One Piece’s Shanks vs. Fairy Tails’ Gildarts: Who Would Win?

Shanks is one of the most popular and strongest One Piece characters, that much is known. On the other hand, we have Fairy Tail”s Gildarts, who is one of the most popular characters from his franchise and is, incidentally, modeled after Shanks. Both of them have shaped the history of their respective franchises and the history of manga and anime. While we know that both are quite powerful, we cannot but wonder who is the stronger is the two of them. Who would win in a fight between Shanks and Gildarts?

Physical powers

Shanks hasn’t taken part in any significant battles. Hence, his skills are still vague overall. He is one of the Four Emperors and, as such, is expected to possess one of the four greatest physical strengths in the cosmos. In fact, Shanks may be the strongest Emperor right now. Shanks was fearless and strong enough to face the world’s fiercest pirate, which speaks for itself. Whitebeard made numerous pirate chiefs quake at the mere mention of him.

Gildarts has proven to be extremely resilient, as shown by resisting the Crimson Lotus: Explosive Flame Knife (the same one Natsu used to defeat Laxus) by taking just one step back and damaging only his cape. Gildarts has proven to be incredibly strong; proof of this is when Natsu tries to attack him, but he overpowers him with one hand and sends him toward the ceiling.

He is also shown to be able to not only move but demonstrate attacking with surprising agility and strength under the influence of Bluenote Stinger’s gravitational field, a notable feat, as Natsu, a potential S-Class Mage known for his physical prowess, neither I wasn’t even able to bear it.

Gildarts might be powerful, and it is truly difficult to compare these two fictional worlds, but we think that Shanks is physically stronger. The guy can destroy whole ships and counter the likes of Whitebeard, so we think that should be enough here.

Points: Shanks 1, Gildarts 0

Special abilities

Regarding Shanks, we will discuss his relationship with Devil Fruits, as they are the principal source of special powers in One Piece. Devil Fruits are often a character’s best power and represent a character’s trademark power. But, a lot of powerful characters in the series never ate a Devil Fruit, and Shanks is the most notable example among them, especially since he was able to become an Emperor of the Sea without a Devil Fruit, being the only one among the Emperors without a Devil Fruit.

Of course, as far as Gildarts is concerned, we will discuss his magic. Crash is a very potent spell that causes everything the user touches to break. It can even disintegrate magic, negating its effects while also weakening and redirecting its strength. This highly developed and destructive magic, which even an extraordinarily powerful person like Gildarts finds challenging to manage, renders even the most potent spells ineffective. It has several variants: Crushing Evil, Spreading the Truth: Empyrean, Mizuwari, All Crush, and Crushing Evil, Spreading the Truth: Absolute Heaven.

Since Shanks has no Devil Fruit powers, whereas Gildarts is a very potent and strong magician, this point has to go to Gildarts without much debate, and that is how we have decided to do it.

Points: Shanks 1, Gildarts 1

Special potential

In terms of One Piece, this is where we will discuss Haki. Few characters—including Shanks—can employ all three varieties of Haki. The “heavens” above Shanks and Whitebeard tore apart as they participated in their brief battle, displaying the tremendous power of Armament Haki that they had imbued in their weapons. During the Battle of Marineford, he imbued Armament Haki onto his blade to fend off Akainu’s assault while the latter was utilizing his Devil Fruit abilities.

Shanks is also extremely skilled with Observation Haki because he can detect a strange presence among the Wano County locals. He can also utilize Conqueror’s Haki to KO Whitebeard’s entire crew in addition to scaring off the Sea King, who assaulted Luffy.

As far as Fairy Tail is concerned, this is where we will talk about a character’s magic power. Gildarts is a Fairy Tail Guild S-Class mage with tremendous magical strength that he can channel into a strong aura surrounding him. Even S-Class or prospective Mages are knocked to the ground and lose their equilibrium when exposed to this aura. At far wider distances, one may detect the aura’s power. Because of how strong it is, he even managed to get Natsu, who is renowned for having a strong sense of will and determination, to submit. When worked out, it turns dazzling white.

This category was extremely hard to evaluate in this aspect, as Haki and a character’s magic power are not comparable directly. Both are extremely potent and have enormous powers, but it is impossible to compare them directly, which is why we have decided to split the points.

Points: Shanks 2, Gildarts 2

Fighting skills

It’s common to see Shanks portrayed as an expert swordsman. Given that Mihawk, the greatest swordsman in the world, was formerly a rival of Shanks, one might assume that he is a very skilled swordsman. It is assumed that the redhead preferred his left arm before losing it because he is always shown holding his sword in his left hand during flashbacks. It is rumored that the redhead once used dual swords, which would explain Mihawk’s lack of interest in fighting him after losing his arm and would match the double swords of the redhead’s Jolly Roger. Despite missing an arm, he could parry Whitebeard with a weapon.

Gildarts is an extremely good unarmed fighter. During the S-Class Exam, he easily defended himself against Natsu’s brutal attacks with just one hand and without moving a single step.

This is a category that Shanks definitely takes. Sure, Gildarts is a skilled fighter, but Shanks has focused all that he has on weapons and manual combat, so there is no doubt that he is one of the best and would surpass Gildarts here.

Points: Shanks, 3, Gildarts 2

Both Gildarts and Shanks are powerful, but the Red-Hair pirate is the winner in this match-up

And with this, our analysis is more or less over. We have analyzed both characters and our conclusions are as they are, thus confirming that Shanks is, indeed, stronger than Gildarts.

We do have to stress that it was quite difficult for us to compare these two characters, as the worlds of One Piece and Fairy Tail are vastly different. The latter is based on magic, which is not really present in the former, whose powers and abilities are based on fighting skills and special powers provided by the Devil Fruits and Haki.

In that aspect, Gildarts’ magic would certainly pose a problem for Shanks, especially since he does not have a Devil Fruit. Still, we had some trouble comparing Gildarts’ with Shanks’ Haki, as these two skills are similar but vastly different. Deducing that we had to split the points, we concluded that the only category in which Gildarts clearly wins against Shanks is his magic.

On the other hand, Shanks is a better fighter and is undoubtedly stronger. And while the scales certainly are different in these two worlds, we cannot deny that Shanks is a true powerhouse and that his actions in One Piece undoubtedly prove that he would be able to overpower Gildarts in direct combat. That is why we concluded that when physical and fighting skills are concerned, Shanks definitely wins.

Based on these individual conclusions, we have concluded that Shanks would have what it takes to defeat Gildarts. Shanks has proven that he can take on all sorts of opponents, and Gildarts doesn’t have such a great advantage over him that he would be able to defeat him.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!