Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece has become an anime classic, but it started as a popular manga with some impressive art throughout its decades-long run.

Although the animation in the One Piece anime is fantastic (especially since the beginning of the Wano Country Arc), the source material for the anime is also nothing short of spectacular. Eiichiro Oda, the author of the One Piece manga, first debuted his sea-faring story in 1997, and since then, he has consistently wowed fans with his storytelling, world-building, and unique art.

For over 25 years, the wonderful artwork that Oda and his assistants have crafted for One Piece has left an impression on fans. It’s earned the series the honor of being the best-selling manga of all time. As such, One Piece fans have many pages to look through when searching for the best panels from the series’ 1000-plus chapters. A lot of moments stand out as memorable, but there are some that are so spectacular, fans will never forget them.

Updated on April 23rd, 2024 by Louis Kemner: This list of the best One Piece panels has been updated to adhere to CBR’s current publication standards. By now, the manga has 105 volumes in print in English, giving fans over 1,000 chapters to enjoy, all packed with well-drawn panels. So, One Piece fans want to learn even more about the best One Piece manga panels and see what happens in the chapters in which they appear.

15Monkey D. Luffy’s First Gum Gum Pistol

Chapter 1: “Romance Dawn — The Dawn of the Adventure” (July 19th, 1997)

The very first chapter of One Piece lays the foundation for what is to come during the rest of Monkey D. Luffy’s pirate adventure. It introduces the story’s protagonist and showcases how Luffy got his signature Straw Hat and Devil Fruit powers with the Gum-Gum Fruit.

Soon after Shanks departs from Luffy’s hometown, the One Piece manga skips ahead years to show Luffy departing from the same port, beginning his journey as a pirate. He eventually runs into the same sea monster that ate Shanks’ arm, which sets up the first instance of Monkey D. Luffy’s iconic Gum Gum Pistol attack. Unusually, the protagonist demonstrates his unique powers not partway through the first chapter, but at the very end. Shonen heroes like Ichigo Kurosaki and Natsu Dragneel often show off their powers sooner, but One Piece‘s first chapter had a lot else to do, so Luffy’s first Gum-Gum panel had to wait until the last second.

14Nami Asks Luffy For Help Against Arlong

Chapter 81: “Tears” (March 20th, 1999)

Nami is generally regarded as one of the founding members of the Straw Hat Pirates; however, it isn’t until the events of the Arlong Park Arc that the navigator truly joins the crew. Her agreement with Arlong to protect the people of Cocoyashi Village led her to turn her back on the Straw Hat Pirates, only for her hopes to be dashed when Arlong doesn’t hold up his end of the bargain.

Disheartened and with no one else to turn to, Nami finally caves in and asks Luffy to help her defeat Arlong, resulting in one of the most emotional manga panels in all of One Piece. Her tears and body language communicate all the anguish that the Arlong Pirates caused her village, and in the process, it incenses both the reader and her captain for the arc’s final sequence. Fans may also agree that the Netflix live-action One Piece series also did a fine job capturing the “Help me” moment with actress Emily Rudd’s excellent acting.

13Luffy Protects Dr. Hiriluk’s Flag

Chapter 148: “Unbreakable” (August 21st, 2000)

During their first interactions in the Drum Island Arc, Tony Tony Chopper the reindeer doctor does not get along with Monkey D. Luffy or the other Straw Hat Pirates. The reason for Chopper’s stand-offish attitude toward others becomes apparent when his backstory, as well as the details surrounding the death of his father-figure, Dr. Hiriluk, are revealed.

When Luffy learns of Hiriluk’s sacrifice to protect the people of Drum Island, he takes it upon himself to defend Hiriluk’s flag from Wapol and his followers. Even though Wapol uses his Devil Fruit powers to bombard Luffy and the flag with cannon fire, Luffy remains unfazed. In one of the best manga panels from One Piece‘s Romance Dawn Saga, both the Straw Hat Pirate and Hiriluk’s flag defiantly remain standing atop Wapol’s former castle. This is also an early example of how important flags are for One Piece‘s symbolism, from certain jolly rogers to the World Government’s flag at Enies Lobby.

12The Straw Hat Pirates Raise Their X’s

Chapter 216: “Vivi’s Adventure” (January 29th, 2002)

Monkey D. Luffy’s long-fought battle with one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Sir Crocodile, finally concludes at the end of the Alabasta Arc, saving the kingdom from Crocodile’s terrible reign. Understandably, Princess Vivi and the Nefertari Family want to thank the Straw Hats for rescuing her country; however, their role in the World Government prevents them from aligning with pirates.

Vivi, torn between her commitment to her country and her new crew, ultimately chooses to remain and serve as the future monarch of Alabasta Kingdom. Before the Straw Hat Pirates can leave, she chases their ship down and tearfully asks if they would call her their shipmate if they ever met again. Although the crew can’t reply and risk confirming their connection, they raise the X’s that Vivi and the Straw Hat Pirates drew upon their arms earlier in the arc, symbolizing a never-ending bond between the groups. That’s one reason why One Piece fans hope Nefeltari Vivi will join the Straw Hats someday as a true friend, or nakama.

