship Skills of Shanks in One Piece

Undoubtedly one of the most powerful One Piece characters, Shanks began as an apprentice to Gol D. Roger but eventually rose to become the captain of the Red Hair Pirates and a Yonko. He has played a crucial role in the series, standing as a peer to Dracule Mihawk, a sworn enemy of Blackbeard, and a mentor to Luffy.

Shanks is a true icon of the One Piece series, known for his exceptional combat skills and natural charisma. Whenever something significant occurs, the "Red Hair" is always in the midst of it, never failing to leave fans in awe.

As of One Piece chapter 1101, it's clear that Shanks is a swordsman

Haki isn't a separate fighting style, but an integral part of swordsmanship

Every master swordsman is also a Haki master (Image via Toei Animation)

The dispute over Shanks' fighting style originates from the long-standing argument about who is more powerful between him and Mihawk. Some fans argue that Shanks is not just a swordsman, but also a Haki user, and therefore does not fit within the parameters of Mihawk's title as the World's Strongest Swordsman.

Haki is not a separate skill from swordsmanship, but rather an essential part of it. It is crucial for powerful swordsmen, as it enables them to strengthen their swords (Armament Haki), elevate them to a higher level (Conqueror's Haki), and even transform them into Black Blades, the most formidable weapons of all.

A strong command of Haki is necessary in order to wield the most potent swords. For example, Enma assesses its owners by depleting their Haki. Those with weak Haki would quickly be left without energy and unable to continue fighting.

The connection between powerful swordsmanship and powerful Haki is evident in the world of One Piece. Fighters like Kozuki Oden and Roronoa Zoro are able to fully utilize weapons like Enma by infusing them with their Haki. As one of the main characters, Zoro is undoubtedly the premier swordsman in the series.

Zoro's battle with Kaido showcased his strength, as he was able to seriously damage the Yonko. This was due to Zoro's exceptionally powerful Armament Haki, which made his attacks much stronger than the Red Scabbards. Zoro's use of the Nine Sword Style: Ashura, his strongest move during the fight, was hinted to be a result of his Conqueror's Haki aura, which ultimately led to him permanently injuring Kaido and leaving the Yonko impressed.

Zoro's development as a swordsman encompasses cutting steel, honing Armament Hardening, mastering Enma, unleashing the full potential of his Conqueror's Haki, innovating the King of Hell Style, and ultimately attaining a Black Blade—highlighting his continuous progress in learning and enhancing his Haki.

Zoro relies heavily on his Haki for his techniques and power-ups, but his true skill lies in his swordsmanship. This highlights the strong connection between Haki and the art of swordfighting. During the events in Arabasta, Zoro had to master the ability to cut through anything, including Mr. 1's steel body, by channeling his will into his sword. This feat later proved to be an advanced form of Haki.

Zoro was dared by Pica to face his Haki-hardened body, but he rose to the challenge by infusing his blades with Armament Haki and slicing through Pica, dealing a fatal blow. Zoro credited his victory solely to the superior strength of his own Haki compared to Pica's.

When he faced off against a highly skilled swordsman like Oden, Kaido was impressed by his Haki, rather than his skill in wielding his swords. Similarly, when confronted by the Red Scabbards, Kaido dismissed them as weak because their Haki was not as powerful as Oden's.

This highlights the idea that a swordsman's overall strength is closely connected to the potency of their Haki, suggesting that Haki and swordsmanship are inseparable.

Part of swordsmanship is mastering Conqueror's Haki (Image via Toei Animation)

When Zoro requested instruction in "the way of the sword" from Mihawk, the World's Strongest Swordsman only taught him how to utilize Haki. It is evident that Haki is not a distinct combat style, but rather a tool that all individuals can use to enhance their abilities, regardless of their fighting style.

Upon mastering Haki, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji maintained their original fighting techniques. Luffy continued as a brawler, Zoro as a swordsman, and Sanji as a martial artist. Similarly, Zoro honed his skills as a natural Conqueror's Haki user and even mastered the Color of Conqueror's, a rare skill possessed only by legendary fighters like Kaido, Shanks, and Gol D. Roger in the world of One Piece.

