When Ace is first introduced in One Piece, it’s as the somewhat goofy, caring older brother to Straw Hat Luffy. Though he’s mostly offscreen throughout the story, Ace makes his influence felt throughout the Grand Line even after his death. Everyone Ace comes into contact with changes in some way that makes them better, and his death only makes them better.
Warning that this article contains spoilers for One Piece through the most recent chapter 1092. The manga is available to read online through Viz and MangaPlus. So, catch up quickly then come back to read!
Who is Portgas D Ace?
Portgas D Ace, known as Fire-Fist, Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, is also the brother of Monkey D Luffy. Adopted, of course, as Ace was the son of Gold Roger, secretly taken in by Garp after Portas D Rouge hid him in her womb for twenty months. It all sounds ridiculous, but it’s one of the greatest shows of strong-willed love in One Piece as Rouge sacrifices herself for her son. Garp doesn’t necessarily raise Ace though, instead dropping him with Dadan where he grows up with Luffy and Sabo.
Once Ace is old enough he leaves for the seas, forming the Spade Pirates, and getting far too ahead of himself by attacking Whitebeard. Despite all, Whitebeard takes Ace in as one of his sons, and Ace finally has a father figure. He’s a fiery fighter with the power of the Flame-Flame Fruit, with a will to match, but cares deeply about his friends. Ace has the same tendency to make friends everywhere that his brother does, and it shows as Luffy meets new mutual friends on his journey.
How Does Ace Die?
Ace’s death is where the entire world of One Piece pivots into a much more serious direction. While he hunts down Blackbeard for killing his Commander Thatch, Ace is defeated and turned over to the Navy. Now he’s a Navy pawn in the Marineford War to draw out Whitebeard, hoping to kill all in one move. They don’t count on Straw Hat Luffy crashing the party, though. Much less with a ship full of Impel Down escapees, two former Warlords, and a Revolutionary leader among them.
Despite the fierce fight between Ace and Luffy to escape from Marineford, the brothers find tragedy. Ace throws himself in front of a punch from Akainu to save Luffy, taking the hit full-on through his chest. With many of his major organs missing, Ace tells Luffy he just wishes he could see him become Pirate King. As Fire Fist Ace dies, Luffy screams and loses consciousness. This event is the turning point, and Luffy is never the same afterward.
Whether watching the anime in Episode 483 or Chapter 574 of the manga, Ace’s death is one of the hardest-hitting moments in One Piece.
Luffy
Ace’s death is the turning point of Luffy’s character. He’s absolutely broken by his brother’s final words, and when Luffy awakens he’s furious at himself. This prompts his promise to become stronger than ever, and he sends out his message to the Straw Hats. During the two years after his message, Luffy grows immensely in both strength and determination, honing his Haki. What Luffy really gets from Ace’s death is the fiery will to become King of the Pirates for his brother and himself.
Luffy repeatedly comes across others who encountered Ace before he even entered the Grand Line. Almost everyone has the same thing to say, that Ace was a special kind of person, and he made promises to come back for them. Luffy fulfills those promises on his brothers’ behalf now, whether it be helping Wano or just letting someone know about his death.
Sabo
Sabo was Ace’s oldest friend in his time in the Goa Kingdom. The two had plans to become pirates together as soon as they were able, followed closely by Luffy, but everything went off course. Sabo, though living with the Revolutionaries, doesn’t remember who he is after he’s hit by a Celestial Dragon ship. Until he remembers everything upon hearing of Ace’s death in Marineford, of course. He’s broken, completely and utterly destroyed by the sudden flood of memories and grief, but it changes him for the better.
When Sabo wings Ace’s Flame-Flame Fruit in the Dressrosa Coloseum, it’s inheriting his will of fire, too. Ace lives on through Sabo as he becomes the Flame Emperor, a terror of the World Government. The same free-wheeling spirit of his brothers, with the determination to end the terror the World Government imposes on others, make Sabo a true Revolutionary.
