One Piece fans have long wondered about the mystery behind Red-Haired Shanks’ scar over his left eye. Shanks is one of the Four Emperors in the One Piece world, and a legendary pirate who was once a member of Gol D. Roger’s crew. He is Luffy’s inspiration to become a pirate and gave Luffy his iconic straw hat, so fans are very curious about his backstory. In this comprehensive article, we will examine all the evidence, theories, and speculation around how Shanks lost his left eye.
What We Know
In the first chapter of One Piece, Shanks arrives in Luffy’s hometown and Luffy is shocked to see his scar and missing left arm. When Luffy asks “What happened to your arm?” Shanks tells him it was “a wound from fighting someone.” This immediately raises the question – who was Shanks fighting that took his arm and scarred his eye?
Later in the story, Whitebeard asks Shanks directly how his scars happened, implying it was a well-known event in the One Piece world. Shanks simply says “I bet it on the next generation” which does not reveal any details. All we can gather is that Shanks suffered these injuries in some important battle or event.
In a flashback to when Shanks was on Roger’s ship, we see Shanks does not have his scar yet or any injuries. So whatever battle caused his lost arm and eye must have happened sometime in the past 12 years since Roger’s execution.
The Blackbeard Theory
The most popular theory is that Shanks got his scars in a battle with Blackbeard. We know Shanks and Blackbeard have history, and that Shanks personally warned Whitebeard about the threat of Blackbeard. Shanks even said Blackbeard gave him his scars when trying to convince Whitebeard to call Ace back from pursuing Blackbeard.
Additionally, Blackbeard attacked and scarred Shanks’ friend Yasopp, demonstrating he is willing to target those close to Shanks. The timeline could work out for a battle between Shanks and Blackbeard to have occurred sometime after Roger’s execution 12 years ago. However, there are also issues with this theory:
- Shanks states his arm was lost “fighting someone” singular, but Blackbeard fights with his whole crew.
- There is a resemblance between Shanks’ scars and Blackbeard’s, but they do not match exactly.
- If Shanks lost to Blackbeard, it doesn’t fit his reputation as an Emperor.
So while possible, it is unlikely Shanks’ eye was taken by Blackbeard based on the evidence we have seen so far.
The Sea King Theory
Another possibility is that Shanks lost his arm and was scarred while saving Luffy from a Sea King as a child. In the first chapter, Shanks scares away a massive Sea King using Haki, but not before his arm is bitten off. If a Sea King was responsible for Shanks’ arm, it’s plausible his damaged eye was from the same incident or another Sea King battle.
We know Sea Kings are fearsome monsters that can even damage ships of giants. Shanks sailing the dangerous Grand Line and New World seas, getting into skirmishes with Sea Kings could explain such injuries. It fits with his warning to Whitebeard to not underestimate Blackbeard since he knows how damaging an encounter with a monster can be.
The main issue is we don’t see Shanks with his eye scar immediately after the Sea King attack that took his arm. You would think Oda would have depicted the eye wound right away if it happened simultaneously. Overall, this theory remains a possibility but there are gaps in the timeline.
Im, Rocks, or Other Powerful Figures
As one of the Yonko, Shanks has surely been in many dangerous battles against powerful foes during his pirating career. His scars could come from encounters before he was a Yonko, with massive figures like:
- Im – the mysterious ruler in the Empty Throne
- Rocks D. Xebec – infamous captain of the Rocks Pirates
- Kaido – the world’s strongest creature
- Big Mom – matriarch of the Charlotte Family
- Whitebeard – the strongest man in the world
Shanks clashing with any of these monumental figures could explain such devastating scars. We know he at least has some history with Kaido based on their interaction when Shanks arrived to stop the Marineford war. And if Shanks was on Roger’s ship, he could have encountered powerful enemies like Rocks back then.
The timeline does not eliminate any of these figures as possibilities for being responsible for Shanks’ scars. The main counterpoint is that these would be significant events, so you would expect Oda to have revealed details rather than leaving it a mystery.
The Future Will Reveal All
Unfortunately, after examining all existing theories, we still do not have a definitive answer on how Red-Haired Shanks suffered the scars over his left eye. Oda has kept the specifics off-panel up until now, leaving fans to speculate and theorize.
The most likely scenario based on the limited clues is that Shanks was injured fighting a powerful enemy like the ones mentioned above. Sea Kings could also plausibly play a role. But only Oda knows the entire story he has planned.
Many fans believe we will finally get a full reveal about Shanks’ scars in a future flashback, likely when the story shifts to focus more on Shanks. This would fit with Oda’s standard storytelling pattern of slowly revealing backstories and mysteries over time. For now, the origins of Red-Haired Shanks’ iconic scars will continue to be one of the great mysteries of the One Piece world.
Theories From Fans
While we wait for the official reveal of how Shanks got his scars, fans have come up with many other creative theories over the years. Here are some of the most popular fan theories on how Shanks could have lost his eye:
Drunk Bar Fight
Since Shanks is often depicted drinking, some fans think he could have simply lost his eye in a bar fight while drunk. Given his personality, it would be ironic if his scars came from a silly drunk accident rather than an epic battle.
Training Accident
Some think Shanks and Mihawk were rivals and possibly dueled often. During a sparring match between swordsmen things could have gotten out of hand, leading Mihawk to accidentally scar Shanks’ eye.
Purposeful Sacrifice
In a Reddit theory, a fan proposed Shanks may have deliberately injured himself and ended his rivalry with Mihawk, so he could focus on making it to Raftel with Gol D. Roger’s crew.
Bet With Roger
Since Shanks tells Whitebeard he “bet it on the next generation” perhaps he lost a bet with his old captain. Gambling away body parts seems in character for the wacky Roger.
Birth Defect
Some think Shanks could have simply been born with his damaged eye rather than it necessarily being from a fight. This medical possibility can’t be eliminated since we don’t know Shanks’ early life.
Symbolism Theory
A philosophical theory is that Shanks’ scars represent damaging his ability to “see the future” by sticking with outdated ideologies of Roger’s age. Only by sacrificing parts of himself could he move forward.
Ultimately these imaginative fan theories demonstrate just how ambiguous Shanks’ scars remain in One Piece. Oda has kept readers guessing for decades. But perhaps someday the story will finally reveal the definitive truth behind one of One Piece’s greatest mysteries.
Conclusion
Red-Haired Shanks’ distinctive scars over his left eye have intrigued One Piece fans ever since his character debuted early in the story. Despite many theories over the years involving figures like Blackbeard, Sea Kings, and other powerful enemies, the exact origin of how Shanks suffered these wounds remains unknown.
Oda appears to be purposefully keeping the details off-panel to gradually reveal over time in a future flashback or storyline. The most likely scenario based on limited clues is Shanks received the scars battling a formidable foe like an Emperor, Admiral, or massive beast. Sea King encounters that paralleled the loss of his arm may also play a role.
For now fans continue to speculate and come up with creative theories about the mystery behind one of the most iconic One Piece characters. But when the story finally looks deeper into Shanks’ past, all will surely be revealed. Until then, the loss of Red-Haired Shanks’ left eye will persist as one of the biggest questions remaining in the fascinating world of One Piece.
