One Piece's Longest Arcs, Ranked (2024)

One Piece is one of the longest-running anime to date, with over 1,100 episodes released. This iconic animanga series never tries to constrict its sprawling stories into limited seasons like other shows, and instead divides them into unique story arcs with increasingly dangerous stakes. That said, this narrative decision lets each segment take as much time as necessary to complete their respective storyline.

Excluding the fillers, there are currently 32 arcs in One Piece. The narratives 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 July 16, 2024, by Ajay Aravind: Both the One Piece anime and manga are currently in the Egghead arc. As the first storyline in the Final Saga, it can be safely assumed that there are more arcs to come. Given the sheer length of several One Piece arcs, however, we have updated this article with some more relevant information.

20 The Long Ring Long Land Arc Feels More Like Filler

13 episodes

Highlights of the Long Ring Long Land Arc:

• Sanji and Zoro have a proper team-up for the first time.
• Luffy finally agrees to look for a shipwright.

The Water 7 Saga begins with the Long Ring Long Land Arc, a canonical narrative that unfortunately feels more like filler. Although the island is extremely weird, with strangely elongated flora and fauna, nothing of note actually happens until the Straw Hats meet with the Foxy Pirates. The Davy Back Fight has a couple of minor stakes, like when the crew loses Chopper to their opponents, but they win him back soon enough. However, Zoro also ensures that Chopper starts acting more mature.

The most important event in the Long Ring Long Land Arc is the Straw Hats interaction with Admiral Aokiji, also known as Kuzan. Aokiji refuses to leave without Robin, but Luffy and the others have no intention of letting her go. That said, the Straw Hats get to experience the sheer difference in power between any of them and a literal Admiral — Aokiji essentially wipes the floor with them. Given the lack of a solid storyline, it's no surprise that this arc only has 13 episodes.

19 The Post-Enies Lobby Arc Brings New Bounties For The Straw Hats

13 episodes

Highlights of the Post-Enies Lobby Arc:

• Luffy learns from Garp that Dragon is his father.
• Usopp finally apologizes to Luffy and makes amends.

The Enies Lobby Arc was one of the most consequential in One Piece, and not just because Luffy reveals both Gear Second and Gear Third. After defeating Rob Lucci and rescuing Robin, however, the Straw Hats sail right into the Post-Enies Lobby Arc. Their victories create new bounties for them, with Luffy's raised to a whopping 300 million Berry. Even Usopp receives a 30 million bounty, adding more fuel to his fear.

Once the Straw Hats reach Water 7, Franky immediately begins construction on a brand-new ship that would later be known as the Thousand Sunny. On the other side of the world, Shanks and Whitebeard meet to consider the ramifications of sending Fire Fist Ace after Blackbeard. The Post-Enies Lobby arc also shows the duel between fire and darkness, but the fact that Blackbeard manages to defeat and capture Ace is only revealed much later.

18 The Arlong Park Arc Highlights Nami's Unfortunate Past

14 episodes

Highlights of the Arlong Park Arc:

• Luffy gets his first bounty of 30 million Berry.
• The concept of speciesism appears first in this arc.

The Arlong Park Arc concludes the East Blue Saga and has also been adapted into the live-action TV series. Although it revolves mainly around Nami's unexpected betrayal, the Straw Hats don't care about that as much as why she does it. Zoro, Sanji, Luffy, and Usopp make their way to Nami's hometown of Cocoyasi Village, where they learn that all the villagers have been living in fear of the Arlong Pirates. Nami's relationship with Arlong also becomes clear.

The Arlong Park Arc also includes an iconic scene where Luffy puts his Straw Hat on Nami's head and promises to help her, establishing a bond that remains unbroken after hundreds of chapters. Following a series of heated battles, Luffy eventually takes Arlong down with a phenomenal attack and one of the largest Gum-Gum Battle Axes in One Piece. Nami is officially made the navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates, and Luffy starts considering adding a doctor to his crew.

17 The Drum Island Arc Gets Chopper To Join The Crew

14 episodes

Highlights of the Drum Island Arc:

• The Will of D. is mentioned for the first time.
• The Levely is introduced and briefly explained.

