One Piece is one of the longest-running anime to date. This iconic animanga series never tries to constrict its sprawling stories into limited seasons like other shows, and instead divides them into story arcs. This decision lets each segment take as much time as necessary to complete their respective storylines.
The narrative arcs vary wildly in length, with some storylines being considerably longer than an average anime's runtime. The longest One Piece 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. On the whole, fans have been enjoying the One Piece journey so far.
Updated on November 8, 2023, by Ajay Aravind: One Piece is a well-loved shonen classic with multiple sagas and arcs. Each story isn't the same, they all have an emotional impact on the audience. The Wano Country Arc is still ongoing in the anime, and fans are eager to see where the Straw Hat crew goes next. This list has been revamped with five more entries of the longest One Piece arcs.
15 The Sabaody Archipelago Arc Indirectly Introduces Haoshoku Haki
21 Episodes
One Piece arcs. Running for 21 episodes, it commences when Luffy and his crew make landfall on the titular archipelago. However, they soon discover a secret underground flesh trade that has links to some of the wealthiest and most powerful people in the world.
Audiences get a deeper insight into Gol D. Roger's life as they meet Silvers Rayleigh, the feared pirate's first mate. Several important events occur throughout this arc, with the most significant being Luffy's use of Haoshoku Haki — although the name itself is mentioned much later.
14 The Post-War Arc Follows The Aftereffects Of Ace's Demise
26 Episodes
The Post-Marineford Arc has fewer episodes than the Marineford Arc, but it ties up any loose ends quite neatly. It concludes the Summit War Saga, following the aftereffects of Ace's demise and Luffy's struggle to reconcile with the loss. Luffy and Ace's third sworn-brother Sabo is also referenced, creating the framework for the character's eventual introduction.
The New Age starts at the end of the Post-Marineford Arc, leading to numerous political changes on a global scale. The Post-Marineford Arc further highlights the relevance of Emperor Whitebeard's death, as seen with the gradual decline of the Three Great Powers.
13 The Impel Down Arc Reintroduces A Few Former Adversaries
27 Episodes
The Impel Down Arc has many names, including the Underwater Prison Arc and the Great Prison Arc. It chronicles Luffy's attempt to save Ace from the eponymous Impel Down, where he comes face-to-face with several former adversaries — Mr. 1, Mr. 3, Buggy, and Crocodile. Luckily, the Straw Hats obtain some much-needed support from characters like Inazuma, Ivankov, and Bon Kurei.
The problem with this mission, however, is not that the Straw Hats are unable to complete it. On the contrary, it appears that fleeing Impel Down is considerably more difficult than breaking into the prison. The Impel Down Arc is as funny as it is thrilling, making it an audience favorite.
12 The Zou Arc Highlights The Conflict Between The Beasts And The Straw Hats
29 Episodes
The Whole Cake Island Saga begins with the Zou Arc, which is named for the island carried on the back of Zunesha, Joy Boy's former ally. Having overcome Doflamingo with enormous difficulty, Luffy's crew reaches Zou Island, where they hope to find Sanji once again. Unfortunately, the Vinsmoke ex-prince has his own problems to deal with, leaving the Straw Hats to contend with the Beasts Pirates and Jack the Drought, one of their All-Star commanders.
Viewers get to see several characters for the first time following the time-skip, including Alvida, Penguin, Lafitte, Kizaru, Shachi, and Monkey D. Dragon. The Zou Arc also showcases the SMILEs, which are synthetic Devil Fruits produced with the help of a material known only as SAD.
11 The Marineford Arc Is Arguably One Of The Most Critical One Piece Arcs
33 Episodes
The Marineford Arc is arguably one of the most critical storylines in One Piece, as it features the death of an important character. Shonen anime are notorious when it comes to random resurrections, but neither Whitebeard nor Ace would ever come back from the dead. Ace tries to save Luffy from Akainu and is killed in the process.
Meanwhile, Whitebeard announces that the inevitable discovery of the One Piece is bound to lead the whole world into an all-encompassing war. These two events alone contain enough narrative power to fuel the next several One Piece arcs. That said, Luffy also acquires the iconic X-scar on his chest in the Marineford Arc, a badge of honor in his estimation.
