Does Shanks Know Where the One Piece Is?

The One Piece is the ultimate treasure and namesake of the popular series, but trying to find out who will find it, where it is and what it is is very unclear. ‘Red-Haired’ Shanks may be one who knows, so does Shanks know where the One Piece is?

Shanks may know where it is or have an idea but he probably doesn’t know enough about it. He may not even have been on Gol D Roger’s crew or been told about it when the One Piece was hidden, but he probably has a good idea about it.

We’ll look at what the One Piece is, the best ideas about where to find it and why Shanks himself doesn’t have it.

Where and What Is the One Piece?

One Piece is what the great treasure first owned by Joy Boy and later Gol D Roger is named. Exactly what it is or where it is is unclear, but rumor has it that it is on the last island of the Grand Line, Laugh Tale.

The problem is that the existence or final resting place of the One Piece is generally not very well documented. For example, Edward Newgate (Whitebeard) yells out just before dying at Marine Ford that the One Piece exists.

Whitebeard was told about it by Gol D Roger, and this is why the direct link to being the Pirate King is believed, including by Monkey D Luffy.  Since Gol D Roger’s execution, however, despite attempts by many to find it, they have all failed.

This also brings up the issue that as it is unclear what the One Piece is, many may have inadvertently passed by it without realizing it. But any member of the Roger Pirates is going to have the best idea of what it is: meaning Shanks and Buggy.

Finally, it could be that after reaching Laugh Tale, Gol D Rogerfound out he wasn’t Joyboy and in fact he was much too early to bring the prophecy to fruition, whereas  Luffy is almost the perfect age.

How Could Shanks Know Where the One Piece Is?

Shanks was a member of the crew of Gol D Roger, along with his friend Buggy. 

This is proven by the possession of the Straw Hat from Roger, which was then passed onto Monkey D Luffy. This was given to the young Luffy with a promise to return it when Luffy became a great pirate, which could be code for when Luffy becomes the Pirate King.

The link back to the Devil Fruit is also important, as the prophecy said that another Joyboy is needed and Shanks certainly knows the truth behind the Gomu Gomu no Mi. Luffy has already met Shirahoshi in the 24th year but with a non activated Devil Fruit.

This faith that Luffy will find the One Piece perhaps reflects that Shanks has at least some knowledge of where the One Piece is and how to get it, and he for some reason thinks that Luffy has everything it takes to get it.

Initially, Shanks thought that Ace would be the one, but after realizing the true power of Luffy, he decided to encourage Luffy to take to the seas and become a pirate.

But it’s not exactly clear whether Shanks or Buggy were part of the crew at the time when Gol D Roger hid the One Piece to begin with. Shanks seems to be quite uninterested in being a Pirate King, and this is why he’s happy to let Luffy go for it.

The issue also naturally arises, why would Shanks be told about the One Piece. Even if he was on the crew, it’s likely he was a low-ranking crew member who wouldn’t be privy to everything, especially not something as important as the One Piece. 

Further, given Buggy’s history of blabbering and greed, it’s unlikely he could keep his mouth shut about it if he actually knew. So it’s likely Buggy at least doesn’t know because Shanks hasn’t told him, or they weren’t on the original journey with Gol D Roger.

This makes sense, as it’s much more likely that if Shanks did know about the treasure, he still wouldn’t go after it and also doesn’t want anyone else going for it if he thinks they’re not worthy, which category Buggy is very unlikely to fall into (especially compared to Luffy).

If we go by the years, then Shanks is currently 39, with some quick math we can deduce that Shanks was 15 at Roger’s execution.

As Roger disbanded the crew before he was executed and we know that Roger took somewhere around three years to conquer the Grand Line, we can surmise that Shanks was 12 or younger upon joining the crew, making it less likely he was there for the One Piece.