The adorable albeit cowardly Tony-Tony Chopper joins the Straw Hat Pirates at the end of the Drum Island Arc, which is also the name of his native island. That said, the crew only sails to Drum Island because Nami contracts a mysterious illness. There, they are forced to battle the villainous Wapol, who suddenly comes back to Drum Island to reclaim his formerly regal status. The fights aren't as interesting as in the later arcs, but this storyline demonstrates that power isn't everything.

Given his miserable encounters with humanity, Tony-Tony Chopper is terrified of most people except his beloved Doctor and Doctorine. However, Luffy essentially declares that Chopper is destined to be the Straw Hats' doctor, and the reindeer-human's hesitation is bluntly rejected by the captain. Eventually, Chopper comes to realize that he has made his first real friends and can finally have some adventures with them.

16 The Amazon Lily Arc Introduces The Concept Of Haki

14 episodes

Highlights of the Amazon Lily Arc:

• The concept of Haki is introduced in this arc.
• All the Straw Hats are sent to locations catered for them.

Kuma effortlessly defeats the Straw Hat Pirates in Sabaody Archipelago but chooses to send them all to different locations rather than capture them. Luffy lands on the Island of Women, where the inhabitants initially believe him to be a girl. An infuriated Boa Hanco*ck discovers Luffy when he accidentally sees her in the bath. However, her Love-Love Fruit's petrification ability simply doesn't work on him because he feels no physical attraction — to her or anyone else.

Luffy later battles both Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold, unconsciously demonstrating his ability to use Conqueror's Haki. Since Luffy happens to be the only man (or person) capable of resisting her, Boa Hanco*ck falls head over heels in love with him. Luffy also realizes that his brother Ace is imprisoned and due for execution, allowing the narrative to segue seamlessly into the Impel Down Arc.

15 The Sabaody Archipelago Arc Splits The Straw Hats Apart

21 Episodes

Highlights of the Sabaody Archipelago Arc:

• Luffy meets Silvers Rayleigh.
• Luffy punches a World Noble.

Running for 21 episodes, the Sabaody Archipelago arc 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. This is also when Luffy punches a World Noble named Saint Charloss, causing the Marines to swarm the titular archipelago.

Audiences get a deeper insight into Gol D. Roger's life as they meet Silvers Rayleigh, the feared pirate's first mate. Although epic battles like Rayleigh v. Kizaru are offscreened, fans get more than enough action throughout the Sabaody Archipelago arc. Several important events occur throughout this storyline, with the most significant being Luffy's first use of Conqueror's Haki — although the name itself is mentioned later.

14 The Post-War Arc Follows The Aftereffects Of Ace's Demise

26 Episodes

Highlights of the Post-War Arc:

• The Straw Hats hone their respective skills.
• Hints of Sabo's return are dropped.

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. The Straw Hats are shown in different locations and different storylines, although they're all training to become stronger than ever. Luffy smartly sends them a message disguised as a fake tattoo, ensuring they'd only meet after two years.

13 The Impel Down Arc Reintroduces A Few Former Adversaries

27 Episodes

Highlights of the Impel Down Arc:

• Mr. 2 Bon Clay returns, much to Luffy's delight.
• Jinbe and Emporio Ivankov are introduced.

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. 2, Mr. 3, Buggy the Clown, and Sir Crocodile. Luckily, the intrepid pirate obtains some much-needed support from characters like Inazuma, Ivankov, and Bon Clay.

The problem with this mission, however, isn't that the Luffy alone can't complete it. On the contrary, fleeing Impel Down proves considerably more difficult than breaking into the prison. The Impel Down Arc is as funny as it is thrilling, making it an audience favorite, and it packs quite a lot into a relatively short time frame. For all its hard-hitting developments, the Impel Down arc is only 27 episodes, making it the shortest among the One Piece arcs of noteworthy length.

12 The Zou Arc Highlights The Conflict Between The Beasts And The Straw Hats

29 Episodes

Highlights of the Zou Arc:

• The Mink tribe is introduced.
• The Beasts Pirates are introduced.

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. A new character named Edward Weevil, claiming to be the son of Whitebeard, is introduced as a Warlord of the Sea. The most shocking event in the Zou Arc, however, is the discovery that Sanji is actually a prince of the Germa Kingdom.

