User blog comment:Pauldin91/Haoshoku Haki Master/@comment-24850639-20161011205633/@comment-25926617-20161012030724

The guys like Mihawk, Shanks, and Rayleigh are able to stand with the other people BECAUSE they don't rely on their DF power. Who is to say that when they were Zoro's age they didnt train their butts off to get where they are. All these guys are at least 39 so is it really that hard to imagine someone with almost twice of Zoro's age being that strong? Shanks likely has the strongest Bosu haki in the world just based off the fact that he is a yonko and like you said has to be on par with other people. If you go back to the war he effortlessly blocked Akainu, an admiral, from a position of little to no leverage with one hand. He is oviously one of the most physically strong people in the series. I don't see how people think that he has some trick up his sleeve because if you think about it it makes sense.

Not saying that you are wrong but I don't think guys like them really 'need' something else to be on par with the other Yonko/beasts of the new world. They are just THAT strong. I think DF are like a shortcut to strength and it has been shown numerous times people who rely on their DF get beat quite easily. So when someone doesn't have one they get ridiculously strong and are able to beat the people who rely on them easier. Like I said imagine Zoro training as hard as he has for the next 20 years.