Impressively, Zoro developed a revolutionary sword technique solely reliant on Haki, known as the King of Hell Style. In this mode, Zoro harnesses both Advanced Armament Haki and Advanced Conqueror's Haki at the same time, resulting in an extraordinary surge of power.

In all fairness, Shanks is essentially a more formidable version of Zoro (Image via Toei Animation)

Zoro, a prominent user of Conqueror's Haki, demonstrated the ability to intimidate others with his aura, causing them to faint, similar to the way Shanks does. This skill, though not typical of a swordsman, does not detract from Zoro's prowess as a swordsman.

Zoro's development clearly indicates that the pinnacle of swordsmanship is closely tied to the use of Haki. It is not surprising that the revelation of Zoro's Conqueror's Haki powers was directly linked to his ambition to become the World's Strongest Swordsman.

Traditional swordsmanship is still a priority for Zoro, despite his use of various Haki techniques such as blasts, constructs, barriers, and bursts. This is also true for other skilled swordsmen such as Rayleigh, Mihawk, Oden, and others, who heavily rely on Haki but are still clearly depicted as swordsmen.

Given this, there is no justification for assuming that Shanks, who consistently uses his sword Gryphon or his Haki (or a combination of both) in every battle or combat sequence, should be an exception to this rule.

Swordsmen remain swordsmen, no matter which abilities they use

Swordsmen can use all sorts of abilities in One Piece (Image via Toei Animation)

The idea of a "pure swordsman" often brought up in discussions is completely meaningless in One Piece, as no swordsman in the series is truly "pure." Whether utilizing Haki, Devil Fruit powers, a combination of both, or any other method, all swordsmen find ways to enhance their combat abilities. Even those who wield swords alongside Devil Fruit abilities, even if they primarily use their powers rather than the sword itself, are still recognized as swordsmen in every sense.

Kaku practices the Four Sword Style, blending Rankyaku attacks and sword strikes with the enhancement of a Zoan Devil Fruit. Following the timeskip, Kaku appears to have abandoned his swords in favor of relying solely on his Awakened Devil Fruit abilities. Despite claiming to be a swordsman, Kaku's most powerful move, the Sky Slicer Rankyaku, does not involve the use of his swords.

Several other individuals who possess Devil Fruit powers, such as Law, Brook, Shiryu, Fujitora, and others, are recognized as skilled swordsmen due to their integration of their Devil Fruit abilities with their sword fighting techniques.

Considering that Devil Fruit users can still be classified as swordsmen and Shanks lacks a Devil Fruit ability, it is logical to acknowledge the "Red Hair" as a swordsman, as he consistently wielded a sword in combat. Even if he demonstrated other abilities apart from swordsmanship and Haki, it does not diminish his status as a swordsman. In fictional series, swordsmen often possess extraordinary powers that extend beyond simply using a sword, but this does not alter their classification as swordsmen.

One Piece highlighted Shanks being a swordsman in all possible ways

The "Red Hair" has always used swords to fight (Image via Toei Animation)

From childhood, Shanks was known for always carrying a sword. Throughout his life, he relied on his sword, Gryphon, augmented with Haki, to face his opponents. This, as previously noted, is a defining characteristic of the most powerful swordsmen.

In his showdown with Edward Newgate "Whitebeard", Shanks utilized Gryphon, empowered with Advanced Conqueror's Haki. Fans of One Piece had been eagerly awaiting the moment when the "Red Hair" would showcase a named technique, and he finally delivered during his battle with Eustass Kid.

Shanks showcased his inaugural named attack in the series as Divine Departure, a powerful sword move that effortlessly defeated Kid with a single strike. This signature technique was also once wielded by none other than Gol D. Roger.

Shanks wielding his sword Gryphon (Image via Toei Animation)

Shanks was a student of Roger's, suggesting that he adopted his combat style from the deceased Pirate King. Like Roger, the "Red Hair" uses a mix of Haki and swordfighting in battle.

