Sanji's Most Epic One Piece Arcs That Changed Everything!

Summary

Sanji’s character development is showcased in specific arcs like Little Garden, Water 7, and Whole Cake Island.
Sanji’s heroic moments in Skypiea and Enies Lobby highlight his loyalty and growth within the crew.
Throughout the series, Sanji’s personal code, emotional struggles, and combat abilities are tested and developed.

Vinsmoke Sanji has been a part of the Straw Hat crew in One Piece since almost the very beginning of the series, and as a result, he’s been involved in a plethora of story arcs, both before and after the timeskip. While most arcs will hone in on a single Straw Hat, many of them will still receive some development even when they aren’t taking up the spotlight, and Sanji is no exception.

When looking back at the journey so far, though, Sanji has come a very long way, and his development can be traced back to a few very specific arcs throughout Luffy and the gang’s grand adventure. Everybody’s favorite chef may have a chivalric code that he tries to stick to, but this has been tested on numerous occasions, forcing him to grow as a character in the process. With that being said, these are the most important One Piece arcs for Sanji’s character development throughout this immensely popular pirate series.

9. Little Garden

Sanji’s Habit Of Sneaking Off And Meddling With The Enemy Would First Appear In Little Garden

Episodes: 70-77

In tight spots, it’s usually Sanji who slips away unnoticed, seeking out solutions to help the Straw Hats extricate themselves. This tendency can be traced back to their time on Little Garden. Instead of participating in Mr. 3’s lethal wax competition, Sanji chose to spend his time in a candlehouse, engaging in a chat with none other than Crocodile.

Not only did this call give the Straw Hats the details of Alabasta, it also allowed the Marines, namely Smoker, to chase after them. While it may have therefore ended up as a double-edged sword, it’s a moment that showcases Sanji using his mind to resolve a situation, after already proving that he can hold his own back in Arlong Park.

8. Thriller Bark

After One Of His Dreams Is Crushed, Sanji Takes Revenge On The Person Responsible

Episodes: 337-381

While it’s never mentioned before the crew landed on Thriller Bark, one of Sanji’s dreams has been to get his hands on the Suke Suke no Mi, also known as the Invisibility Fruit. While his intention for obtaining the fruit is questionable, there’s a genuine rage that bursts out of the Straw Hat cook when he realizes that Absalom, a member of Moria’s crew, is the one who has it.

The intensity that Sanji brings into this fight makes it feel genuinely personal for him, so being able to at least defeat Absalom provided some closure for one of his dreams. At least he still has the All Blue to look out for, so long as that doesn’t mean Fishman Island. There’s actually still an opportunity for Sanji to round out his arc with the fruit if he manages to defeat Shiryu of the Rain, who is the current user, where he can then learn to use it for the sake of good, so that he doesn’t need to depend on the Raid Suit.

7. Skypiea

Sanji Makes A Heroic Stand For The Sake Of The Crew

Episodes: 153-195

The opportunity for Sanji to truly prove his unwavering loyalty to the crew wouldn’t truly come until Skypiea, when he decides to take a full-on Thor attack from Enel, the self-proclaimed “god” of the Sky Islands. Sanji takes the hit so that Nami and Usopp can get away, and while he was in a severely bad condition after the devastating attack, it is still regarded as one of Sanji’s most heroic moments in the series.

Outside of his confrontation with Enel, Sanji also gets to show a more mature side of his character, acting as a kind of older brother to Luffy and Usopp when they are stuck together near the beginning of the arc. While the Skypiea arc would primarily be more centered around world building, Sanji still gets some nice development here.

6. Water 7

Water 7 Sees Sanji Challenging His Own Captain After He Acts Out Of Line

Episodes: 227-263

There are two central moments in Water 7 that did a lot for Sanji’s character. The first is during the argument between Luffy and Usopp, where Sanji kicks Luffy in the face to prevent him from saying something he was going to regret. Sanji would show a lot of care for Usopp during this intense confrontation, but he would also come to respect Luffy as a captain more than ever for the tough decision he was willing to make.

Seeing Sanji confront his own captain shows how serious he is about this being a serious pirate crew and not just a band of misfits where people can leave and join whenever they like. The second important moment is when he decides to sneak off so he can board the Soul Train, showing him taking matters into his own hands when the going gets tough for his allies. Luffy, Usopp, and Robin get the most development for this portion of the story, but Sanji also grows a lot during his screen time in this arc.