11 The Marineford Arc Is Arguably One Of The Most Critical One Piece Arcs

33 Episodes

Highlights of the Marineford Arc:

• Captain Blackbeard steals the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
• Ace is brutally killed by Akainu.
• Whitebeard reaffirms the One Piece's existence.

The Marineford story arc is arguably one of the most critical storylines in One Piece, as it features the death of two fan-favorite characters. Shōnen anime series are notorious when it comes to random resurrections, but neither Whitebeard nor Ace would ever come back from the dead. In fact, Ace tries to save Luffy from Akainu and gets killed in the process.

After punishing Akainu, Emperor Whitebeard dramatically announces that the inevitable discovery of the One Piece is bound to lead the entire 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. Many One Piece fans may agree that the climactic Marineford arc was an exciting finish for the story's first half, getting fans ready for even greater battles later in the New World after One Piece's timeskip.

10 The Water 7 Arc Showcases Some Serious Inter-Crew Tension For The First Time

37 Episodes

Highlights of the Water 7 Arc:

• Luffy and Usopp have a serious falling out.
• CP9 members make their debut.

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.

Luffy and Usopp having a serious conflict was one of the most significant sources of inner-crew conflict that the viewers had ever seen, so watching it unfold hit hard for many One Piece fans. The Water 7 saga may not rank that high among the longest One Piece arcs at 37 episodes, but it packed plenty of drama and cool new characters to keep viewers engaged.

9 The Alabasta Arc Ends With Nico Robin Joining The Straw Hats

39 Episodes

Highlights of the Alabasta Arc:

• Luffy defeats a Warlord of the Sea.
• Princess Vivi is named an honorary Straw Hat.
• A Poneglyph is seen.

The Alabasta Arc is one of One Piece's better arcs in the eyes of many fans, allowing the Grand Line era to begin on a strong note. 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, Portgas D. Ace. This meeting was significant for the plot down the line and gave a solid insight into Luffy's past.

Alabasta 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 didn't join the crew afterward. Finally, fans loved seeing the former villain, Mr. 2 Bon Clay, become an ally of the Straw Hats. He heroically risks his life by holding off "Black Cage" Hina, allowing the Straw Hats to escape the Navy's forces.

8 The Skypiea Arc's Main Villain Isn't As Fleshed-Out As He Could Have Been

43 Episodes

Highlights of the Skypiea Arc:

• Luffy's giant shadow previews Joy Boy.
• The Going Merry likely has a soul.

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 Nico 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 defeated Skypiea's ruler and primary antagonist, Enel, but some fans weren't 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. Then again, One Piece fans may appreciate the fact that the Skypiea arc fully embodies the series' theme of exploration. Even in the context of a pirate crew visiting various exotic islands, the Skypiea arc has strong isekai vibes, and an island in the sky remains a unique piece of worldbuilding in the series so far.

7 The Thriller Bark Arc Brings The Dead Musician Brook Into The Straw Hats

45 Episodes

Highlights of the Thriller Bark Arc:

• Brook is introduced.
• Zoro bravely takes Luffy's punishment out of loyalty.

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 Warlord Gecko Moria's shadow ability were somewhat enjoyable, but the overall plotline seemed a bit insipid.

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. However, Bartholomew Kuma's arrival demonstrated that there were still devastatingly powerful characters in One Piece.

6 The Enies Lobby Arc Has The Straw Hats Symbolically Declare War

46 Episodes

Highlights of the Enies Lobby Arc:

• The Straw Hats attack the World Government flag.
• Nico Robin declares her intent to live.

The Enies Lobby Arc of One Piece was emotional and action-packed. Watching Nico 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.

Luffy fought the oppressive World Government directly in this arc, such as when he faced off against CP9's elite members and had Usopp attack the World Government's flag as a symbolic declaration of war. That helped up the stakes in One Piece, transforming Luffy from a roving menace to a deadly threat in the World Government's eyes, and there was no going back. The Going Merry officially "died" at this arc's conclusion, a heartbreakingly poignant moment for the Straw Hats.

5 The Punk Hazard Arc Doesn't Have Many Challenges For The Straw Hats

46 Episodes

Highlights of the Punk Hazard Arc:

• Kin'emon is introduced (his lower half).
• Trafalgar Law becomes a prominent character.

