Not gonna lie, “That moment when Ace dies? Bro, I couldn’t breathe.” That’s not just one random take, that’s basically the whole fandom screaming in unison. We’re still salty years later. And honestly? Same. Ace was my favorite too, and Oda just… did him dirty.
Okay but can we TALK about that one hit from Akainu? “Akainu jammed his thumb in Ace and rubbed it in like a bully.”That fatal punch crushed his chest and crushed the entire fanbase in the same panel. Fans meme it like “Akainu’s thumb was the true MVP of destruction,” but let’s be real—we’re not laughing. We’re wrecked.
THIS is why Ace’s death felt so brutal
The way Luffy and everyone went through hell—Impel Down, Marineford, everything—just to save him, only for Ace to die right after? That’s pain. One fan said it straight: “I was so pissed. After all Luffy and everyone went through to save Ace, it felt like it was all for nothing.” Tell me that didn’t sting.
And Ace wasn’t some side character you shrug off. “Ace was my favorite character and his death hit me hard. I still can’t believe Oda actually killed him off.” SAME. That kind of hurt doesn’t fade. Every rewatch, every reread, that panel is still the OG sad boi meme.
But THIS is why it had to happen
Here’s the thing though—fans aren’t wrong when they say it was necessary. “Ace’s death was brutal but without it, Luffy wouldn’t have had the growth arc over the 2-year timeskip. Oda had to do it for the story to move forward.” Facts. If Ace lived, One Piece would’ve been predictable as hell.
And the symbolism? Brutal but perfect. “Ace died to symbolize the end of an era (Roger’s bloodline extinguished) and to usher in the new generation.” That’s why Whitebeard’s speech right after is legendary. Oda literally slammed the door on the past and shoved Luffy headfirst into the future. Necessary. Painful. Still necessary.
Can we talk about the execution tho
Execution-wise though? Yeah, fans are split. “I feel like Oda didn’t respect Ace enough in how he went out. Story-wise it makes sense but the execution? Meh.” And I get it. It was quick. One hit. Gone.
But then you look at that shot—Luffy holding Ace as he dies. That’s raw heartbreak. Fans still call it “one of the most emotional scenes in anime history.” And honestly, it is. Luffy just collapses after, like his whole soul got ripped out. Biggest Luffy heartbreak, no contest.
The eternal debates we’re STILL having
Another thing—“Was Ace’s death necessary? Yes for story progression, but the way it happened left a bad taste.” That’s the exact debate fans still have. We accept Oda had to do it, but could it have been handled better? Split decision.
And when people ask, “Did Oda always plan to kill Ace?” The answer’s basically yeah. He created Ace knowing he’d kill him eventually. So when fans wonder if he regrets it? Nah. “Ace took the L for the story but my heart still aches for him.” That’s the vibe.
THIS is why we can’t let it go
Ace’s death is eternal salt. Straight up. #NeverForgetAceDeath still pops up as a joke, but deep down it’s not a joke. “Ace death = eternal salt and tears for the fanbase. No coming back from that.” The memes, the threads, the hot takes—it’s proof we’ll never fully process it.
And Oda? Savage. Just savage. “Oda went savage with Ace’s death, there’s no coming back from that.” He broke us on purpose and didn’t even blink.
Real talk
So yeah, Ace’s death? Still the biggest gut punch in One Piece. Still the moment that makes people slam the manga shut or pause the anime just to breathe. Still the scene everyone agrees was absolutely necessary and absolutely devastating. Oda killed him to push the story forward, but damn—we’re still bitter.
I’m just saying, can you even call yourself a One Piece fan if that panel didn’t wreck you? And now I’m curious—after all this, which side of the Ace debates would you actually land on? There’s actually a quick thing that figures it out based on how you remember Marineford and how you felt watching Ace fall.
Take it and see if you survived Ace’s death better than Luffy did.
Over 20 years of anime obsession has led to countless 3-hour debates with friends about power scaling, devil fruit theories, and getting genuinely emotional during Pain's philosophy speeches. My passion spans everything from classics like One Piece, Naruto, Dragon Ball to newer hits like Jujutsu Kaisen and beyond.
This blog is where I share genuine thoughts about anime moments that hit different, plus fun quizzes to test your knowledge. No pretentious analysis - just a passionate fan creating entertaining content for people who share the same enthusiasm.
Welcome to my corner of the anime universe!
- Ace’s Death Still Has Fans Salty as Hell - September 10, 2025
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