The ongoing One Piece anime based on Eiichiro Oda’s iconic manga has recently surpassed the staggering milestone of 1100 episodes. There is still a lot left to unravel before the end, but some moments in Oda’s story are irreplaceable regardless of what lies ahead. With the One Piece anime on hiatus until spring 2025, now is the perfect time for fans to rewatch their favorite episodes.
One Piece‘s massive episode catalog makes a full binge of the series rather unrealistic for anyone but the most hardcore fans. However, several moments throughout the series are so impactful that they demand a rewatch. A handful of great One Piece episodes stand out from the rest as the most worthy of rewatching as soon as possible because of their dramatic appeal, narrative significance, and high-quality entertainment.
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10 Nami Pleads For Luffy to Save Her Village From Arlong
Episode 37: Luffy Rises! Result of the Broken Promise!
One of the first One Piece moments to have a lasting impact on fans is a highly emotional encounter in episode thirty-seven during the Arlong Park Arc. Nami is devastated by the cruelty of the Arlong Pirates who have overrun her home in Cocoyashi Village, and she hits rock bottom after the pirates coldly betray her. The moment marks Nami’s exciting transition to being a real Straw Hat, and it bonds her with Monkey D. Luffy for life.
The Arlong Pirates force Nami to serve as their navigator from a young age under the agreement that she could one day pay off her village’s tribute debt, but she realizes the cruel pirates never intended to honor the deal too late. After losing everything to Arlong, Nami finally turns to Luffy in tears to plead for help, sparking the iconic moment she dons the Straw Hat for the first time. This moment is recreated in new ways throughout the series, but perhaps no scene captures Luffy’s ability to inspire hope in others better.
9 Luffy Breaks New Ground By Defeating Warlord Crocodile
Episode 126: I Will Surpass You! Rain Falls in Alabasta!
The Alabasta Kingdom Arc brings the One Piece narrative to new heights with the central conflict reaching a fever pitch in episode one hundred twenty-six. Monkey D. Luffy faces off against Crocodile, his first opponent with the Warlord title, beneath the kingdom where a Poneglyph is hidden when he finally defeats the villain behind the Alabasta’s suffering. Their fight is the centerpiece of the episode and delivers top-tier action that continues to rank as one of Luffy’s best performances.
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A dangerous civil war brews on the surface in Alabasta Kingdom as Straw Hat Luffy ferociously attacks the villain responsible for stoking the flames of the conflict. Luffy’s performance in this dynamic sequence is so impressive in part because he fights with absolute conviction even after losing to Crocodile twice. Their captivating fight ends dramatically, marking the first time Luffy defeats a Warlord and the Straw Hats’ most significant political encounter up to that point.
8 Nico Robin Defies Execution to Join the Straw Hat Pirates
Episode 278: Say You Want To Live! We Are Your Friends!!
The Enies Lobby Arc is centered around Nico Robin’s execution, and the dramatic sequence reaches its emotional peak in episode two hundred seventy-eight during a moment widely considered among the saddest in the series. This sequence is famous for officially bringing Robin into the Straw Hat crew, and it beautifully tugs at fans’ heartstrings with every rewatch. Robin’s decision not to let her past define her future is an important pivot for her character and an unforgettable moment for fans.
Straw Hat Luffy refrains from intervening in certain conflicts until asked to do so as demonstrated with Nami at Arlong Park, but dire circumstances change his approach in this case. In response to Luffy’s demand that she be honest with herself, Robin tearfully declares her resolve to live and sail with the Straw Hats. Although the scene can be difficult to watch, it’s an undeniably important moment for Nico Robin and the Straw Hats as a whole.
