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Horror Games Without Physical Enemies

Published

2 weeks ago

September 5, 2024

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Traditionally, horror games rely on perfectly timed jump scares or terrifying monsters to amp up the scare factor, but that isn’t always the case. In fact, some of the most effective horror games build suspense in different ways. Sometimes, the fear of the unknown is infinitely more unsettling than fighting to evade the clutches of a grotesque monster. Many psychological horror games have found innovative methods of conjuring up an unnerving atmosphere without the presence of any physical threat.

For example, Monika may be the overarching villain of Doki Doki Literature Club!, but she doesn’t directly harm the MC in any way. Instead, her manipulative influence over Sayori, Yuri, and Natsuki proves to be the real source of danger, while Monika herself lulls the MC into a false sense of security. There are no physical threats present, but the psychological implications of Monika’s actions prove to be the MC’s undoing. Here are some horror games that adopt the same approach and manage to scare players without any enemies.

6 Anatomy

Reinterprets The Fear Of The Unknown As The Fear Of The Familiar

Developed by Kitty Horrorshow, Anatomy guides the player through an empty house, encouraging them to find tape recordings scattered throughout the property. As each tape is found, the player’s surroundings begin to change. Anatomy seems to draw inspiration from the P.T. demo, released a few years earlier, which implements the gameplay mechanic of an ever-changing environment.

As the player progresses, the house changes radically, degrading more and more as time goes on. Eventually, Anatomy introduces some jarring visual and audio cues, such as static screens and sound distortions. The player never once encounters a physical enemy, but instead, Anatomy focuses on exploiting a deep-seated fear in humankind — specifically the notion of feeling safe at home. Anatomy reinterprets the fear of the unknown as the fear of the familiar, where even the most homely spaces can seem frightening under a blanket of darkness.

5 Near Death

The Biggest Threat Takes The Form Of A Relentless Blizzard

Near Death is an atmospheric survival horror that takes place immediately after a plane crash in Antarctica that leaves the player stranded at a research base facility in the midst of a deadly blizzard. The outside temperature is 100 degrees below zero, there are limited sources of light, and the severe weather conditions forbid anyone from coming to the rescue. With the odds stacked against them, the player is forced to explore the research base themselves and use the tools at their disposal to find their way home.

Best Horror Games Set In A School (feature image)

11 Best Horror Games Set In A School

Dreading that next exam? Terrified of the homeroom teacher? These horror games set in schools are certainly not going to help alleviate those fears.

The biggest threat in Near Death isn’t the terrifying possibility of mutated monsters or hostile ghosts, but instead the cruel menace of Mother Nature. At any given moment, thanks to a dynamic weather system, the storm can switch from a howling snowstorm to an unnerving calm, which leaves the player constantly at the mercy of the environment rather than a physical entity. Near Death proves that zero visibility in a relentless snowstorm can be equally terrifying as a malicious, bloodthirsty monster.

4 Layers of Fear

Plays On The Irrational Fear Of Things That Go Bump In The Night

Layers of Fear follows a mentally unwell painter as he navigates a Victorian mansion, hoping to unravel the secrets there and complete his greatest artwork yet. By exploring the environment, players must complete puzzles and trigger visual clues. Each environmental change provides a foundation for new challenges, while regular jump scares are intermittent to the unfolding narrative. In Layers of Fear, there’s no singular entity hunting the painter, but instead, the player character fights against his own dwindling sanity as the world around him shifts, offering up new surprises around every corner.

Although the 2023 remake of Layers of Fear does add an overarching antagonist in the Rat Queen, the biggest enemy in the 2016 original is fear and madness itself. There are no physical opponents and no combat, which allows Layers of Fear to play on the irrational fears of things that go bump in the night, allowing players to dream up horrific scenarios for themselves without actually seeing the source of their discomfort.

