As the Elbaph arc of One Piece unfolds, fans are left wondering whether a certain character is about to face significant danger. If there is anyone hanging in the balance, it’s undoubtedly Shanks. Eiichiro Oda has put considerable emphasis on Shanks recently, leading fans to speculate more about the author’s intentions regarding this character.
Shanks is one of the central figures in One Piece and is also a remarkably powerful character. The death of a character of his caliber would undoubtedly shake the fan community to its core.
Fan Theories Suggest Shanks Might Die in the Elbaph Arc
Shanks has played a crucial role in Luffy’s journey. It was he who inspired Luffy to pursue his dream of becoming the Pirate King. Shanks didn’t just lose an arm to save Luffy; he often appears at pivotal moments when Luffy faces great adversity. Therefore, Shanks’ potential death would be a major turning point for Luffy, possibly leading him down a path of vengeance akin to Ace’s death.
After Ace’s death, Luffy returned stronger than ever, and Eiichiro Oda might just be setting the stage for Shanks’ demise to grant Luffy a final confrontation that would echo the emotional weight of the previous losses.
There are also death flags in the One Piece manga that make fans think Shanks could meet an early end. In one of the colored pages of One Piece, Shanks is seen conversing with Sabo and Ace. With Ace deceased and Sabo’s fate still unclear, placing Shanks in this context raises red flags regarding his own survival.
Bartolomew has already placed Shanks’ Jolly Roger flag in One Piece, and the act of placing a flag belonging to such a prominent pirate can signify impending doom in the lore. Although Shanks forced Bartolomew to pay a price, who knows what other events might unfold?
Shanks Could Die at the Hands of Blackbeard in One Piece
According to a fan theory, Shanks’ death might be caused by Blackbeard. Luffy’s Gear 5 could push Shanks to his limits, leading to a confrontation with Blackbeard that is unavoidable.
As Blackbeard rises to power, a significant event is necessary to elevate the stakes. What better way to do this than by taking down Shanks? Given that Shanks is one of the most formidable figures currently in the series, his defeat would mark a major turning point against Blackbeard.
In reality, Shanks and Blackbeard share a complicated history. Their first encounter came after a battle between the Whitebeard and Roger crews, where both were on opposing sides. Later, Blackbeard inflicted three scars on Shanks, which made Shanks realize that he was facing a serious threat. During the Marineford War, Shanks chose to withdraw, indicating that he was not yet ready to confront Blackbeard at that moment.
Shanks is actively seeking Blackbeard in One Piece, and there might be a rematch on the horizon. If that confrontation occurs, it could very well lead to Shanks’ downfall.
