One Piece: Ace’s Tattoo ‘ASCE’ Meaning Explained

Many would argue that One Piece’s most impressive feat is its ability to give each character a unique and believably tragic backstory. Their story isn’t just told outright, but it’s also implied through small details in their appearance and personality. This is how Ace’s tattoos go from being simple tattoos to revealing more of his true character. Ace’s tattoo is read vertically, and it goes down his left arm. He proudly shows it off and the tattoo on his back. This is because Ace’s tattoos are integral to his character, as you’ll find out soon. 

What ‘ASCE’ really stands for

Ace’s ‘ASCE’ tattoo is part of the brilliant foreshadowing that Oda pulled off masterfully. When you first notice the tattoo, your initial reaction is just confusion. Why is it such a weird combination of letters? Do they stand for something? This is probably where the debunked theory got its start. 

Many fans thought that the crossed-out S was simply a typo, and that was the reason why it was crossed out. This goes well with Sabo’s easy-going and cool personality, and it’s a running gag among fans. While that’s funny to think about, there’s evidence to point to the fact that the crossed-out S is actually a reference to Ace’s little brother, Sabo. The rest of the tattoo just spells out Ace. 

During a conversation with Thatch in volume 2, chapter 5 of the light novel titled “Ace’s Story,” Ace confirms this. Thatch asks him, “By the way, Ace… What’s with that joke of a tattoo you’ve got?” 

Ace responds with, “The X through the S is the symbol of my late brother. That’s all.” 

This also suggests that the crossed-out S is referencing Sabo’s jolly Roger rather than the fact that he was presumed dead. This could go either way, as the fact that the S stands for Sabo is what matters here. 

But why is the S right in the middle of the name and not a separate tattoo? The running theory is that ACE and ASE would be pronounced the same anyway, and the tattoo works as both a reference to Sabo and as a play on Ace’s name. It’s just a creative way to include both brothers in one tattoo without it being obvious. 

Another very strong piece of evidence is the cover of chapter 596. It depicts Luffy, Ace, and Sabo all together as adults. This is a what-if scenario, showing what things would look like if the ship incident had never happened in the first place. In this image, Sabo is still alive, and Ace’s tattoo only spells out “Ace” without the crossed-out S. 

The crossed out S being a reference to Sabo isn’t only seen in Ace’s arm tattoo. Sabo also signed it on a letter he sent to Ace at departure, which is how we know that’s his signature. 

Ace’s tattoos are a symbol of what was most important to him in life, those being his brother and his involvement with the Whitebeards. These seemingly small details add a whole new layer of realism and humanity to his character. This makes Ace feel like a very real and relatable character despite the fact that he’s really a fire-bending pirate. 

Ace and his backstory

Portgas D. Ace, also known as “Fire First” Ace, is Luffy and Sabo’s older brother. He’s also the second commander of the Whitebeard pirates. The meaning behind his nickname is his fire control ability. He gained his power after eating the Mera Mera no Mi, a type of devil fruit that grants the user the ability to control and turn into the fire at will. 

Because of this, he’s a fierce opponent in battle, and physical attacks have little to no effect on him. He doesn’t have much screen time in the show, but he’s the type of character that you root for every time you see him on screen. Fans report that his story is among the saddest, and many have shed tears during this part. 

Fan theories

The meaning behind Ace’s tattoo has been heavily debated by fans, and some debunked theories continue to float around and spread misinformation among new viewers. First, let’s talk about the main theory that keeps popping up despite being debunked many times over. 

Some fans speculated that ‘ASCE’ was an acronym. The theory states that A stands for Ace himself, the crossed out S stands for Ace’s presumed-dead little brother Sabo, C stands for “crybaby” and is a reference to the nickname Ace and Sabo gave to Luffy in their childhood, and E stands for Ace’s captain, Edward Newgate, aka Whitebeard. 

At first glance, this seems like a perfectly valid theory. That is until you realize that Ace had his tattoo before he ever joined Whitebeard. If you want to see a reference to his Whitebeard membership, look no further than the expansive tattoo on his back, a tattoo of the Whitebeard Pirates symbol. 

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