Eiichiro Oda had wildly different plans for Ace in One Piece, but he switched things up after seeing the massive popularity enjoyed by the character.

Throughout One Piece, there have been many instances that made fans bawl their eyes out, sometimes out of joy, and other times due to heartbreaks. Speaking of heartbreaks, if Ace’s death isn’t your first thought, then you might need to rewatch the entire series. Eiichiro Oda took us all on a whirlwind of emotions, only to leave us with the most heart-shattering fictional memory.

Ace’s last conversation with Luffy in One Piece manga | Credits: Viz Media

Many of us are yet to recover from the events of the Marineford War. However, Oda initially had different plans for Ace. Before you smile at the thought of Ace escaping Marineford alive, you should know that the mangaka never planned on keeping him alive. He had a worse fate in mind for the character. So, what were these plans that Oda set aside?

Eiichiro Oda Had Different Plans For Ace Initially

Portgas D. Ace was introduced to us during the Alabasta arc of One Piece. Up until Impel Down, Eiichiro Oda gave us brief updates about his journey. And then, his character arc came to an end during the Marineford War. Whatever time fans spent with Ace made him one of the fan-favorite characters. We never would have gotten those developments if Oda pursued his initial plans.

Yamato gets mad at Ace for falling asleep | Credits: Studio Toei Animation

While first introducing Ace, Oda had planned to kill him shortly after his first appearance (via translations on X). However, the character’s popularity made him second-guess his decision.

So I was worried about whether or not I should kill Ace. I had planned to kill him just one year after his appearance, but it ended up taking 10 years.

As painful as it was, the execution of Ace’s death was perfect the way it happened. If he was killed any sooner, it might not have been as impactful. It was one event that shook the world of One Piece fans,

Here’s Why Ace’s Death Was Perfect the Way it Happened

Initially, Ace was just the brother figure who was laid back and reliable. As the story progressed, he was fleshed out more as an individual. His interaction with Blackbeard showcased his powers, while his defiance when Whitebeard asked him to not pursue Blackbeard gave us a glimpse of his unwavering will and how headstrong he was. He had made up his mind, and no matter what, he wasn’t going to budge.

Ace and Marco | Credits: Studio Toei Animation

The time he spent with his crew mates gave us a sense of their closeness and explained why he wanted to avenge Thatch. All these characteristics played a huge role in the war, which made the build-up necessary. He had the chance to escape the war and save himself, however, he let Akainu manipulate him emotionally. His love for the Whitebeard Pirates and his stubbornness to never back down led to his death.

All of it could have been easily avoided if he listened to Whitebeard. His actions made sense as we knew what kind of person he was, and how he felt about those he held close to his heart. It’s good that Oda let Ace be a part of the story for a longer time to ensure that we suffer properly.

Ace gets enraged by Akainu’s words in One Piece manga | Credits: Viz Media

Moreover, Oda gave us flickers of hope that Ace would be saved, only to deliver the most heart-wrenching death. While Ace being alive is the best option, the second best was undoubtedly the death we got, rather than one that didn’t hold any meaning. So, it’s a good thing Oda scrapped his initial plans and weaved a different fate instead.