One Piece: Top 10 Arcs Ranked
One piece has been airing since 1999. After all that time, which arcs come out on top?
One Piece, both in its manga and anime forms, has been a franchise of immense popularity. Beloved for its characters and worldbuilding, the series has seen unparalleled success that continues to this day.
But for a series as long as One Piece, it is only natural that some portions of it have been better received than others. With 1000 chapters of manga, and over that number of anime episodes, One Piece has a number of arcs in its runtime that are considered the pinnacle of its story.
10 Sabaody Archipelago Arc
The Sabaody Archipelago Arc is particularly important in the events of One Piece, as it introduces the World Nobles, or Celestial Dragons; dangerous antagonists who wield immense political and authoritarian power. Many later characters and events can be drawn directly from the actions of these villains.
While there are certainly larger or more entertaining arcs during the course of the series, the Sabaody Archipelago Arc does larges amounts of work in setting up future events and characters, while still being gripping and important.
9 Alabasta Arc
The Alabasta Arc, which concludes the larger Alabasta saga, follows the Straw Hat Pirates as they attempt to defuse a massive war that is brewing. Notably, this arc sees Luffy's first loss, after he fights the notorious warlord Crocodile.
However, the Arabasta arc has a number of other important elements, ranging from expanding the greater lore of One Piece to seeing characters like Robin and Nami play a greater role.
8 Thriller Bark Arc
The Thriller Bark Arc is particularly well known for its introduction of Brook, a skeleton who becomes the musician of the Straw Hat Pirates. The arc also takes place on a haunted ship of the same name and includes a number of supernatural elements.
Thriller Bark also has the Straw Hats contend with several Warlords Of The Sea, notably Gecko Maria, further increasing the threat the main characters had to face. Between these new threats and the recurring characters it introduced, the Thriller Bark arc definitely earns its place as one of the series' best.
7 Whole Cake Island Arc
In the Whole Cake Island Arc, Luffy and some of his allies set off to rescue the Straw Hat member Sanji from an arranged marriage. However, they soon become embroiled in a plot to overthrow Big Mom, an incredibly dangerous pirate, and one of the four Emperors of the New World.
The Whole Cake Island Arc features one of the oddest settings in One Piece, which is much darker than is appearance would suggest. This arc also introduces a number of new characters, namely Sanji's greater family after an unexpected plot twist with Sanji takes place the arc before, and major One Piece villain Big Mom.
6 Impel Down Arc
The Impel Down arc follows a tried and true plot trope: the prison break, as Luffy attempt to free his brother Ace from the subaquatic prison, with some massive backup from a gang of villains who are surprisingly heroic in this arc.
While this arc, in many ways, sets up more bombastic ones further on in One Piece's story, it is not without its merit. The arc features a number of characters, both new and old, as well as many fights, with Luffy notably locking horns with the pirate Blackbeard.
5 Dressrosa Arc
The Dressrosa Arc is the concluding arc within the greater Dressrosa saga. It also features one of the series' most threatening antagonists: the Warlord Donquixote Doflamingo. However, the Straw Hat Pirates and the allies are forced to interact with greater forces as they travel to Dressrosa.
Apart from the important events this arc sets, Luffy's final combat with Donquixote Doflamingo also unlocks a new form, heightening his power and making for a particularly exciting fight.
4 Punk Hazard Arc
The Punk Hazard arc is the first arc within the greater Dressrosa saga, and set up a number of larger events within the series.
After Luffy and company answer a distress call, they are forced to contend with a number of new threats. Not only does the arc introduce greater dangers that will be addressed later, but it also shows the effects of Doctor Vegapunk's research, expanding how the power systems of One Piece function.
3 Wano Country Arc
The Wano Country arc is One Piece's current arc, and is considered by many fans to be one of its best. Inspired by the architecture of Japan, this arc has vastly expanded on the series' lore and fights, with the Straw Hat Pirates reuniting, and joining in an alliance to fight the Beasts Pirates and their dangerous leader, Kaido.
Even with the arc not fully completed, it has seen massive upheaval in One Piece's story. With the climax of the arc still to come, its very possible it could become even better than the heights it has already reached.
2 Marineford Arc
The Marineford arc acts as a massive turning point for One Piece, causing some of the largest shifts in the narrative. Featuring a slew of characters from across the series, Luffy and some of his allies attempt to rescue Luffy's brother Ace after an earlier failure, as a brutal war rages.
Not only did the Marineford arc show just how dangerous many of the biggest players in the One Piece universe are, but it also saw two shocking deaths: those of the Yonko Whitebeard and Ace, which drastically affected the course of the series.
1 Enies Lobby Arc
The Enies Lobby arc is considered to be one of the best arcs in the entirety of One Piece, and for good reason. The arc follows the Straw Hat Pirates and their allies attacking one of the World Government's seats of power to rescue their crewmates Nico Robin and Franky. However, the full force of the World Government stands in their way, including their dangerous assassin-focused organization, CP9.
This arc acts as a major turning point for many of the series' main characters, seeing them grow in some way. Furthermore, this arc also sees the destruction of the Straw Hat's beloved boat, the Going Merry. a devastating emotional beat.
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