Summary
Marineford, for many fans, is an arc that represents a turning point inOne Piece. Being an amazing war arc that uses the expansive cast and world ofOne Piecewell, Marineford brings the series to an entirely different level than fans have seen before. Raising the stakes, taking emotional risks, and giving the series an overall darker tone are just a few of the things Marineford accomplishes, all while giving Luffy the perfect motivation to head into the post-time skip era.
However, during this arc, the audience also learns of the existence of a very important character to Luffy inOne Piece, Sabo. Although he wouldn’t make his official appearance until much later down the line, Sabo was technically active during thepre-time skip era ofOne Piece, but couldn’t participate in the Paramount War. Despite this, many fans wonder how the War of the Best would have played out differently if Sabo had been there inOne Piece.
Sabo Could Have Been At Marineford In One Piece
His Amnesia Prevented Him From Coming
The Marineford Arc inOne Piecegives fans a closer glimpse at Luffy’s childhood, revealing the story of how he and Ace became brothers. However, it turns out that the duo had a third brother in the mix, Sabo, who unfortunately was killed as a child byOne Piece’sCelestial Dragonswhen he attempted to make his initial pirate voyage. Though they didn’t know it then, Sabo actually survived this encounter and was taken in by Dragon and raised to be a powerful part of the Revolutionary Army.
His will! We will be the ones to inherit it! - Sabo
Although it would seem obvious that Sabo would track down his brothers as soon as possible,the high-ranking Revolutionary Army figurewas suffering from amnesia and didn’t recognize either Ace or Luffy. As many fans know, his memory of his brothers wasn’t reawakened until after the events of Marineford when he read of Ace’s execution in the newspaper. After this, it didn’t take long for Luffy and Sabo to cross paths in Dressrosa after the Straw Hat Pirate resurfaced from his two-year time skip.
Oda Shares A Glimpse At What May Have Happened If Sabo Was At Marineford
He Could Have Saved Ace’s Life
Interestingly enough, Oda has drawn a “What If?” scenario following what would happen if Sabo were to jointhe Marineford War inOne Piece. In this short manga, right before Ace’s death, Sabo would have potentially been able to rescue both Ace and Luffy from Sakazuki, preventing the Whitebeard Pirate commander’s tragic death at the hands of the Admiral. Although many other events outside of this would have played out the same, Luffy would have escaped this event with minimal injuries and Ace would still be alive if Sabo were to help them.
However, it’s revealed at the end of this segment that this is simply a dream that bothLuffy and Sabo have, meaning that the whole scenario itself is fairly idealized. In reality, whileOne Piece’srevolutionary Sabomay have been strong enough to create an impact on the war, fighting on a similar level to the Emperor’s commanders, another strong fighter would be unlikely to affect the entire flow of the battle. When it comes to Ace’s death, there were plenty of other issues that could have preoccupied Sabo, keeping him from reaching his brothers in time. Instead, while having Sabo would do a considerably larger amount of damage to the Marines, it seems Ace’s fate was sealed the minute he attempted to confront Sakazuki.
Sabo Would Have Helped Luffy Throughout The Battle
Even If Ace Did Die Luffy Would Have Been Emotionally And Physically Better
Still, at the very least, if Sabo were to be atthe Paramount War inOne Piece, Luffy would likely have had an easier time in the entire conflict. The Revolutionary Army member would have likely stuck by Luffy’s side for much of the battle, preventing him from taking many of the injuries he suffered throughout the Paramount War and helping him preserve his energy. Plus, Sabo would have also been a massive help to Luffy emotionally after the war, potentially helping him cope with Ace’s loss much better.
I made it in time! - Sabo in his dream of saving Ace
Still, it’s interesting to think what would happen ifthe Revolutionary Army Commander, Sabo, were to make an appearance at Marineford inOne Piece. Although Oda shares a very idealized version of what might have happened, overall, based on Sabo’s strength at the time, it would likely have all turned out the same. However, it’s still nice to think about these sweet scenarios for what could have been inOne Piece.
One Piece
Cast
One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The series follows protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew as they explore the Grand Line to find the King of the Pirates' ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the next king. The manga’s popularity helped it spin off into a larger media franchise, including an anime with more than 1,000 episodes.
