One Piece Finally Explains Why Shanks Gave Up His Arm In The Beginning

One Piece’s Elbaf arc continues to reveal a lot of exciting information to the fans, especially when it comes to characters such as Redhaired Shanks. Alt not directly involved in the Elbaf arc, fans know very well that Shanks is extremely important here, and Oda has incorporated him in the arc through flashbacks already, along with giving him personal relationships with the likes of Harald and even Loki.

As far as Luffy goes, fans know alright how big of role he plays in his life. Shanks is Luffy’s idol, and quite easily the biggest reason why he is even a pirate today, and it’s all connected to his big sacrifice for Luffy — his left arm.

Shanks Gave Up His Left Arm To Save Luffy

• Shanks Sacrificed His Arm For Luffy’s Sake
• Oda’s Editor Suggested Shanks Lose His Arm

Shanks’s role in Luffy’s life has always been extremely important, but it became especially important after he made a big sacrifice for Luffy. In the very first chapter of One Piece, fans got to see why Luffy idolizes Shanks so much and why he intends to fulfill his promise to him. When Luffy was kidnapped by Higuma, it was Shanks who rescued him from certain death and being chewed up by the Coastal King.

Not only did Shanks rescue his, but he also went on to sacrifice his left arm for Luffy, calling it a small price to pay for Luffy’s life. There are many reasons as to why Shanks did that, and, narratively speaking, Shanks’s sacrificing his left arm showed Luffy the resolve it took to be a pirate. But, the reasons for losing an arm go beyond that. It had been revealed long ago that Oda’s Editor suggested that the story would be more exciting if Shanks lost his arm. Initially, Oda had no plans to take Shanks’s arm from him. Oda took the idea and had Shanks make a big sacrifice.

Shanks Gave Up The Abyss Mark On His Arm

One Piece’s Elbaf Arc Confirms Shanks’s Abyss Mark

Although Oda’s Editor is the main reason why Shanks lost his arm, the author has, since then, woven together a phenomenal story around this lost arm. In the Elbaf arc of One Piece, fans saw Shanks in a flashback that took place long before he even met Luffy. And, much to the surprise of the fans, here, he was seen carrying the mark of the Abyss on his left arm. This mark can only be given by the World Government, most likely by Imu. The Holy Knights all have this mark on their arms, and it essentially means they are subservient to Imu.

When I was a kid, I thought to myself: man I would love to draw a manga with the most hyped final stage! I wonder if I’m up to it! Now, we have only a tiny bit of Wano arc left, the preparations are almost done. Took me 25 years lol. That said, it’s fine if you start reading from this point on. Because from this point on…it’ll be… The ONE PIECE!! The mysteries of this world, I’ll be drawing all of them! It’ll be super interesting! Fasten your seatbelt! And please stay with me for a bit longer! — Eiichiro Oda, Author of One Piece, 2022

Shanks Knows Luffy Is Nika And Roger’s Successor

Shanks, knowing that Luffy is Nika and Roger’s successor, didn’t think twice about saving his life and even sacrificing his own arm for it. It is highly likely that his connection to Imu was several on this day, and that he most likely chose to cut connections since he had found the next Nika whom he was desperately searching for.