Shanks

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Shanks (香克斯)
Alias(es)	Red-Haired Shanks; Red Hair
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Roger Pirates (formerly); Red Hair Pirates
Occupation/Role	Captain of the Red Hair Pirates; former Roger Pirates apprentice
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
King’s Disposition identified	7	Roger’s crew senses that Shanks possesses the disposition for Conqueror’s Haki, though it has not yet awakened.
Emerging kingly aura	31	His killing intent briefly overwhelms Buggy during the group’s decision to confront a bandit gang.
Powerful pirate captain	291	As captain of the Red Hair Pirates, he demonstrates exceptional speed and strength upon reuniting with Bai Chuan.
Conqueror’s Haki-infused swordsmanship	292	He incorporates Conqueror’s Haki into his Sword Qi and sword strikes during his duel with Bai Chuan.
Four Emperor	295	He identifies himself as one of the Four Emperors while challenging Bai Chuan’s campaign of conquest.
Supreme Great Swordsman	427	His supreme Haki-imbued slash combines with Bai Chuan’s attack to severely wound Blackbeard.

Background / History

Shanks began as an apprentice of the Roger Pirates alongside Buggy. During the crew’s first encounter with the unconscious Bai Chuan, he manipulated Buggy into taking sole watch duty so that he could return to drinking. Rayleigh later punished Buggy for abandoning the assignment, while Shanks escaped responsibility entirely 1.

After Roger accepted Bai Chuan as an apprentice, Shanks introduced him to the Roger Pirates’ principal members and quickly became the newcomer’s closest companion aboard the ship 3 4. He protected Bai Chuan during the crew’s clash with enemy pirates, explained the crew’s overwhelming strength, and joined him in repeatedly tricking Buggy 5 9 11.

Shanks recognized that Bai Chuan’s rapid growth had overtaken his own and resolved to train harder. Buggy encouraged him, and Shanks declared his ambition to become stronger like Roger 26 27. When Bai Chuan departed the Roger Pirates, Shanks made him promise that they would meet again 59.

Following Roger’s crew’s disbandment, Shanks continued sailing with Buggy and the other former crewmates. He later formed and led the Red Hair Pirates, defeating every pirate crew that challenged him over more than two years in the New World 151 293.

Appearance

Shanks is distinguished by his fiery red hair. At the time of his first appearance as a Roger Pirates apprentice, he had not yet developed the three facial scars associated with his later appearance 1.

• Fiery red hair 291
• Wields a sword in battle 292
• Carries Roger’s straw hat as a treasured inheritance 291

Personality

Shanks is carefree, mischievous, and fond of drinking. As a young apprentice, he deceived Buggy to avoid guard duty, and years later he still forgot an important request from Bai Chuan after drinking too heavily 1 330. His relaxed manner can conceal a sharp mind; he accurately interprets Luffy’s “3D2Y” message and understands Ace’s decision to leave Luffy to train 314.

Despite his casual nature, Shanks is proud, highly competitive, and committed to becoming stronger. He challenged Bai Chuan despite expecting to lose, treated defeat as motivation, and refused to spar with Jola because he considered a clash with Bai Chuan more appropriate for a pirate captain of his standing 292.

He has a firm moral line regarding unnecessary bloodshed. When Bai Chuan began conquering territory through killing, Shanks confronted his former friend and fought for three days to stop him, even knowing the difference in their strength 295. He also values the lives of others, intervening to save Koby and seeking to end the Summit War 311 312.

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship

Shanks is a supreme Great Swordsman whose combat style combines powerful Sword Qi with Haki.

• Uses sharp, large-scale Sword Qi attacks in combat 292.
• Fought Bai Chuan until nightfall before exhaustion ended the duel 292.
• His swordsmanship is considered among the world’s top tier, though both he and Bai Chuan are stated to fall short of Mihawk in pure technique 427.
• His Haki-imbued slash helped overwhelm Blackbeard alongside Bai Chuan’s attack 427.

Conqueror’s Haki

Shanks possesses a King’s Disposition that develops into an advanced combat application of Conqueror’s Haki.

