Longest Arcs In The One Piece Manga

Highlights

One Piece is famous for its lengthy story arcs, with some spanning over 100 chapters due to the vast number of characters and events.
The Punk Hazard Arc marks the beginning of the expansive Dressrosa Saga, introducing key players and themes crucial to the storyline.
The Wano Country Arc, spanning 149 chapters, is one of the longest and most detailed arcs, showcasing complex characters and a climactic battle.

As a dedicated One Piece fan for more than half of my life, I can confidently say that these epic arcs are the cornerstone of Eiichiro Oda’s masterful storytelling. The Whole Cake Island Arc, with its intricate web of characters and themes, is an exceptional display of skillful writing that never feels cluttered or confusing.

Eiichiro Oda’s “One Piece” is a globally recognized manga that revolves around pirate adventures, but it is also notorious for being extensive due to its continuous serialization spanning over two and a half decades. Such an epic tale certainly demands admiration, and the same can be said about its numerous storylines.

It’s not surprising that stories in the series “One Piece” can span across multiple characters, places, and events simultaneously, leading to lengthy narratives. In fact, these intricate tales often require more than 100 chapters to complete, making them among the longest in the genre. It’s undeniable that “One Piece” boasts some of the most expansive story arcs in comic books or manga, and their extensive lengths are truly awe-inspiring.

10 Punk Hazard Arc

46 Chapters

Chapters: 654 to 699

Many fans think that the One Piece story arcs became significantly longer following the time skip, and the Punk Hazard Arc is an example of this trend because it’s one of the initial narratives set post-this pivotal event.

The length of 46 chapters for this part is understandable given that it marks the start of the expansive Dressrosa Saga. Consequently, many significant characters, such as Caesar Clown, and prominent themes like SMILE Fruits, Trafalgar Law’s alliance with Luffy, the strategy to confront the Sea Emperors, are all introduced in the Punk Hazard Arc.

9 Thriller Bark Arc

48 Chapters

Chapters: 442 to 489

Unlike many arcs in a Saga that are merely segments of a larger narrative, the Thriller Bark Arc stands out as largely self-contained. In the span of 48 chapters, Eiichiro Oda masterfully weaves the tale of the Straw Hat Pirates’ confrontation with the Sea Warlord, Gecko Moria, and his peculiar crew.

Drawing influence from timeless horror films, this storyline is filled with ominous scenes, eerie environments, and captivating beings such as zombies and spirits. Additionally, Gecko Moria’s ability to pilfer the shadows of significant characters to expand his horde of zombies results in extended skirmishes against him, especially once the mighty ancient giant called Oars enters the fray.

8 Fish-Man Island Arc

51 Chapters

Chapters: 603 to 653

Following a short get-together at the Saobody Archipelago, we delve into the first major storyline post-time skip, aptly named the “Fish-Man Island Arc.” This arc is significant as the challenges involved are substantial. Not only has the Straw Hat Pirate crew longed to explore this destination across numerous chapters, but their arrival coincides perfectly with the emergence of Hody Jones and his New Fish-Man Pirates.

Characters like Fish-Men and Merfolk have played significant roles in the mythology of One Piece for quite some time. However, author Eiichiro Oda saw this arc as a chance to delve deeper into these races and the prejudice they endure on the surface world. This is why he devoted effort to creating the histories of Queen Otohime, Fisher Tiger, and Jinbe, who eventually became part of Monkey D. Luffy’s crew.

7 Enies Lobby Arc

56 Chapters

Chapters: 375 to 430

The “Enies Lobby Arc” in “One Piece” is widely considered significant and well-loved due to its profound influence on the series’ universe and the destiny of its main characters. It would have been more extensive if not for the fact that it was designed to wrap up the numerous storylines established by the preceding arc, the Water 7 Arc.

As I journeyed through the captivating 56-chapter Enies Lobby Arc, I found myself growing deeply connected to Franky, a bond that was only strengthened as Nico Robin’s character unfolded beautifully, solidifying her place among the Straw Hat Pirates. This epic saga also introduced us to CP9 and the World Government, setting them up as our new formidable adversaries. The fights throughout were nothing short of extraordinary, some of the most imaginative and unforgettable in the series. But alas, the Going Merry, our trusty ship, paid the ultimate price in this heart-wrenching storyline.

6 Arabasta Arc

63 Chapters

Chapters: 155 to 217

In the world of One Piece, the Arabasta Arc stands out as the first significant storyline written as the thrilling climax of the Arabasta Saga. This saga kicked off the moment Luffy’s crew ventured into the Grand Line, and it pits them against Sir Crocodile and his Baroque Works in a tense battle. The outcome of this conflict is crucial for the future of an entire nation.

