Over its almost three-decade run, One Piece has become more than a successful pirate voyage in the history of manga and anime. Creator Eiichiro Oda is masterfully crafting a storyline, where each arc contributes significantly to the overarching plot. That’s why, One Piece continues to fascinate fans to this date. Though you could watch the One Piece arcs in order, some arcs exceeded our expectations and stood out in the animanga series. So, as a longtime fan, I have ranked the best One Piece arcs to date. So, let’s see where your favorite arc ranks in our list.
Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers about the characters of One Piece. We suggest you watch the anime or read the manga to avoid ruining the intended experience.
15. Romance Dawn
- Saga: East Blue Saga
- Episodes: 1-3
- Manga Chapters: 1-7
The Romance Dawn was the perfect beginning to One Piece. It was an exemplary mini-arc that did wonders despite its short span. With only three episodes, it introduced fans to the protagonist Luffy who wanted to become the Pirate King. This is also where we met Shanks for the first time, and the Red Hair Pirates proved how the pirates work in this realm against the Higuma Bandits.
It all began with Shanks and Luffy’s connection, and the former leaving his Straw Hat to Luffy. It is one of those legendary moments that’s etched in every fan’s mind, and we now await the day Luffy meets Shanks again. This arc didn’t stop there as Luffy set out to gather his own crew.
Luffy’s first-ever adventure resulted in clashing against Alvida and Captain Morgan where we discovered and fell in love with the rubbery powers. Moreover, two other important characters Zoro and Koby were introduced, and it was extremely joyous to watch them tag along with Luffy.
This arc also explored the backstories of Luffy and Zoro. Hence, the first arc in One Piece became an unforgettable arc for fans.
14. Reverie
- Saga: Whole Cake Island Saga
- Episodes: 878-889
- Manga Chapters: 903-908
If there’s an arc that was short yet gave rise to numerous unanswered mysteries in One Piece, it has to be the Reverie arc (also known as Levely arc). Right after the WCI arc, we see the newly updated bounties of One Piece‘s beloved Straw Hat Pirates and a meeting of the kings at the holy land.
After a long time, we met Princesses Vivi, Shirahoshi, and Rebecca at the same time. But this is one of the best arcs because of all the mysteries it brought to the surface. That included the introduction of Imu, a giant Straw Hat, and finally Shanks’ meeting with the Five Elders.
As a fan, I was more than flabbergasted after seeing all these new mysteries showing up. Oda has always been a master of creating intricate plotlines, and this arc fits right in.
13. Impel Down
- Saga: Summit War Saga
- Episodes: 422-425, 430-452
- Manga Chapters: 525-549
Never in our dreams did we think that we would see a Prison Break-esque arc in One Piece. But Oda surprised fans yet again. In this arc, Luffy snuck inside the highly secured Impel Down prison with the help of Boa Hancock to save his brother Ace. In a series of crazy events that follow, he ends up with Buggy and other new characters, including Ivankov. They all try to escape the prison amidst the chaos created by the Blackbeard Pirates.
Additionally, it had two eccentric and funny antagonists who were as powerful as the Wardens. It was in this arc that Blackbeard made his entry to recruit vile prisoners as his crew members. You can read about the members of the Blackbeard Pirates right here.
Right before the Marineford War, this arc, though lengthy and draggy, was quite entertaining with hilarious comedies and great fights in its own right. The Impel Down arc was also balanced in terms of action and comedy, which was a treat for fans. Bon-chan, Luffy, and Buggy’s performances made this one of the best arcs in One Piece.
12. Water 7
- Saga: Water 7 Saga
- Episodes: 229-263
- Manga Chapters: 322-374
The Water 7 arc was a not-so-smooth ride on the water-based island. It introduced fans to plenty of new characters, and it flawlessly set the plot for the Enies Lobby arc in One Piece. The moment that impressed fans the most in this arc was when Usopp stood up for Going Merry, which caused a rift between him and Luffy. This resulted in the gut-wrenching Luffy vs Usopp fight that broke every fan’s heart in the end.
Moreover, the Water 7 arc had a magnificent story with the CP9 members disguising themselves as shipwright workers and kidnapping Nico Robin at the end. What started as a fun arc turned pretty serious and will always be recalled by fans for its fights and plotline.