Ace’s Travels
It’s not a huge focus in the manga but Ace has a pretty long time before everything goes down just traveling through the Grand Line. He goes pretty far into the New World too, making friends with Yamato and Otama in Wano. Ace even had a brief encounter with Vivi, who would later be saved by Sabo with his Flame-Flame Fruit abilities. Ace went all over and made all kinds of friendships that Luffy met on his journey.
Otama
When Ace comes to Wano, much like Whitebeard did when he was younger, he meets an ally. Not quite as prestigious as meeting Kozuki Oden of course, but Otama does form a lasting friendship with Fire-Fist Ace and he promises to return. He tells her that when he comes back and she’s a brave kunoichi, she can join his crew. She’s incredibly angry at Ace when Luffy first gets to Wano, as she doesn’t anything about the world outside. Her anger gets the best of her when she speaks to Luffy, and finds out the truth.
Otama carries on inspired by Ace now, despite his death. She even turns the tide of battle during the raid on Onigashima, using her Dango-Dango Fruit to turn many Beast Pirates to their side. Though she’s still scared sometimes, she won’t show it, and makes the same promise to Luffy as she did to Ace so long ago.
Yamato
When Ace meets Yamato it kicks off the young warrior’s will to leave the country. Yamato of course has already been thinking of himself as Kozuki Oden. Now, fighting and befriending Ace makes him realize how awful Kaido is. While neither of them can do it then, Ace makes a promise to Yamato that he’ll be back to help when the time comes, and Yamato can come to sea with the Whitebeard Pirates.
Luffy doesn’t meet Yamato until well into the Onigashima raid, but when he does they hit it off quickly. Yamato demands to join Luffy’s crew almost immediately, and they fight side by side against Kaido to free Wano. Ace was just the first to light Yamato’s flame to leave Wano. He already wants to become a pirate, but Luffy throws oil all over it to make it ablaze. The only thing that keeps Yamato in Wano when the Straw Hats leave is his desire to protect the people as they rebuild, which Ace would gladly approve of.
The Whitebeard Pirates
Ace was a Division Commander for the Whitebeard Pirates so it’s no surprise he has friends throughout the ranks. From how he’s treated as one of Whitebeard’s beloved sons to how all the pirates fight for his sake to protect Luffy, Ace has an impact on everyone. Marco and Izo are the most prominent, and come to Luffy’s defense especially in Wano thanks to their friendship with Ace.
Reuniting Brothers
The greatest thing that Ace accomplishes after his death is reuniting Luffy and Sabo. He brings both brothers together in Dressrosa through his Flame-Flame Fruit. When it reappears in the New World not long before the events of Dressrosa Arc, Doffy finds it immediately. Though he’s not present, Devil Fruits are known to carry a certain will and personality from previous users. Ace makes sure his Flame-Flame Fruit finds its way to Sabo during the Coliseum battle.
The reunion is something that gives Luffy an amazing moment of personal joy that doesn’t happen very often. It’s a big win for him, getting his brother back after so long thinking he was dead. Luffy takes this newfound joy and happiness into his fight against Doflamingo, knocking the Warlord down a few notches. It’s both a fantastic reunion, payoff, and moment of gratification for Luffy, who is constantly helping others.
Ace Still Lives
Now in the world of One Piece, Ace lives on in the souls of others he influenced. Whether it be Yamato’s travels to help secure Wano or Sabo bringing the freedom Ace loved so much, his spirit is always there guiding those he knew in life. Luffy continues his own journey, even after Ace’s death, growing and learning along the way while helping others like his brother would have.
Sabo especially is making his own name with the Flame-Flame Fruit as the Flame Emperor, a terror to the World Government. Though he’s only just made himself a big threat after interrupting the Reverie, Sabo is just getting started in his acts of justice against the World Government. The brothers will bring Ace’s will to the forefront with them even after his death, whether it be reaching the One Piece or dismantling the oppressive World Government.
