#10 — Long Ring Long Land
I already know this is an extremely divisive decision to put Long Ring Long Land this high up on my list, but you know what, it’s my list and I’m gonna do what I want. Leave a whiny comment if you disagree! This arc is just full-throttle fun, and pretty silly too, with some shockingly high stakes that really serve to surprise you in spite of the rest of the tone. Foxy is also one of those great sort of “joke” villains, and his rag tag team of pirates put up an intense fight as well. At the end of the day, Long Ring Long Land is a palette cleanser that’s necessary to let the audience drift on seamlessly through to the rest of the journey.
#9 — Water 7
Despite being a lead-up to one of the greatest story arcs ever, Water 7 contains some extremely impactful and iconic moments, such as crew members actually departing from the Straw Hats, plus the introduction of the super-cool cyborg himself: Franky! The series really grows and becomes a bit more complicated here, which will only continue from this point on if new readers are really intrigued by the worldbuilding of One Piece.
#8 — Wano
You know how really pretentious people like to say that New York is a “character” in a movie that takes place in New York? Same thing applies to Wano. Wano is all about Wano and its people. Plus beating Kaido’s ass. This arc is absolutely massive, and can admittedly be a bit uneven at times, but man, when it hits, it hits harder than ever. Some of One Piece’s absolute best moments are peppered in here, including a shockingly bold plot twist 25 years into publication. If that interests you, stay tuned for what happens in Wano.
#7 — Sabaody Archipelago
A lot of crazy stuff happens here in a pretty short amount of time, and kicks off a series of events that impact One Piece for some time to come. If you’re sick of the traditional heroes versus villains trope, this arc is for you. There are a lot of dark political themes that are touched on here too, and it also introduces a ton of characters that are critically important to the series at large, like Trafalgar Law, Eustass Kid, and many more.
#6 — Baratie
For me, this arc is what truly hooked me in, after simply being entertained by everything before it. The whole thing takes place on a giant restaurant ship, which is of course where we first meet Sanji. Everything isn’t quite so cut and dry this time, however, as characters merely mentioned in passing or who are uninvolved at all drift into the action, first showcasing the massive talent that is Oda’s worldbuilding. A lot of One Piece’s heart and soul is on display in this arc, and I’m sure it will hook new people just as it did me.
#5 — Whole Cake Island
This is kind of a weird one where half of the Straw Hat crew isn’t even present, yet it’s somehow pulled off successfully. One of the major antagonists of the series, Big Mom, is finally explored in greater detail in this arc, which takes place on a series of islands that are giant floating deserts. It’s like a Disneyland ride gone wrong, but in all the best ways. It’s great to see the series confidently break the standard format of their storytelling, yet pull it off with as much grace as this.
#4 — Egghead
Listen, I know what you’re thinking: “but wait, this arc isn’t even over yet!” “Huh? I don’t know what that is, I only watch the anime!” Trust me, Egghead is good. Probably the best arc post-timeskip, unless they somehow screw it up at the end. Hopefully I don’t eat my words on this one, but Egghead appears to be shorter in comparison to recent arcs, especially Wano, but so very much happens here, more than any arc to come before it. This is where it truly feels like One Piece has declared that the endgame is in sight. Tons of build-ups are starting to pay-off, and earth-shattering revelations are taking place. I’ve never been more hyped to be a fan than right now, so if that intrigues you, catch up on this ASAP!
#3 — Marineford
This arc is just all-out war. Literally. It’s a gigantic battle including tons of characters squaring off against each other, and man, it’s a lot. Aside from Luffy, the Straw Hats are sadly not present for this one either, but it doesn’t take away the impact of several key moments that dramatically alter the course of this series’ trajectory. Those who have seen this know how crazy important it is, and it’s a great example of Oda’s ability to find reasons to bring back characters and plots as tastefully and as often as possible.
#2 — Arlong Park
This arc just rules, and seeing it again in the live-action series it still kicks ass. Many people say that this is truly where One Piece becomes One Piece. The crew is more fully formed, and the drama is heightened. Most importantly, the villain is absolutely despicable, leaving audiences teetering on the edge of their seats waiting for Luffy to finally deliver a finishing blow that will either knock him to his senses or just knock him flat out. You might even shed some tears along with the characters themselves, but it’s a ride well worth taking.
#1 — Enies Lobby
I know that this is kind of the “agreed-upon” best arc for a long time, but you know what, some of the time the people are just right! Some of the time. Unless you disagree, then hey, my condolences. Enies Lobby follows up on some important plot threads left dangling from Water 7, and pays them off to an excellent degree. Robin’s iconic “I want to live!” scene more than justifies checking it out. A lot of the best fights in the series are right here, seeing all of the Straw Hats get some serious power buffs and time to shine. The group of antagonists in this arc are also the best, and thankfully some are set up to return again later on! Just a testament to the majesty that is, once again, One Piece’s worldbuilding, heart, and soul.
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