11The People Of Jaya Mock The Straw Hat Pirates

Chapter 224: “Do Not Dream” (April 1st, 2002)

The dreams of pirates are a defining force in the world of One Piece, but that doesn’t mean everyone takes these aspirations seriously. Monkey D. Luffy is consistently ridiculed for his goal of becoming the King of the Pirates, and nowhere is this more obvious than during his brief time on Jaya Island.

When Luffy, Zoro, and Nami step inside a bar to inquire about the location of Sky Island, every customer inside the building bursts into laughter. The manga panel of this moment is arguably the most detailed in One Piece, asserting that the average person finds the aspirations of the Straw Hat Pirates so outlandish that they’re laughable. It may seem odd for a manga artist to put so much effort into a large panel of the heroes getting laughed at, but it does make for an intriguing scene, and it’s important to emphasize that as of Chapter 224, Luffy is still a nobody. That contrasts sharply with Luffy in later sagas, when he’s a legendary Emperor who can alter the course of history.

10Marshall D. Teach’s Speech On Jaya Island

Chapter 225: “People’s Dreams” (April 8th, 2002)

In the port town of Jaya, Monkey D. Luffy unknowingly runs into the primary antagonist of One Piece, Marshall D. Teach — better known as Blackbeard. In their first meeting, Luffy and Teach disagree on almost everything, nearly coming to blows over a disagreement regarding food and drinks. Looking back, it’s a downright quaint and innocent moment between two pirate captains who never get along.

When Bellamy beats Luffy and Zoro for not fighting back against him and his crew, Teach actually congratulates the two on defiantly standing up for their beliefs. Despite Blackbeard’s unsavory personality, he truly appreciates the importance of dreaming big, and the fact that he mentions this to the Straw Hat Pirates signals that the two groups are much different than the other inhabitants of Jaya. It may feel inspiring to see Blackbeard affirming Luffy’s belief in dreams, but it’s also sinister, because Blackbeard clings to his own dreams, and Luffy won’t like those particular dreams.

9Luffy Rings The Bell In Skypiea

Chapter 299: “Fantasia” (November 10th, 2003)

When the Straw Hat crew arrived at Jaya, they were met with ridicule by other pirates for believing that there could be an island up in the sky. Everyone laughed at Luffy except for a man named Mont Blanc Cricket, who tells them of a golden city up in the clouds and eventually helps them find a way into Skypiea.

Unfortunately, the Straw Hat Pirates encounter Enel, a malicious, Logia-type Devil Fruit user who was preventing the residents of Skypiea from protecting the Bell of Shandora. Luffy eventually defeats Enel, ringing the golden bell and completing the life’s work of Mont Blanc Noland, an adventurer who died centuries earlier. This moment is one of the first concrete references to Sun God Nika, and as a result, the climactic manga panel of the Skypiea Arc has only grown more important as time goes on. Fans might also say it’s slightly ironic that Luffy’s emblematic Nika moment in Chapter 299 shows his black shadow, while Gear 5 actually turns his hair white.

8The Straw Hats Pirates Confront CP9

Chapter 390: “Accepting the Challenge” (November 21st, 2005)

Ever since the World Government destroyed Nico Robin’s home, she has been labeled a threat to the entire world. Forced to live her life on the run, Robin’s chances of living a happy life slowly dwindled until one day when she encountered a group that changed her life forever — the Straw Hat Pirates.

Even after Nico Robin turns herself into CP9 and is taken to Enies Lobby, Luffy and his crew stay by her side. Their defiant declaration of war against the World Government is powerfully captured in a two-page spread, creating one of the most iconic panels in One Piece history in the process. It’s common for shonen manga like One Piece to devote a large panel to the main heroes just standing there looking cool, but in One Piece‘s case, it’s not just a gimmick — it has serious emotional weight, too.

7Luffy’s Final Stand Against Rob Lucci

Chapter 427: “It’s Not Like It’s Hell Here” (September 16th, 2006)

When it comes to One Piece‘s numerous villains, Rob Lucci easily slots among the most iconic. The World Government’s most renowned assassin is the toughest opponent that Monkey D. Luffy has faced by the time they meet at Enies Lobby, and were it not for Luffy’s unparalleled resolve, Lucci would have almost certainly come out victorious.

After taking an unbelievable amount of damage, the Straw Hat Pirate seems to finally be defeated, prompting Rob Lucci to to walk away from his limp body. However, in a display of unbelievable resilience, Luffy stands up one final time, much to the dismay of his opponent. In this chapter, Luffy struggles against Rob Lucci, but things will be rather different when they cross paths once again at Egghead Island.

