Just when we thought we had enough of Imu’s wickedness, Saint Garling Firgarland, another new vicious character, showed up. Saint Figarland Garling appears to be linked to one of the well-known characters, Red Hair Shanks, and is imminent to play a significant part in the end game. But if you are still unaware of who Saint Figarland Garling is, keep reading to learn about this new character in One Piece and the Figarland family.
Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers about Saint Figarland Garling in One Piece. We suggest you watch the anime and read the manga first to avoid ruining your experience.
Who is Figarland Garling in One Piece?
The most recent addition to One Piece’s cast of villainous adversaries is Saint Garling Figarland. He is a descendant of the Figarland family and is quoted to be the former “Champion of God Valley”. The fact that Garling has the Saint in his name confirms that he is a world noble. The most intriguing aspect is that he used to be the Supreme Commander of the God’s Knights.
Who would have imagined that this elderly man would be the key commander of the new mighty force? St. Garling was the one who was appointed as the judge and ordered the execution of St. Donquixote Mjosgard in One Piece. This means that Garling holds supreme authority, even over Celestial Dragons who are regarded as descendants of the Gods.
He sentenced Mjosgard to execution as he was found as an accomplice to the Fish Men. As a result, St. Garling Figarland is now regarded as one of the most hated characters in the fandom. Later in the story, as St. Saturn was executed by Imu for his fiasco with the Egghead Incident, St. Garling Figarland was chosen as the replacement for Saturn. Thus, St. Garling is now officially a part of the Five Elders as the Warrior God of Science and Defense.
Personality
In his introduction, fans immediately noticed the ruthless nature of Saint Garling Figarland. He showcased his viciousness and hatred towards others who aren’t Celestial Dragons. St. Garling is a typical narcissistic world noble who considers the commoners as scum, famously stating that “anyone who protects scum is lower than the scum they protect.”
He also plays by his own rules. In Chapter 1095, he once again demonstrated his ruthlessness by killing the king of the God Valley. Now in the latest chapters, he showed no fear of the higher powers, the remaining elders, and was seen composed as he just became a new elder star.
Appearance
Chapter 1095 gave us a glimpse of a much younger Figarland Garling (38 years ago). He did not have his trademark crescent-shaped beard at that time, but his handsome face made the women around swoon over him. Speculators have noted how this face hugely resembles none other than Shanks.
In his current appearance, he sports crescent moon-shaped hair, a beard combo, and sunglasses. He is always seen carrying an unknown sword, suggesting he might be one of the strongest swordsmen in One Piece.
How Powerful is Saint Figarland Garling?
When it comes to powers, St. Garling Figarland is deemed to have both superior authority and physical abilities. As the former Supreme Commander of the God’s Knights, he had absolute control over this newly formed organization. Now, as an Elderstar, his authority is further bolstered over the others.
However, we still don’t know his power levels yet. He has only appeared briefly in the manga so far. Now that he has become an Elder, we can speculate that he might receive the Yokai powers from Imu, just as the other elders did. So, we’ll have to wait to learn how strong he is in the world of One Piece.
Who Are the Figarland Family?
The Figarland family was first mentioned in the One Piece Film: Red by the Gorosei (The Five Elders). They hypothesized that Uta was a member of the Figarland family, which might imply that Shanks is a descendant of this family, as Uta is recognized as Shank’s daughter.
Much discussion has been sparked among fans, and now that the Figarland family has been established as canon, there is a strong likelihood that Shanks was born a Celestial Dragon. There is also a significant possibility that Shanks is related to Saint Garling Figarland.
Is Figarland Garling Related to Shanks?
The question lingering in many fans' minds is, “Is Saint Garling Figarland related to Shanks?”
Shanks was hinted to be a part of the Figarland family in the latest One Piece movie Film: Red. The introduction of the “Holy Knights” included silhouettes that bore a resemblance to Shanks’ figure. Young Figarland Garling also bears a striking similarity to Shanks, suggesting a connection between these characters that may soon be revealed by author Eiichiro Oda.
While we cannot definitively say if St. Garling and Shanks are blood relatives yet, fans speculate that Garling Figarland could be the father or grandfather of Shanks. Here are a few pieces of evidence supporting this theory:
- Shanks was found as a child in a treasure box by Roger after the God’s Valley incident, meaning he was present on the island during that time. St. Garling, being the former champion of God’s Valley, and his reveal in the manga during this crucial moment, suggests a link between them.
- In One Piece Chapter 1095, we see a young Figarland Garling, and the similarities in appearance between him and Shanks are striking, particularly their iconic red hair.
Shanks had requested a meeting with the Five Elders, eventually gaining an audience with them. It raises questions about how one of the most wanted pirates could easily meet with the highest authorities in the One Piece world unless there’s a deeper connection with the Figarland family.
Another hint is from Chapter 434 when Whitebeard said, “When I look at your face, it makes my scars ache. The scars I got from him…” suggesting a powerful man who might be St. Figarland. Whitebeard, also present during the God Valley Incident, reminiscing about a man with a face similar to Shanks, adds to the speculation.
The theory that Shanks could be a Celestial Dragon has circulated for a long time and may hold true. Regardless, Saint Figarland Garling is emerging as a formidable villain in One Piece. We will update this article as new information about this character is revealed in the manga.
In the meantime, what are your thoughts on Garling in One Piece? How do you think he is related to Shanks? Let us know in the comments below!