As a gamer immersed in the One Piece world, it’s no surprise that the Arabasta Arc stretched out across numerous chapters. Each member of the Straw Hat Pirates found themselves entangled in personal battles against Baroque Works operatives. Luffy’s three-round faceoff with Crocodile adds an extra layer of thrill to his ultimate triumph over the Sea Warlord, making it all the more rewarding.

5 Egghead Arc

64 Chapters

Chapters: 1058 to 1122 (Currently Unfinished)

Following the extensive Wano Country Arc, One Piece enthusiasts had anticipated a brief respite, much like the Zou Arc which followed Dressrosa. Yet, contrary to these expectations, the ongoing Egghead Arc is anything but a break, brimming instead with pivotal moments that will indelibly alter this narrative and its universe.

As a passionate gamer delving into the captivating world of this manga, I can’t help but be excited about the Egghead Arc. It all started with the intriguing debut of Doctor Vegapunk and his six satellites, but little did we know that masterful storyteller Eiichiro Oda had something more in store for us. Instead of focusing solely on Vegapunk, he cleverly used this character as a catalyst to unravel the tragic yet expansive tale of Bartholomew Kuma and Jewelry Bonney.

4 Skypiea Arc

66 Chapters

Chapters: 237 to 302

The Skypiea Arc stands out distinctly from typical adventures in One Piece, barely connected to piracy. Due to these unique characteristics, it’s no surprise that this arc grew so expansive, as it introduces the Sky Islands and gradually unravels their culture and political systems.

In summary, Enel is a formidable antagonist during this particular series segment, leading to an extensive conflict involving him and his four priests. This confrontation consumes numerous chapters. Furthermore, the backstory of Mont Blanc Noland and Kalgara’s tale, presented as a flashback, is not only moving but crucial for grasping the primary themes of this storyline. The Skypeia Arc stands out as anything but filler; those who have completed it recognize its many strengths.

3 Whole Cake Island Arc

78 Chapters

Chapters: 825 to 902

One of Eiichiro Oda’s exceptional skills lies in blending numerous characters, storylines, and motifs effortlessly within a single arc without creating a sense of overload or bewilderment. The Whole Cake Island Arc stands out as a prime demonstration of this valuable writing ability.

In this single storyline, we see Big Mom and her band debut, the scheme to pilfer Big Mom’s Road Poneglyph, the unveiling of Germa 66, Sanji’s additional past revealed, and a quest to free him – all neatly woven together. To make things even more intriguing, this arc culminates in an epic showdown between Luffy and Charlotte Katakuri, albeit a rather prolonged one. However, despite its length, the captivating nature of this confrontation ensures it remains enthralling.

2 Dressrosa Arc

102 Chapters

Chapters: 700 to 801

The Dressrosa storyline shares similarities with the Arabasta Arc, as both serve as the culmination of a lengthy saga focusing on the Straw Hat Pirates assisting a distressed kingdom by overthrowing their cruel monarch who is also a Sea Warlord. In this tale, Donquixote Doflamingo plays the antagonistic role.

It’s clear that Eiichiro Oda built upon the skills he honed during the Arabasta Arc and amplified them significantly, as the Dressrosa Arc boasts a larger cast of characters, numerous battles, and intricate storylines compared to its predecessor. Luffy’s battle against Doflamingo occupies several chapters, but it culminates in a very rewarding conclusion, largely due to the unveiling of his new Gear 4 form. The manga adaptation of this arc is praised for being more streamlined and manageable compared to the notoriously lengthy anime version.

1 Wano Country Arc

149 Chapters

Chapters: 909 to 1057

The Wano Country Arc stands out as one of the most extended storylines not just within One Piece but across all manga due to its length. Given that it has been meticulously planned over several years, author Eiichiro Oda felt compelled to dedicate ample time to fulfill various promises made earlier. Consequently, this arc has been divided into three distinct acts, with short interludes in between.

Wano itself is quite a fascinating location that needed a lot of meticulous development to flesh out and all of its inhabitants, from the honorable Scabbards of Kozuki Oden to the evil Kaido and his Beasts Pirates, are complex characters that could easily star in a separate manga of their own. The climactic final battle, the Raid on Onigashima, is longer than most other arcs in the series, but it’s ultimately all worth it because of how amazing, satisfying, and emotional Kaido’s defeat is. It’s evident that Eiichiro Oda really enjoyed writing Wano over the course of four years, and its extensive length was definitely worth it.

2024-08-09 06:34