Gryphon: Shanks's Infamous Saber
Gryphon has been at the center of some of the most memorable battles in the One Piece anime. It has clashed with formidable opponents such as the former fleet admiral Akainu, the titanic Whitebeard, and Eustass Kid. As the chosen weapon of the Pirate King, Gryphon has been put to the test multiple times, showcasing its immense power and earning its place among the renowned Meito swords.
The last sighting of Gryphon was during an intense battle on the Victoria Punk, where Shanks effortlessly decimated the Kid Pirates. With a single strike from Gryphon, Eustass Kid's sword, Haru Mazaru, was easily defeated, disintegrating into fiery embers. This incident further solidified Shanks' reputation as a fiercely burning flame in the Great Ocean.
While little is known about Gryphon's origins, it is already considered one of the most powerful weapons in the long-running series. Gryphon is on par with other exceptionally strong swords wielded by characters like Zoro. In fact, it could potentially be among the strongest weapons in all of One Piece. Taking into account the clashes Gryphon has been involved in, the concept of Meito in the pirate anime, and Shanks' unique sword style, speculations about Gryphon's true strength continue to grow.
The Concept of Meito in One Piece
The introduction of Meito in One Piece has shed some light on Gryphon's potential classification. Meito is a system that classifies swords based on their quality and the achievements of their users throughout the manga. There are twelve Supreme Grade Blades, which belong to the strongest combatants in the series. These unique swords are owned by iconic figures such as Dracule Mihawk and Shanks. Among the confirmed Supreme Grade Swords are Yoru wielded by Mihawk, Ace carried by Gol D. Roger, and Murakumogiri used by Whitebeard.
Gryphon vs Murakumogiri
Gryphon has already engaged in two significant clashes with confirmed Supreme Grade Swords. The first clash was against Akainu, who wielded Murakumogiri. The second clash was with Eustass Kid, who wielded Haru Mazaru, a blade considered a Great Grade Sword. Shanks demonstrates his immense power by channeling his powerful Haki through Gryphon, amplifying the saber's strength tremendously. Mastery of Haki, in combination with exceptional swordsmanship, is considered the greatest quality a swordsman can possess.
This was evident when Shanks clashed with Whitebeard in the Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans crossover. Shanks shattered Whitebeard's Murakumogiri with a Haki-fueled slash. Even Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, the most formidable user of Haki in the series and the former wielder of Murakumogiri, admitted that he was no match for Shanks' Haki-infused attack.
Considering Shanks' feats, such as effortlessly destroying Eustass Kid's crew with a single strike and impaling the captain himself, it is clear that Gryphon's power rivals some of One Piece's strongest weapons. It is possible that Gryphon may be even stronger than currently known since the full extent of its power has yet to be revealed in the anime.
Although the details of the Meito classification system in One Piece remain largely unknown, Gryphon has already surpassed certain swords in terms of quality and strength, indicating its exceptional status among the Meito swords.