7 Zoro Shows Immense Strength By Doing Nothing At All
Episode 377: The Pain of My Crewmates is My Pain Zoro’s Desperate Fight
The Straw Hat Pirates have grown relatively infamous by the time they face Warlord Gecko Moria and his crew of zombies on Thriller Bark. Defeating Gecko Moria is an important victory for Monkey D. Luffy and the crew as a whole as his second victory over a Warlord. However, Roronoa Zoro has the greatest solo performance of the entire Thriller Bark sequence in episode three hundred seventy-seven against one of the fearsome Pacifistas with the appearance of Warlord Kuma.
A stoic demeanor and raw strength are the two qualities that define Zoro most throughout One Piece, and both are on display when he’s the last man standing between Luffy and the dangerous Pacifista. Zoro pleads with the Pacifista to spare Luffy in exchange for his own life, and the cyborg presents him with the opportunity to save his captain by absorbing the pain of his injuries from the fight against Gecko Moria. After an excruciating sequence, Zoro is left standing stock-still covered in blood saying only that “nothing happened” without further explanation, creating his most iconic moment worth rewatching.
6 Ace’s Devastating Death at Marineford Changes Luffy
Episode 483: Looking for the Answer! Fire Fist Ace Dies on the Battlefield!
The thrilling Marineford conflict is one of the best fight sequences in all of One Piece, but it also includes one of the most devastating deaths. Despite Monkey D. Luffy’s best efforts, he ultimately fails to prevent the execution of his beloved brother, Portgas D. Ace, in episode four hundred eighty-three. Losing Ace changes Luffy for the rest of his life, and rewatching their final moment hits fans just as hard every time.
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Although Ace has an important influence on Straw Hat Luffy’s life, he has far fewer appearances than the main characters of the series. Ace’s scarcity makes each appearance more impactful and makes fans wish they’d seen him more just like Luffy. The high-stakes action and captivating emotion in Ace’s death episode make it well worth rewatching for any One Piece fan.
5 Straw Hat Luffy Defeats Warlord Donquixote Doflamingo
Episode 733: Attack on a Celestial!! Luffy’s King Kong Gun of Anger!
The Dressrosa conflict highlights Monkey D. Luffy’s strength and resilience with what is still regarded as one of his most impressive victories to date. After a lengthy struggle against Warlord Donquixote Doflamingo, the cruel villain behind Dressrosa’s torment, Luffy pulls off a stunning defeat. Doflamingo’s defeat in episode seven hundred thirty-three signals changes in the status quo around the world and features high-stakes action worth rewatching.
The epic battle between Straw Hat Luffy and Warlord Donquixote Doflamingo showcases both fighters at a level never seen from them before. To counter the threat of Doflamingo’s destructive birdcage empowered by the Sting-String Fruit, Luffy unleashes the newfound power of Gear Four. Doflamingo becomes the third Warlord defeated by Luffy after Gear Four overpowers his near-indestructible threads, making the Straw Hat Pirate even more dangerous as a fighter and a symbol of hope.
4 Sanji & Luffy’s Heated Confrontation Comes to an End
Episode 808: A Heartbreaking Duel! Luffy vs Sanji! Part 2
Some of Monkey D. Luffy’s crewmates have briefly abandoned the Straw Hat Pirates throughout the series, but all have inevitably found their way back to the crew. The Whole Cake Island Saga marks Sanji’s dramatic departure from the Straw Hats, marking the first time the chef has gotten physical with Luffy in a serious way. Straw Hat Luffy shines as a leader in episode eight hundred eight when Sanji makes the shocking decision to attack his beloved captain.
Of all the times a Straw Hat has left the crew, Sanji’s departure is perhaps the most emotional. Sanji is so desperate to deter the Straw Hats from pursuing him that he attacks Luffy even though he refuses to defend himself. Sanji’s mercilessness toward Luffy stings even more upon a rewatch knowing how much he doesn’t truly want to abandon the crew. The encounter ends on a high note after Nami and Sanji speak, balancing the dramatic elements of this episode with a dose of hope for what lies ahead.
3 Gol D. Roger Becomes King of the Pirates at Laugh Tale
Episode 968: The King of Pirates is Born! Arriving at the Last Island!
