Best Episodes
One Piece has been a beloved anime series since it first aired in 1999, and with 22 seasons and counting, it's no surprise that fans have their favorite episodes. We've looked at viewer rankings to compile a list of the best episodes that are sure to keep you hooked on Luffy's journey to become King of the Pirates.
At the top of the list is episode 405, "Eliminated Friends - The Final Day of the Straw Hat Crew". This emotional episode sees Luffy and his crew face off against Bartholomew Kuma, one of the most powerful members of the Shichibukai. The stakes are high, and the Straw Hat crew is pushed to their limits in a battle that leaves them forever changed.
Another fan-favorite episode is number 316, "Shanks Makes His Move - The End of the War". In this episode, we finally get to see the legendary pirate Shanks in action as he steps in to stop the war between the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates. It's a thrilling battle that showcases Shanks' strength and sets the stage for future conflicts in the series.
Whether you're a longtime fan or just getting started on your One Piece journey, these episodes are not to be missed. Tune in to Fuji TV to catch all the action and see why One Piece has become one of the most beloved anime series of all time.
Written by Sophie and last updated on nov 10, 2024.
PS: The following content contains spoilers!
PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!
Monet was moments away from activating the self destruct button when she felt her heart being stabbed and collapses before dying. At the same time Caesar Clown stabbed the heart believing it to be Smoker's heart. The Straw Hats are still racing towards the exit of the collapsing lab when they felt the explosion of the SAD room and then saw Shinokuni on their trail. Smoker, seeing that they nearly reached safety, questioned Trafalgar Law of why did he possessed his heart the whole time. Trafalgar Law reveals the clever deception he played on the mad scientist where he returned the heart of Monet to Caesar without Caesar being the wiser. At the tanker, Baby 5's missile attack failed to take down Franky Shogun and their duel began anew whereas Buffalo contacted Doflamingo of the situation. After confirming that the island wasn't destroyed as intended, Doflamingo decided to tend to the matter himself and is seen somehow flying over the sea towards Punk Hazard.
The episode was rated 8.04 from 114 votes.
Luffy, Zoro, Usopp and Robin try to get to the ice side of Punk Hazard but their ship gets capsized by Brownbeard. As Brownbeard's troop prepares attack them again, Zoro gets ready to destroy their bullets but gets dragged down by sharks. At the last second, Brook saves them and defeats Brownbeard's shooters. Once Luffy and the gang got out of the freezing water after killing the sharks, they opted to take the centaur's warm coats. The Straw Hats who rescued the children attempt to go back into the building to find another escape route, but their "hearts" get switched by Law, making them swap bodies. Law then returns his attention to the marines and destroys their ship. The G-5 marines attempt to contact marine headquarters about Law but he takes away all their Den Den Mushi. Smoker then fights Law and warns his men to stay back from the fight unless they want to get cut to pieces (which they did). Feeling useless in the situation, Tashigi attempts to strike the Shichibukai but was promptly bisected.
The episode was rated 8.06 from 109 votes.
After Smiley swallows the oversized candy, the candy coat dissolves revealing a special drug designed to convert the entire content of Smiley's body into a "perfect" weapon of destruction, Shinokuni. In the process, Smiley dies and in a sack of apples, an apple turns into a Devil Fruit. The beast's body transforms into poison gas spreading quickly throughout the island. It's lethal power was demostrated when Caesar's men were caught in it, being petrified before the eyes of the Brokers and the captive Straw Hats. Zoro's team are seen desperately trying to outrun the approaching gas while Nami and Usopp help Brownbeard after their vicious attack by Caesar. At the Lab, Ceasar reveals to his captives that they will get to experience the poison gas as well, moving them outside dangling in a cave. In spite of their situation, Law told Luffy that their original plan will still carry on and that its time to strike back at Caesa
The episode was rated 8.07 from 103 votes.
