Summary
One Pieceis one of the best stories to emerge from the anime medium, and with over 1100 episodes under its belt, it has built a legacy carrying some of the best characters, landscapes, and subplots of all time.There are about thirty-two arcs in the anime,with the Egghead Arc running currently. Each arc focuses on a different goal, but in its own way, also helps progress the overarching story.
The journey Luffy and his crewmates are on is filled with adventures, and taking some time off to experience some of their best adventures all over again is highly recommended just to get a sense of how far they have come.
10Skypiea Arc
The Island Above The Clouds
TheSkypiea Arcmight seem slow and confusing during first watch, but that is why it is one of the best arcs to rewatch, as fans will understand things a bit more and draw certain parallels with the knowledge they only gained afterwards.
Enel, a villain with one of the best character designs, and the concept of haki, were both introduced in this arc. The climactic confrontationbetween Luffy and Enel showcaseshis ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, and the arc concludes as mostOne Piecearcs do, with the Straw Hats having made a lasting impact on the island’s inhabitants.
9Impel Down Arc
Journey Through The Impenetrable Underwater Prison
In Luffy’s race against time to save Ace, he ventures into the most secure prison in the world, located underwater. Fans got to see Buggy and Mr. 3 grace their screens once more as Luffy’s resolve was tested. Jinbe, the former warlord, was also introduced in theImpel Down Arc, and shown to have a meaningful connection with Ace.
The build-up of tension as Luffy descends deeper into the prison, facing increasingly more dangerous levels and not knowing what to expect at every turn, is expertly crafted, but nothing beats the emotional conclusion to this arc, where Mr. 3 wins the hearts of fans by assisting Luffy again and again.
8Alabasta Arc
The First Major Arc Following The Straw Hats' Entrance Into The Grand Line
TheAlabasta Arcexplores the impact of a corrupt government on its people and what tends to happen when a pirate rules over a kingdom. Luffy and crew make a new friend, VIvi, and set out to protect her homeland from theleader of the Baroque Worksand one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Crocodile.
Despite being faced with a villain that seemed almost impossible to beat, Luffy learned to adapt to the situation and even came up with a very smart statement to calm down Princess VIvi when she was about to have a panic attack, which is something fans don’t get to see every day.
7Arlong Park Arc
The Thorn In The Side Of Luffy’s Navigator
This is perhaps the most impactful arc in the East Blue saga, as it greatly highlights Luffy’s trust in those who he connects with. This is where fans really get to understand the depth of Nami’s character, and the complex circumstances which led her to ally herself with Arlong, as prior to that she was only known as the petty thief who stole Luffy’s pirate ship.
TheArlong ParkArcalso offers a glimpse into the harsh realities and themes that are discussed inOne Piece, casting a shade over the often lighthearted tone that appears in most of the series.
6Enies Lobby Arc
Luffy Declares War Against The World Government
The Straw Hat Pirates are not strangers to situations that test their unbreakable bond. Despite Robin being held captive in a World Government stronghold, they were all ready to risk it all for her out of sheer trust. Luffy declared his stance against the World Government, and that iconic image of the crew united against their oppression was born.
The Straw Hat Pirates also enjoyed character development on many fronts in theEnies Lobby Arc, with Robin’s backstory taking the cake, and Luffy’s growth in power by coming up with Gear Second and Gear Third being major highlights.
5Sabaody Archipelago Arc
The Straw Hats Are Thrown Into Despair For The First Time
This arc was incredibly important for the development of the Straw Hat Pirates. It introduced a lot ofpivotal characters, like Silvers Rayleigh, Roger’s right-hand man, who ends up becoming a teacher to Luffy and the upcoming pirate captains, all of whome will later go on to be known as The Worst Generation.
The seed for many subsequent plot points, such as the New World and the timeskip that was to come, were sown in theSabaody Archipelago Arc, as the Straw Hats' emphatic defeat at the hands of Bartholomew Kuma, followed by their eventual separation, was a much-needed wake-up call for the crew.
4Whole Cake Island Arc
Deep Dive Into Sanji’s Character
This is one of the most emotional arcs inOne Piece, so fans who want to get their heartstrings tugged at should definitely give this one a rewatch. Fans got to see more Gear Fourth forms, like Tankman and Snakeman, while Luffy faced afierce competitor in Katakuri, who seemed to be better than him in every way.
TheWhole Cake Island Arcalso saw the addition of “First Son of the Sea” Jinbe to the Strawhat Crew, as Luffy and Nami ventured through the territory of Emperor Big Mom, aiming to bring home their beloved cook.
3Dressrosa Arc
The Spotlight Shines On DonQuixote Doflamingo
Donquixote Doflamingo is a fan-favorite villain in this series, and he owes that to this arc, which fleshed out his character. Fans learned all about his past as a celestial dragon and how he had terrorized the citizens of Dressrosa for years.
TheDressrosa Arcexcels at juggling multiple storylines without losing focus, from Luffy’s clash with Doflamingo toLaw and Corazon’s heartbreaking past. One of the bestOne Piecepost-timeskip moments also came from this arc, with Luffy unveiling the next big step in the evolution of his abilities, Gear Fourth.
2Wano Country Arc
The Final Goal Of Luffy And Law’s Alliance
TheWano Country Arcsaw a big jump in animation quality, and this was a welcome sight, because Luffy was finally going to go head-to-head with the strongest creature in the world:the King of Beasts, Kaido.
The new visual cues for Haki activation also added more life to the series, and whileOne Pieceis known mainly for its storytelling, this arc blew fans away with some of the best animated fight scenes ever seen. Luffy got to finally awaken his Devil Fruit and establish himself as one of the strongest people in the world.
1Marineford Arc
The Great War
Luffy’s journey through Impel Down to save Ace led him, as well as the Whitebeard Pirates, to theMarineford Arcin order to confront the Marines. As a result,this arc features a large-scale warthat ended in a manner that broke many hearts. Fans got to witness the might and durability of Whitebeard, who was easily the strongest character present despite being way past his prime.
This arc also sets the tone for the second half of the series, as Luffy realizes he still has much to do if he is to become strong enough to protect his loved ones.
