This article contains spoilers from One Piece’s Elbaf Arc.
Oda has illustrated incredible rivalries inOne Pieceover the years, some that still define some characters today. However, if there’s one rivalry that continues to be shrouded in mystery, it is the one between Shanks and Mihawk. Fans know very well thatShanks and Mihawk are monstrously powerful piratesin their own right.
While one stands tall as a Yonko, the other is considered to be the World’s Greatest Swordsman. Naturally, there is a debate amongOne Piecefans about who the stronger one of the two is. While some claim Mihawk is superior, others believe Shanks stands above him. Oda has already implied the answer to this question.
Mihawk Vs Shanks Rivalry Shook The World
The Mihawk Vs Shanks rivalry is most certainly one that shook the Grand Line at one point. This is directly stated by Whitebeard when he met Shanks atop the Moby Dick. The fact is that Whitebeard stated that Shanks’s duels with Mihawk rang across the Grand Line and he still remembers them like it was yesterday. Yet, in the same statement, Whitebeard acts shocked about Shanks losing an arm, which implies that Shanks’s display against Mihawk was absolutely brilliant.
He’s a man with sword skills better than even the Red Haired Emperor, Shanks. — Brannew
At the same time, fans know very well thatMihawk is the man who sits atop the throneof the strongest swordsmen, and as some fans would argue, Shanks is a swordsman, so Mihawk must be stronger.
The truth is that there is a lot of Nuance to this. Mihawk is a proper swordsman and most definitely the strongest when it comes to that. But, Oda has specifically stated time and again that Mihawk only excels over Shanks in “sword skills.” In other words, Mihawk specializes in the way of the blade, but that doesn’t make him stronger than Shanks.
Shanks Is Stronger Than Mihawk
Shanks Is Roger’s Apprentice And A Monster
When looking at Shanks’s portrayal, it is clear that he is on a higher level than Mihawk. His swordsmanship might be inferior to Mihawk’s, but his overall power, including the strength of his Haki, and potentially even an enchanted blade, is what makes him stronger. When it comes to overall power, it is stated quite clearly that Shanks is the next Roger. Everyone considered him to be the next Pirate King, even Buggy. Shanks is such a genius that he even learned Roger’s techniques which saw the usage of Advanced Conqueror’s Haki before hitting 15.
How does he truly fight? — Eiichiro Oda
More than that, Kaido himself considers Shanks to be inthe same tier as Rocks D. Xebec, Whitebeard, Roger, and Oden. These are absolute monsters of the old era that even Kaido, the strongest creature, respected.
Shanks Is Comparable To Joy Boy
If all that wasn’t enough, then Oda also draws direct comparisons between Shanks and Joy Boy. When Joy Boy used his Haki, it was clearly compared to that ofShanks by Dorry and Brogy, as they were unsure if it was stronger than his. Even the strongest pirate in the history of One Piece draws comparison to Shanks, which is proof that he is in a whole different tier.
Right now, Shanks is the strongest pirate. He might even go on to be revealed asstronger than Rocks D. Xebecand it wouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.
Surely, Mihawk’s sword skills are superior, but he isn’t, in any way, stronger than Shanks’s overall.
One Piece Chapter 1155 will be out this week. As usual, One Piece is going to drop on Sunday. In Japan, One Piece drops at 12AM JST on Monday. However, the vast majority of international readers will see the chapter available on July 20. The official release date of One Piece Chapter 1155 is Jun 08, 2025. Fans can read the chapter for free onManga Plus.