3 Iron Lung

The Threat Lies In The Real-World Consequences Of Treacherous Deep-Sea Expeditions

In 2022, developer David Szymanski released Iron Lung, a submarine simulator that will be receiving a live-action film adaptation from famous YouTuber Markiplier. The player controls a nameless protagonist who pilots a midget submarine, while the gameplay takes place entirely in one room. Players are tasked with piloting the submarine and capturing photographs of their surroundings to find clues as to their whereabouts, all while controlling the submarine using the navigational equipment provided.

While there is, technically, a sort of “Big Bad” prowling about the depths of the ocean, the oppressive atmosphere is the true terror of Iron Lung. Certain events occur throughout the game that relate to the precarious plight of being suspended in a steel hull hundreds of feet underwater. Around the same time as the implosion of the Titan submersible, fans drew comparisons between Iron Lung‘s gameplay and the real-life circumstances under which five businessmen and researchers lost their lives. Iron Lung‘s most prominent threat lies in the real-world consequences of treacherous deep-sea expeditions.

2 The Mortuary Assistant

The “Big Bad” Is A Race Against The Clock

Working in a morgue at night, alone, already sounds like a recipe for disaster. The Mortuary Assistant brings irrational fears to life and reinforces the concept of one’s mind playing tricks on them. Set in small-town Connecticut, the player controls a new hire at a morgue, whose everyday tasks include prepping and embalming corpses. Players complete the ordinarily mundane tasks of Rebecca Owen’s new job, all while avoiding the telltale signs of demonic possession inside the haunted building.

The Mortuary Assistant relies heavily on puzzle-solving mechanics and jump scares. While there are a few unsavory visitors to the morgue who torment Rebecca throughout the course of her shift, there aren’t any actual enemies to fight. Instead, the main objective of surviving The Mortuary Assistant involves correctly identifying demonically possessed corpses and exorcizing them. The main threat lurks in the timed tasks at hand, as Rebecca will become possessed herself if the process isn’t completed in time.

1 Liquidators

The Underlying Threats Are Radiation Poisoning And Hopelessness

Set during the events of the Chornobyl disaster, Liquidators follow three nuclear plant workers who are tasked with traversing the Chornobyl blast site to drain water from the wreckage. The player can control one of three liquidators; Alexei Ananenko, Valeri Bezpalov, and Boris Baranov, all of whom are real-life people (known as the Chernobyl divers) who undertook a selfless mission that many considered to be suicide. In Liquidators, Alexei, Valeri, and Boris all possess unique skill sets that provide a varied approach to challenges.

There are no physical enemies to be found at the site of the in-game Chornobyl disaster, which stays true to the consequences of human-induced and circumstantial errors. Instead of being hunted by some monstrosity produced by the environment, the real opponent is the environment itself. As the nuclear workers explore the ruins of Chornobyl, the very real, very deadly possibility of radiation poisoning and the desperate cries of family members begging for their safe return only serve to heighten the intensity of what these brave men truly experienced.

No One Lives Under The Lighthouse, SIGNALIS, Pathologic 2

The Best Art-House Horror Games

Art-house horror has made its way to a number of atmospheric games as well. Here are some of the best creepy titles for players to try.

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Best Keyblades In Kingdom Hearts 3

Published

18 mins ago

September 16, 2024

Stephan Scott

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Key Takeaways

Kingdom Hearts 3 offers a variety of Keyblades with unique abilities and Formchanges
Some Keyblades focus on magic, others on strength, providing strategic options for combat
Obtaining powerful Keyblades like Ultima Weapon requires significant in-game achievements.

As far as Kingdom Hearts games go, the latest addition makes for an impressive hack-and-slash experience. Kingdom Hearts 3 delivers not only visually but also in terms of stylish combat mechanics. From Shotlocks to Flowmotion commands, Sora can unleash a multitude of flashy combos that can knock down even the toughest enemies.

Of course, his weapon of choice makes a comeback in a big way. This time around, every Keyblade can undergo upgrades and Form changes, giving each one its own utility at every point in the game. Despite the reduced number of Keyblades available, each one proves useful in its own way. However, this doesn’t stop some from outshining others.