Pirates risked their lives sailing the dangerous seas for 800 years before Gol D. Roger became the first to make it all the way around the world. After reaching the final island of his incredible journey, Roger became revered as the King of the Pirates and gave the mysterious land its name: Laugh Tale. The legendary One Piece treasure lies waiting for the next Pirate King on the island where Roger first found it, and episode 968 gives fans a glimpse of the historic day the island was discovered.
The episode features the Roger Pirates in an all-new capacity, which is incredibly rewarding for longtime fans of the series who have seen very little of these iconic pirates over the years. The mysterious One Piece is described in more detail than ever before as a treasure from Joy Boy’s era with the answers to the world’s biggest secrets. Roger’s influence is at the core of the story, and this episode offers a rare glimpse at his greatest achievement and the crew who accompanies him along the way.
2 Luffy’s Awakened Devil Fruit Unleashes Gear Five Power
Episode 1071: Luffy’s Peak — Attained! Gear Five
Straw Hat Luffy’s iconic Gears are one his trademark abilities empowered by what is originally introduced as the Gum-Gum Fruit, but is revealed as a much rarer Devil Fruit in a pivotal Wano battle. Fans learned to anticipate new Gear levels to provide important power-ups against powerful opponents, and Gear Five quickly became the most groundbreaking of them all. With Gear Five comes an important revelation about Luffy’s power in addition to his newfound strength in one of the most dramatic and thrilling episodes of One Piece.
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Outside interference by CP0 agent Guernika brings the grueling battle between Emperor Kaido and Straw Hat Luffy to a premature end, causing the hearts of bystanders and fans alike to sink at the thought of Luffy’s death. However, their battle resumes in episode 1071 after Luffy’s miraculous revival. The power of Luffy’s mythical Zoan Devil Fruit helps restart his heart, revealing Gear Five as the reincarnation of the legendary Sun God Nika. With the fully awakened power of his Devil Fruit, Luffy takes Kaido to task in a dazzling sequence so over-the-top that it delivers hype with every rewatch.
1 Garp the Fist Lays Waste to Blackbeard’s Pirate Island
Episode 1114: For the Beloved Pupil — The Fist of Admiral Garp
The newest installment of the One Piece anime has stunning animation that makes the show even more enjoyable, and episode 1114 stands out among the most recent sequences as already worthy of rewatching. The episode features Monkey D. Garp, a longtime fan-favorite character despite his relatively limited presence, at his most powerful to date. Garp’s explosive attack on Blackbeard’s Pirate Island, Hochinosu, is plenty captivating on its own, but the bond between Garp and Koby makes this sequence even more impactful on an emotional level.
The fierce Vice Admiral’s legendary performances during his prime earned him a fearsome reputation as “Garp the Fist,” and episode 1114 illustrates just how impressive he really is with his fists. Garp deals a superpowered punch using his Galaxy Impact technique that wipes away a huge portion of Hochinosu’s surface in one massive metor-like strike. Koby watches on in awe as Garp proudly declares his resolve to rescue his beloved pupil at any cost, solidifying their bond and giving a dramatic edge to the already exciting encounter. The episode delivers a mix of action, drama, and storytelling that gives it high entertainment value beyond the first watch as many of the best One Piece episodes do.
One Piece
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
- Creator(s)
- Eiichiro Oda
- Cast
- Mayumi Tanaka , Kazuya Nakai , Akemi Okamura , Kappei Yamaguchi , Hiroaki Hirata , Ikue Ôtani , Yuriko Yamaguchi , Kazuki Yao , Chō
- Main Genre
- Action
- Seasons
- 20
- Creator
- Production Company
- Writers
- Junki Takegami , Shoji Yonemura , Hirohiko Uesaka
- Number of Episodes
- Directors
- Kônosuke Uda , Junji Shimizu , Munehisa Sakai
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