The Whitebeard scar mystery: Why Shamrock is the current prime suspect in One Piece?

In the world of One Piece, one of the ongoing mysteries that is yet to be revealed is the history behind Whitebeard's massive scar on his chest. Although this character is no more in the current timeline, fans refuse to stop asking questions about the events that led to him getting injured on that magnitude. We know that he is one of the strongest characters in the story, which means the one responsible for giving him that scar has to be a formidably stronger character.

Chances are, if it were anyone else with a scar of that size, the One Piece fandom would have ignored things, but it is Whitebeard we are talking about. Since spoilers for Chapter 1167 have been out, fans have been actively reopening this topic again. The most popular character that fans were speculating about we Roger or Shanks, but now it seems like Shanks' twin brother, Saint Shamrock, could be the one who actually was the culprit behind this injury.

But the more we look at the evidence, the more complicated this “Shamrock theory” becomes. To start with, Whitebeard himself tells Shanks that his face reminds him of the man who gave him the scar. Many fans read this as confirmation that it was either Roger or someone from Roger’s crew. But timeline details start breaking the Roger theory immediately, as Whitebeard did not have the scar during Oden’s era or during Roger’s execution.

That alone eliminates the Pirate King, despite the fact that both men used similar Haki-heavy attacks like Divine Departure. That pushes us into new territory, the Figarland Family, especially with the reveal that Shanks and Shamrock in One Piece were raised in the Holy Land as God Knights. If someone who “looks like Shanks” hurt Whitebeard, Shamrock instantly becomes a prime suspect.

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Shamrock was still not at his peak

The new flashback in One Piece does show us a grown-up version of Shanks and Shamrock, but then again, they still would have to power up significantly if they stand any chance to face someone like Whitebeard. Whitebeard didn’t have the scar during the God Valley period. He didn’t have it when Oden sailed with Roger. He didn’t have it even when Roger died. So for Shamrock to have inflicted that wound, it would mean that:

• He fought Whitebeard when Whitebeard was already in his prime
• As a teenager

This is technically possible as One Piece has insanely strong characters like Big Mom, Garlin, and Mihawk, who was a prodigy. But the manga has never hinted at Shamrock being a monster-level combatant in his teens. What we see of him in Chapter 1167 is a boy in training, not a god-tier fighter. Another, more logical possibility is that it may not have been Shamrock, but his father.

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Why Garling fits the One Piece timeline perfectly

The strongest One Piece new theory trending in the fandom is that Figarland Garling, Supreme Commander of the God Knights, is the real man behind the scar.

Here’s why:

• He is old enough
• His character is monstrously strong
• Additionally, he was active across the seas after God Valley
• He has a direct motive as a top defender of the World Government
• Finally, he would absolutely confront a Yonko-level pirate like Whitebeard

Now we know that the aches for enemies and Whitebeard respected Roger deeply. That alone invalidated that theory, but for Garling is a man who stands for everything Whitebeard opposed, it seems perfectly fitting.

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Could Shamrock have any chance to pull this off?

Some fans insist that only Shamrock resembles Shanks enough for Whitebeard to comment on “that face.” But that line is easily interpreted as:

“Your red hair and aura remind me of the man who scarred me.”

Not a literal twin but a similar presence. Shamrock also became a full God Knight, meaning he did eventually reach extreme levels of Haki and sword mastery. But nothing indicates that he had that power young enough to scar Whitebeard before the Oden/Roger era ended. In the end, the Shamrock theory is fun, but the evidence now leans heavily toward Garling as the man who marked Whitebeard forever.