When Shanks unleashed a Conqueror's Haki blast at Ryokugyu, paralyzing the Admiral, he used his sword Gryphon as a conduit for his presence. The manga shows him gripping the hilt of Gryphon as he releases his Haki against the Admiral.

The "Red Hair" unleashes his all-powerful Haki through Gryphon (Image via Toei Animation)

Moreover, both the sword and the Haki directed at Ryokugyu emit the exact same SFX. The anime episode clearly depicted the "Red Hair" channeling his Conqueror's Haki through his sword.

Saint Figarland Garling wields a saber that closely resembles Gryphon and is known for using it in combat, solidifying his reputation as a skilled swordsman. There is speculation that he may have been a mentor or even the father of Shanks, further supporting the theory that the "Red Hair" is also a master swordsman. In Volume Four Billion, a databook that provides background information on the characters in the film One Piece Film: Red, Shanks is described as:

"Red Hair" and "Hawk Eyes"

"Hawk Eyes" and "Red Hair" are the two strongest swordsmen (Image via Toei Animation)

Oda used Shanks as a point of comparison to illustrate why Mihawk is considered the World's Strongest Swordsman among all the characters in One Piece. The comparison implies that Mihawk surpasses even Shanks, suggesting that Shanks is also a skilled swordsman. This analogy only makes sense if Shanks is indeed a swordsman, as only a fellow swordsman can be used as a benchmark to measure the power of the World's Strongest Swordsman.

It is undeniable that Shanks is a skilled swordsman, as evidenced by his well-known battles with Mihawk. These legendary clashes have solidified his reputation throughout the Grand Line, with even Whitebeard recognizing their significance.

The dynamic between Shanks and Mihawk is often compared to the legendary rivalry of Roger and Whitebeard. Although their clashes were once the stuff of legend, Mihawk lost interest in battling Shanks after the latter lost an arm.

The Vivre Card databook for One Piece revealed that Mihawk is waiting for a challenger even stronger than the "Red Hair." It is likely that this challenger will be Zoro, who is constantly improving in search of the strength needed to battle "Hawk Eyes" on equal terms.

As a swordsman, Shanks holds the title of the World's Strongest Swordsman, so it's natural that Mihawk is considered mightier. While they are closely matched in power and can be seen as equals, official sources indicate that Mihawk is officially the stronger of the two.

Dracule Mihawk, also known as the World's Strongest Swordsman (Image via Toei Animation), is the supreme ruler of all swordsmen, wielding unmatched power and skill. His title of "Hawk Eyes" solidifies his position as superior even to legendary figures like "Red Hair" Shanks.

At the start of the story, Mihawk, who had been bored for years, found himself excited again when he recognized Zoro's exceptional potential. He realized that Zoro is the only swordsman capable of surpassing him. Stay tuned for updates on One Piece manga, anime, and live-action throughout 2023.

Editor's P/S

Shanks, the enigmatic captain of the Red Hair Pirates, has captivated One Piece fans with his awe-inspiring swordsmanship skills. Despite the ongoing debate surrounding his fighting style, it is undeniable that Shanks possesses exceptional abilities with a blade. His mastery of Haki, particularly his advanced Conqueror's Haki, sets him apart from other swordsmen in the series.

The connection between swordsmanship and Haki is a crucial aspect of the One Piece universe, and Shanks embodies this relationship perfectly. His ability to infuse his sword with Haki and unleash devastating attacks showcases his prowess as a swordsman. Moreover, Shanks' Haki is so potent that it can even affect those around him, as seen when he clashed with Whitebeard and split the sky.

One Piece Manga - Anime One Piece is an incredible adventure-filled series that has captivated its fans for over two decades. It follows the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, as they search for the ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the King of the Pirates. With its compelling storyline, diverse and lovable characters, epic battles, and themes of friendship and determination, One Piece has created a vast and immersive world that keeps fans eagerly anticipating each new chapter or episode. It is a timeless masterpiece that continues to redefine the boundaries of the shonen genre, making it a must-watch or read for any anime or manga enthusiast.