Getting into One Piece can become one of the best journeys you’ll experience in your lifetime. At first, 1000+ episodes and chapters may seem too much, but the series delivers a lot of hyped battles, funny humor, and tear-jerking moments that’ll make it worth the watch. If you’re new to One Piece, you’re probably wondering which story arcs you should look forward to watching.
Each arc has its ups and downs, but they all tell an engaging story every time. Still, some storylines shined brighter and left a better legacy than others. In our opinion, these are the best One Piece arcs where the series was at its finest.
10. Dressrosa
The island of Dressrosa has one of the most tragic histories out of all the regions, and it’s all thanks to the antagonist of this arc, Donquixote Doflamingo. Doflamingo was the highlight of this storyline, as he’s one of the best well-written villains in One Piece. Eiichiro Oda did a great job of fleshing out his character and making him a devious manifestation of pure evil you’ll despise from start to finish.
Meanwhile, Luffy will show one of his strongest power-ups in this storyline and reunite with someone special in the most heart-warming way. Dressrosa also successfully makes you care for many citizens and other side characters since the arc is filled with tragic backstories. On the other hand, one thing that Dressrosa suffers from is its pacing. If the storyline didn’t feel as slow and bloated as it did, it would have been higher on this list.
9. Sabaody Archipelago
Don’t let the length of this one fool you. Even though Sabaody Archipelago is a short arc, it doesn’t pull its punches. Sabaody featured the Straw Hats’ first-ever utter defeat, making them realize they aren’t ready for the next part of their journey. Without the events of this arc, the Straw Hats probably wouldn’t have reached as far as they did today.
Sabaody also adds several new characters into the mix. This includes the Worst Generation, which consists of the eleven super rookies at the time. Many of the rookies had their debut in Sabaody, and they would eventually show up in future arcs and be given their own time to shine. Other prominent figures were also introduced, such as Dark King Rayleigh and Admiral Kizaru.
Despite its short stay, no one can deny Sabaody’s importance in the story.
8. Arlong Park
Many fans agree that this is where One Piece started to get good.
Arlong Park was the best arc out of the East Blue saga. One of the finest things about Arlong Park is how well it handled Nami’s character. Oda did a fantastic job showing us why Nami was a part of the Arlong Pirates. The losses she had suffered and the sacrifices she made up to that point will really make you empathize with her.
It only got better when Nami had enough and finally asked Luffy for help. The emotional impact of Nami breaking down and Luffy giving her his straw hat is what makes this arc so powerful. It’s even more touching that the Straw Hats didn’t hesitate to help her as soon as she reached out to them. Moments like these are the reasons why One Piece is peak anime and why Arlong Park deserves a spot on this list.
7. Impel Down
If anyone has been to hell and back, it’s none other than Luffy when he broke into Impel Down. The idea of breaking into a maximum-security prison is daunting, to say the least. And yet, Luffy didn’t hesitate to infiltrate Impel Down to save his brother Ace. This arc is filled with high-stakes action alongside new and old characters making a return.
Impel Down features the debut of characters like Jinbei and Ivankov. Furthermore, past enemies that Luffy fought also appeared in Impel Down. Some notable enemies include Buggy the Clown, Crocodile, and other Baroque Works members. Surprisingly, they’ll all be on Luffy’s side as they work together to escape the hellish prison. All of this led to a thrilling escape from the venomous Magellan and an emotional ending thanks to this arc’s MVP, Bon Clay.
6. Alabasta
The Alabasta arc has many reasons why it’s one of the best across all of One Piece. Its plot ups the stakes for the Straw Hats since the country was on the verge of a civil war because of the infamous Baroque Works led by Crocodile. With their princess friend Vivi in distress, the Straw Hats once again don’t hesitate to help Alabasta by taking down Baroque Works.
This is the first time we see Luffy fight against a Warlord and lose during their first battle. Still, his creativity and persistence didn’t stop him from confronting Crocodile again and giving us another memorable fight. The other Straw Hats also had to face their own match-ups, which was nice because each member got the screen time they deserved. And finally, who could forget the ending of the arc? The emotional farewell between Vivi and the Straw Hats was bittersweet enough to make you hope they’ll reunite someday.
5. Water 7
At the start of this arc, you may think that the Straw Hats will only repair their ship, maybe beat a bad guy or two, then head on out. You can forget about that idea because Water 7 took a dark turn real quick. Water 7 is one of the most heartbreaking emotional roller coasters you’ll ever experience in One Piece.
In this arc, some members of the Straw Hats will part ways with the crew. What seemed like unbreakable bonds were broken after a couple of arguments and disagreements. Seeing beloved characters fight was gut-wrenching for many in several ways possible. Meanwhile, other members left because they thought the Straw Hats would be better off without them or simply because they could no longer continue the journey.
4. Whole Cake Island
Whole Cake Island is brimming with action-packed and dramatic moments, perfect for a One Piece arc. It also deepens Sanji’s character as this arc tackles his abusive childhood and selfless actions. Furthermore, the odds are against the Straw Hats in Whole Cake since it’s their first time facing an emperor, Big Mom. Still, this doesn’t stop them from doing whatever it takes to take back Sanji.
There are many events to unwrap in this arc. From Luffy’s first encounter with Sanji to his battle with Katakuri, Whole Cake Island is filled with unforgettable moments. Luffy’s dedication throughout the story is admirable, which will make you respect him even more as a captain. It’s also hard not to mention Sanji and Pudding’s complicated relationship. Despite Pudding’s actions, Sanji’s chivalry is still unmatched, which turns the tables around for Pudding.
3. Wano Country
Though the anime has yet to complete its adaptation, Wano Country is bound to be remembered as one of the best One Piece arcs. The character line-up in Wano is unmatched for the most part since we get to see several Worst Generation members and two emperors. Wano also has the best animation among all One Piece arcs, doing justice to several fan-favorite moments with its flashy visuals.
Moreover, Wano also features flashbacks of the previous era’s legends, such as Gol D. Roger and Whitebeard, thanks to Kozuki Oden. The arc will also serve as the ground for several Straw Hats to shine and power up. The battles they’ll face and hardships they’ll overcome will prepare them for One Piece’s final saga.
2. Enies Lobby
Any One Piece fan will agree that Enies Lobby is a great arc. Enies Lobby shows how far the Straw Hats will go to save a crewmate, and we’re telling you, it’s pretty far. The Straw Hats were willing to declare war on the World Government and fight one of its deadliest groups CP9, just to save Nico Robin.
To say that Enies Lobby is a powerful arc is an understatement. It’s incredible how Oda made fans feel a range of emotions by having Robin say just four words, “I want to live.” Not only that, but this is also the first time that Luffy used gears in battle. This made his fight with Rob Lucci one of the most hyped battles of the entire series.
1. Marineford
Marineford is like the All-Stars edition of One Piece, with so many characters appearing in this arc. As a war arc, Marineford never gives you any room to breathe since there’s non-stop action from start to finish. The merciless showdown between the Marines, Seven Warlords, Whitebeard Pirates, and Impel Down escapees keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the arc.
So many unforgettable moments and significant events happened in Marineford. That moment when Luffy jumped to the plaza and stood in front of three Admirals never failed to give everyone goosebumps. And most of all, Ace’s death served as Luffy’s wake-up call that he was still outmatched in his current state. Pair that with Whitebeard’s last words and Shanks’ arrival, and we have the best arc One Piece has to offer.
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