11. Zou Arc
- Saga: Whole Cake Island Saga
- Episodes: 751-779
- Manga Chapters: 802-824
Though the Zou arc is a mini-arc, it left a huge impression on One Piece fans with its limited screen time. The fact that an island is located on top of a giant moving elephant sure sounded pretty crazy, and the creativity of author Oda was unleashed there. Again, there were plenty of new characters introduced here with fresh character designs. Moreover, the main story here laid the groundwork and connected the Wano country arc brilliantly.
The loyalty of the Mink tribe when Jack of the Beast Pirates questioned them and the whole nation lying to save their friend was a top-tier plot twist in the anime. Moreover, the facts about Road Poneglyphs and Oden were established clearly, only adding to the hype for the Wano arc back then.
It was a short arc, yet it gave us tons of information with a plot filled with twists. So, undoubtedly, Zou deserves a spot on our list of best arcs in One Piece.
10. Skypiea
- Saga: Sky Island Saga
- Episodes: 153-195
- Manga Chapters: 237-302
The Skypiea arc is undoubtedly one of the best arcs in the manga, but it was pretty stretched out in the anime. That’s the reason the entire fanbase splits into two when it comes to Skypiea. Still, it is celebrated as one of the top arcs in the hearts of many as it was filled with tons of foreshadowing for the final saga of One Piece. This arc had a god-like villain, a trip to the sky, and never seen before Straw Hat adventures.
The story of this arc featured the war between the God Enel, the Shandians, and the Skypiea people. But what made it more enthralling was its connection to Mont Blanc Noland’s tale and Jaya. It’s a tale of a beautiful friendship, along with the Straw Hats partying at the end. Skypiea will always be a favorite arc for many since it was packed with great comedies, amazing fights, and wonderful story expansion.
9. Arabasta
- Saga: Arabasta Saga
- Episodes: 92-130
- Manga Chapters: 155-217
The Arabasta arc was the first big arc we encountered in One Piece, and it was worth every minute. Following the events of Whiskey Peak and Drum Island Kingdom arc, the Straw Hat Pirates visited the Arabasta Kingdom to help Vivi save her country from the evil rule of Crocodile. It was also the first arc where we met Ace, and this made the journey even more memorable. The arc had a great story with stellar fights and a beautiful ending.
Each Straw Hat member was fighting against daunting opponents and there was an all-out war in the desert kingdom, so it was unpredictable with very high stakes for the first time in the story. On the other hand, Crocodile was a formidable villain who made Luffy taste bittersweet defeat twice, which allowed our rubbery protagonist to grow and take out his foe in their final clash.
And while we all thought Vivi would become a member of the Straw Hats, our dreams were crushed in the end. However, we got compensated by a beautiful farewell between the members, and it was a happy tear-jerker.
8. Dressrosa
- Saga: Dressrosa Saga
- Episodes: 629-746
- Manga Chapters: 700-801
Before the Wano arc, the Dressrosa arc was considered the longest in the show. Although the pacing was slow, the elements of this arc totally made the fans overlook that fact. In this arc, the Straw Hats went up against Doflamingo, who had a tyrannical rule on Dressrosa Island. As fun and colorful as it seemed at the beginning, the story of this arc was pretty grim, as we saw humans being brainwashed and turned into toy slaves by the Donquixote Pirates.
The Straw Hats, along with Law, were spectacular and shined brilliantly in their respective battles. Moreover, this arc also marked the beginning of God Usopp, which went on to become a viral title for our sniper. Luffy’s fight against Doflamingo was on another level as well where he unlocked Gear 4 (see the complete list of Luffy’s gears) for the first time.
In the ending, Fujitora’s heartfelt message about Luffy, along with the Straw Hat extending with the birth of the Straw Hat grand fleet, was worth the slow plot. This arc was thoroughly impressive from the start to the end, albeit suffered from pacing issues in the anime. And with Sabo’s reintroduction, it deserves a place in the list of the best arcs in One Piece.
7. Sabaody Archipelago
- Saga: Summit War Saga
- Episodes: 385-405
- Manga Chapters: 490-513
The Sabaody Archipelago arc only had 20 episodes, yet it impressed fans with its storyline. While we expected a lighthearted arc before we headed to Fishman Island, Oda turned this arc into a critical point in the story as it featured many unpredictable moments. The dark king Silvers Rayleigh was introduced in this arc, and there were lots of revelations throughout.