The Punk Hazard Arc kick-started a three-part story that ended in Wano Country. The Straw Hats discovered the illegally made SMILE fruits, started an "alliance" with Trafalgar D. Water Law, and met the "father and son" samurai duo Kin'emon and Momonosuke. This arc contained a variety of new plots for the Straw Hats and even reunited them with former frenemies like Smoker and Tashigi.

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 relished. Still, the Punk Hazard arc was an entertaining introduction to the New World, with exotic landscapes, brutal enemies, and ever-increasing stakes all around. It also clocks in as one of the longest One Piece arcs, giving the anime ample room to set up all those narrative threads.

4 The Fish-Man Island Arc Is The First Storyline After The Two-Year Time Skip

51 Episodes

Highlights of the Fish-Man Island Arc:

• The mysterious Ark is introduced.
• Luffy successfully uses Conqueror's Haki on an entire army.
• Racial tensions between Fish-Men and humanity are explored in further depth.

The Fish-man Island Arc was the first One Piece arc after the two-year timeskip, leading the Straw Hats into a fascinating world under the sea. The most exciting part was seeing how the Straw Hats improved over the timeskip. 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. Also, the Fish-Man Island story arc tantalized viewers with the mysterious mega-ship known as the Ark, whose full purpose and function are not yet known. It's a fine example of One Piece setting up mysterious, exciting things for the final reveals as the story ends.

3 The Whole Cake Island Arc Reveals Sanji's Shocking Backstory

95 Episodes

Highlights of the Whole Cake Island Arc:

• Sanji convinces Charlotte Pudding to become a hero.
• Jinbe officially becomes a member of the Straw Hat crew.

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 contains 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 comes 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. In particular, fans had fun watching Charlotte Pudding go from a scheming villain to a tsundere antihero ally of Sanji's. It was also cool to see Luffy fight Charlotte Katakuri as a true equal.

2 The Dressrosa Arc Is One of the Most Exciting One Piece Storylines

118 Episodes

Highlights of the Dressrosa Arc:

• Luffy starts using Gear 4.
• Trafalgar Law's backstory is revealed.
• Sabo claims the Flame-Flame Fruit.

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. However, Luffy's Gear 3 just wasn't good enough against Donquixote Doflamingo.

That said, Luffy eventually unlocked his Gear 4, Zoro had to rely heavily on his Haki, and even Usopp managed to learn 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. A lot happened in this storyline, from intense battles and fleshing out characters' backstories to grim worldbuilding, making the lengthy stay at Dressrosa worth it for One Piece fans.

1 The Wano Country Arc Is One of the Best Storylines in One Piece

191 Episodes

Highlights of the Wano Country Arc:

• Luffy awakens Gear 5 and becomes an Emperor of the Sea.
• Momonosuke rises to power in Wano.
• Eustass Kid and Trafalgar Law defeat Big Mom.

The Wano Country Arc is currently the longest arc in One Piece, and it was years in the making. This arc seems to tie up loose ends from two other story arcs. The plot is more centered on the samurai group traveling with the Straw Hats, while also investigating the SMILE Fruits and the dark history of Wano Country. The Wano Country is one of the most fleshed-out and unique places the crew has visited. The anime version finally reached its conclusion after 191 episodes and one of the anime's most satisfying final battles.

It was in this arc when Luffy realized his true destiny as Joy Boy and activated the true power of the Gum-Gum Fruit, awakening Gear 5 to take the fight to Kaido the Emperor and win. The Wano arc ended with a fist-pumping triumph as the single longest arc in One Piece, but of course, Luffy and his crewmates can't rest easy just yet. The world changed in shocking ways during the Straw Hats' time in the secluded Wano, including the end of the Warlords of the Sea and the establishment of Cross Guild, run by Crocodile and Dracule Mihawk, two former Warlords.

One Piece (1999)

TV-14

Animation

Action

Adventure

Follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew in order to find the greatest treasure ever left by the legendary Pirate, Gold Roger. The famous mystery treasure named "One Piece".

Release Date

October 20, 1999

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1

Creator

Eiichirô Oda

Cast

Mayumi Tanaka , Akemi Okamura , Laurent Vernin , Tony Beck , Kazuya Nakai

Studio

Toei Animation

Number of Episodes

1K+

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Hulu , Funimation , Adult Swim , Pluto TV , Netflix