Updated on September 16, 2024, by Justin Flynn: Kingdom Hearts 3 follows Sora on yet another dangerous adventure, and like with his previous journeys, this one provides him with a great selection of reliable weapons. Coming with Formchanges and unique abilities, each Keyblade in Kingdom Hearts 3 does something worthwhile, but some are simply better than others. With the series having finally come to Steam, even more gamers have had the chance to dive into the world of Kingdom Hearts and wield the mighty Keyblade. For both newcomers and longtime fans alike looking to get the most out of this weapon, here is a ranking of the best Keyblades in Kingdom Hearts 3.

19 Kingdom Key

Sora’s Default Weapon

Strength: +9
Magic: +8
Abilities: (Lv. 0) Treasure Magnet, (Lv. 4) Formchange Extender
How to Get: Default weapon

The Kingdom Key is Sora’s most iconic Keyblade, but it will usually be unequipped fairly quickly after something better is unlocked. When activated, its Formchange, Second Form, permits Sora the opportunity to perform some of his more iconic Kingdom Hearts 2 abilities.

Boasting a somewhat disappointing 4 Strength and 3 Magic, the Kingdom Key is far from a reliable means of vanquishing Sora’s foes. However, it can be useful for those who wish to collect the treasure dropped by Sora’s enemies thanks to its Treasure Magnet ability. As his default weapon, Sora will have access to the Kingdom Key from the beginning of the game.

18 Elemental Encoder

Increases The Drop Rate Of Items But Is Lacking In Power

Elemental Encoder, the EGS Exclusive Keyblade in Kingdom Hearts 3

Strength: +9
Magic: +9
Abilities: (Lv. 0) Lucky Strike, Magic Roulette, (Lv. 4) Formchange Extender
How to Get: Automatically unlocked for Epic Games Store players

The Elemental Encoder is essentially a recoloring of Mickey’s Star Cluster Keyblade. The Elemental Encoder is unlocked automatically for those playing Kingdom Hearts 3 via the Epic Games Store, and its black-and-white color palette helps it to stand out from its similar-looking counterparts.

Providing Sora with 4 Strength and 4 Magic, this particular Keyblade doesn’t offer much in terms of stats, but its abilities can be pretty useful, especially during the early-game. Lucky Lucky increases the drop rate of items when defeating enemies, and Magic Roulette allows Sora to make use of Grand Magic even when he has not filled the Grand Magic gauge.

17 Dead Of Night

A Good Option For Those Looking To Farm Rare Items During The Early-Game

Dead of Night, the Steam Exclusive Keyblade in Kingdom Hearts 3

Strength: +9
Magic: +9
Abilities: (Lv. 0) Lucky Strike, Magic Roulette, (Lv. 4) Formchange Extender
How to Get: Automatically unlocked for Steam players

Like the Elemental Encoder, the Dead of Night is also a recoloring of Mickey’s new Keyblade. The Dead of Night is available to those playing Kingdom Hearts 3 via Steam, and it is arguably one of the cooler-looking Keyblades available in the entire game.

Boasting a typical 4 Strength and 4 Magic, this Keyblade quickly proves itself to be easily replaceable, but it does come with some unique abilities that can be quite useful. The Lucky Strike ability increases the chance of enemies dropping rare items, and Magic Roulette allows Sora to execute Grand Magic without filling the Grand Magic gauge.

16 Dawn Till Dusk

Somewhat Weak But Grants Sora Access To A Powerful Fire Spell

Dawn Till Dusk, the 7-Eleven exclusive Keyblade in Kingdom Hearts 3

Strength: +9
Magic: +9
Abilities: (Lv. 0) Fire Boost, Firaza, (Lv. 4) Formchange Extender
How to Get: Available to purchase through the Microsoft Store and the PlayStation Store

The Dawn Till Dusk can be purchased from the Microsoft Store and the PlayStation Store. Like the Elemental Encoder and Dead of Night, it is essentially another recoloring of Mickey’s new Keyblade, the Star Cluster, and though it is pretty to look at, it is a weapon that is destined to be replaced as players progress.

