Very few anime series have reached the level of success that One Piece has. Now that the manga has entered its final saga, some key characters are finally taking center stage. Shanks is one of them, despite having appeared only briefly since the beginning.

As one of the Four Emperors, Shanks is among the strongest characters in One Piece and was the person who inspired Luffy to become a pirate. While most fans associate Shanks' life with Luffy, he had a life of his own before meeting the future captain of the Straw Hat Pirates.

Here are some of the major things Shanks did before crossing paths with Luffy. Let’s go through them one by one!

1. Joining the Roger Pirates

Like Luffy, Shanks dreamed of becoming a pirate from a young age. At just nine years old, he joined the legendary Roger Pirates as an apprentice. Despite his young age, he was a full-fledged member and accompanied them on many adventures.

The Roger Pirates were the only crew to sail across the entire Grand Line and the only known group to set foot on Laugh Tale, the island where the One Piece treasure is hidden. Unfortunately, Shanks never made it to Laugh Tale because he stayed behind to care for his crewmate, Buggy.

2. Participating in the Edd War

Only a handful of pirates could truly challenge Roger, and one of them was Shiki, the captain of the Golden Lion Pirates. Shiki was originally part of the Rocks Pirates, so he had a history with Roger.

Twenty-seven years before the main story, Shiki and his fleet clashed with the Roger Pirates in an event known as the Edd War. Shanks fought alongside his crewmates and even convinced Buggy that the Chop-Chop Fruit made him immune to sword attacks. Although Shiki’s fleet was formidable, a sudden storm wiped out half of his ships, allowing the Roger Pirates to secure victory.

3. Witnessing Roger’s Execution

After becoming the Pirate King, Roger disbanded his crew and spent his final year with Portgas D. Rouge, who later became pregnant with his child. Knowing his fate, Roger turned himself in to the Marines, who publicly executed him in Loguetown.

During the execution, Roger’s last words ignited the Great Pirate Era, inspiring countless pirates. Among those present was Shanks, who shed tears as he watched his former captain die.

4. Dueling with Mihawk

Dracule Mihawk is the world’s strongest swordsman, known for his mastery of all bladed weapons and his extraordinary vision. He was once a Warlord of the Sea and even single-handedly took down a Marine fleet.

In the past, Mihawk and Shanks dueled multiple times, but for Mihawk to claim the title of the strongest swordsman, he had to win their final duel. After Shanks lost his left arm, Mihawk lost interest in fighting him again.

5. Fighting Blackbeard

Shanks and Blackbeard are currently two of the most powerful Yonko, and they share a long history. Their first encounter was when Blackbeard served under Whitebeard, and they fought each other on an unnamed island near Paradise.

Years later, they clashed again, and Blackbeard gave Shanks the scar over his left eye. This happened before Blackbeard acquired his two Devil Fruit abilities, meaning he was already a formidable fighter with powerful Haki.

6. Recruiting Usopp’s Father

Usopp is one of Luffy’s closest friends and has one of the most emotional backstories in the series. His father, Yasopp, played a key role in his past, having left Usopp and his mother to become a pirate. The crew he joined was none other than the Red Hair Pirates.

Two years after Roger’s execution, Shanks visited Gecko Island to recruit Yasopp. He had heard of Yasopp’s exceptional sniping skills, and Yasopp joined the crew after Usopp was born. He later traveled with Shanks to Luffy’s hometown and has since remained a key member of the Red Hair Pirates.

7. Stealing the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika

Luffy ate his Devil Fruit shortly after meeting Shanks, and during the Wano arc, it was revealed how Shanks obtained it. The fruit was actually a legendary Devil Fruit with immense significance.

The World Government had been searching for this fruit for centuries due to its connection to Joy Boy and the Void Century. Shanks and his crew raided a government ship and stole the fruit, which ultimately ended up in Luffy’s hands.

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