One of the best stories of One Piece is that involving the now-legendary Portgas D. Ace. It is also one of the saddest stories in the series. Ace’s story had actual depth, and through his connection with Sabo and Luffy, Ace became a very important character in the overall plot of One Piece, which is why his fate shocked and made a lot of fans very sad. In this article, we are going to talk about Portgas D. Ace, as we are going to tell you whether he died in One Piece, as well as when it happened and who was responsible for it.
Portgas D. Ace indeed died in One Piece. His death happened during the Marineford Arc, i.e., the Summit War of Marineford. The World Government had captured Ace earlier and sentenced him to death. Still, he was freed and participated in the fight until he sacrificed his life to protect Luffy from an attack launched by the Marine’s Admiral Akainu.
Portgas D. Ace’s fate is one of the saddest issues in the One Piece series, and we are going to reveal and explain what happened to him. We know everything that happened, as well as how it happened, so we are going to bring you all the details about Portgas D. Ace’s death in One Piece. For those of you that are not up-to-date with all the events, this article is going to have numerous spoilers.
Does Portgas D. Ace die in One Piece?
The story of Ace’s death actually starts with the Water 7 Arc, the arc preceding the Impel Down and Marineford arcs. Despite Shanks’ efforts to convince Whitebeard to call Ace back, he eventually meets up with Blackbeard. Blackbeard proposes that Ace join him, revealing that she plans to kill Luffy and turn him over to the Navy to claim the reward from him. Ace rejects the proposal and goes into a rage before burning his arm. It is then revealed that Blackbeard also consumed a Logia-type Devil Fruit, the Yami Yami no Mi.
Although Blackbeard cannot make attacks pass through him like other Logia Fruit users, he has the ability to cancel the powers of other Fruits, even Logia-type ones. Ace manages to burn Blackbeard several times, and he attracts him, canceling his powers and dealing a ferocious blow to him. Blackbeard again offers Ace to join his crew, to which he replies that he wouldn’t be a man if he accepted. Finally, Ace creates a huge sphere of fire, exclaims that he will make Whitebeard the pirate king, and charges at Blackbeard.
He is then seen in the distance on the island, where the clash of forces of fire and darkness are fighting. The chapter ends with an image of Ace’s hat lying on the ground. Blackbeard defeats Ace and presumably presents his victory to the Government, earning himself the vacant position of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Ace was sent to the most terrible prison in the One Piece world, Impel Down. Although Luffy never found out directly what happened to Ace, he ended up finding out in another way.
After Lola explains the nature of the vivre card, Luffy realizes that the role Ace had given him in Alabasta was the same. However, the role Luffy had been given was deteriorating, and that was a sign that Ace’s life was slipping away. Despite this, Luffy decides not to go rescue him, as he claims that Ace will be enraged if he does. It is later revealed that the World Government will publicly execute him. The World Government aims to provoke Whitebeard to go to war. According to what Donquixote Doflamingo said, all the Seven Warlords of the Sea are preparing to fight against Whitebeard’s pirates. While others, like X Drake, say that this war will be monumental and no one will be able to stop it.
Finally, Luffy, after learning of his brother’s imminent execution, decides to go save him, asking the Sea Warlord Boa Hancock for help in his goal of reaching his brother’s meeting in less than six days. Ace, confined in Impel Down with large chains, receives a visit from Monkey D. Garp and asks him to kill him to stop Whitebeard’s advance. However, Garp refuses, saying that by doing so, he will not prevent Whitebeard from coming to look for him. Garp laughs and says that they have finally managed to anger the Governor of the Seas.
Garp continues to recriminate the fact that neither he nor Luffy became powerful sailors, to which Ace replies that having the blood of his father, he could not expect less. It is now that Ace reveals that the last name he bears is her mother’s, and he uses it because he owes her a lot, not so his father, whom he never even knew and even hated. Ace reveals that there will be no other father for him than Whitebeard. Ace is locked up with the Sea Warlord Jinbe, who is trying to save Ace in order to prevent Whitebeard from getting into a war.
Later, Ace receives a visit from Boa Hancock, who reveals that he brought someone to save him. Hancock does not reveal his name but tells him that this man was worried because surely Ace would be angry with him. Hearing this, Ace then recognizes that the one who comes to save him is none other than his brother Luffy. Later, Ace, upon learning that Magellan and his officers are preparing to capture Luffy, mentally asks him not to come and save him since he is in danger.
While Luffy fights against Magellan, Ace asks the guards what is happening, but they say nothing. Ace finally realizes that Magellan has defeated and imprisoned Luffy. Concerned, he begins to cry. Jinbe tries to comfort him, saying that Boa Hancock is surely lying. But Ace, knowing that Luffy is able to go save him, tells Jinbe that Hancock couldn’t have lied. The day of Ace’s execution arrives. Magellan goes to see him and tells him that the convoy that will take him to Marineford is ready, where Ace will be tried to take him to his imminent execution. All this without knowing that his sister is finally recovered and is about to reach level 6.
Ace is taken to Marineford, where he is led to the central gallows to be executed. There, before the big door is opened for him, Ace remembers the years with Luffy. Three hours remain for his execution. Sengoku, on the execution platform, reveals that Ace is the son of the pirate king, Gol D. Roger. Minutes later, Whitebeard would appear. Luffy manages to reach Ace, but then Kizaru breaks the key to Ace’s handcuffs. However, Mr. 3, disguised as one of the enforcers, makes a wax replica of the key, freeing Ace and also preventing him from dying in a cave-in caused by Sengoku himself.
Now, Ace will be able to join the battle. Whitebeard then orders all of his men to leave while he stays at Marineford. When Ace and Luffy are escaping from Akainu, he appears, provoking Ace and making them stop. After a brief argument, Luffy, who is nearby, is attacked by the admiral; Ace decides to stop him by putting himself in Luffy’s place, taking a direct blow through the chest, thus sacrificing his own life. Luffy sees that his Vivre Card is burning rapidly.
Ace falls into the arms of his brother, knowing that he is going to die. Quickly all the pirates try to give the doctor time to try to do something, but this is in vain; after examining him, he says that his vital organs have been burned, and it is impossible to save him before dying. Ace thanks everyone for what they have done and falls dead to the ground in the arms of Luffy, who is devastated by pain and crying.
When did Portgas D. Ace die?
Portgas D. Ace was 20 years old when he died. We have explained how it happened and during which arc, but we also want to tell you the exact chapter and episode. Ace’s death happened in Chapter 574 of the manga, titled “Portgas D. Ace Dies.” It was first released on February 15, 2010. As for the anime, the death scene happened in Episode 483, titled “Looking for the Answer – Fire Fist Ace Dies on the Battlefield,” which premiered on January 16, 2011.
Who killed Portgas D. Ace?
As for the identity of Ace’s killer, we have also revealed it – it was the Marine Admiral Akainu, one of the most loathsome and vile One Piece characters ever. Regardless of Ace’s death, Akainu is a truly disgusting character and a prototype villain that everyone outrightly hates, and his killing of Ace, although he intended to kill Luffy, only adds to that hatred. Ace’s death actually cemented Akainu’s status as one of the most hated One Piece characters, and it is completely understandable since he killed one of the most beloved characters in the series.
