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One Piece character guide

Portgas D. Ace.

Portgas D. Ace is Luffy’s older sworn brother, a pirate who left his own crew to join the Whitebeard Pirates and eats the fire-based Mera Mera no Mi. He is introduced in the Arabasta arc as a name the Straw Hats have never heard, and his story becomes one of the most-discussed in the series.

  • Whitebeard Pirates commander and Luffy’s sworn older brother
  • Verified October 29, 2026

Revelations that change how the story reads are folded away. Choose how far you have got to unfold everything up to that point. Your choice stays on this device.

Quick facts

BirthdayConfirmed
January 1Taken from his name: Ace is the first card in the deck. SBS, volume 48
HeightConfirmed
185 cm (6 ft 1 in), at age 20SBS, volume 48
Devil FruitConfirmed
Mera Mera no Mi (a Logia-type fire fruit)
AffiliationConfirmed
Whitebeard Pirates; formerly the Spade PiratesEp. 461 · ch. 552
Sworn brothersConfirmed
Hidden factThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)
Luffy and Sabo
Ep. 496 · ch. 585
ParentsConfirmed
Hidden factThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)
Gol D. Roger and Portgas D. Rouge
Ep. 459 · ch. 550
Age at deathConfirmed
Hidden factThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)
20
SBS, volume 48
First named in the storyConfirmed
Manga chapter 159; anime episode 95
Voice actorsConfirmed
Toshio Furukawa (Japanese); Chris Cason (English, Funimation)

Confirmed: stated in the manga, anime or official guidebooks. Estimate: approximate or derived. Unknown: not revealed.

Portgas D. Ace’s biography

Luffy’s brother

The Straw Hats first hear of Ace during the Arabasta arc, when they learn that Luffy has a sworn older brother. Ace is a pirate who left the Spade Pirates he founded and joined Whitebeard’s crew, and Luffy’s admiration for him is open: he tells people Ace is his brother, and Ace tells everyone he meets about Luffy’s reckless adventures. (Ep. 95 · ch. 159)

Spoiler: Chasing BlackbeardSkypiea to Post-Enies Lobby (episodes 131–325)

Chasing Blackbeard

Ace spends the period before Marineford hunting Marshall D. Teach, Blackbeard, a former Whitebeard Pirate. In chapter 441 he warns Blackbeard that he will make Whitebeard the Pirate King. Ace loses and is delivered to the Marines, and in chapter 526 Luffy’s allies learn that Ace is among the new prisoners of Impel Down. (Ep. 325 · ch. 441)

Spoiler: The truth about his fatherThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

The truth about his father

At Marineford, Sengoku reveals that Ace’s father is Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, and his mother is Portgas D. Rouge. Garp later recalls that Roger had asked him to adopt Ace. Whitebeard says Ace had turned down an invitation to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea. (Ep. 459 · ch. 550)

Spoiler: Marineford and his deathThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

Marineford and his death

The Marines intend to execute Ace at Marineford, and a war breaks out over it. Ace is freed, but when Admiral Akainu turns on Luffy, Ace puts himself in front of Luffy and takes the attack. He dies of the wound, an event that the story treats as the turning point of its first half. (Ep. 482 · ch. 573)

Spoiler: After AceThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

After Ace

Ace appears again only in flashbacks, such as the one in which he shares sake cups with Luffy and Sabo and in a flashback with Luffy and Makino. His Mera Mera no Mi is later returned to circulation, which is the term the story uses for a fruit that reappears after its owner’s death. (Ep. 496 · ch. 585)

Personality, motivations and development

Spoiler: Easygoing, proud and protectiveThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

Easygoing, proud and protective

Ace is relaxed to the point of falling asleep mid-conversation, and fiercely loyal to the people he has chosen as family. He is dismissive toward Luffy to the point of spitting on him in front of the Marines, and then asks Jinbe to look after him in case he dies. (Ep. 493 · ch. 582)

Spoiler: A man who wants to be Whitebeard’s sonThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

A man who wants to be Whitebeard’s son

He refuses an invitation to join the Seven Warlords and instead remains with Whitebeard, whom he has said he wants to make Pirate King. His drive comes from wanting to prove his own worth. (Ep. 461 · ch. 552)

What drives Portgas D. Ace

  • Proving his own worth.
  • Making Whitebeard the Pirate King.
  • Protecting his younger brother Luffy.
Spoiler: A character built to be lostThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

A character built to be lost

Ace is introduced late in the first half of the story and given an unusually strong set of relationships, then removed. The story uses his loss to move Luffy from the freedom of a young pirate to the weight of a captain, which is why Ace is one of the most commonly cited “turning points” of the series.

