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- Apr 13, 2013
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As we all know, Shanks used to duel with Hawkeye all the time, something that stopped after he lost his arm. Yet Shanks has gone from strength to strength since he lost his arm while I'm sure Mihawk has done the same. But here's where I think the misconception is. Mihawk and Shanks are both swordsmen and used to duel with swords, and Mihawk is now known as the greatest swordsman in the world, where as Shanks is one of the top four strongest pirates in the world.
What I'm getting at is that their respective foci changed after Shanks lost his arm. Shanks is no doubt still a great swordsman but his skill would have diminshed with the loss of an arm, something that Mihawk realised. However, Shanks still rose to the rank of Emperor, this being due to immensely powerful haki. IMO he has the most powerful haki in the series, at least in terms of conqueror's haki. He has the second most impressive haki feat in destroying parts of Whitebeard's ship and Oda has even said he would double the most impressive of the series so far IMO (Luffy's performance at Fishman Island). Mihawk would have more likely gone on to further refine his swordsmanship and while I'm sure Mihawk is proficient with haki, I'm willing to bet Shanks' far surpasses Mihawk's.
To get to yonko status and maintain it, Shanks would have presumably had to fight a wider range of opponents, probably stronger ones, I personally think Shanks is only surpassed by Mihawk in terms of swordsmanship, the fear people felt when they saw Shanks at Marineford suggests his skills far surpass mere swordsmanship, and overall I think he outclasses Mihawk, though it's impossible to tell how much by because we know next to nothing about Shanks. Their duels were a long time ago, and their growth would have been far different.
What I'm getting at is that their respective foci changed after Shanks lost his arm. Shanks is no doubt still a great swordsman but his skill would have diminshed with the loss of an arm, something that Mihawk realised. However, Shanks still rose to the rank of Emperor, this being due to immensely powerful haki. IMO he has the most powerful haki in the series, at least in terms of conqueror's haki. He has the second most impressive haki feat in destroying parts of Whitebeard's ship and Oda has even said he would double the most impressive of the series so far IMO (Luffy's performance at Fishman Island). Mihawk would have more likely gone on to further refine his swordsmanship and while I'm sure Mihawk is proficient with haki, I'm willing to bet Shanks' far surpasses Mihawk's.
To get to yonko status and maintain it, Shanks would have presumably had to fight a wider range of opponents, probably stronger ones, I personally think Shanks is only surpassed by Mihawk in terms of swordsmanship, the fear people felt when they saw Shanks at Marineford suggests his skills far surpass mere swordsmanship, and overall I think he outclasses Mihawk, though it's impossible to tell how much by because we know next to nothing about Shanks. Their duels were a long time ago, and their growth would have been far different.