Not Luffy, but Shanks was always meant to be Blackbeard's true rival in One Piece 

The One Piece Final Saga has fans on chockhold as it is described to be one of the most chaotic eras the world has ever seen, a “Great Battle Royale,” as Eiichiro Oda himself described during Jump Festa 2023.

The creator himself has hinted that every major power, the Yonko, Marines, and other pirate crews, would collide in one massive confrontation over the Road Poneglyphs.

But when fans start to speculate on what or who is the central rivalry of this saga, the discussion almost always steers towards Luffy vs. Blackbeard. However, Oda’s true narrative mirror wasn’t between the two captains of the “D.” lineage but between Shanks and Blackbeard all along?

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A rivalry written in scars

Long before Luffy became the Straw Hat captain we know today, Shanks bore a scar that changed everything. In One Piece Chapter 434, Shanks tells Whitebeard that the three marks across his left eye came from none other than Marshall D. Teach before Blackbeard had even become famous.

What is concerning about this is how Shanks chose to talk about it. Because Blackbeard is one such character who was successful in injuring Shanks while he was on guard. This kind of feat is not achieved by any average character.

That is why this single statement reframes Teach’s role in the story. From Ace’s capture to Whitebeard’s death, from the rise of the Blackbeard Pirates to their ascension to Yonko status, Teach has moved exactly as Shanks predicted.

Furthermore, it would not be wrong to say that their is their tension isn’t born from ideology like Luffy and Blackbeard’s; it’s born from history. These are two emperors who understand each other’s danger on a level that no one else can.

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The "Great Battle Royale" and the perfect timing

Oda’s Jump Festa message teased a “Great Battle Royale” among the Yonko and Marines. With Kaido and Big Mom already gone, the four emperors now are Luffy, Blackbeard, Shanks, and Buggy, an unpredictable mix that’s perfect for chaos.

But because of Buggy’s unpredictable nature, his actions could be what triggers the long-awaited Shanks vs. Blackbeard battle. Interestingly, to add on to this theory fans have noted that the timing is also making sense as Shanks is ready and is on his way towards finding the One Piece.

While Blackbeard is recovering from his battles against Law and Garp. Shanks, being the man who would never leave a golden opportunity, would swiftly take his chance and start his journey.

If Shanks in One Piece really intends to reach Laugh Tale, he cannot and would not wait for Luffy. His crew has to move now, and the chances to actually acquire the treasure increase if he defeats Blackbeard on his way. More than anything, Shanks would be doing everyone a favour and stopping a dangerous man from getting the treasure.

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The real antithesis

Many fans see Luffy and Blackbeard as opposites, light and dark, freedom and greed. While the reasons to look at them like that make sense, it would very well be Oda's misdirection. After new revelations on the God Valley Incident, it seems like Shanks is Blackbeard’s true counterbalance.

Both are emperors with loyal crews, both are legendary figures, and both command immense respect. Yet, their ideals couldn’t be more different.

• Shanks upholds stability. The best example is when he prevented Marineford from spiraling into an apocalypse, negotiated with the Gorosei, and acted as a guardian of the sea’s balance.
• Blackbeard thrives on chaos. In this story, it is shown that at every step of his journey involves betrayal, exploitation, and the destruction of order.

Where Shanks fights to preserve the world, Blackbeard fights to remake it. They are yin and yang, not in balance, but in collision.

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Why Luffy vs. Blackbeard isn’t the true rivalry in One Piece

In One Piece, Luffy’s final enemies are likely the World Government and Imu, the true oppressors of freedom. His battle isn’t with Teach; it’s with tyranny itself. Meanwhile, Blackbeard’s story has always revolved around Shanks.

Since the day he scarred him. Moreover, Teach has been on an overachieving mission to surpass every legend who stood before him and be the last one standing.

It’s telling that Blackbeard refused to fight Shanks at Marineford, saying, “Not yet.” The word “yet” has echoed for over a decade; it might seem insignificant, but knowing the creator of this series, we cannot overlook it.

Oda’s build-up, from their scar to their mirrored paths, from Shanks’ warning at Marineford to his secret meetings with the Gorosei, all lead to one inevitable event: the Red-Haired Pirates vs. the Blackbeard Pirates.

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The true rivalry of the pirate era

If the Final Saga of One Piece is the Battle Royale Oda teased, then Shanks and Blackbeard will be its centerpiece, the clash of legends that decides who enters Laugh Tale first. And perhaps, as many fans speculate, one will not leave alive.

One Piece is a kind of series that has always been about inherited wills. And in this generation, after looking at these instances, there are strong implications that the will of Roger and Whitebeard doesn’t pass to Luffy and Teach. Rather, it collides with Shanks and Blackbeard. Because sometimes, the world doesn’t need two kings, and one needs to fall to bring balance again.