Ever since his introduction as the main character’s childhood hero and role model at the start of the One Piece story, “Red Hair” Shanks has become an iconic figure in the franchise. Despite his infrequent appearances in the narration, this has only served to enhance his charismatic and charming aura.
Whenever One Piece features Shanks, viewers can expect exciting moments, such as the hinting at his highly-anticipated rivalry with Dracule Mihawk, his appearance at Marineford, his clash with Whitebeard, and other noteworthy events.
Shanks’ fans have long awaited the opportunity to see him in action, and their desire was fulfilled in One Piece episode 1112. The episode, titled Clash! Shanks vs. Eustass Kid, showcased “Red Hair’s”combat style and incredible strength, finally satisfying the fans’ curiosity.
Shanks’s Solo Defeat of the Kid Pirates in One Piece Episode 1112
Kid vs Shanks: No Contest
After the Onigashima Raid ended, the Kid Pirates departed from Wano and headed towards Elbaf to rendezvous with a specific person known as the “man marked by flames”. Eustass Kid and his trusted companion, Killer, believed that this individual held crucial knowledge about the location of the One Piece treasure.
Upon arriving at Elbaf, Kid and his companions discovered that the Red Hair Pirates had also made their way to the island. Fueled by a desire for vengeance, Kid made the decision to launch an attack on Shanks and his crew. This was in response to a previous encounter where Kid and his crew were heavily defeated by the Red Hair Pirates.
During the previous battle, Kid had lost his left arm when Benn Beckman, the second-in-command of the Red Hair Pirates, attacked him brutally. Now, facing the same crew once more, Kid was determined to seek revenge. However, Killer cautioned him that if they were to challenge the Red Hair Pirates again, he could risk losing more than just an arm. Despite Killer’s warning, Kid refused to listen.
As Dorry, Brogy, and the other Giants continued their festivities in the center of Elbaf, the Shanks, Benn, and their companions departed. Kid attempted to approach them, but found himself encircled by the vessels of the Red Hair Fleet, a faction devoted to Shanks. Although not as formidable as the main Red Hair Pirates, they remained fiercely loyal to their leader.
Despite relying on Shanks’ flag as a means of protection, the Red Hair Fleet members were not afraid to confront Kid and make it clear that he would have to face them if he wished to encounter Shanks.
Feeling frustrated, Kid resolved to defeat the Red Hair Fleet using his Damned Punk technique. Utilizing his Devil Fruit abilities, he summoned a railgun and began to power it up, preparing to launch an electromagnetic projectile. If successful, this attack would have annihilated the entire Red Hair Fleet, resulting in the deaths of all its crew members.
Shanks was aware of Kid’s impending actions and utilized his Advanced Observation Haki to glimpse ten seconds into the future. Upon recognizing Kid’s malicious plans, Shanks took swift action. He swiftly boarded Kid’s ship and unsheathed his sword, Gryphon, imbuing it with Conqueror’s Haki before Kid could fully charge his attack, the Damned Punk.
After executing his technique known as Divine Departure, he launched a powerful slash infused with Haki that sliced through Kid’s railgun and struck him, causing him to immediately lose consciousness. In his attempt to defend Kid, Killer also fell unconscious.
Despite being overpowered by the immense strength of Shanks’ Conqueror’s Haki, the majority of Kid’s subordinates were unable to remain conscious. The remaining few pleaded with Shanks for clemency, offering to relinquish their copies of the Poneglyph as a sign of submission. However, Shanks paid no attention to their pleas and swiftly departed from their vessel.
Immediately after, Dorry and Brogy unleashed a powerful burst of compressed air that resulted in the complete destruction of Kid’s ship. With no means of escape, Kid, Killer, and the rest of their crew were forced to plunge into the ocean. As their ship sank, the narrator declared the absolute and final defeat of the Kid Pirates.
Shanks vs Kid Powerscaling Analysis
Despite his impressive endurance and mastery of the Magnet-Magnet Fruit’s powers, Kid, a prominent member of the Worst Generation, was no match for Shanks’ overwhelming superiority. Even with his evolved abilities and reputation as a tough fighter, they proved to be meaningless against Shanks.