Offering a lackluster 4 Strength and 4 Magic, the Dawn Till Dusk Keyblade is more-or-less on par with the Kingdom Key, but fans of Fire magic will likely enjoy the abilities it comes with. Even at its base level, this Keyblade allows Sora to cast Firaza, a devastating AoE spell that can tear through groups of enemies with ease.

15 Starlight

Allows Sora To Recover His MP More Quicky But Is Surprisingly Weak For When It’s Unlocked

The Starlight Keyblade in Kingdom Hearts 3

Strength: +9
Magic: +9
Abilities: (Lv. 0) MP Haste, (Lv. 4) Formchange Extender
How to Get: Beat the Demon Tide in the Keyblade Graveyard

The Starlight Keyblade is unlocked once Sora, Donald, and Goofy have defeated the Demon Tide in The Keyblade Graveyard. Most fans would expect a decent reward after vanquishing such a formidable opponent, but sadly, the Starlight Keyblade is one of the weakest weapons in the game.

With its 4 Strength and Magic, the Starlight Keyblade is only slightly better than the Kingdom Key, so there isn’t much point in equipping it at this point in the game. Its Formchange, Second From S, allows Sora to perform some classic Kingdom Hearts 2 moves, but the player would benefit more from prioritizing strength over nostalgia for the yet-to-come battles.

14 Shooting Star

Provides Sora With A Fun Ranged Approach To Combat, But Better Options Are Available

Max Strength: +8
Max Magic: +10
Abilities: Magic Treasure Magnet (Lv. 0), Formchange Extender (Lv. 4)
How to Get: Complete the first visit to Twilight Town

Sora receives the Shooting Star Keyblade during his first visit to Little Chef’s Bistrot. Players who wish to prioritize Magic over Strength will find plenty of use for this Keyblade during the beginning of the game thanks to its 5 Magic and 3 Strength, but they will soon find themselves replacing it with something better.

It can be a big help during the Toy Story and Tangled worlds, but as soon as Sora receives the Ever After Keyblade, the Shooting Star will quickly be forgotten. Though it’s one of the weaker weapons in the game, its Double Arrowguns and Magic Launcher Formchanges can be a great help when players wish to attack from a distance.

13 Hero’s Origin

A Great Early-Game Option For Those Looking To Prioritize Defense

Max Strength: +10
Max Magic: +7
Abilities: (Lv. 0) Defender, (Lv. 4) Formchange Extender
How to Get: Complete the visit to Olympus

The Hero’s Origin Keyblade is obtained after Sora defeats the Titans in Olympus. Though it’s only the second Keyblade he unlocks, it can be extremely beneficial to have during most of Kingdom Hearts 3’s boss battles.

It only has 5 Strength and 2 Magic, but it features one of the most reliable means of defense in the entire game. The Counter Shield Formchange allows Sora to block oncoming attacks and redirect them back at his enemies. If timed correctly, deflected attacks can deal a baffling amount of damage. The Grand Chef Keyblade offers a similar ability, but it takes much more effort to obtain. Until it’s unlocked, the player should make use of Hero’s Origin in its stead.

12 Hunny Spout

A Must-Have For Ranged Enthusiasts And Ingredient Hunters

Max Strength: +9
Max Magic: +9
Abilities: (Lv. 0) Harvester, (Lv. 6) Formchange Extender
How to Get: Complete the visit to the 100 Acre Wood

This Keyblade isn’t just fun to use; it’s also super cute. The weapon has a nostalgic wooden handle with a stack of Pooh’s favorite honey pots making up the rest of the blade. Sora will unlock the Hunny Spout Keyblade after completing the heartwarming 100-Acre Woods story.

