The spoilers for One Piece Chapter 1169 have hinted that Shanks most likely knew that Roger had a son named Ace but he still didn’t save him.
The brief summary spoilers for One Piece Chapter 1169 have been released on the internet, and they have put an interesting focus on Shanks and his former captain’s son, Portgas D. Ace. According to the spoilers, Monkey D. Garp somehow told Gaban that Roger had a son, and Gaban revealed this news to Shanks. When Shanks found out about Roger having a son, he excitedly pointed out that Roger’s son would be like a little brother to him.
While this was a wholesome development, fans are still calling Shanks a traitor because, despite knowing the fact that Ace was Roger’s son, Shanks didn’t save him during Marineford. However, one interaction between Shanks and Ace confirms that Shanks didn’t know that Ace was the son of Roger until the big revelation during the Marineford Arc. Thus, even though Shanks had complex developments, he was most likely not a traitor.
Why Ace Kept His True Lineage Secret from Shanks
Even though Shanks and Ace shared a much deeper connection in One Piece, their minimal interactions confirm that they never truly knew about each other’s identities. During the flashback scene following Ace’s execution (Episode 461), Eiichiro Oda revealed that Ace briefly met Shanks to thank him for saving his younger brother Luffy’s life.
However, Ace introduced himself as Portgas D. Ace, and Luffy’s elder brother. As a result, Shanks most likely had no idea that Ace was his former captain’s son. Ace always preferred using his mother’s name instead of his father’s because he deeply resented Gol D. Roger, blaming him for the suffering, persecution, and loneliness he endured simply for being born.
Shanks is not the only one who didn’t know about Ace’s true lineage, but if he had, he certainly would have tried to save Ace during the Marineford arc. Considering the love and respect Shanks had for his former captain, along with his reaction upon learning that Roger had a son (in the spoilers), it is safe to say that Shanks was never a traitor. Had he known that Ace was Roger’s son, he would have undoubtedly proven his loyalty in One Piece.
Oda Could Have Explored Shanks and Ace’s Connection More
Both Ace and Shanks are incredibly significant One Piece characters, and their contribution to the story have been deeply impactful despite their minimal appearance within the series. Thus, Oda had a great opportunity to explore both characters together by forming a connection between them that would have shifted the narrative developments in a major way in One Piece.
The centre of their connection would have been two major characters: Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Luffy. Shanks would have helped Ace understand what a great man his father was, and how he managed to sail all over the One Piece world and find the treasure. Ace, on the other hand, could have helped Shanks stay informed about Luffy’s growth and adventures, creating a meaningful bridge between Roger’s legacy and Luffy’s journey.
Not only that, if Shanks had been a part of the Marineford war since the beginning, Ace and Whitebeard might have been alive. Even though Ace is no longer part of the One Piece story, Oda has a great opportunity with Shanks’ mysterious character, and he is uniquely using it to build up the narrative of the Elbaph arc. Do you think Shanks knew about Ace being Roger’s son before Marineford? Let us know below!
