One Piece is one of the longest-running anime to date. It never tries to conform its stories into seasons like other shows and instead divides them into story arcs. This decision lets each segment take as long or as short as it needs to add to the overall narrative.
One Piece‘s arcs vary wildly in length, with some storylines being more extended than an average anime’s runtime. Longer arcs tend to be more critical to the story, but not all of them are created equally. While some arcs have plenty of stories to tell, they aren’t always super memorable.
Updated on July 20th, 2022 by Olivia Subero: One Piece is a well-loved shonen classic with multiple sagas and arcs. Each story isn’t the same but still creates an emotional impact. The Wano Country Arc is still going and has yet to end, but fans are eager to see where the Straw Hat crew goes next. This list has been revamped to better reflect the analyze the massive arcs One Piece is known for.
10 Emotions Run High During The Water 7 Arc (37 Episodes)
The Water 7 Arc accomplished several essential things, despite primarily being a “buildup arc.” Franky makes his debut, even though he wouldn’t join the Straw Hats until the conclusion. The arc had several emotional moments, but two managed to stand out and engage the audience.
First, the Straw Hats’ ship, “Going Merry,” sustained heavy amounts of damage and couldn’t sail as well as it used to. As a direct result, Usopp temporarily leaves the crew after a bitter argument with Luffy. This is one of the most significant sources of inner-crew conflict that the viewers have ever seen, so watching it unfold hit hard.
9 Alabasta Was The First Stop To Many More Adventures (39 Episodes)
The Alabasta Arc was the first long arc in One Piece and one of the better ones. This was the first time Luffy had to fight a Warlord of the Sea, his strongest enemy up to that point. Viewers were also introduced to Luffy’s older brother, Ace. This meeting was significant for the plot down the line and gave a solid insight into Luffy’s past.
This arc introduced two additions to the Straw Hat Pirates’ group of allies. Nico Robin voluntarily joined after the main antagonist, Crocodile, betrayed her. Vivi was another significant villain-turned-ally, but she did not join the crew afterward. This arc was a pleasant beginning to longer and more exciting future storylines.
8 Skypiea Didn’t Do Much For Audiences (43 Episodes)
The Sky Island Saga, specifically the Skypiea Arc, gave viewers a deeper understanding of the world of One Piece. This was primarily due to Robin exploring the Skypiea ruins and discovering a poneglyph. While this arc had the traditional “Straw Hats versus final boss” trope, it seemed to have minimal impact.
Luffy quickly defeated Skypiea’s ruler and primary antagonist, Enel, removing a lot of satisfaction from his victory. It was too easy, considering how much hype surrounded Enel’s character. Skypiea was an exciting idea, but the storyline of rebels fighting a dictator felt stale and bland compared to other story arcs.
7 Fans Weren’t Too “Thrilled” About Thriller Bark (45 Episodes)
The Thriller Bark Arc was another “crewmate introduction” arc, bringing the dead musician Brook into the Straw Hats. While this arc pitted the Straw Hats against another Warlord, it felt strange. The zombies and use of Moria’s shadow ability were somewhat enjoyable, but overall felt a bit flat.
Moria was a powerful antagonist, but he reached his peak too quickly for fans to be satisfied. He was immediately outshone by almost every other enemy the Straw Hats faced and is regarded as nearly a joke. This makes the Straw Hats’ victory feel hollow and ultimately becomes a forgettable arc.
6 The Enies Lobby Arc Is Full Of Surprises (46 Episodes)
The Enies Lobby Arc of One Piece was emotional and action-packed. Watching Robin finally lower her emotional walls and ask Luffy for help hit just as hard as Nami’s plea a few arcs earlier. Each Straw Hat faced off against a mighty enemy, letting them prove they had what it takes to be a part of the crew.
This arc is the first time viewers see Luffy’s new “Gear” forms. These are physical manifestations of how far he’ll push his limits to protect his crew. The Going Merry officially “dies” at this arc’s conclusion, but the Straw Hats set sail with Franky and a brand new ship to take on the Grand Line. The Enies Lobby Arc has quickly become one of the best arcs of the One Piece series.
5 The Punk Hazard Arc Set Off A Multi-Part Story That’s Still Going (46 Episodes)
The Punk Hazard Arc kickstarted a three-part story that might end in Wano Country. The Straw Hats discovered the illegally-made SMILE fruits, started an “alliance” with Trafalgar Law, and met the “father and son” samurai duo Kin’emon and Momonosuke.
This arc contained a ton of new plots for the Straw Hats to continue and reunited them with former frenemies like Smoker and Law. The island was a great setting full of contrasting landscapes. The only downside to this arc was the lack of challenge for the Straw Hats. Other than that, Punk Hazard was a substantial arc.
4 Visiting Fish-Man Island Closed A Chapter And Opened Another (51 Episodes)
The Fish-man Island Arc was the first One Piece arc after the two-year time skip, leading the Straw Hats into a fascinating world under the sea. The most exciting part was seeing how the Straw Hats improved over the time skip.
Unfortunately, the villains weren’t as threatening as previous One Piece foes, but they did close a chapter in Nami’s storyline. The most significant thing from the Fish-Man Island Arc was Big Mom’s debut since her appearance foreshadows upcoming story arcs. The Straw Hats needed to dominate their first challenge to prove how far they’ve come since their separation.
3 The Whole Cake Island Arc Shows The Straw Hats Just How Fearsome The Emperors Are (95 Episodes)
The Whole Cake Island Arc is one of One Piece’s best for several reasons. With the Straw Hats split up, the story could focus on those exploring Big Mom’s territory rather than trying to follow the entire crew. This is also the characters’ first hostile interaction with an Emperor. It’s a startling reminder to both Luffy and the viewers exactly just how strong they are.
Sanji’s entire backstory was revealed in this arc, and he was able to come to terms with cutting off his abusive family and torturous childhood. This arc also showcases Luffy’s new abilities as he learns how to see into the future and defeats an opponent with a bounty and caliber higher than his own. This arc had great action, emotion, and storytelling, closing another chapter in a character’s background.
2 The Dressrosa Arc Is Still A Fan Favorite (118 Episodes)
The Dressrosa Arc is the second-longest in the series. According to fans, it stands above the rest. With over 100 episodes, this arc had plenty of time to explore and flesh out any character or subplot. Viewers met many new characters, including a new admiral, future members of the Straw Hat Pirates, and Luffy’s other brother Sabo.
This was a huge turning point for One Piece’s protagonists, forcing them to grow stronger to overcome their enemies. Luffy showed off his Fourth Gear, Zoro had to rely heavily on his Haki, and even Usopp unlocked observation Haki. The story was intricate, with the Straw Hats liberating a country from years of oppression. This arc had so much going for it and made sure that everyone got ample screen time to flesh out any necessary plotlines.
1 Even Though It’s Still Going, The Wano Country Arc Has Kept Fans On The Edge (133+ Ongoing)
The Wano Country Arc is One Piece‘s current arc, and it’s gearing up to be one of the best. This arc seems to tie up loose ends from two other story arcs. It’s more centered around the samurai group traveling with the Straw Hats, while also investigating the SMILE Fruit and the dark history of Wano Country.
The Straw Hat Pirates are exploring new abilities with each enemy they encounter and creating new allies. The Wano Country Arc is one of the most fleshed-out and unique places the crew has visited. Unfortunately, this arc has yet to reach its end. Viewers don’t know how the story will play out, but manga fans can definitely vouch for the story quality.