Shanks and Luffy are prominent characters in the One Piece series. This fact comes as no surprise considering the impressive profile of their great exploits. These young pirates both became acquainted very early in the story, and their fates have been closely intertwined ever since. Shanks and Luffy met for the first time in a small village on Dawn Island, and it was there that the red-haired pirate inspired Luffy to become a pirate.
Luffy has taken a long and arduous path to get to where he is now, and the same can be said for Shanks. They hold each other in very high regard and even promised they’d meet again once Luffy becomes a great pirate. Though not much has been shown of Shanks’ abilities in the story, viewers have still been exposed to interesting details regarding the captain of the Red Hair Pirates. Here are some similarities that have been observed to be shared between Shanks and Luffy.
10 They Are Free-Spirited
Luffy and Shanks don’t adopt a stern demeanor very often and are rarely seen stressing over anything. Despite being immensely goal-driven, Luffy does not take many things seriously and often prefers to enjoy himself rather than be bothered with complicated details.
The same can be said for Shanks, as the Red Hair is much more relaxed than other pirates of his esteemed stature. While others can usually be seen scheming or organizing massive events, Shanks usually takes things at his own pace. Though this personality trait can be found in both characters, it is much more apparent in Luffy’s behavior.
9 They Are Both Respected Pirate Captains
The two have gathered formidable pirate crews and are hugely respected by their respective crewmates. Shanks’ crew, known as the Red Hair Pirates, is greatly feared even in the New World, a sea famed for its overwhelming danger. The group consists of extremely powerful individuals, with their vice-captain being strong enough to instill fear in a navy admiral.
The Straw Hat Pirates have also grown considerably in strength since the beginning of the story, getting the better of powerful pirate groups like the Donquixote Pirates and the Beast Pirates. They share an unbreakable bond, and each member holds their captain, Luffy, in high regard, constantly maintaining belief in him regardless of the situation.
8 They Do Not Tolerate Anyone Who Hurts Their Friends
As previously established, Shanks and Luffy are usually easy-going, but one point at which they get enraged is when their friends are put in harm's way. For Shanks, this is shown early in the story when he saves Luffy from being killed by Higuma, stating on arrival that "good reason or not…no one hurts a friend of mine."
Luffy holds a similar sentiment and has expressed it several times. Regardless of whether they are massive organizations or important figures known all over the world, the indomitable rubber man will forgive no one who harms those close to him. This was notably shown when he declared war on the world government for the sake of Nico Robin, and when he punched a celestial dragon because of Camie.
7 They Both Have Excellent Marksmen Who Are Also Related
As captains of powerful pirate crews, both naturally have equally impressive crewmembers. Coincidentally, however, the prime sharpshooters of their respective groups turned out to be father and son. Yasopp, a high-ranking officer of the Red Hair pirates, is the father of Usopp, one of the first members to join the Straw Hat crew.
Yasopp was personally scouted by Shanks, presumably due to his profound skill. Usopp, however, was discovered by Luffy when the latter was in search of a proper pirate ship. Currently, both father and son are skilled marksmen who have made a name for themselves all over the new world.
6 They Are Both Heavily Disliked By Buggy
Buggy the clown’s existence is enigmatic. Like Shanks, he was formerly an apprentice on the ship of the late pirate king Gol D. Roger. However, he possesses no remarkable skill of his own. Yet, despite his glaring lack of ability, he still finds himself in significant positions and high-profile battles, a feature that has allowed him to meet Shanks and Monkey D. Luffy at least once since the Roger Pirates disbanded.
One consistent aspect of the red-nosed pirates’ character is his annoyance at both Shanks and Luffy. Upon meeting either of them, he is seen constantly bickering and expressing his lack of understanding of how their brains work. He seemingly does not outrightly hate them, though, as he is not beyond granting them a favor or two if asked of him.
5 They Love Throwing Parties
Given the proper conditions, the two pirate captains will find any excuse to celebrate. With Luffy, this is mainly seen after completing dangerous quests or defeating powerful enemies. He is usually the one to suggest a party, and on occasions where the party has already started, he is usually one of the first to join in.
For Shanks, his first appearance in the story pictures him celebrating with his crewmates. He is seen teasing Luffy and enjoying himself as much as he can. Another such occasion is when Dracule Mihawk brought him a wanted poster of Luffy, showing how high his bounty had risen. Upon seeing the poster, Shanks immediately organized a celebration for Luffy’s growth, even dragging Mihawk into it.
4 They Both Have Bounties Of Over One Billion
A little different from how they work in real life, bounties in the world of One Piece signify a specific individual's power level. Weak characters are assigned small bounties while strong characters possess outrageous ones, with bounties of over one billion being reserved for absurdly powerful figures.
Both Luffy and Shanks are deservedly placed in this category, as Shanks possesses a bounty of just over four billion, and Luffy possesses one of just over three billion. The latter was recently assigned such a high bounty after beating Kaido. However, it is worth noting that it was still over the one billion threshold prior to his victory.
3 They Have Both Owned The Legendary Straw Hat
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
Luffy’s iconic headwear is known as more than just a fashion accessory. It is an important memento passed down from the Pirate King himself, a token that represents the bond between Shanks and Luffy, and a hat of destiny that has only been owned by the strong.
Shanks was the first of the two to receive the straw hat. It was given to him at the young age of eight, and he kept it close until that fateful day when he departed from Foosha village. That was the moment when it was passed on to Luffy, and from then on, he treasured it and promised to return it to Shanks one day.
2 They Became Yonkōs At A Very Young Age
The Yonkō, also known as the Emperors of the Sea, are the most feared pirate captains in all of One Piece. The title is reserved for the strongest beings who traverse the seas, instilling fear into those who so much as hear their names.
Shanks and Luffy achieved this status at a very young age, with both respectively being the youngest at their times of joining. Though it is not clear what feats Shanks accomplished before becoming a Yonkō, Luffy earned the title after taking down former Yonkō, Kaido, during a fierce battle in Wano country.
1 They Are Excellent Users Of Conqueror Haki
Haoshoku Haki, otherwise known as Conquerors Haki, is a rare form of Haki that can be used to overwhelm a large number of people using willpower alone. Another name for it is Supreme King Haki, as it is said that those who possess it also possess the makings of a king.
Apart from being the first character shown to use Haoshoku Haki, Shanks is also one of the strongest users of the unique power. His haki was strong enough to render a good portion of Whitebeard's crew unconscious and is now even so formidable that he can intimidate a navy admiral from an extremely long distance. On the other hand, Luffy gained control over this power relatively recently. However, he is still excellently skilled at using it, as shown when he knocked out fifty thousand Fishmen and when he imbued his attacks against Kaido with Conqueror's Haki, allowing him to damage the king of beasts significantly.