Since debuting in 1997, One Piece has become one of the most popular media franchises in the entire world. The series is far-and-away the best-selling manga of all time, and thanks to its lovable protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, the franchise continues to reach new fans each year, steadily elevating the hype surrounding its long-awaited conclusion.
Although not every One Piece arc is heavily foreshadowed, some receive a significant amount of buildup, making them highly-anticipated when they finally debut. While virtually every One Piece arc has merit, those that live up to their hype exist in a rarified air, which is why they've each earned a spot as part of anime history.
10 Arlong Park Arc
Episodes 31-44
Although the Arlong Park arc is one of the first major narrative sequences in One Piece, it occurs late enough in the East Blue Saga to receive plenty of buildup. As a result, it's arguably the first arc in the series that successfully follows through on a notable amount of hype.
Arlong's extortionary relationship with Nami is teased during the Baratie arc, making it all the more cathartic when the Straw Hat Pirates finally square off with the dastardly fish-men. This, coupled with Arlong's status as the most-wanted pirate in the East Blue, make the Arlong Park Arc an early highlight of One Piece.
9 Skypiea Arc
Episodes 153-195
The Jaya and Skypiea arcs are often lumped together by One Piece fans, but they're categorized as separate entities for a reason. The events of Skypiea are significantly foreshadowed throughout the previous arc, which makes the Straw Hat Pirates' journey to the City of Gold much more exciting when they finally arrive.
Over the years, the Skypiea Arc has earned a bit of a polarizing reputation among One Piece fans. However, regardless of its perceived shortcomings, it more than follows through on its potential, due in large part to its ability to make the most of the Mont Blanc Noland storyline and other narratives that are teased beforehand.
8 Reverie Arc
Episodes 878-889
While the Reverie itself isn't mentioned until shortly before the political meeting transpires, it follows many of the narrative threads that appear earlier in One Piece. Characters like Princess Shirahoshi, Nefertari Vivi, and the Five Elders all play a role in the proceedings, bringing together several of the series' longest-running storylines.
Moments like Shirahoshi's trip to the surface and the reveal of Imu are foreshadowed several hundred episodes before the Reverie Arc transpires, and as a result, the relatively short sequence carries much more weight than its length would insinuate. In fact, its significance is a major reason why the arc more than lives up to its hype.
7 Whole Cake Island Arc
Episodes 783-877
From the moment that Monkey D. Garp first mentions the Emperors of the Sea, it is clear that his grandson, Luffy, is bound to challenge them. The Straw Hat Pirate's goal of becoming the next King of the Pirates means that he must first defeat the Grand Line's strongest pirates, but it isn't until the Whole Cake Island Arc that this ultimately comes true.
Charlotte Linlin — better known as Big Mom — rules Whole Cake Island, and after one of her children becomes engaged to Sanji as part of a political marriage, the Straw Hat Pirates travel to the island to rescue their cook. Although Monkey D. Luffy is still too weak to defeat an enemy like Big Mom, the Whole Cake Island arc follows through on its potential by making Luffy's first encounter with an Emperor of the Sea as memorable as it deserves to be.
6 Dressrosa Arc
Episodes 629-746
Donquixote Doflamingo is potentially the greatest villain in One Piece, and even before he serves as the main antagonist of the Dressrosa arc, he plays a major role in the events of the series. After appearing multiple times before and during the Summit War, he fully steps into the limelight when his contentious relationship with Trafalgar D. Law is explored in the Punk Hazard Arc.
Because of Doflamingo's appearances in previous arcs, flashy design, and enigmatic nature, fans were anxious to see how he would ultimately factor into the series' narrative. Thankfully, his clash with Law and Monkey D. Luffy exceeds expectations, which is why the Dressrosa Arc stands out as one of the best in One Piece.
5 Impel Down Arc
Episodes 422-425, 430-452
Enies Lobby, Marineford, and Impel Down are the three linchpins of the World Government's military structure, and along with Mary Geoise, they are arguably the most important locations in One Piece. As a result, it's only appropriate that they each receive plenty of hype during the buildup to their ultimate reveal.
Impel Down is first mentioned during the Straw Hat Pirates' assault on Enies Lobby, but it doesn't appear on-screen for well over 100 more episodes. Although the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates aren't with Luffy when he arrives at the max security prison, he encounters a slew of other characters, ranging from Warlords of the Sea (Crocodile, Jinbe, Boa, and Buggy) to members of the Revolutionary Army (Emperor Ivankov and Inazuma).
4 Alabasta Kingdom Arc
Episodes 92-130
The Straw Hat Pirates' entry into the Grand Line marks their foray into the world of pirates, but it isn't until the events of the Alabasta Kingdom arc that they truly assert themselves as notable rookies. After picking up Nefertari Vivi in the Whiskey Peak Arc, One Piece slowly builds toward a battle between its protagonists and the villains of Alabasta, Baroque Works.
The Alabasta Kingdom Arc is the first event in One Piece that truly feels like a major battle, and it forces each of the Straw Hat Pirates to finally push past their limits. Over 20 years after their initial debut, Crocodile and the other members of Baroque Works are still considered some of the best antagonists that the Straw Hat Pirateshave ever faced, completely justifying the long-term buildup to the conflict.
3 Enies Lobby Arc
Episodes 264-312
Nico Robin's status as a wanted criminal defines her character development from the moment it's mentioned in the Alabasta Kingdom Arc, yet it isn't until the Straw Hat Pirates travel to Enies Lobby that her backstory is fully explored. The events surrounding her rescue from the World Government installation are often praised as the best in One Piece, due in large part to the payoff of the long-term storytelling surrounding Robin's character.
However, Nico Robin's rescue isn't the only reason that the Enies Lobby Arc lives up to its hype. It also contains quality narratives involving Luffy's Gear 2 and 3 forms, Usopp's return to the Straw Hat Pirates, and Chopper's Monster Point transformation, each of which is the culmination of storylines that began well before One Piece's protagonists ever set foot in Water 7.
2 Wano Country Arc
Episodes 890-1079
One Piece is no stranger to long-term storytelling, but even by its standards, the Wano Country Arc is teased far longer than any other arc in the entire series. After the island of samurai is first mentioned during the Thriller Bark Arc, the Straw Hat Pirates don't reach Wano for over 500 more episodes.
Thankfully, the Wano Country Arc shattered fans' expectations, and at almost 200 total episodes, it's the longest arc in the history of anime. Monkey D. Luffy's highly-anticipated clash with an Emperor of the Sea pushes him to his absolute limits, but with the help of his crew and newly-obtained Gear 5 form, he's able to turn the arc into one of the most memorable in of all time.
1 Marineford Arc
Episodes 457-489
In many ways, the Marineford Arc is the single-most important turning point in One Piece. Portgas D. Ace's capture and execution begin with his search for Blackbeard — an activity that is mentioned as early as the Alabasta Kingdom Saga. The subsequent clash between the Whitebeard Pirates and the World Government is foreshadowed to be a war of world-changing proportions, and as evidenced by the Marineford Arc's monumental impact, this is exactly what the conflict turns out to be.
Throughout the Marineford Arc, almost every character lives up to their hype, resulting in iconic scenes involving Luffy, Ace, Whitebeard, the Admirals, and a slew of other individuals. This, coupled with the fact that the Summit War effectively initiates One Piece's two-year timeskip, are why it's still the most important arc in the entire series.
