It is one of the most debated topics among One Piece fans: can Monkey D. Luffy beat Red-Haired Shanks? The objective of this article will be to talk about the current condition of both characters, their powers, and the very likelihood of a future confrontation.
Luffy's Current Power Level
He's grown so much through the series, especially with his latest awakening to Gear 5 and defeating Kaido. This means that as a result, getting access to Nika's power increases his fighting abilities so much that it qualifies him as one of the top people in the world of One Piece. On the other hand, some claim that Luffy still did not overcome Shanks.
Shanks' Mysterious Strength
Shanks, being one of the Four Emperors, has already been set up to be an incredibly strong character within the One Piece world. With very minimal screen time, his legend and respect from these powerhouses are pretty much indicative that his strength actually is enormous. However, for the most part, his abilities are still unknown. Therefore, speculations arise as to how strong he really is.
A Potential Future Confrontation
Many fans believe that a fight between Luffy and Shanks is inevitable. Some even go as far as to say they will fight in Laugh Tale, formerly Raftel, for the One Piece itself, thus full circle from their promise at the beginning of the series. It would be the final test for Luffy in his quest to become the Pirate King.
Factors Influencing a Potential Battle
There may be a few things that factor in if Luffy were to ever fight Shanks:
Haki: Both Luffy and Shanks have truly tremendous power regarding Haki. Of course, the Conqueror's Haki would be greatly involved in this fight; therefore, it must be compared to how far Luffy took his Haki skills.
Experience: Shanks has years of experience as a pirate and Emperor that would put him at an advantage over the young Luffy.
Devil Fruit Powers: Where Gear 5 has made Luffy the most powerful and versatile, Shanks himself proved to be a power without a Devil Fruit.
Plot Requirements: From a storytelling perspective, Shanks needs to be stronger than Luffy for the time being until some really serious story arcs are done.
Speculations on Battle Outcome
Opinions are divided on what could happen if Luffy were to fight Shanks. Some fans feel that the recent power-ups of Luffy, particularly Gear 5, might just be what he needs. The experience of Shanks and his presumed expertise in Haki might yet prove quite a problem for Luffy. How about the nature of their relationship?
Worth noting, the relationship between Luffy and Shanks is rather unique: Shanks is, in fact, Luffy's idol to become a pirate. Such a relationship may affect how their confrontation would go if there ever will be one. Many speculate that in case of their battle, it would be more like a friendly sparring than death-defying.
Alternative Theories
Many fans actually don't believe that Luffy and Shanks ever will fight. There exist theories that Shanks could be assassinated by Blackbeard before he ever gets a chance to confront Luffy. It would be a game-changing twist in the story.
Analysis and Conclusion
With the information currently available and the overall arc of Luffy's growth in the series, it's impossible to decisively say whether or not Luffy can beat Shanks right now. Although Luffy has come a long way in terms of power, especially with Gear 5, Shanks himself is such a mysterious character that his actual powers are yet unknown to the fans. From what One Piece has been built on, it is assumed that Shanks would still be a bit more ahead of Luffy in terms of absolute strength since there is definitely much for Luffy to go through before hitting that extremely high ceiling reserved for pirate power.
Still, considering Luffy's growth rate and his main-hero importance in the story, it is quite possible he will bridge this gap or even surpass Shanks by the time they finally have their long-awaited fight. If so, their struggle will really be very tight, and strategy, willpower, or even their emotional bond might decide the winner. Whether Luffy can defeat Shanks is one of the most intriguing questions in One Piece, with its answer perhaps being associated with the deepest implications for the series' conclusion.