Tashigi tries to see what happened in the fight. Luffy's group sees the flying warship. Luffy sees Law and thanks him for saving him two years ago. Law says that they aren't friends and Luffy agrees since they were both after One Piece. Law remembers the past between him and Luffy when Law saved him at Marineford. Luffy sees Smoker on the ground. Tashigi cries over Smokers body and attempts to kill Law but he switches their hearts. Meanwhile, the kids from the lab complain about the cold so the samurai uses his devil fruit to give the kids and the Straw Hats warm clothes. Luffy's group then meets up with the other group behind the lab. While going over what happened Robin reveals that Law became a Shichibukai two years ago and the samurai reveals that Law is the one who cut him in thirds and reunites with his legs. Law meets up with Caesar Clown who Smoker speculated was behind everything on the island.
The episode was rated 8.07 from 113 votes.
Franky begins to attack the two Don Quixote pirates who retaliated with Baby 5 turning into weapons and Buffalo launching her at their robot foe. Caesar Clown regains consciousness and, after realizes his defeat remembers he still possess Smoker's heart and prepares to stab it. Inside Room R, the Straw Hats and everyone else are waiting for their comrades to return with Mocha before riding the transport cart out of the collapsing building. They managed to reach the group at the same time Usoop returned with Sea Stone handcuffs and the former subordinates of Caesar Clown. Momonosuke however was shockingly alarmed to see his father petrified.
The episode was rated 8.12 from 113 votes.
Law was going to to cut up Tashigi into little pieces but Smoker saved her and started fighting against Law. Luffy, Zoro, Robin and Usopp are riding on top of Brownbeard after defeating him and his centaurs and stealing their coats and are heading towards the building Brook told them about. Nami, Sanji, Franky, Chopper, the kids and the samurai head try to escape from the Law and the Marines while figuring out what Law did to them. In front of the labratory, Law defeated Smoker by taking his heart.
The episode was rated 8.14 from 112 votes.
As the Underworld Brokers watched the video feed of the captive Straw Hats and Marines, Eustass Kid and Killer decided to ignore it for more important matters, such as forming an alliance between the Kid pirates, On Air Pirates and the Hawkins Pirates. Law then decided to set his plan into motion and orders Franky to blow a fireball at a destroyed ship, creating enough smoke to block the cage from being seen from outside. Law then breaks free, explaining that he switched the sea prism stones with fakes during his stay on the island, and proceeds to free the others and restoring Tashigi and Smoker in their own bodies while securing their aid. Franky however had to leave them and protect the thousand Sunny. Meanwhile, Zoro and Nami's group are still running away from Shinokuni and they manage to join up while escaping. Luffy's group managed to enter the Lab with the aid of Law and they opened the gate, allowing the G-5 marines to get in before closing the gate, but the rest of the Straw Hats were still outside. Seeing their only chance of hope closing, Zoro and Kine'mon effortlessly cut the gate open, getting everyone inside safely.
The episode was rated 8.16 from 116 votes.
Luffy finally reaches Caesar's room and immediately punches the scientist, while Smoker leaves in order to find Vergo. Meanwhile, Sanji faces off Vergo while the passage between buildings A and B is closing and the previous one is opening, letting the poison gas enter. During the fight with Caesar, he tries to drain the oxygen in the area to kill Luffy, but fails once he enters Gear Second and use some attacks with Haki, making the scientist angry to the point of using some techniques as oxygen-made sword and fire bursts. Meanwhile, both Sanji and Vergo start running away from the gas. During this fight, Trafalgar Law makes his way to building D, where the SAD is made and Monet decides to enter the fight to protect Caesar, while he flies away, and reveals her snow abilities.
The episode was rated 8.19 from 111 votes.
