10 best One Piece arcs ever, ranked

With over 30 One Piece Arcs to choose from, narrowing that field down was extremely challenging. And with so many great adventures, your list could look entirely different. With that being said, here are the top 10 One Piece Arcs.

Top 10 arcs in One Piece ranked

Here is a full list of the top 10 arcs in One Piece.

10. Whole Cake Island

We got a brief glimpse into Sanji’s past during the Baratie Arc, but there was always something more going on beneath the surface that remained a secret for 100s of episodes and chapters. Whole Cake Island finally fleshed out Sanji and elevated the character in a way I didn’t think was possible.

Sanji’s antics with women could be tiresome at times previously in the story, but Whole Cake Island finally contextualizes that obsession and makes the reader or viewer see the Straw Hat Pirate chef in a new light. Alongside a cast of phenomenal villains, this arc pulls at your heartstrings but also delivers one of the best fights in the series.

9. Drum Island

Following the trend of tragic backstories, Drum Island is one of the most emotional Arcs in One Piece. Chopper’s gut-wrenching flashback alone would be enough to make this a top-10 worthy Arc, but other unforgettable moments also elevate this short detour into a tier of its own.

Unfortunately, the villain is rather forgettable, but he serves his role well enough and that isn’t enough to drag down what otherwise is an amazing introduction to one of the core members of the crew.

7. Impel Down

Luffy’s ability to make new friends and recruit new followers makes him an amazing captain and one of the best Shonen protagonists. Luffy goes into Impel Down alone, but slowly creates a rag-tag team of unlikely allies that are charming and impossible not to root for.

In what should have been a serious arc, the hilarious trio of Luffy, Bon Clay, and Buggy brings a dark and dreary prison to life. Yet at the same time, Impel Down also does eventually get down to business, featuring one of the best villains in the series, and puts the dominoes in place for story changing events in the future.

6. Wano

After almost four-and-a-half years, the Wano Arc has finally ended in the anime. As the longest Arc in the series, It’s understandable that some fans may have grown tired and were ready for it to be over. But I believe that in years’ time, we will look back on this Arc as one of the best in One Piece.

Toei Animation delivered some of the best animation not only for the series, but anime in general, and the peaks of this saga hit all of the right notes. A rewatch of Wano is going to age much better than the experience for fans who agonizingly waited every week for a new episode.

5. Water 7

Until this point in the story, the Straw Hats have never had to deal with serious internal disputes. In the Water 7 Arc, Luffy learns what it means to be a captain and almost loses everything in the process.

The Water 7 Arc is a powerful thematic tool used as a buildup for the following arc but also stands great on its own. In typical One Piece fashion, Franky’s backstory is moving and makes you appreciate the character, but there are also other great characters introduced as well.

5. Sabaody Archipelago

The Sabaody Archipelago Arc will leave fans with their jaw on the floor by the end. Eiichiro Oda tackles serious themes in this Arc and doesn’t pull any punches. In addition, we get introduced to the Worst Generation of pirates, who will all become key pieces on the board for the second half of the story.

And if that wasn’t enough, The Sabaody Archipelago Arc dishes out a harsh dose of reality to the Straw Hat Pirates and ends on a stunning cliffhanger.

4. Alabasta

The Alabasta Arc puts a bow on One Piece’s first saga perfectly. An excellent villain, layers of buildup, likable side characters, and twists and turns contributed toward creating an enthralling conclusion that made all of the buildup worth it. This is one of the first Arcs where each Straw Hat crew member gets an individual fight to shine, and the story structure lays the groundwork for the framework of other adventures.

3. Enies Lobby

Enies Lobby wouldn’t be as amazing without the buildup in Water 7. The two Arcs, in tandem, culminate with one of the best scenes (or panels) of the series. Without the need to establish any of the surrounding context, Oda cuts right to the chase and gifts fans with a fast-paced and thrilling story that’s well-paced and engaging all the way through.

2. Arlong Park

The Arlong Park Arc made me fall in love with One Piece. Everything about this Arc captures the true essence of the story. Luffy recruited Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji to be the core members of his crew, but it’s not until Arlong Park you get a full grasp of the unbreakable bond they have formed.

Nami’s backstory will bring you to tears, and Arlong is the first villain to pose a notable threat. Without giving too much away, several individual character moments set the tone for what fans can expect from the rest of the story.

1. Marineford

Marineford was always going to be the top-ranked One Piece Arc. I might have a more sentimental attachment to other arcs, but it’s impossible to ignore what Oda managed to pull off with this Arc.

Throughout the first 400 or 500 manga chapters, Oda sprinkled in small bits of world-building and slowly built up anticipation for a war featuring all the world’s major players. Marineford is a culmination of the first half of One Piece and it will be hard for the story to ever achieve a higher peak.