Shanks, the enigmatic and powerful Emperor of the Sea in One Piece, has captivated fans with his overwhelming Haki, leadership, and undeniable presence. But one lingering question often arises in discussions about his strength—would Shanks be more powerful if he still had his left arm?
Shanks lost his arm in the very first chapter of One Piece, sacrificing it to save Luffy from a Sea King. Since then, he has risen to become one of the Four Emperors, proving that losing an arm did not prevent him from attaining supreme strength. However, if he still had his left arm, would he be even stronger? Let’s dive deep into this debate and explore the possibilities.
1. Shanks’ Strength Even After Losing His Arm
Despite losing his arm, Shanks continued to grow stronger, eventually becoming one of the most feared figures in the One Piece world. He is an Emperor, on par with the likes of Kaido, Big Mom, and Blackbeard. His Haki, especially his mastery of Conqueror’s Haki, is considered among the strongest in the series.
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Shanks is a master swordsman, wielding Gryphon, a powerful saber.
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He can clash equally with Mihawk, the world’s greatest swordsman (before losing his arm).
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His presence alone can stop battles, as seen when he halted the Marineford War effortlessly.
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His Haki is strong enough to knock out veteran pirates and affect the environment.
Despite all these feats, many believe he could have been even stronger if he had retained both arms. But how true is that?
2. Was Shanks Left-Handed?
One of the key arguments supporting the idea that Shanks would be stronger with both arms is the possibility that he was originally left-handed.
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In multiple flashbacks, Shanks is seen wielding his sword with his left hand.
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His sword, Gryphon, was often placed on his right hip, which suggests he favored his left hand.
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He even used two swords in some instances, demonstrating ambidextrous skills, but often favored his left in key moments.
If Shanks was indeed left-handed, losing his dominant hand would have forced him to retrain his entire fighting style. This could mean that despite his overwhelming strength, he is still not at his absolute peak compared to what he could have been.
3. How Losing His Arm Affected His Swordsmanship
Shanks is regarded as one of the greatest swordsmen, second only to Mihawk. However, losing an arm likely forced him to adapt significantly.
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Reduced Swordplay Potential – With only one arm, he is limited in how he can wield his sword. Dual-handed strikes, certain parries, and advanced techniques might be harder for him to execute.
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Loss of a Key Fighting Style – Before losing his arm, he may have had a more diverse range of attacks, but now he focuses on maximizing his one-handed swordplay and Haki.
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Why Mihawk Stopped Fighting Him – After Shanks lost his arm, Mihawk reportedly stopped considering him a worthy rival. This strongly indicates that Shanks was a stronger swordsman when he had both arms.
Despite these limitations, Shanks compensated by mastering his Haki to an extreme level.
4. Would His Haki Growth Be Slower With Both Arms?
One counterargument to the idea that Shanks would be stronger with both arms is that the loss of his arm forced him to focus more on Haki. Since swordsmen with both hands have more techniques available, they may not need to rely on Haki as much.
However, Shanks’ battle against Whitebeard showed that his Haki was already at a terrifying level. His presence alone could damage Whitebeard’s ship, and his Conqueror’s Haki is so strong that he can paralyze even strong-willed warriors.
If he had both arms, he would still have had the motivation to improve his Haki, but he would also retain his full swordsmanship potential. This means that instead of just being an elite swordsman with god-tier Haki, he would have been an even more complete warrior.
5. The Emperor Without an Arm – A Testament to His Strength
Shanks became an Emperor despite his injury, which speaks volumes about his strength. Many characters in One Piece rely on raw power, Devil Fruits, or physical dominance, but Shanks relies almost entirely on skill, willpower, and Haki.
His ability to maintain balance in the New World, command a powerful crew, and strike fear into both pirates and Marines proves that even with one arm, he is a force to be reckoned with. However, this does not mean he would not be stronger with both arms.
6. What If He Never Lost His Arm?
Let’s speculate for a moment—what if Shanks never lost his arm?
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Stronger Duels With Mihawk – The duels between Shanks and Mihawk would have likely continued, possibly making both of them even stronger.
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Better Swordsmanship – He would be able to wield his sword with more flexibility and execute a wider range of techniques.
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An Even More Fearsome Emperor – With both arms, his potential as an Emperor would have been even greater.
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Potential Devil Fruit Power? – Some fans speculate that if Shanks had both arms, he might have even acquired a Devil Fruit, further increasing his power.
While these are all hypothetical, the possibilities are fascinating.
Conclusion: Would Shanks Be Stronger With Both Arms?
The short answer? Yes, he would.
Shanks losing his arm did not stop him from becoming one of the strongest characters in One Piece, but it certainly placed limitations on his fighting style. If he still had both arms, his swordsmanship would likely be at a higher level, his fights with Mihawk would have continued, and he might have been even more dominant as an Emperor.
However, what makes Shanks truly remarkable is that despite this major handicap, he is still one of the most feared and respected figures in the world. His mastery of Haki, strategic mind, and leadership have cemented his place among the strongest.
At the end of the day, One Piece is about overcoming adversity, and Shanks is the perfect example of how losing something does not mean losing everything. His strength, even with one arm, proves that he was always destined to be one of the greatest.
What do you think? Would Shanks be significantly stronger if he had both arms, or has he already reached his peak? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
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