Sanji, Kin'emon, Brook and Zoro see Smiley. Brook talks about a story about slime eating the clothes off of women making everyone act perverted except for Zoro, who points out that the slime is killing the fish in the lake, prompting Sanji to jump in to find Kin'emon's torso. Law tells Monet to take a walk with him while Chopper is left in the lab to find the antidote. Luffy faces off against Caesar who uses his Gas Robe attack until he discovers that Luffy is immune to poison. Caesar then uses his Gastanets and Smiley to injure Luffy who then grabs Caesar. Caesar then knocks Luffy out with an unknown ability. Robin, Franky, Tashigi and Smoker get knocked out as well. Law and Monet are walking down a hallway and encounter a mysterious figure who causes Law to break down in pain while the mysterious figure tells him that it's been a long time since they last met.
The episode was rated 8.19 from 104 votes.
The Straw Hat Pirates, Kin'emon, Momonosuke, and Law are on course to Dressrosa. Doflamingo makes his move. A mysterious man appears on Punk Hazard.
The episode was rated 8.20 from 120 votes.
Kuzan saves Smoker. Usopp and Chopper prepare for an attack. Kin'emon is mad with Zoro. Momonosuke tries to get attention from the girls.
The episode was rated 8.22 from 126 votes.
Zoro carries Tashigi away from the poisonous gas. Sanji and the G-5 marines continue to assist Chopper, who is trying to get sedative injected into all the children. Usopp finds a door that leads to the room where Caesar and his subordinates are watching the Straw Hats and the Marines on a screen. Caesar notices Brownbeard on the screen, and confronts him. Brownbeard tells Caesar that he wants to get his crew back, but Caesar tells him they were all killed by the poison gas. Brownbeard tries to warn Caesar's subordinates, but Caesar drugs him to keep him quiet. Caesar orders his subordinates to get rid of Brownbeard, and they fire at him. Luffy arrives just in time and punches Caesar, before asking him about the island. Caesar tells him Punk Hazard is not supposed to exist, and nobody is supposed to know what happens on that island. Vergo covers up any information abut that island and anything that happens there - the SAD production is run by Donquixote Doflamingo, and SAD produces SMILE, an artificial Zoan Devil Fruit. One of the Yonko, Kaido, is forming an army of people who have eaten these artificial fruits. Caesar challenges Luffy to dare pick a fight with such people, only for Luffy to punch Caesar, and tell him that he has been picking fights all along.
The episode was rated 8.29 from 115 votes.
The kids stopped because they are tired and scared of running. Vergo attempts to kill Law even though he is cut down. The Straw Hats convinced the children to run and they continue to escape the poison gas. Caesar tells his subordinates to release the poison gas into building R-66. Caesar consumes the gas and becomes a big monster. He then consumes his subordinates to intimidate Luffy. Usopp tells Caesar's subordinates that Luffy will never betray his crew. Luffy defeats Caesar with Grizzly Magnum and sends him flying away.
The episode was rated 8.30 from 125 votes.
Mocha is still running away with the candy, and the kids are chasing her. Chopper, Nami, and Robin come to her and the children's aid. Then, G-5 and Sanji goes in their direction. At the Biscuit Room, Zoro and Tashigi battle Monet, with Monet almost breaking Tashigi's shoulder with her snow powers, but Zoro comes in and vertically splits Monet in half with a powerful One Sword Style technique. At the bottom of the C building, Luffy barely manages to hold onto a small ladge and begins to climb out, carrying an unconscious Momonosuke up the chute.
The episode was rated 8.30 from 123 votes.
Caesar tells Luffy to not underestimate Doflamingo, but Luffy keeps on attacking Caesar. Smoker continues his fight with Vergo. The Straw Hats, G-5 marines and the children run from the gas and continue to head towards building R-66. Caesar's subordinates find Usopp and attempt to attack him. Vergo beats Smoker but Smoker manages to retrieve Law's heart and gives it back to him. Law tells Doflamingo he is going to defeat Vergo. Doflamingo tells Law to not underestimate Vergo because of his haki. Vergo imbues haki onto his whole body and attempts to kill Law but Law cuts him in half along with the SAD and the island. Law tells Doflamingo that he and the supernovas are going to be the leaders of the new era.
The episode was rated 8.67 from 120 votes.
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