The Hunny Spout has a good balance of stats, with a Magic of 6 and Strength of 5, and it has powerful Form Change attacks. The Keyblade Formchanges include Hunny Launcher and Hunny Blasters, along with the Shotlocks named Hunny Burst, Hunny Drizzle, and Sweet Surprise, which deal critical slowdown effects on the opponent. The Harvest ability that comes with this Keyblade also allows Sora to collect an additional ingredient whenever they acquire a single one, making it incredibly useful for those going for 5 Stars in Le Grand Bistrot.

11 Favorite Deputy

A Solid Early-Game Weapon That Offers Reliable Form Changes

Max Strength: +10
Max Magic: +8
Abilities: (Lv. 0) Lucky Strike, (Lv. 4) Formchange Extender
How to Get: Complete the visit to the Toy Box

Favorite Deputy is the Keyblade obtained after completing the Toy Box world’s story. It has a maximum Strength of 10 and Magic of 8. Two stand-out features of this Keyblade include its Lucky Strike ability and its Formchanges. Lucky Strike increases the likelihood of synthesis materials dropping, making it very useful for upgrading other items.

The Boost Hammer and Drill Punch Formchanges transform the Keyblade into a giant hammer and drill, respectively. The hammer deals with groups especially well, while the drill can focus loads of damage on a single target.

10 Crystal Snow

A Mobility And Magic-Focused Weapon That Prevents The User From Being Frozen

Max Strength: +8
Max Magic: +11
Abilities: (Lv. 0) Freeze Protection, (Lv. 9) Blizzard Boost
How to Get: Complete the visit to Arendelle

This beautiful Keyblade does an excellent job of representing the frozen land of Arendelle, where players can nab it. With a maximum 8 Strength and 11 Magic, Crystal Snow focuses more on casting powerful spells. However, it handles very well as a physical weapon in both of its Formchanges.

Blizzard Claw turns it into a set of icy claws, while the Blizzard Blade acts as a pair of ice skates and arm blades. Freeze Protection also aids in negating the Freeze status, and Blizzard Boost increases the power of Blizzard spells.

9 Ever After

Provides Sora With Great Range, Mobility, And Emergency Heal Opportunities

Max Strength: +7
Max Magic: +11
Abilities: (Lv. 0) Leaf Bracer, (Lv. 4) Aeroza, (Lv. 10) Aero Boost
How to Get: Complete the visit to the Kingdom of Corona

The Ever After Keyblade is unlocked after Sora defeats the Grim Guardianess in the Kingdom of Corona. It may not seem like a great addition to Sora’s arsenal with its 2 Strength, but its 7 Magic can be a great help to those who utilize Magic.

Its Mirage Staff Formchange allows Sora to glide across the arena while dealing out magical attacks from a distance. If Sora attacks from different locations in quick succession, a flurry of magical bursts will launch in the direction of his enemies. Its Shimmering Drops Shotlock can also be a great means of replenishing Sora’s health. Though it’s one of the weaker Keyblades in Kingdom Hearts 3, this ability alone makes it a must-have for late-game battles.

8 Grand Chef

A More Magic-Oriented Hero’s Origin

Max Strength: +9
Max Magic: +11
Abilities: (Lv. 0) Wizard’s Ruse, (Lv. 3) Chef Extraordinaire
How to Get: Achieve 5 Star with Le Grand Bistrot

This impressive Keyblade isn’t the easiest to obtain, as the Grand Chef requires Sora to have cooked every single recipe in Kingdom Hearts 3. Not only that, but it requires Sora to have achieved an “Excellent” rating on each recipe. To collect all recipes, Sora will need to have gathered every ingredient and used them to create stunning meals in Little Chef’s Bistro. Only then can he get the Grand Chef Keyblade, which boasts Magic of 7 and Strength of 5 at its base level.

Grand Chef can transform into a gigantic frying pan that hits a lot of opponents at once and moves very quickly. It’s great for clearing out big groups of enemies all at once. Even if Sora already has a better Keyblade by the time he unlocks the Grand Chef, it’s still an awesome achievement to get it.

