The One Piece Fandom Is Losing Its Mind Over Shanks’ Possible Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit
For over two decades, Red-Haired Shanks has stood as one of the most enigmatic figures in One Piece. He’s a Yonko who doesn’t rely on a Devil Fruit. A swordsman who can clash with the strongest. A man whose Haki alone reshaped the entire Marineford War. But now, Eiichiro Oda might be about to shatter everything we thought we knew about Shanks — and the internet is absolutely losing it.
Fresh off the heels of One Piece Chapter 1184 and the manga’s latest confirmed break, a bombshell theory is spreading like wildfire across the fandom: Shanks may have a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit. Yes, you read that correctly. The man who famously told Whitebeard he gave up his arm for the “next generation” might have been hiding an ancient, god-tier power this entire time.
What Exactly Did Oda Set Up?
The theory stems from recent manga chapters in the Elbaf arc, where Oda has been quietly laying breadcrumbs about the nature of Mythical Zoans — the rarest and most powerful class of Devil Fruits in the One Piece world. We’re talking about fruits like Luffy’s Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, and the recently revealed Mythical Zoans of the Gorosei.
Here’s what has fans buzzing: Oda has been emphasizing that Mythical Zoan users in Elbaf represent some of the strongest characters ever introduced. The narrative structure suggests Oda is building toward a massive power reveal — and Shanks, who is deeply connected to the Final Saga’s endgame, is the perfect candidate.
As one GameRant analysis put it: “Shanks is a strong Haki user, but Eiichiro Oda has set up for him a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit ability, against all odds.”
Why a Mythical Zoan Makes Perfect Sense for Shanks
Let’s break down the evidence that’s fueling this theory:
- The Missing Arm Mystery: Shanks lost his arm saving Luffy when he was just a rookie. But what if that sacrifice wasn’t just symbolic? What if Shanks gave up something far more than flesh — perhaps a transformation ability he could no longer use effectively?
- Conqueror’s Haki on Another Level: Shanks’ Haki is already absurdly powerful. But in One Piece, the strongest characters always have layered power systems. A Mythical Zoan would explain how Shanks competes with Devil Fruit monsters like Kaido and Blackbeard.
- The Red Hair Connection: In Japanese mythology, red-haired or red-associated mythical creatures often symbolize fire, the sun, or divine beasts. Could Shanks’ fruit be something like a Phoenix, a Crimson Dragon, or even a Sun God variant?
- Oda’s Pattern of Subversion: Oda loves flipping expectations. The “Haki-only Yonko” having a Devil Fruit all along? That’s peak Oda misdirection.
The 3 Strongest Mythical Zoans in Elbaf — And Where Shanks Fits
Recent chapters have highlighted what fans are calling the “three strongest Mythical Zoan fruits” showcased in the Elbaf arc. With Luffy’s Nika fruit already revealed and the Gorosei’s terrifying transformations on full display, the third slot remains the biggest mystery.
Many theorists believe that slot belongs to Shanks. If true, this would place him in the same legendary tier as the Sun God Nika and the Five Elders — essentially confirming Shanks as one of the most powerful beings in the One Piece universe.
What Could Shanks’ Mythical Zoan Actually Be?
The fandom has been cooking up some wild guesses:
- Phoenix Model: Fits the “red” theme, explains regeneration, and parallels Marco’s Tori Tori no Mi while being on a completely different power level.
- Crimson Dragon: Dragons are the pinnacle of Mythical Zoans in One Piece. A red dragon would be thematically perfect and terrifyingly powerful.
- Kirin: A mythical Japanese creature associated with fire and divine judgment. Elegant, rare, and devastatingly strong.
- Sun Wukong Model: The Monkey King from Journey to the West — a trickster god with reality-bending powers. Given Luffy’s connection to Nika, a Sun Wukong fruit for Shanks would create an incredible parallel.
The Bigger Picture: What This Means for the Final Saga
If Shanks does have a Mythical Zoan, it changes the entire calculus of the Final Saga. Luffy’s eventual confrontation with Shanks — one of the most anticipated moments in manga history — would no longer be a simple Haki vs. Haki showdown. It would be Nika vs. ???, a clash of mythical proportions that could literally reshape the One Piece world.
It also raises a haunting question: if Shanks has had this power all along, why hasn’t he used it? Is there a cost? A curse? Or is he saving it for the moment that matters most — the final battle for the One Piece itself?
Check out our coverage of the Elbaph arc and our Luffy Gear 6 theory for more One Piece breakdowns!
The Fandom Reaction
Social media is absolutely exploding with this theory. Reddit threads are hitting thousands of upvotes, Twitter/X is flooded with fan art of Shanks in mythical beast form, and YouTube theory videos are racking up millions of views within hours.
One thing is certain: whether this theory proves true or not, Oda has once again proven why One Piece remains the greatest manga ever written. The ability to generate this level of hype and speculation 28 years into the series is nothing short of legendary.
What do YOU think — does Shanks have a hidden Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit? And if so, what creature would fit the Red-Haired Yonko best? Drop your theories in the comments below!