Portgas D. Ace’s abilities

Open an entry for its strengths, limits and where it appears. Entries describe what the story shows; they are not a power ranking.

Abilities and techniques

Mera Mera no Miメラメラの実

Innate traitConfirmed

A Logia-type Devil Fruit that lets Ace create, control and become fire.

Strengths
  • Fire attacks, including projectiles and large flames.
  • As a Logia, physical attacks pass through his body.
Limits and weaknesses
  • Cannot swim, like all Devil Fruit users.
  • Armament Haki and seastone still affect him.
Shown in

Arabasta arc (episodes 92–130) · part of Devil Fruits

Spoiler abilityThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

Conqueror’s Haki覇王色の覇気

SkillConfirmed

Ace is shown to have Conqueror’s Haki. In a flashback, he knocks out the Bluejam Pirates members with it.

Strengths
  • Can overpower and knock out groups of opponents.
Limits and weaknesses
  • It takes training and uses up spirit.
Shown in

Ep. 501 · ch. 587 · part of Haki

Spoiler abilityThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

Command and leadership

SkillConfirmed

Ace founded and captained the Spade Pirates before joining Whitebeard’s crew, where he holds command of a division.

Strengths
  • Earns the loyalty of crews he leads or joins.
Limits and weaknesses
  • Not a combat technique: the story shows it through his relationships, not through fights.
Shown in

Ep. 461 · ch. 552

Portgas D. Ace’s relationships

Every named connection is listed here. Open a card to see how the relationship changes over the story.

Open Portgas D. Ace in the One Piece family tree.

Monkey D. Luffy

Family · sworn younger brother

Luffy and Ace are brothers by oath, raised in the same household, and the story’s emotional spine.

  1. Learning of Ace. The Straw Hats learn that Luffy has a sworn brother named Ace during the Alabasta arc.(Ep. 95 · ch. 159)
  2. Spoiler: later developmentThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)
    The cups. A flashback shows Luffy sharing sake cups with Sabo and Ace to become sworn brothers.(Ep. 496 · ch. 585)
  3. Spoiler: later developmentThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)
    Marineford. Luffy fights to reach Ace at the war, where Ace sacrifices himself to protect Luffy.(Ep. 482 · ch. 573)
Spoiler: connection to SaboThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

Sabo

Family · sworn brother

Ace and Sabo are the two older sworn brothers.

  1. The cups. The three become sworn brothers in a flashback.(Ep. 496 · ch. 585)
Spoiler: connection to Gol D. RogerThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

Gol D. Roger

Family · father

Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, is Ace’s father.

  1. The reveal. Sengoku reveals at Marineford that Ace’s father is Roger and his mother is Portgas D. Rouge.(Ep. 459 · ch. 550)
Spoiler: connection to Portgas D. RougeThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

Portgas D. Rouge

Family · mother

Portgas D. Rouge is Ace’s mother.

  1. The reveal. Ace’s mother’s name is revealed at Marineford.(Ep. 459 · ch. 550)
Spoiler: connection to Monkey D. GarpThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

Monkey D. Garp

Family · guardian

Garp raised Ace at Roger’s request.

  1. Roger’s request. Garp recalls Roger asking him to take Ace in.(Ep. 460 · ch. 551)
Spoiler: connection to WhitebeardThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

Whitebeard

Mentor / student · captain

Ace joins Whitebeard’s crew, and the older captain treats him as a son.

  1. The offer. Whitebeard reveals that Ace turned down an invitation to join the Seven Warlords.(Ep. 461 · ch. 552)
Spoiler: connection to Marshall D. TeachSkypiea to Post-Enies Lobby (episodes 131–325)

Marshall D. Teach

Enemy · quarry

Ace chases Marshall D. Teach after Teach kills a fellow Whitebeard Pirate.

  1. The warning. Ace tells Blackbeard that he will make Whitebeard the Pirate King.(Ep. 325 · ch. 441)
Spoiler: connection to AkainuThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

Akainu

Enemy · admiral

Admiral Akainu is the Marine who strikes at Luffy in the war at Marineford.

  1. Marineford. Ace puts himself in front of Luffy and takes Akainu’s attack.(Ep. 482 · ch. 573)
Spoiler: connection to JinbeThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

Jinbe

Ally · ally

Ace asks Jinbe to protect Luffy if he dies.

  1. The request. Ace asks Jinbe to protect Luffy in case he ends up dying.(Ep. 486 · ch. 577)

Major battles

Spoiler: battleThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

Ace and Blackbeard

Result: Ace loses and is delivered to the Marines. (Ep. 422 · ch. 526)

Ace pursues Teach and warns him at the end of the Enies Lobby aftermath, then ends up in Impel Down. See it on the timeline.

