One Piece: In What Episode Does Ace Die?

Despite having a somewhat brief appearance, Portgas D. Ace is adored by fans worldwide and holds a special place in their hearts. When Ace first appeared in the Arabasta arc, he instantly began winning over the hearts of One Piece fans. Ace was portrayed as the sworn older brother of Luffy and Sabo. But Ace met a tragic and heartbreaking end in One Piece, one that is an emotional turning point in the series & unforgettable for the fans. so, even after his passing, Ace is still considered one of the crucial figures in anime and manga. That said, if you are curious about Ace’s death, let’s learn about the episode in which he dies and the events that led to the same.

Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers about Portgas D. Ace in One Piece. So, we suggest you watch the anime (up to Wano Country arc) or read the manga to avoid ruining the intended experience.

Who is Ace in One Piece?

Portgas D. Ace, originally known as Gol D. Ace, is the son of the Pirate King Gol D. Roger and Portgas D. Rouge. Ace is also the sworn older brother of Luffy and Sabo. We only learn about this information in the Marineford arc, which changed our entire perspective toward his character.

Furthermore, Ace played a pivotal role in the series as he was the second-division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. Ace left a lasting impression on the whole fandom; he is still loved and remembered even after his untimely death. Recently, Ace’s story and his connection with Wano were further explored in the Wano country arc.

When Did Ace Die in One Piece?

While Ace was actively hunting for Blackbeard (since Blackbeard killed Thatch, the Fourth Division commander), he found himself drawn to a fateful encounter. When he eventually encountered Blackbeard, Teach confirmed that he was looking to capture Ace’s younger brother Luffy. It led to a fierce battle, with Ace taking on the Blackbeard Pirates single-handedly.

But, the clash ended with Blackbeard defeating Ace and handing him over to the Marines in One Piece. Blackbeard was a warlord at the time. After Ace was captured and a public execution was ordered, it set the stage for one of the most influential and greatest arcs of One Piece, the Marineford War arc.

Ace’s public execution led to the Marinford War, which drew the attention of all influential figures like the Marine Admirals in One Piece, Whitebeard Pirates, the Seven Warlords, and several others. After a series of events, Ace was freed from the execution floor in episode 482 (chapter 573). And in a bid to save his life, Ace decided to make a run for it and escape from the war.

And well, Whitebeard was prepared to sacrifice himself to let him escape. It was at that moment that Akainu provoked Ace by slandering Whitebeard in front of him. So, consumed by rage, Ace fell right into Akainu’s trap and confronted the Marine Admiral instead of fleeing the scene. Toward the end of episode number 482, Ace was brutally killed in One Piece.

How Did Ace Die and Who Killed Him?

As mentioned earlier, Ace confronted Akainu and asked him to take his words back about Whitebeard. To which Akainu replied that he never will and mentioned he wanted to finish the bloodlines of Roger and Monkey D. Dragon, which are Luffy and Ace.

Ace was matched with his natural enemy, Akainu, who has a superior power Magma (one of the deadliest devil fruit powers). When Ace noticed that Akainu is going for Luffy’s head, he threw himself in front of Luffy to protect his younger brother. This resulted in Akainu’s magma hands piercing the chest of our beloved Ace and ultimately killing him. Admiral Akainu then went on to become the most hated character in the One Piece series. Ace rescued his younger brother, much like how Itachi saved his little brother Sasuke in the Naruto series. These parallel tales of tragedy will resonate deep within our hearts.

In his last moments, Ace took a trip down memory lane and reminisced on his childhood memories. He expressed his regret about how he can’t see his little brother Luffy fulfilling his dream. And more importantly, Ace expressed his gratitude for all his friends by thanking them for loving him despite who he was. Ace’s backstory and the fandom’s love for this character make his demise one of the most tragic ones we have witnessed. Finally, Ace died right in front of his little brother, and this traumatic event left a lasting impression on our hero, Luffy.

The Unfortunate Death of Ace in One Piece

After witnessing Ace die at the hands of Akainu, we couldn’t help but wonder — was Ace’s death inevitable in One Piece? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. In One Piece, though beloved by fans, Ace is a secondary character. Ace’s death was rather unexpected for the whole fandom, especially when we had already mourned Oyaji’s loss recently. In the end, Whitebeard’s attempts at saving his “son” were futile.

Ace did not have lofty aspirations to unearth the One Piece treasure or rise to the position of the pirate king. His sole desire was to see his younger brother, Luffy, achieve his dream and to help his father figure, Whitebeard, become the next pirate king. Yet the one real question he sought an answer to was – Did he really deserve to be born? Did he have a place in the world, to begin with?

“Old man, everyone! And you Luffy. Even though I’ve been good for nothing my whole life, even though I have the blood of a demon within me. You guys still loved me! Thank you For Loving me! – Portgas d. ace

At a really young age, Ace started experiencing hatred toward him, spiraling down the path of loneliness. And this led him to question his very existence. However, over time, Ace’s voyage in this pirate world saw him meet many remarkable characters who loved him for who he was. And the Marineford War is a testament to that. All the people who came to rescue Ace during the Marineford War arc are a testament to the love he received from his friends. In the end, Ace realized that and died with a smile on his face.

Ace’s Legacy in the One Piece Anime

Ace’s death has been one of the most tragic incidents in One Piece. But it influenced several things that we got here today. Just as Jiraiya sensei’s death affected Naruto to become a greater ninja, Ace’s death was a wake-up call for Luffy to become stronger. It was at that moment Luffy realized his powerlessness against the strongest powers in the world. So, he recognized the need to become stronger to protect his beloved nakamas (friends). Thus, Ace’s death became the catalyst that pushed Luffy to undergo training with Silvers Rayleigh and become the powerful person he is today.

Ace’s death also had a profound impact on Sabo, leading him to rediscover older memories that he had forgotten during a Saint Jalmack assault. Sabo acquired Ace’s fire-infused will, and as a result, developed a profound sense of protectiveness toward Luffy. The Mera Mera no Mi devil fruit, one of the strongest Logia devil fruits, was passed down from Ace to Sabo. And both Luffy and Sabo were happy to be reunited at last.

Ace’s Connection with Wano Country

It was discovered recently that Ace had already made his way to Wano and even met O-Tama and Yamato. This was a huge surprise and a treat to the fans to see our beloved Ace on the screen again. His connection with the Wano country and his aim to free it from the shackles was shared with Luffy.

Finally, Luffy set the nation free and Ace’s words turned true. In addition to being remembered by his siblings and fellow pirates, Ace will always have a special place in our hearts because the will of fire he ignited in his won’t be extinguished by any means.

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