One Piece: The Meaning of Ace’s ASCE Tattoo, Explained

Despite being a prominent member of the Whitebeard Pirates, Portgas D. Ace is most recognized as one of the iconic characters in One Piece. Being Luffy’s adoptive brother, Ace shared a strong and meaningful bond with him.

Despite his valiant efforts to protect Luffy from Akainu during the tragic Paramount War, Ace tragically lost his life. He sustained a fatal wound from Akainu, which is widely regarded as one of the most heart-wrenching moments in the entire One Piece series.

Although no longer playing an active role in the series, Ace continues to pique the interest of fans. Numerous readers have been curious about the meaning behind Ace’s “ASCE”tattoo. Keep reading to discover a comprehensive explanation for this inquiry.

The Real Motive Behind Portgas D. Ace’s Tattoo for One Piece Fans

The crossed "S" was a tribute to Sabo, Ace's adoptive brother who was presumed dead (Image via Toei Animation) — The crossed “S” was a tribute to Sabo, Ace’s adoptive brother who was presumed dead (Image via Toei Animation)

The true significance behind the “ASCE”writing was actually disclosed in One Piece Green: Secret Pieces, the fourth databook of the series that was published on November 4, 2010. The tattoo simply displayed Ace’s name, but with an added crossed-out “S”to represent Sabo, his dear childhood brother.

Sabo’s jolly roger was not only adorned with his initial letter, the “S”, but it also represented his main trait. The capital letter was placed above crossed bones, but it was later crossed out by Ace and Luffy, who believed that Sabo had died.

It was not until the Dressrosa Arc that Sabo’s survival was discovered. Following the destruction of his boat by a World Noble, Sabo was on the verge of drowning. However, he was rescued by Monkey D. Dragon, who eventually enlisted him into the Revolutionary Army and mentored him to become his trusted second-in-command.

Upon recovering his lost memories, Sabo reunited with Luffy and took on the responsibility of fulfilling Ace’s legacy by consuming the Flame-Flame Fruit, which the latter had once possessed.

Who is Ace? – A Character Profile

"Fire Fist" Portuguese D. Ace was Luffy's adoptive brother (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece) — “Fire Fist” Portuguese D. Ace was Luffy’s adoptive brother (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)

As requested by Gol D. Roger, the man who ultimately became the Pirate King, Portgas D. Ace was adopted by Monkey D. Garp and raised as his own grandson. This was due to the personal connection between Garp and Roger.

Growing up with Luffy and Sabo, Ace formed a strong bond with them and together they became a trio. As they grew older, Ace embarked on a journey to become a formidable pirate, eventually becoming the captain of the Spade Pirates.

As time passed, he became a member of the Whitebeard Pirates and rose to the position of Second Division commander. He was highly respected and mentored by the captain, Edward Newgate. In the Arabasta Arc, Ace had a brief reunion with Luffy and even helped the Strawhat Pirates by fighting against Marine Officer Smoker.

Seeking vengeance for the death of a fellow crewmate and betrayal by Blackbeard, Ace bravely confronted him in a fierce battle. Despite his efforts, Blackbeard emerged victorious and captured Ace. The World Government, aware of Ace’s connection to Gol D. Roger, sentenced him to death as retribution.

The Paramount War ensued as a consequence of Ace’s death penalty, with the Whitebeard Pirates engaging in a battle against the Marines and Seven Warlords. Despite their valiant efforts, the outcome was devastating for Whitebeard and his crew. In a moment of temporary freedom, Ace selflessly gave his life to shield Luffy from Akainu’s attack, ultimately perishing on the battlefield.

The passing of Ace deeply affected the entire One Piece community and served as a pivotal moment for Luffy and his crew. This tragic event motivated them to embark on a two-year journey to train and prepare themselves for the daunting obstacles awaiting them in the New World.

Despite his young age, Ace had already shown great potential as a pirate. He was one of the most prominent members of the Whitebeard Pirates and had gained significant influence in the New World in the world of One Piece.

As a result of possessing the Flame-Flame Fruit’s abilities, Portgas D. Ace was given the nickname “Fire Fist”. This unique Logia-class Devil Fruit enabled him to turn into flames and release potent fire-based assaults.

Ace, being the son of Roger, inherited the Will of D. and was blessed with the natural gift of Conqueror’s Haki. With the combination of these exceptional abilities and his Logia-class Devil Fruit, it is evident that Ace would have posed a significant danger to the World Government in the future.

Possible Interpretations of Ace’s Tattoo

Ace's "ASCE" tattoo has generated many different theories (Image via Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha) — Ace’s “ASCE” tattoo has generated many different theories (Image via Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha)

Ace’s tattoos were one of his distinctive attributes. One of these was a tattoo on his back depicting the Whitebeard Pirates symbol – a cross formed by purple bones placed behind a purple skull with a white mustache. Ace considered this tattoo to be his greatest source of pride.

Ace had a tattoo on his upper left bicep, with vertical writing that spelled out “ASCE”. This has always intrigued One Piece fans, who have come up with several theories about its meaning.

Some readers believe that this tattoo is a representation of different characters and concepts. The letter “A”is said to represent Ace, “S”symbolizes Sabo, and “C”stands for “crybaby,”which is a nickname for Luffy. Lastly, the letter “E”is believed to stand for Edward Newgate, who was considered a father figure by Ace and the person he owed everything to.

Despite the fact that this assumption doesn’t seem logical, it is worth noting that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda would most likely use Japanese, while the term “crybaby”which represents the letter “C”in the tattoo, originates from the English language.

In addition, it is important to note that Ace had this tattoo long before joining the Whitebeard Pirates, making it impossible for the “E”to represent Edward Newgate. Despite the fact that this theory is clearly incorrect, it has become a widespread misconception among One Piece fans.

It was also a popular belief that the tattoo was meant to be a humorous joke by the author, with the implication that the tattoo artist had misspelled Ace’s name and tried to correct it awkwardly. Considering Ace’s easygoing personality, this theory seemed plausible. However, the reality was quite different.

Final Thoughts

Ace's tattoo only features ACE as Sabo and Luffy are together with him, a what-if situation on One Piece chapter 596 cover art (Image via Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha) — Ace’s tattoo only features ACE as Sabo and Luffy are together with him, a what-if situation on One Piece chapter 596 cover art (Image via Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha)

Despite the numerous explanations, the significance of Ace’s “ASCE”tattoo was quite clear. It played on his name, as “Ase”, “Asce”and “Ace”all have a similar sound. The play on words led people to assume that the “S”was a tattoo error, when in reality it held a specific meaning. It was a tribute to his brother Sabo, who was thought to have passed away.

Instead of the original “ASCE”, the tattoo on Ace’s arm is written as “ACE”on the cover of chapter 596 of One Piece. This is because the cover is a special “what if”image depicting Ace, Luffy, and Sabo reunited as adults.

Despite Ace’s untimely death and inability to reach his full potential, the Ace-Sabo-Luffy trio will always serve as inspiration for the new generation of rising rookies. His sacrifice will forever be cherished by One Piece fans as one of the most poignant moments in the series.

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