Spoiler: battleThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

The war at Marineford

Result: Ace is freed during the war, then killed. (Ep. 482 · ch. 573)

The war that begins with Ace’s execution ends with his death. See it on the timeline.

Portgas D. Ace timeline

Order

Story order follows in-world dates. Switch to release order to see events in the order the anime, then the manga, first showed them.

  1. Ace’s childhood
    Hidden eventThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

    Roger asks Garp to take in Ace

    Garp later recalls that Roger asked him to adopt Ace.

    Anime ep. 460Manga ch. 551Portgas D. Ace
  2. Childhood
    Hidden eventThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

    Luffy, Ace and Sabo become sworn brothers

    The boys share sake cups and become brothers by oath.

    Anime ep. 496Manga ch. 585Monkey D. LuffyPortgas D. Ace
  3. Alabasta

    The Straw Hats hear about Ace

    During Alabasta, the crew learns that Luffy has a sworn brother, Ace.

    Anime ep. 95Manga ch. 159ArabastaMonkey D. LuffyPortgas D. Ace
  4. Before Marineford
    Hidden eventThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

    Ace is held in Impel Down

    Luffy learns Ace is among the new prisoners of Impel Down and sets out to reach him.

    Anime ep. 422Manga ch. 526Impel Down and MarinefordPortgas D. AceMonkey D. Luffy
  5. The war at Marineford
    Hidden eventThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

    Ace’s parents are revealed

    At Marineford, Ace’s father and mother are named.

    Anime ep. 459Manga ch. 550Impel Down and MarinefordPortgas D. Ace
  6. The war at Marineford
    Hidden eventThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

    Ace dies protecting Luffy

    Ace shields Luffy from Admiral Akainu’s attack and dies of his wound.

    Anime ep. 482Manga ch. 573Impel Down and MarinefordPortgas D. AceMonkey D. Luffy

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Status tracker: is Portgas D. Ace alive?

Status can differ between the anime and the manga, and it can change: characters are sealed, revived or used by others. Each event below has its own spoiler protection and verified references.

Spoiler: Portgas D. Ace’s current statusThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)
In the manga
Deceased
In the anime so far
Deceased

Ace dies at Marineford while protecting Luffy from Admiral Akainu’s attack. He is not revived. He appears afterward only in flashbacks.

  1. Spoiler: status eventThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

    DeathKilled by Akainu at Marineford

    Cause
    Admiral Akainu’s attack strikes through him.
    What happens
    Ace sacrifices his own life to protect Luffy during the war at Marineford, in chapter 573 (episode 482).
    Why it matters
    It is the central loss of the first half of the story and shapes Luffy’s decisions after the time skip.
    Verified at
    Anime ep. 482 · Manga ch. 573
    Anime vs. manga
    The anime softens the scene: Ace’s beaded necklace breaks and he is covered in less blood, with the smoke from the wound omitted. In the manga and the specials, the necklace stays intact.

Anime and manga differences

Spoiler: adaptation differenceThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)

The death scene. Anime: Ace’s necklace breaks and one bead rolls to Whitebeard’s foot; there is less blood. Manga: The necklace stays intact and the wound is shown with more blood.

Not confirmed by the story

  • Ace’s exact bounty and the precise date of his birth beyond January 1 are not covered here.

Anime and manga appearances

MediumTitleRole
MangaOne PieceFirst named in chapter 159; killed in the Marineford arc, with later flashbacks.
AnimeOne PieceEpisodes 95–489 and flashbacks

Plan your One Piece viewing

Portgas D. Ace FAQ

Spoiler questionThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)
Who are Ace’s parents?

Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, and Portgas D. Rouge, as revealed at Marineford.

Spoiler questionThriller Bark to Post-War (episodes 326–516)
Does Ace die in One Piece?

Yes, at Marineford in manga chapter 573 and anime episode 482. He protects Luffy from Admiral Akainu’s attack.

What Devil Fruit does Ace have?

The Mera Mera no Mi, a Logia-type fruit that lets him create and become fire.

How this profile was checked

Last verified October 29, 2026. Covers Manga chapters 1–1125 and anime episodes 1–1155. Details are written by AnimeSparks from the manga and anime themselves, and cross-checked against the references below. Where something isn’t confirmed, the page says so.

  • One Piece manga by Eiichiro Oda (Shueisha): Chapters cited throughout.
  • One Piece anime (Toei Animation), episodes 1–1155: Episode numbers.
  • One Piece Wiki on Fandom, “Portgas D. Ace”: Chapter and episode citations, SBS figures and adaptation differences; no text copied.