The parallels between Roger and Luffy and Shanks mentioning Luffy to Rayleigh were wholesome to watch. But it had one of the, if not the most satisfying moments in the One Piece anime, which is Luffy punching a Celestial Dragon.
Apart from these, the Straw Hats struggling against the Pacifista and getting sent to different places as they couldn’t do anything was the high point of this arc. That showed fans the difference in power levels in One Piece and made the crew realize they needed to become stronger.
The Sabaody Archipelago arc served as a turning point in the show and thoroughly captivated the fans.
6. Arlong Park
- Saga: East Blue Saga
- Episodes: 31-44
- Manga Chapters: 69-95
The iconic Arlong Park Walk scene was the one scene that made fans glued to their screens and let them know the true meaning of friendship. Many believe this was the first scene where One Piece peaked with the Straw Hats and showed the real nature of the show.
This arc tells the story of Nami trying to get her village back from Arlong, along with the tragic past of her mother getting killed by the Arlong Pirates. In the end, as usual, the Straw Hat Pirates came to the rescue!
The Arlong Park arc featured crazy good fights to earn back Nami and her village. To this day, many claim that Arlong Park is the arc that made them heavily invested in the show. While One Piece was all about fun and tomfoolery, this arc showed what is the real deal about One Piece. It’s all thanks to the Arlong Park arc that One Piece gained an enormous fan following back in the day.
5. Whole Cake Island Arc
- Saga: Whole Cake Island Saga
- Episodes: 783-877
- Manga Chapters: 825-902
One arc after another, the Straw Hats reach a strange island and end up having the best adventure of their lives. But this time, they invade the home turf of Big Mom, one of the Emperors of the sea, to rescue their beloved cook, Sanji. It was a thrilling ride to witness the Straw Hat Pirates go against a Yonko in One Piece, Big Mom, and Soul King Brook emerge as the MVP of this arc.
The Whole Cake Island arc included many surprising moments, including the Luffy vs Sanji fight sequence, Brook stealing a copy of the poneglyph, and Sanji’s backstory. While we thought Sanji’s backstory was completed in the Baratie arc, Oda surprised the fandom with more details about his childhood.
The final act included one of the best fights in One Piece, Luffy vs Katakuri, and the crew escaping Big Mom’s wrath after they ruined Sanji’s wedding to her daughter Charlotte Pudding (one of the popular female characters in One Piece). This arc was incredibly fun and riveting to watch which made it one of the best arcs and highly celebrated among One Piece fans.
4. Enies Lobby
- Saga: Water 7 Saga
- Episodes: 264-290, 293-302, 304-312
- Manga Chapters: 375-430
Before Wano and Marineford, the Enies Lobby arc was considered one of the top arcs in One Piece. The Water 7 arc, which came before it, laid the foundation for this arc. As a result, the hype for this arc was sky-high, and it truly lived up to and even far exceeded the fan expectations.
This arc showed us how each Straw Hats member cared for their nakama (friends) and the lengths they would go to save them. This was the first time Straw Hats went on a rampage against one of the important strongholds of the World Government.
Usopp, no! Soge King sets the World Government’s flag on fire when Robin says she wants to live and the going merry farewell moment are the iconic scenes of the Enies Lobby arc and will forever live in the minds of One Piece fans rent-free.
They openly declared war against the World Government to save their friend and succeeded in the mission by battling it out against the strongest opponents at that time. Plus, as if Straw Hats going against the CP9 members wasn’t incredible enough, the arc concluded with a mighty fight between Luffy and Rob Lucci.
3. Egghead Island
- Saga: Final Saga
- Episodes: 1079 – Ongoing
- Manga Chapters: 1058 – 1125
After the legendary Wano Country arc, the Egghead arc instantly became a major contender for the best arc in One Piece. What appeared to be a breather arc transformed into one of the unforgettable experiences. The Egghead arc was packed full of action and more importantly, it shed light on some of the major unsolved mysteries.
