One of the greatest mysteries in One Piece is how Marshall D. Teach, aka Blackbeard, managed to give Red-Haired Shanks the infamous scars across his left eye. Given Shanks’ immense strength, mastery of Haki, and his rivalry with the world’s strongest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk, how did Blackbeard manage to wound him so badly? The truth is, we don’t know yet. Eiichiro Oda has deliberately kept this event shrouded in mystery. However, with what we know about Blackbeard and Shanks, we can theorize on the possible ways it could have happened.
Shanks: The Haki Beast
Shanks is known for his overwhelming mastery of Haki, making him one of the strongest characters in One Piece. Unlike most top-tier fighters, Shanks has no Devil Fruit abilities, meaning his strength is solely based on his combat skills and Haki.
1. Rival of Mihawk
Shanks was once the rival of Mihawk, the strongest swordsman in the world. Given that Mihawk has reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship by forging a Black Blade with his Haki, we can assume that Shanks had to rely heavily on Haki to keep up with Mihawk.
2. The Observation Killer
Shanks is known as the “Observation Killer.” This means he has the ability to control his presence to the point where he can completely nullify an opponent’s Observation Haki, effectively preventing them from using Future Sight. This ability alone makes him one of the deadliest combatants in the series.
3. Shanks’ Strength at the Time of the Incident
We first see Shanks with his scar in One Piece Chapter 1, when he saves Luffy from the Sea King. At this point, Shanks is 27 years old and already has a bounty of over 1 billion berries. That’s comparable to Katakuri or Marco, meaning he was a formidable pirate at that time. However, he did not have the scar at Roger’s execution when he was 15. This places his encounter with Blackbeard sometime within the 12 years between those events.
Blackbeard: The Mastermind of Deception
Blackbeard is one of the most cunning and unpredictable characters in One Piece. Despite his seemingly cowardly demeanor, he has shown an ability to outmaneuver some of the strongest figures in the series.
1. A Man of Many Mysteries
Blackbeard has always been an enigma. He managed to hide his true strength from Whitebeard, even though Whitebeard was one of the greatest Haki users. This suggests that Blackbeard has some ability that makes him nearly undetectable until it’s too late.
2. His Unusual Body – A Chimera?
One of the most popular theories is that Blackbeard is a Chimera—essentially three people in one body. This could explain why he can wield two Devil Fruits, something that is considered impossible. If he has multiple consciousnesses, he could also have the ability to suppress his presence or distort the way Observation Haki detects him.
3. Blackbeard’s Attack on Shanks
Shanks specifically warns Whitebeard about Blackbeard, stating that he was being careful when they fought, yet he still received his scar. This means that even with his Observation Haki active, Shanks was unable to foresee Blackbeard’s attack. If Blackbeard truly has multiple entities within him, he could have launched an unexpected strike from an angle Shanks couldn’t predict, effectively bypassing his defenses.
Theories on How Blackbeard Scarred Shanks
1. A Surprise Attack Using Darkness
Although Blackbeard didn’t have the Yami Yami no Mi at the time, he could have been training with darkness-based abilities before acquiring the fruit. If he had some early form of his powers, he might have used them to suppress Shanks’ Observation Haki and land a devastating hit.
2. A Unique Weapon
Blackbeard may have used a mysterious weapon or technique that we haven’t seen yet. Considering the One Piece world has cursed swords and advanced technology like Vegapunk’s creations, it’s possible that Blackbeard used an unconventional method to attack Shanks.
3. His Three-Personality Trait Bypassing Observation Haki
As mentioned earlier, if Blackbeard truly has three consciousnesses, he might have been able to trick Shanks’ Observation Haki by attacking from multiple perspectives at once. Shanks could have seen one attack coming but missed the real one.
4. A Combination of Haki and an Unorthodox Fighting Style
Blackbeard is not known for traditional swordsmanship, but he is strong enough to take down Ace, a powerful Logia user. He could have used an unpredictable fighting style that even Shanks wasn’t prepared for.
Why This Matters for the Future of One Piece
The mystery of Shanks’ scar is a crucial plot point that Oda has intentionally left unexplained. The moment we learn how it happened, it will likely tie into Blackbeard’s true nature and abilities.
1. Shanks’ Growth After the Incident
Many fans speculate that after his fight with Blackbeard, Shanks honed his skills to develop the Observation Killing technique. The fact that he was so shaken by the battle means that Blackbeard did something beyond normal combat.
2. Blackbeard’s Role in the Final War
Blackbeard is set to be one of the final antagonists of One Piece, and his battle with Luffy will likely reveal the truth behind his abilities. His fight with Shanks might give us insight into how dangerous he truly is.
3. The Connection to Laugh Tale and the One Piece
If Blackbeard’s power is tied to ancient secrets, his fight with Shanks might have hinted at something deeper about the world of One Piece. Some theories suggest that his unique body could be linked to an ancient race or a forgotten technique from the Void Century.
Conclusion: A Mystery Yet to Be Unraveled
Blackbeard scarring Shanks is one of the biggest unsolved mysteries in One Piece, and Oda is clearly saving it for a major reveal. Whether it was due to Blackbeard’s unique body, a hidden weapon, or an unorthodox fighting technique, one thing is clear—when the truth is revealed, it will be a jaw-dropping moment with major implications for the story. Until then, we can only speculate and wait for the day when Oda finally gives us the answer.
What do you think happened during the battle between Shanks and Blackbeard? Let us know your theories in the comments!
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