7 Happy Gear

A Great Option For Those Who Enjoy Using Shotlocks

Max Strength: +11
Max Magic: +7
Abilities: (Lv. 0) Focus Converter, (Lv. 6) Full MP Blast
How to Get: Complete the visit to Monstropolis

This Keyblade, acquired after completing Monstropolis, focuses primarily on physical attack. When fully upgraded, it offers 11 Strength and 7 Magic, and it allows players to use Shotlocks often thanks to its Focus Converter ability.

Despite its lower Magic stat, its secondary Full MP Blast ability gives spells a power boost when at full MP. Its Assault Claw Formchange is similar to Crystal Snow’s Blizzard Claw, but the Twin Yoyo Formchange transforms into a set of deadly spinning projectiles. Its finishing moves make quick work of single targets.

6 Wheel Of Fate

An Incredibly Powerful Late-Game Weapon That Provides Sora With Great Formchanges

Max Strength: +11
Max Magic: +9
Abilities: (Lv. 6) Formchange Extender
How to Get: Complete the visit to The Caribbean

Players nab this swashbuckling Keyblade after completing the story in The Caribbean. It has a decent mix of 11 Strength and 9 Magic when fully upgraded. On top of that, the Keyblade also has the ability to cast Waterza to deal water-based damage in a massive spread.

Its Highwind Formchange transforms the Keyblade into a spear, while the Storm Flag changes it into a large banner-like flag. Both swipe and lunge at enemy targets to deal with crowds and bosses effectively. In this way, Wheel of Fate perfectly combines power with style.

5 Nano Gear

A Great Late-Game Keyblade That Gives Sora Stun Protection

Max Strength: +10
Max Magic: +9
Abilities: (Lv. 0) Stun Protection, (Lv. 6) Formchange Extender
How to Get: Complete the visit to San Fransokyo

Nano Gear appears late in Kingdom Hearts 3 after completing the San Fransokyo world. It carries 10 Strength and 9 Magic at its maximum level and comes paired with the Stun Protection ability. This helps immensely with hard-hitting bosses that would otherwise render Sora immobile for a short time.

Nano Gear’s only Formchange, Nano Arms, changes into a variety of weapons depending on the attack. It also comes with a powerful finisher that skewers enemies with teleporting nanobot spears. Those tiny black dots pack a serious punch.

4 Oblivion

An Incredibly Strong Weapon With A Powerful Dual Wield Formchange

Max Strength: +13
Max Magic: +11
Abilities: (Lv. 0) HP Converter, (Lv. 4) Situation Boost, (Lv. 9) Formchange Extender
How to Get: Use the Proof of Times Past at a Moogle shop

In the 1.07 update of Kingdom Hearts 3, the two coolest Keyblades in the entire series were added to the game: Oblivion and Oathkeeper. They are no easy weapons to unlock, proving to be a challenge for even the most skilled, veteran players. Players have to obtain the Proof of Time Past in order to get the Oblivion.

This requires them to have completed the game on Critical Mode, which is regarded as the most difficult mode of any Kingdom Hearts game in the franchise. It’s totally worth it though, offering a whopping 13 Strength and 11 Magic, with a powerful Dark Form and Double Form.

3 Oathkeeper

A More Balanced Oblivion That Also Offers A Great Dual Wield Formchange

Max Strength: +12
Max Magic: +12
Abilities: (Lv. 0) MP Converter, (Lv. 4) Situation Boost, (Lv. 9) Formchange Extender
How to Get: Use the Proof of Promises at a Moogle shop

Unlocking this Keyblade will take a lot of time and effort, as it requires players to have obtained the Proof of Promise. This Proof can be unlocked when players find all 90 Lucky Emblems in the game. They have to locate and take a photo of every emblem, each of which is hidden all across the worlds, with some being in very difficult and tricky spots.