In the previous arc, Kid and Law joined forces to confront Big Mom, ultimately emerging victorious by sending her tumbling into the abyss. While their triumph is still noteworthy, it was partially aided by the fact that Kid and Law outnumbered their opponent. With the 2v1 advantage, they were able to catch Big Mom off guard and continuously barrage her with their attacks.
Despite being a competent fighter, Kid had no chance against the powerful Shanks when facing him alone. This further highlighted the fact that fighters like Kid and Law still have a lot of room for growth before they can truly rival the strongest characters in One Piece in a one-on-one battle.
Despite being a member of the Worst Generation Supernovas, Kid is not known for his abilities with Haki. He has not shown any exceptional skills in Observation or Armament, and even though he possesses the rare Color of Conqueror’s, he is unable to use it to enhance his attacks like his fellow Supernovas, Monkey D. Luffy and Roronoa Zoro.
To successfully execute the Damned Punk move, Kid must construct a railgun and allow it to charge for a minimum of ten seconds. In the midst of battling Big Mom, Kid was able to utilize Damned Punk due to his opponent being preoccupied with Law.
Despite having no ally to divert his opponent’s attention, Kid faced great difficulty in executing his most powerful attack, Damned Punk. This was a major concern, as Shanks was able to strike and defeat Kid while he was still in the process of charging his technique.
It is worth mentioning that Shanks didn’t simply defeat Kid. He single-handedly wiped out both Kid and Killer in a matter of seconds, using just one powerful strike. This demonstrates the incredible strength of “Red Hair”, as he was able to take down two opponents who were resilient enough to withstand multiple attacks from Big Mom.
Even more astonishingly, Shanks was able to achieve this feat using a technique that is likely not the strongest in his arsenal. Just a glimpse of his strength was all it took to completely defeat a fighter as skilled as Kid.
Shanks utilized the Divine Departure, the very same move that Gol D. Roger had mastered in the past, to defeat Kid. He acquired this technique directly from Roger, further highlighting his strong connection with the renowned Pirate King.
Before the events of One Piece, Shanks served as an apprentice to Roger. During this time, he learned and inherited the Pirate King’s iconic move. Roger would use this technique by wielding his sword Ace and unleashing a powerful slash imbued with Conqueror’s Haki. Presently, Shanks utilizes the same move with his own sword, Gryphon.
Considering this, it can be confidently stated that Shanks and Roger possess a strikingly similar approach to combat, characterized by the utilization of a cutlass and their mastery of Haki. Despite being among the rare few who are born with the ability to wield the Conqueror’s Haki, Shanks, much like Roger, possesses a unique and exceptional talent.
The “Red Hair”is a skilled Haki master and consistently demonstrates his exceptional abilities. He effortlessly defeated Kid after overpowering Marine Admiral Ryokugyu. In addition, Shanks possesses the rare ability of “Future Sight,”an advanced form of Observation Haki, making him one of the select One Piece characters who can utilize this technique.
Those who possess this unique ability are able to visualize a detailed mental image of upcoming events in the near future. In episode 1112 of One Piece, Shanks utilized this power to foresee ten seconds ahead, surpassing any other character’s demonstration of this skill thus far.
Kid’s Recklessness Leads to Unintended Consequences
Despite his carefree and peaceful nature, Shanks has a strong aversion to unnecessary conflict. He avoids using violence, even when his honor is challenged. However, if anyone were to endanger his friends or those he has taken under his wing, Shanks would not hesitate to engage in battle and potentially take their life.
In One Piece episode 1112, Shanks demonstrated his willingness to set aside his pacifist nature and unleash his fury on the enemy if it meant protecting someone dear to him.
Initially, Shanks likely did not intend to defeat Kid and his crew in the manner that he did. Nonetheless, upon discovering that Kid intended to annihilate the Red Hair Fleet, Shanks became enraged and concluded that he could not allow such an act to occur. Despite their lack of strength, the members of the Red Hair Fleet held a deep admiration for Shanks and had endeavored to demonstrate their devotion to him.
Like Kid, Shanks also showed no mercy and ruthlessly defeated the former, crushing both him and his comrades. This epic moment showcased Shanks’ incredible strength and highlighted a defining trait of his character. Additionally, it increased the stakes for the final saga of One Piece.
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