The Elbaf arc in One Piece is shining a spotlight on Red-Haired Shanks, a character Eiichiro Oda introduced from the very first chapter of the series on July 19, 1997.
The flashback about Loki on Elbaf, starting from chapter 1152 in Weekly Shonen Jump issue 30 (released June 23, 2025), dives deep into figures like King Harald, Rocks D. Xebec, and Loki, while also revealing the twin brothers Shanks and Shamrock on the fateful God Valley island.
Ending with chapter 1171 on January 19, 2026, this flashback sequence sets the stage for a shocking theory. This Yonko might actually possess a unique Devil Fruit power, something most fans previously believed he lacked.
This newfound strength could officially elevate Shanks to an entirely different level, making him one of the strongest figures of the current era.
Chapters 1138 and 1167 hint at Shanks’ Devil Fruit power
Since his debut in the main story, Oda has portrayed Shanks as a master of Haki. Whether during his clash with Whitebeard in chapter 434 or his brief intervention at the Summit War to stop Admiral Akainu in chapter 580, Shanks has always relied on top-tier Haki without showing any Devil Fruit abilities.
However, that doesn’t mean the Yonko is completely unrelated to Devil Fruit powers. Starting from chapter 1138, the possibility that Shanks possesses such a power begins to emerge.
In a brief confrontation with Loki, Shamrock Figarland first reveals the power of his sword. Shamrock himself hasn’t eaten a Devil Fruit, but his sword displays the awakened power of a Cerberus, a three-headed dog from the Mythical Zoan class (likely the Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Cerberus).
This awakened ability is so strong that a single slash nearly kills Loki. The terrifying power of this Mythical Zoan sword is confirmed again in chapter 1179, where Shamrock plays a key role in quelling the chaos at Marijoa Sanctuary.
The flashback revealing past secrets in chapter 1167 takes us back 15 years to Marijoa, where Shanks and Shamrock appear together. Garling Figarland openly states that Shanks lagged behind Shamrock because he didn’t make a “Deep Abyss Contract” with Nerona Imu.
At that time, Shanks carried a completely different sword. Interestingly, the current sword he wields, Gryphon, resembles the weapons of the Celestial Dragons, especially those of his brother Shamrock and father Garling. Details from chapters 1167 and 1138 imply Shanks received this sword from the Figarland family, and it holds a unique Devil Fruit power.
Why does Shanks’ Gryphon sword possess a Devil Fruit power to rival Shamrock’s?
The strongest evidence that Shanks’ weapon contains a Devil Fruit power lies in its name, which Oda revealed in the SBS Q&A corner of volume 87 on August 17, 2018. When fans asked, the author confirmed Shanks’ sword is called Gryphon.
Like Shamrock’s Cerberus-themed sword symbolizing his power, Shanks’ sword is named after the Gryphon, a mythical creature with the body, tail, and hind legs of a lion combined with the head and wings of an eagle. Like Cerberus, this is almost certainly a Mythical Zoan ability that Shanks can harness through his weapon.
The stark contrast between the Figarland twins’ weapons is clear: Shamrock wields a sword with the Mythical Zoan power of Cerberus, the three-headed hellhound representing darkness, while Shanks’ Gryphon sword holds the power of the griffin, a symbol of light and heavenly authority.
An awakened Mythical Zoan sword would elevate Shanks to a whole new level of strength, setting him apart from most fighters in the One Piece world.
A major difference from traditional swordsmen and the answer to Mihawk’s mystery
Shanks wielding the Gryphon sword with an awakened Mythical Zoan power also resolves one of the biggest debates in One Piece about the title of the world’s strongest swordsman.
The manga confirms Dracule Mihawk holds the title of “Strongest Swordsman in the World.” In chapter 1058, the Navy declared: “Hawk Eyes Mihawk! Former Warlord, whose swordsmanship even surpasses the Red-Haired Yonko!!” Yet many still believe Shanks is stronger overall, which has puzzled fans.
However, the Navy only emphasized Mihawk’s superior swordsmanship skills, meaning Mihawk is more skilled and proficient with the blade.
If Gryphon truly holds an awakened Mythical Zoan power, it perfectly explains why Shanks is stronger despite having less refined swordsmanship. This proves Shanks is not a traditional swordsman, he fights in a completely different category.