5. Enies Lobby

Sanji Kicks His Fighting Style Up A Notch With Diable Jambe

Episodes: 264-312

Enies Lobby is often considered the arc of power-ups, since many of the Straw Hats gain brand-new forms and techniques during their fights against CP-9, and for Sanji, that was Diable Jambe. His grueling duel against Jabra pushed Sanji to unleash a new power called Diable Jambe where he set his own leg on fire, adding a bit of spice to his kicks and quickly becoming his go-to ability from then on.

Later in the arc, Sanji proves his worth to the crew once again when he avoids the final battle with the marines, only to close the Gates of Justice to put the enemy on the backfoot, showing his sharp intellect coming into play. Sanji proved with this arc that, while he can be a little goofy at times, he is still an incredibly strong and intelligent member of the crew who can always be relied on in dire situations.

4. Wano

The Epic War Of Wano Forced Sanji To Question His Morales And Personal Beliefs

Episodes: 890-1085

Despite Sanji’s big arc technically being the one before Wano, he still has a pretty big focus in the final war against Kaido and Orochi, where his personal code is tested multiple times. Early in the arc, Sanji ponders whether or not to use the Raid Suit, considering that it was produced by his less-than-loving family who he hates with a burning passion.

In the end, though, he decides to use it and put his pride aside for the sake of saving innocent lives, marking a huge step forward for him. He would also be forced to question his rule of not attacking women when face-to-face with Black Maria late in the Onigashima Raid, where he finally came to call out for help rather than trying to do everything on his own. Overall, it’s an arc that digs deep into Sanji’s character, making it a real treat for fans of the character.

3. Zou

Sanji’s Dreaded Family Comes Back To Haunt Him As He Makes A Fateful Decision

Episodes: 751-779

Previously in the Zou arc, Sanji had become a trusted and well-liked member of the Straw Hat Pirates crew, but his past was largely unknown. However, when Supernova Bege unexpectedly arrived on Zou, he compelled Sanji to reveal his connection to the cruel Vinsmoke family.

With news that he’s been forced into a marriage with one of Big Mom’s daughters, Sanji is forced to make a decision about how to tell the crew or whether to tell them at all, out of fear of getting them involved with a Yonko. This would only be the beginning of Sanji’s backstory, but it gave the Straw Hat a push that enhanced his character in the long run.

2. Baratie Arc

The Emotional Start Of Sanji’s Epic Journey As A Pirate

Episodes: 19-30

The first time Luffy runs into Sanji, the latter is working as a chef in the fancy sailing restaurant known as Baratie. This is where fans get introduced to not only Sanji’s cooking skills but also his gentlemanly behavior in how courteously he acts toward Nami. Sanji also reveals his dream of one day finding the All Blue, but when Luffy arrived, it led Sanji to a tricky ultimatum: leave Zeff and his friends behind to become a pirate or abandon his dream to remain comfortable in Baratie.

This was far from an easy choice for the young cook, as made clear when he broke down crying when thanking the Baratie for everything it’d given him, but it was the most important decision Sanji would ever make in his life. Sanji took a gamble, and it ultimately paid off, leading him on a long and joyous journey with his newfound nakama.

1. Whole Cake Island

Luffy Finally Breaks Through To Sanji, Encouraging Him To Put Himself First For Once

Episodes: 783-877

Sanji is a character whose selflesness can be his biggest weakness, and the Whole Cake Island arc essentially acts as a dissection of this character trait. Throughout the arc, Sanji tries to push the Straw Hats away in an attempt to get them to focus on continuing their journey, rather than saving him and going up against a Yonko in the process. However, slowly but surely, Luffy peels away the layers, and Sanji’s love for his crew begins to truly shine through.

In many ways, this arc would also see Sanji finally making peace with his tragic past, confronting his wretched brothers for the first time since they were kids, along with his horrible father, Judge. Needless to say, Sanji had plenty of loose threads that he needed to wrap up that he had never mentioned before, but when forced to face them head-on, it results in one of the best story arcs since the timeskip, which is packed full of action and emotion.

2025-03-15 16:26

Sanji’s Most Epic One Piece Arcs That Changed Everything!