Oathkeeper is very balanced, just like the Oblivion Keyblade, with 12 Strength and 12 Magic. It grants access to a Light Form and a Double Form finisher, which unlocks the highly loved ability to dual wield Keyblades in battle. The Oathkeeper Keyblade, dual-wielded with the Oblivion, is an iconic look for Sora, as the two blades have been seen paired together in the prior games.

2 Classic Tone

The Most Powerful Magic Option In The Game

Max Strength: +11
Max Magic: +14
Abilities: (Lv. 0, Lv. 6, & Lv. 9) MP Haste
How to Get: Achieve high scores in the Classic Kingdom games

Only a few Keyblades unlock by means outside the main story, and Classic Tone is one such Keyblade. Sora must first find and set record scores on all 23 Classic Kingdom mini-games. Afterward, this powerful yet unconventional Keyblade becomes available. Its 11 Strength and 14 Magic are no joke.

Classic Tone’s Formchanges, Boom Hammer, and Clock Drill, mimic that of the Favorite Deputy Keyblade. Even so, it proves itself more powerful by coming with three MP Haste abilities equipped, granting access to more magic attacks.

1 Ultima Weapon

The Strongest Weapon That Sora Can Unlock

Max Strength: +13
Max Magic: +13
Abilities: (Lv. 0) Air Combo Boost, Combo Boost, Situation Boost
How to Get: Item Synthesis

While it may seem obvious at this point, Ultima Weapon nevertheless proves to be the superior Keyblade in all facets. It has a balanced yet impressive 13 Strength and Magic. Combo Boost and Air Combo Boost improve the damage output of combo attacks, and Situation Boost fills the Situation Command gauge much faster.

Not only that, but its Ultimate Form comes with a massive power boost and a slew of abilities. While it may take some time to synthesize this weapon, it once again proves to be worth the effort.

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One Piece; Why Shanks Never Became The King Of The Next Generation

Published

40 mins ago

September 16, 2024

Stephan Scott

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This post contains spoilers for One Piece Episode 1116 and beyond.

Key Takeaways

Shanks chose not to pursue becoming the Pirate King after Roger’s execution.
Shanks changed his mind and waited for Luffy to awaken true power of a Devil Fruit.
Shanks is powerful enough to claim One Piece but remains as its guardian due to his role.

Shanks is one of the most well-known One Piece characters. He is the only pre-timeskip Yonko that hasn’t been beaten or has died. Despite his popularity, there is still a lot that fans don’t know about Shanks. So they’re always eager for more information to come their way.

In one of the recent One Piece episodes, Buggy shared his disbelief over Shanks’ decision not to pursue the same goal as their captain. Buggy was confident that Shanks would fill the void created by Roger. Even One Piece fans were left flummoxed by this revelation, but what was the reason behind Shanks’ decision?

Shanks’ Early Days As An Apprentice

Shanks Was Close To Gol D. Roger

Shanks was still very young when Roger turned himself in to the Marines. The latter was aware that he did not have much time left, which possibly affected his decision to do it so early. Before disbanding the crew, Roger entrusted his Straw Hat to Shanks, which could be considered a sign of his trust in his young apprentice. Shanks treasured his captain’s memento and wore it all the time.

Unsurprisingly, Shanks was present at the time of Roger’s execution, and watching the light go out of his captain’s eyes was a saddening moment for him. Shanks’ was overwhelmed with grief, and he was in tears. After the execution was over, Shanks and Buggy had a talk with each other. It was during this conversation that Shanks declared his intention of not pursuing Roger’s treasure. Buggy was flabbergasted, and he even rebuked Shanks to a certain extent. Shanks never did properly explain his reason, but he asked Buggy to join his crew, an offer that the latter promptly declined.

Despite his initial decision not to pursue One Piece, Shanks changed his mind somewhere along the way. However, he did not disclose it until the Wano Country arc.

Why Did Shanks Decide Against Becoming The King?