• His potential for Conqueror’s Haki was recognized while he was still a Roger Pirates apprentice 7.
• His aura and killing intent were already capable of frightening Buggy before his Haki fully awakened 31.
• He infuses Conqueror’s Haki into Sword Qi and close-range sword strikes 292.
• His Conqueror’s Haki is formidable, though he acknowledges that Bai Chuan’s has never been surpassed by his own 321.

Speed

Shanks possesses extraordinary movement speed.

• He crossed the distance to Bai Chuan so quickly that Jola failed to perceive the movement, while Yulistin judged that he would have reacted only half a beat too late 291.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Sword — His primary weapon; used to project Sword Qi and deliver Haki-infused attacks 292 427.
• Straw Hat — A keepsake entrusted to him by Roger. Shanks considers it a treasure and a responsibility rather than an item to pass on casually 291. After Luffy returned it, Shanks declared that it had become Luffy’s own hat 406.

Relationships

• Gol D. Roger — Former captain and mentor. Roger entrusted Shanks with the straw hat and, according to Bai Chuan, placed his hopes in him 7 291.
• Bai Chuan / Shirakawa — Former fellow apprentice and one of Shanks’ oldest friends. They support one another in major conflicts, but Shanks also opposed Bai Chuan when his friend’s conquest became murderous 3 291 295 319.
• Buggy — Fellow Roger Pirates apprentice and closest childhood companion. The two constantly bicker and prank one another, but Buggy understands Shanks’ ambitions and worries 1 27 312.
• Silvers Rayleigh — Former first mate and mentor. After Oden began training Bai Chuan, Shanks was pleased to receive Rayleigh’s undivided instruction 55.
• Monkey D. Luffy — The pirate Shanks chose to inherit the straw hat. He takes pride in Luffy’s growth and recognizes him as a pirate capable of standing on his own 378 406.
• Benn Beckman — First mate of the Red Hair Pirates. Beckman supports Shanks’ decisions and maintains confidence that Shanks will eventually surpass Bai Chuan 284 292.
• Dracule Mihawk — A frequent sparring partner whom Shanks claims to have defeated in the past 292.
• Unnamed child — Shanks has a child living secretly in Foosha Village, East Blue, where he believes the child will be safe 376.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Roger Pirates Apprentice

• Watches over Bai Chuan after his descent from the Sword of Damocles, then tricks Buggy into taking over the assignment so he can drink 1.
• Welcomes Bai Chuan into the Roger Pirates and introduces him to the crew 3.
• Fights beside Bai Chuan against Akda and witnesses Bai Chuan surpass him in strength 26 27.
• Parts with Bai Chuan after the latter chooses to leave the Roger Pirates 59.

Rise of the Red Hair Pirates

• Leads the Red Hair Pirates through the New World, defeating all challengers over a two-year period 293.
• Reunites with Bai Chuan, discusses the burden of Roger’s straw hat, and agrees to search the East Blue for a worthy successor after securing his New World position 291.
• Duels Bai Chuan until nightfall, loses, and treats the defeat as motivation to improve 292.
• Confronts Bai Chuan’s expansionist campaign and loses a three-day battle while attempting to stop him 295.
• Aids the Silver Pirate Group against Kaido and Big Mom’s assault on Wano Country 301.

Summit War

• Arrives at Marineford in time to save Koby from Akainu and declares his intent to end the war 311.
• Helps shift the balance of the battlefield, negotiates a truce with Blackbeard, and secures Sengoku’s permission for the Whitebeard Pirates to conduct Whitebeard’s funeral 312.
• Travels with Bai Chuan and Ace to pay respects at Roger’s grave 314.

Later Events

• Supports Bai Chuan’s campaign against Kaido by agreeing to handle Big Mom if she interferes 319.
• Watches Bai Chuan’s battle with Kaido from afar and considers Bai Chuan the sea’s most mysterious figure 321.
• Reveals that he has a child living in Foosha Village 376.
• Meets Luffy again after the latter becomes a great pirate; accepts Luffy’s return of the straw hat, then gives it back to him as his rightful possession 406.
• Joins Bai Chuan in planning to eliminate the Blackbeard Pirates and later battles Blackbeard alongside him 408 427.

Notable Quotes

“I must stop you. I can't let you go down this wrong path.” 295

“I'm here to end this war.” 311