10 The Water 7 Arc Showcases Some Serious Inter-Crew Tension For The First Time
35 Episodes
Despite primarily being a "buildup arc," the Water 7 Arc accomplished several essential things. Franky made his debut, even though he wouldn't join the Straw Hats until the arc's conclusion. The arc also had several emotional moments, but two managed to stand out and engage the audience.
First, the Straw Hats' ship, the Going Merry, sustained heavy amounts of damage and couldn't sail as well as it used to. As a direct result, Usopp temporarily left the crew after a bitter argument with Luffy. This was one of the most significant sources of inner-crew conflict that the viewers had ever seen, so watching it unfold hit hard.
9 The Alabasta Arc Ends With Nico Robin Joining The Straw Hats
39 Episodes
The Alabasta Arc is one of One Piece's better arcs. 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 also 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 notable villain-turned-ally, but she did not join the crew afterward. The Alabasta Arc set the stage for future storylines.
8 The Skypiea Arc's Main Villain Isn't As Fleshed-Out As He Could Have Been
43 Episodes
Among the longest One Piece arcs, 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 on the overarching plot.
Luffy quickly defeated Skypiea's ruler and primary antagonist, Enel, but some fans were not happy with this outcome. It felt too easy considering how much hype had 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 The Thriller Bark Arc Brings The Dead Musician Brook Into The Straw Hats
45 Episodes
One of the longest One Piece arcs, 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, the entire concept felt a bit strange. The zombies and use of Moria's shadow ability were somewhat enjoyable, but overall seemed 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 now regarded as a joke. Moria's defeat made the Straw Hats' victory feel hollow, which consequently made this arc forgettable.
6 The Enies Lobby Arc Introduces Luffy's New Gear Forms For The First Time
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, proving that they had what it takes to be a part of the crew.
This arc was the first time viewers see Luffy's new "Gear" forms, physical manifestations of how far he'll push his limits to protect his allies. The Going Merry officially "died" 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 is one of the longest arcs in One Piece.
5 The Punk Hazard Arc Doesn't Have Many Challenges For The Straw Hats
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 even reunited them with former frenemies like Smoker and Law. The Punk Hazard Island was a great setting full of contrasting landscapes and believable character motivations. The only downside to this arc was the lack of challenge for the Straw Hats, something they took the opportunity to relish.
4 The Fish-Man Island Arc Is The First Storyline After The Two-Year Time Skip
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 event from the Fish-Man Island Arc was Big Mom's debut since her appearance foreshadowed upcoming story arcs. The Straw Hats needed to dominate their first challenge to prove just how much they had grown and evolved since their separation. The Fish-Man Island Arc is one of the longest One Piece arcs.
3 The Whole Cake Island Arc Reveals Sanji's Shocking Backstory
95 Episodes
With the Straw Hats split up, the story focused on those exploring Big Mom's territory rather than trying to follow the entire crew. The Whole Cake Island Arc contained the characters' first hostile interaction with an Emperor. It was a startling reminder to both Luffy and the viewers exactly just how strong these individuals are.
Sanji's entire backstory was revealed in this arc, and he was able to come to terms with his traumatic past. This arc also showcased Luffy's new abilities as he learned how to see into the future and defeated an opponent with a bounty and caliber higher than his own. The Whole Cake Island arc had great action, emotion, and storytelling, closing yet another chapter in a character's background.
2 The Dressrosa Arc Is One Of The Most Exciting One Piece Storylines
118 Episodes
The Dressrosa Arc is one of the most exciting storylines in One Piece. Viewers met many new characters, including an 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 and well-characterized, with the Straw Hats liberating a country from years of oppression. Most importantly, at 118 episodes, the Dressrosa Arc is the second longest arc in One Piece.
1 The Wano Country Arc Is Already Shaping Up To Be The Best In One Piece
175+ Episodes
The Wano Country Arc is currently the longest arc in One Piece, and it's gearing up to be one of the best. This arc seems to tie up loose ends from two other story arcs. The plot is 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 Wano Country is one of the most fleshed-out and unique places the crew has visited. This arc has already been concluded in the manga, with 149 chapters under its belt. However, the anime version is yet to reach its ending, with 175 episodes released and several more to go. Fans can't wait to see The Egghead Arc animated soon after Wano Country finishes.