Choosing Another Path For Himself

It is most likely that Shanks wanted to think about his goals. A lot happened in a very short time, so he needed time to think and assess what his heart truly desired. Shanks’ first course of action was to find crewmates who were reliable and strong. He went looking to different seas to recruit the main members of his crew. This is quite clear from the fact that Yasopp is from the East Blue, Lucky Roo hails from the South Blue, and Ben Beckman comes from the North Blue.

After forming his crew, Shanks set out to sail and started to make a name for himself. By the time he met Luffy, Shanks was already a well-known buccaneer. When Shanks entrusted the Straw Hat to Luffy, it is possible that he still didn’t want to claim the One Piece. Otherwise, he would never have parted ways with his captain’s only memento. Shanks

Why Did Shanks Change His Mind?

Shanks Was Waiting For The Right Opportunity

A pirate of Shanks’ caliber wouldn’t just wait without a purpose. It is possible that Shanks was waiting for the arrival of Joy Boy, as it was tied to the One Piece. Shanks was definitely aware of the true nature of the Gomu Gomu no Mi, which is why he attacked a World Government ship and stole it. Shanks could have eaten the Devil Fruit instantly, but decided against it because he knew how it functioned.

I bet you heard that Red-Haired began to make a move. —Buggy

According to the information, the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika has a will of its own. Even the Five Elders stated that the Devil Fruit had been evading them. So, Shanks wanted to test whether he was the right person to eat it. He saw Luffy devour the Devil Fruit, then listened to him say the same things as his captain. Both of these things made Shanks believe that Luffy was Joy Boy. So, he waited for the Devil Fruit’s true power to awaken, and when it did, he made his move.

Will Shanks Claim The One Piece?

He Has The Power To Do The Unthinkable

Shanks using Divine Departure in One Piece

Shanks is currently the strongest character alive in One Piece. He does not have a Devil Fruit, but his Haki is far superior to everyone else’s. A burst of his Conqueror’s Haki was potent enough to scare an Admiral into fleeing. Shanks’ battle with Kid was yet another demonstration of his strength. He is also a capable swordsman, as evidenced by his duels with Dracule Mihawk. So, there is certainly no doubt that he is capable of claiming the One Piece.

Shanks is also knowledgeable about all sorts of things. He was able to enter Marijoa without raising any kind of alarm. He is closely affiliated with the giants of Elbaf, a race known for living for more than a century. It is extremely unlikely that they wouldn’t have shared some of their secrets with him. Also, if the final Road Poneglyph is on Elbaf, there is no way that Shanks doesn’t have access to it.

While Shanks has the tools necessary to claim the One Piece, his role prevents him from doing so. He will act as its guardian until Luffy claims it.

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Don’t miss this huge $600 saving on a powerful Dell XPS 14 laptop

Published

55 mins ago

September 16, 2024

Robert Denver

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Dell has a long track record of producing some of the best Windows laptops in the world. We’re always keeping an eye out for the best laptop deals and we’ve found a beauty. It’s the Dell XPS 14 at Dell for $1,399 (was $1,999).

Not only is this laptop incredibly portable but it also fights well above its weight and has rightfully earned the top pick for Windows 11 machine in our best laptops guide. We also love the incredible 3.2K OLED display, although that is an optional upgrade you can add for another $200.

Today’s best Dell XPS 14 deal

A score of 4.5 in our recent Dell XPS 14 review tells you that we think very highly of this laptop. We love both the Intel CPU and the healthy amount of RAM, with both providing enough power for everyday use and more power-hungry tasks.

The 14.5-inch display is not only a great size but at FHD+ (1920 x 1200) resolution, you can guarantee the visuals will look great too. Overall, in our review, we called it a “stunning laptop that gives Windows users a real MacBook competitor”.

Have a look at all of the best Dell laptops and Dell XPS 14 deals before deciding what to purchase. If you know you’re definitely sticking with a Windows OS then we’ve also curated our list of best Windows laptops.