6The Going Merry’s Tragic Goodbye

Chapter 430: “A Light Snow of Reminiscence Falls” (October 7th, 2006)

For over 300 chapters, the Going Merry serves as the ship of the Straw Hat Pirates. It carries them across the East Blue, much of the Grand Line, and even into legendary locations like Skypiea, but during the course of these adventures, it receives too much damage, forcing the Going Merry to be put to rest.

At the end of the Enies Lobby Arc, the Straw Hat Pirates agree to set their beloved ship aflame, and as it was burning, a voice speaks to them. Miraculously, the Going Merry is able to thank the crew for taking care of it, letting them know how happy it was to travel this far. Fans love this sentimental moment, but Eiichiro Oda himself isn’t so sure that making the Going Merry telepathic was the best idea.

5Admiral Akainu Executes Portgas D. Ace

Chapter 573: “The Name of this Era Is ‘Whitebeard'” (February 8th, 2010)

Other than the Raid on Onigashima, no event in One Piece has come close to rivaling the scale of the Summit War that occurs during the Marineford Arc. Whitebeard, Luffy, and their various allies launch an all-out assault on the Marine base, only for their efforts to ultimately fall short when Admiral Akainu kills Portgas D. Ace with a single blow.

Ace’s death is arguably the most pivotal single moment in One Piece history, and its significance is perfectly represented by the fantastic art that appears in the manga panel that captures the moment. As sad as this panel is, it’s an incredibly important moment in the development of Monkey D. Luffy as a pirate. This panel also has incredible detail and perfect positioning for all three characters involved, making it feel like not just a manga panel, but a classical painting.

4The Introduction of Wano Country

Chapter 909: “Seppuku” (July 2nd, 2018)

One Piece fans first learned of Wano Country when Dr. Hogback mentioned it during Chapter 450. Over a decade later, readers finally received their first glimpse of the island in the form of a beautiful panel depicting Wano’s majestic Flower Capital.

While Eiichiro Oda is mainly known for his cartoonish art style and character design, he can also create elaborate landscapes and backgrounds unique to his story’s setting. Wano Country’s first appearance speaks to his artistic talent, and it serves as a wonderful allusion to the architecture seen in Japan’s Edo period. It’s just as grand as the establishing shot of Fish-Man Island, which itself was one of One Piece‘s better panels, but Wano’s establishing shot is even better.

3Gol D. Rogr’s Reaction To Laugh Tale

Chapter 967: “Roger’s Adventure” (January 4th, 2020)

Even though One Piece‘s manga surpassed 1,000 chapters in 2021, the deceased Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, remains a figure shrouded in mystery. In spite of this, One Piece fans are always happy to learn more about Roger’s adventures every time he appears during a flashback.

In Chapter 967, Gol D. Roger and his crew’s reactions to the treasure of Laugh Tale are revealed to readers. While Roger’s subsequent laughter may not be too surprising given the name of the island, the importance placed on his chuckle has left a lasting impression on the One Piece community. Gol D. Roger’s laugh is mysterious in this memorable panel, because it’s unclear why Roger is laughing. Is the One Piece something silly? Is it so simple and obvious, Roger is laughing at himself for not figuring it out sooner? Ambiguous panels like that can be quite intriguing for fans who enjoy looking deeply into everything the manga has to offer.

2Luffy Attacks Kaido Using Conqueror’s Haki

Chapter 1010: “Haoshoku” (April 12th, 2021)

Although Monkey D. Luffy is soundly defeated multiple times during One Piece, most of these losses take place before the series’ timeskip. The Straw Hat Pirate’s journey in the New World is mostly full of hard-fought victories, which makes his struggle to defeat Kaido even more noteworthy by comparison.

In Chapter 1010, Monkey D. Luffy finally has a breakthrough and realizes that his attacks can be embued with Conqueror’s Haki, making them deal significantly more damage in the process. Using this newfound knowledge, he launches an uppercut at Kaido and connects, firmly establishing himself among the highest tier of New World pirates. That blow won’t win Luffy the fight, but it still proves he’s ready to scrap, and even a monster like Kaido must respect that.

1Luffy Debuts The Power Of Gear 5

Chapter 1045: “Next Level” (April 4th, 2022)

Since Mr. Oda introduced the concept of Devil Fruit Awakenings, many One Piece fans wondered when the series’ protagonist would awaken his. To many readers’ surprise, Monkey D. Luffy’s Devil Fruit awakened right after it appears as though Kaido has dealt him a killing blow.

Luffy’s heartbeat starts to make a strange sound, and he soon stands up stronger and dubs his new, ultra-powerful form Gear 5, the best shonen transformation in history. What follows is the Straw Hat Pirate showcasing his new cartoonish powers, affording him the complete freedom to do whatever he can think of. This transformation is also a fine way to ease the dark tension of the Luffy vs Kaido fight, providing delightful relief as Luffy finally turns the tables on the world’s strongest creature.