Every One Piece Saga – ranked from worst to best

Every One Piece Saga is full of thrilling and emotional moments, but which one of them is the best?

The story of One Piece is so vast, with 11 Sagas, each with arcs within it. Each of them has something new to offer. From massive world-building, to intense combat, and a plethora of arcs, One Piece is easily one of the most iconic Shonen series of all time.

The story follows the Straw Hat Pirates on their adventures as they travel from one island to another. Each saga in the story is somehow interconnected to the world’s true history as it drops hints about the final truth one by one. As such, all eleven of them are extremely crucial to the story.

The anime has over 1000 episodes with includes some filler arcs within the canon story. Each provides a new island, villains, and a set of supporting characters. However, in terms of overall story and fight, one will always be better than the other. Warning: Spoilers ahead!

11. Fish-Man Island Saga

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Fish-Man Island is the first Saga after the time skip in One Piece. It includes the revelation of the ancient weapon Poseidon, Luffy’s reunion with Jinbe, Jinbe’s backstory, the first mention of Joy Boy, and also features how tremendously the crew has grown over the years.

However, while the overall story is incredible and fun to watch, the main villain, Hody Jones, is redundant and doesn’t serve any purpose in the overreaching plot. And since he’s originally weaker than the other villains in the story before him, Hody ends up being an easily forgettable character. Nonetheless, ignoring the main villain, Fish-Man Island is an incredibly underappreciated gem.

10. Thriller Bark Saga

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Thriller Bark is the shortest Saga in One Piece, with only 45 episodes in one arc. The arc introduces Brook and features Luffy’s fight against the Warlord Gecko Moria. Brook’s backstory is one of the saddest in the series. Brook joins the crew, fulfilling Luffy’s dream of having a musician in his crew.

Not only that, it also features Kuma’s introduction and Zoro’s iconic “Nothing Happened” scene. The crew’s adventure on an island full of zombies and strange creatures is simply hilarious.

9. Whole Cake Island Saga

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From Sanji’s incredible backstory to Luffy’s first clash with a Yonko, it is full of exciting moments. And for the cheery on top, Luffy’s fight with Katakuri is one of the best the series has ever shown. After the Straw Hats separate in Dressrosa, they reunite in Zou, only to find out Sanji has left the crew permanently.

Knowing how much Luffy cares about his friends, it’s not surprising he invades the base of the Yonko Big Mom and challenges her entire crew to get Sanji back. Sanji’s unexpected revelation about being a Prince of the Germa 66 Kingdom and the tragic life he led before surely gained him more fans than ever.

8. Dressrosa Saga

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Dressrosa is the second longest Saga in One Piece, with 172 episodes in just one arc. It doesn’t have any sub-arcs and begins with the Straw Hats’ arrival on Dressrosa. Dressrosa introduces a lot of new characters, who will all have a role to play in the Final War.

The backstories are amazing. We see the past of Law, Kyros, Doflamingo, and the entire Riku family. However, the best part isn’t only the fight between Luffy and Doflamingo, where the protagonist debuts his Gear 4. Admiral Fujitora captured the hearts of many, who all must be awaiting his backstory.

7. Arabasta Saga

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Arabasta is the second Saga of One Piece, which features the Straw Hats’ arrival in Grand Line. It consists of five canon arcs, each of which follows the crew as they risk their lives to enter Grand Line. They find out about Baroque Works and join Princess Vivi in her mission to defeat Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

On top of Chopper and Robin joining the crew, the series also introduces the beloved character Portgus D. Ace. Additionally, the Nefertari Family is still one of the most important bloodlines of the series, holding secrets from the Void Century. Not to mention Luffy defeating one of the Marine powerhouses that early in the series is nothing short of marvelous.

6. Sky Island Saga

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The myth of the Sky Island becomes a reality as the Straw Hats confirm that there really is an entire island in the sky. However, it’s far from the paradise they thought it would be. A godly being takes over Skypiea and suppresses the people.

Needless to say, it’s up to the Straw Hats to save the people from Skypiea from the Enel’s tyranny. The series also confirms Roger’s travel to Sky Island. Additionally, fans can also learn the tragic story of Noland and Kalgura from centuries ago.

5. Water 7 Saga

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Even now, Water 7 Saga holds a special place in the hearts of One Piece, who were all moved by the Straw Hats’ determination to save each other. While Robin sacrificed herself to save the rest of the crew, everyone else fought equally hard to save Robin.

Additionally, her heart-wrenching backstory not only reveals the difficulties she faced her entire life but also sheds light on the cruelty of the World Government. Luffy even asked Usopp to burn the World Government’s flag, which is a serious offense that made him one of the most wanted criminals in the world.

4. Summit War Saga

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The all-out war between pirates and Marines ended Whitebeard’s era and began a new one. The change in the power system, the confirmation of One Piece’s existence, the pirates’ utter loss against the Marines, and everything that happened in the war left the entire world baffled.

Luffy awakens his Conqueror’s Haki, surprising everyone on the battlefield. Sadly, no matter how hard he tried, Ace was destined to die on his execution day. It changed the entire story, featuring the only time skip of the series.

3. East Blue Saga

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East Blue is the first Saga of the series. It’s nostalgic and emotional since it features several character backstories as Luffy sets out on a journey to become King of the Pirates. He gathers an incredible crew, each member having their own dreams and hopes for the future.

East Blue introduces fans to the incredible world-building of the story. Not to mention it has some of the greatest moments in One Piece, including the Straw Hats’ walk to Arlong Park, the barrel scene, Zoro’s fight with Mihawk, and so much more.

2. Wano Country Saga

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Luffy’s Gear 5 transformation, Oden’s backstory, Zoro vs King, Sanji vs Queen, Jinbe joining the crew, Robin’s insane power-up, and the alliance defeating two Yonkos – these reasons are more than enough for Wano Country Saga to rank second on our list.

The highly-anticipated Wano Country Saga is the longest in the series, but you won’t find fans complaining about it since it includes countless exciting moments and backstories. Luffy’s transformation and the truth behind his devil fruit is still one of the most shocking moments in the series.

1. Final Saga

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The Final Saga currently has only the Egghead Arc in its belt, but it far surpasses all the others. With the Reverie flashback, the introduction of Holy Knights, Kuma’s past, Vegapunk’s introduction, Luffy vs. Kizaru, Gorosei revealing their power, and the secret behind D, etc., the overall arc has way too many shocking moments.

No doubt, there’s more to come in the near future. The Final Saga has already begun to unravel some of the mysteries about the Void Century and is featuring major fights across the world. After Egghead, the next destination will likely be Elbaf, which fans have been waiting for since the Arabasta Saga.

Want to see more One Piece rankings? You can also check out our lists of best One Piece villains and the saddest One Piece backstories. Or, for more general anime needs, here’s all the best upcoming anime in 2024.