We saw some of the best battles in One Piece, such as Shanks vs Captain Kid, Garp vs Blackbeard Pirates, and more, in this arc. This doesn’t stop there, as we even see Luffy take on Lucci as well as one of the most powerful One Piece admirals, Kizaru, and finally, the Five Elders in the climax of the Egghead arc.
This arc surprisingly revealed some of the fans’ most unanswered questions about Void Century, the Nefertari Family, Joy Boy, and many more theories.
The Egghead arc reached its conclusion in the manga but the anime is on a six-month hiatus. One Piece anime fans have already got a taste of the Egghead arc in the anime. But trust me, this is just the tip of the iceberg as the upcoming episodes will cover the war between the Straw Hats and the World Government involving Vegapunk, Kuma, and Bonney.
Once Egghead gets animated completely, I believe it will surely surpass Wano and even can reach the legacy of Marineford.
2. Wano Country
- Saga: Wano Country Saga
- Episodes: 890-894, 897-906, 908-1028, and 1031-1085
- Manga Chapters: 909-1057
Beating the Dressroga saga, The Wano Country earned the title of the longest One Piece saga. The fans have been waiting for decades to see the Straw Hats in an ancient Japanese setting involving samurais, and it finally happened in the Wano arc. It is no easy feat to keep the fans engaged with around 148 chapters and 140+ episodes but Oda swiftly executed it without breaking a sweat.
This arc was divided into several acts and was marvelously set up in the right order to explore the untold story of Wano in different periods. Therefore, it featured the beautiful backstories of many characters such as Oden with Roger and Whitebeard. Oden’s tale was a spectacular addition as it flawlessly connected with the main stories. The latter acts involved the Straw Hat Pirates helping the samurai executing a raid on Onigashima to get back the samurai’s land.
Each member of the Straw Hat Pirates went against a formidable opponent and emerged victorious, giving us a chance to witness their growth. There were also Law and Kid who stole the show with their magnificent devil fruit powers. However, the pinnacle of the Wano arc had to be Luffy awakening his Gear 5 form. The internet was broken that day as predicted before and everything that followed remained a feast to our eyes and ears to this day.
1. Marineford War
- Saga: Summit War Saga
- Episodes: 457-489
- Manga Chapters: 550-580
After a decade of patiently building out the world and fleshing out the characters, the Marineford War arc was nothing but the culmination of the first half of One Piece. An all-out war between our favorite characters and the scariest antagonists, followed by the unexpected entry of Shanks to stop the war.
“I got to tell you, it was perfect. Perfect. Everything, down to the last-minute details.” Well, that was the reaction of the One Piece fandom after witnessing the Marineford War arc. Oda wrapped the first half of One Piece in a way that no one ever thought was possible.
A 30-chapter rescue mission to save Ace had everything a die-hard Shonen fan could ask for. This is not just the best arc in One Piece but is considered the greatest arc in anime history, alongside the Chimera Ant Arc from Hunter x Hunter. Be it the exhilarating action sequences or touching moments of characters like Ace, Oda accomplished it effortlessly and stirred up all kinds of emotions inside us.
You can’t find any other Straw Hat Pirates, except Luffy, yet you won’t feel their absence here as the Summit War kept us at the edge of our seats. This proved the monumental success that Marineford arc is, and it perfectly laid the ground for the second-half saga.
With more than 30 story arcs under its belt, One Piece has been captivating audiences for years and is considered one of the greatest anime of all time. We have compiled a list of the most popular arcs in One Piece, as chosen by fans but with a touch of personal preference. Our list showcases the best of what One Piece has to offer, and we hope you agree with our ranking.
Furthermore, as the story’s end draws closer, we can expect even more exhilarating arcs to be added to the list. That said, if you’re a One Piece fan, let us know your favorite arc in the comments! Also, if you think we have skipped a major arc, let us know, and we will update our list.
Marineford arc is the most famous arc in One Piece, as it is celebrated by anime fans as one of the greatest arcs in the history of all time.
Previously, the Dressrosa arc was counted as the biggest arc in One Piece. But now, the Wano Country arc has managed to beat it and become the biggest and longest arc in the history of One Piece.
When it comes to the top 3 arcs, it all comes down to personal preference at the end of the day. For us, the Marineford arc, the Wano Country arc, and the Enies lobby are the top three arcs in One Piece.
Aparna Ukil
