One Piece: Why Shanks’ Secret Devil Fruit Can Explain How He Defeated Loki

As the Elbaf arc is going on in both the One Piece anime and manga, the mystery surrounding Red-Haired Shanks continues to deepen with each new revelation. While Oda had always portrayed Shanks as the ultimate Haki master, the recent development surrounding Shamrock and his mysterious abilities could reveal Shanks’s hidden Devil Fruit in One Piece.

Oda intentionally kept the details of the confrontation between Shanks and Loki hidden after the death of King Harald in Chapter 1169. Also, Loki’s confrontation against Imu in One Piece chapters 1180 and 1181 shows that he can stand against even the strongest opponents. As a result, the new fan theory becomes even more convincing.

Shamrock’s Cerberus May Explain Gryphon’s Hidden Devil Fruit

Objects possessing their own Devil Fruits in One Piece is nothing new. This idea was first introduced through Spandam’s elephant sword, Funkfreed, which had eaten a Zoan-type fruit and gained a living elephant form. Lately, we saw Prince Loki’s warhammer, Ragnir, in the manga. It’s a self-wielding weapon that ate a mythical Zoan fruit too, so it works on its own.

In Chapter 1138, Figarland Shamrock’s sword, tied to Cerberus, makes its debut. The sword was revealed to have eaten a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit, allowing it to turn into a multi-headed dog. Cool thing is, it can change between a sword, hybrid, and beast forms – and release huge blades from its mouth too.

No wonder this has got fans thinking if Shanks’ sword, Gryphon, does something like that. The weapon’s name itself has become a major point of discussion. A gryphon is a mythical creature that combines the features of an eagle and a lion, making it a perfect candidate for a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit.

So, imagine if Gryphon did eat such a fruit. This would seriously explain why Shanks battles differently. He might not just depend on sword skills and Haki; he’d have a living mythic beast backing him up in fights, too.

Shanks May Have Needed More Than Haki to Bring Down Loki

Loki has already been portrayed as one of the most fearsome figures associated with Elbaf. As the prince of the giants and the owner of an immensely dangerous Devil Fruit, Loki represents the kind of opponent who would challenge even the strongest characters in the series, as we have seen in his recent confrontation with Imu in Chapter 1181. This is where the Gryphon theory becomes particularly interesting.

Apart from that, as a giant, Loki possesses overwhelming physical power. Against such an opponent, conventional swordsmanship alone may not be enough. However, a Mythical Zoan weapon could dramatically alter the battlefield. Imagine Gryphon transforming into a massive flying predator capable of attacking independently while Shanks simultaneously overwhelms his opponent with advanced Conqueror’s Haki.

Rather than facing a single fighter, Loki would essentially be forced to battle two elite opponents at once. The theory also helps preserve Shanks’ reputation as a Haki specialist. Fans often question how he can compete with Devil Fruit monsters while possessing no confirmed fruit powers of his own. If the Devil Fruit belongs to his weapon instead of his body, Shanks technically remains a pure Haki user while still benefiting from the incredible versatility that Mythical Zoans provide.

Most importantly, this possibility aligns perfectly with Oda’s tendency to hide major abilities in plain sight. Gryphon has accompanied Shanks throughout the story for decades, yet very little is known about it. Considering what readers have now learned about Shamrock’s weapon, the idea no longer seems impossible.

Series Title	One Piece
Manga Author	Eiichiro Oda
Manga Rating (Mal) – as of June 4, 2026	9.21 / 10
Where to Read	Manga Plus by Shueisha, Viz Media

Now the big question – Could Oda be setting up Gryphon as the next legendary Devil Fruit weapon, and was that secret advantage the key to Shanks overcoming Loki in the first place? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

One Piece manga is currently available to read on Manga Plus by Shueisha and Viz Media.