10 Most Emotional Story Beats in One Piece

1 month ago 16

One Piece RObin Crying Over Manga Panels

Published Jun 14, 2026, 8:30 AM EDT

Aden Carter is a Contributor at DualShockers who has been covering games professionally since 2020. He specializes in lists and guides, with a focus on RPGs, horror games, survival horror, Soulslikes, cozy/sim games, and action-adventure titles.

Before joining DualShockers, Aden contributed to GameRant, XDA, Gamepur, Impulse Gamer, and WePC. He currently also works with GameSandwich and VideoGamer, where he handles guide content, news, and reviews for the latest games. Across his games writing career, he has worked as a freelance writer and editor, with experience reviewing around 40 games and interviewing multiple indie developers. Aden holds a B.A. in Creative Writing for Entertainment.

One Piece has existed for over 20 years. During this time, numerous arcs have been written, countless tales have been told, and many emotions have been spilled.

A large bulk of the manga and anime focuses on saving kingdoms from oppressive regimes, battling difficult foes, and chasing one's dreams, but in between these moments are true emotional heartbreak that not every anime has. These moments help define the arcs they are in.

7 One Piece Arcs With Best Fights

From emotional duels to era-defining clashes, these 7 One Piece fights stand among the best.

From Robin screaming for help as the crew defies the world government to Sanji leaving the crew behind to marry Pudding, there are numerous emotional moments that define One Piece and help make it one of the best anime in the world.

10 Luffy Fights Usopp

Discourse

Water 7 played a big role in shaping the One Piece story. I suppose you could say that about every arc of the series, but this arc had some major plot points, with one of them being Usopp leaving the crew.

During this arc, it is discovered that, despite countless repairs from Usopp, the Going Merry can't keep going on. The keel of the ship has been damaged, and sooner or later, it will completely fall apart.

Not wanting to let go of the Merry, Usopp challenged Luffy to a duel. While he puts up a valiant fight, Luffy defeats Usopp in one of the most emotional moments of the story leading up to this point. To make it more emotional, the fight is full of callbacks to earlier story beats with Usopp, showing the fun they all shared.

9 Sanji Leaves

To Marry Pudding

One Piece Emotional Moments Sanji Fighting Luffy

There is a brief time during the Whole Cake arc of One Piece where Sanji leaves the crew. This devastates the crew, and they waste no time trying to get him back. They immediately travel to Whole Cake Island, and when he sees Sanji, Luffy immediately runs to him, calling out his name.

Luffy is met with a kick to the face and sent flying across the field. The fight that follows is very one-sided as Luffy refuses to fight his friend. Meanwhile, Nami screams from afar, begging Sanji to stop with this madness.

When Luffy finally gets knocked out, Sanji leaves. It is cold, but the crew doesn't understand his reasoning. It definitely paints Sanji in a better light as well.

8 Memories of Toys

Rebecca Yells at the Toy Soldier

One Piece Emotional Moments Toy Soldier and Kyros

Dressrosa has one of the most devastating reveals in the anime, where it is discovered that Doflamingo has been using Sugar's Hobby-Hobby Fruit to turn countless citizens into toys.

It is hard to forget one of the most crucial scenes of the arc. Rebecca is talking to the Toy Soldier about entering the competition and wanting to be free. She even mentions the statue of Kyros, not realizing that the Toy Soldier is Kyros. Of course, the Toy Soldier attempts to command Rebecca not to enter the tournament, saying she will die.

She retaliates, yelling at the Toy Soldier, calling him a "one-legged toy," and saying he would never be able to defeat Doflomingo. It is a heartbreaking scene because she has no idea that the Toy Soldier is actually her father.

8 Best Sanji Dishes In One Piece, Ranked

A heavy dose of love... and Diable Jambe!

7 Cherry Blossoms

Hiriluk's Memory

One Piece Emotional Moments Chopper Cherry Blossoms

Chopper has one of the most emotional backstories in the entirety of One Piece. The story of him befriending Dr. Hiriluk, studying medicine, and trying desperately to cure him using a poison mushroom is heartbreaking.

At the end of the Drum Island arc, Chopper finally decides to leave with the crew. Meanwhile, Kureha is having cannons brought outside for seemingly no reason.

Chopper and Kureha share some heated words, and as Chopper runs off with the crew, carrying them down the ropeway, memories of his time with Kureha flash across the screen. It then ends in one of the most emotional spectacles as cherry blossom-colored snow rains from the sky in a shining spectacle in honor of Hiriluk's memory.

6 Ace Dies

In Front of Luffy

One Piece Emotional Moments Ace Death Scene

Before the time skip, Luffy is much more immature, doesn't know how to handle a crew, and goes about without much of a care in the world. Sure, the early arcs of One Piece are great, but Luffy definitely needed some real struggle, and he got that when Ace died in front of him.

It is a scene that many still remark to this day, despite it happening back in 2011. 15 years later, and many have not forgotten the traumatic look on Luffy's face as Akainu punched a whole clean through Ace's chest.

Understandably, Luffy collapsed on the battlefield, scarred by what he had just witnessed. Luffy would have been dead at that moment as well if it weren't for all those who aided him in escaping.

5 Smiling Yasuie

Smile Fruits Are Terrible

One Piece Emotional Moments Yasuie Death

Yasuie meets his death during episode 940 of the anime, which happens to be the same episode where the truth about the Smile Fruits is revealed. Shortly before the reveal, Yasuie is executed in front of many, including his daughter Toko, who is running towards him.

As Yasuie falls to the ground, Toko stands at the bamboo wall, tears flowing from her eyes, but she is unable to frown. All she and the surrounding others can do is smile and laugh despite them feeling extreme sadness.

Zoro stands in frustration, and it is then that the truth is revealed. All those around him have been affected by Smile Fruits, robbing them of everything but their smiles.

4 Kuma's Life

Becoming a Robot

Bartholomew Kuma has one of the most tragic backstories. He grew up a slave, escaped the God Valley Incident, and was eventually turned into a human weapon thanks to Vegapunk. After learning of a cure for Bonney, Kuma agreed to become a tool for the world government.

After this, he spent years being transformed into a cyborg as Bonney was cured of her illness. As Kuma lays down in the machine on Egghead Island one last time, we get a barrage of flashbacks of his memories. He is living out his life one last time before losing his mind completely.

Near the end of the flashback, Kuma is seen running towards all those he cares about, and it ends with Vegapunk crying as he pulls the switch, putting an end to the man that was Kuma. With the next shot of Kuma, his eyes are glowing red, and you know he is gone.

10 One Piece Mysteries That Are Still Unresolved

As the world of One Piece unfolds, the unresolved mysteries continue to feel like a world that was buried alive.

3 I Want to Live

Declaring War

One Piece Emotional Moments Robin Wants to Live

Robin did not have the greatest childhood. After surviving the Ohara incident thanks to Saul, she went on to be labeled as the demon child. Decades later, she met the Straw Hat Pirates, and it is with them that she found a new family.

Despite this newfound family, Robin still could not accept it, and fearing that the world government would target them for protecting her, she turned herself in. However, the Straw Hats wouldn't accept Robin being captured, and stormed Enies Lobby to get her back.

As the crew stands on the edge of a building, they call out to Robin, who finally screams back that she wants to live. It is one of the most emotional and iconic scenes in all of One Piece.

2 Binks' Sake

The Rumbar Pirates Die Singing

One Piece Emotional Moments Brook at his Piano

The fate of the Rumbar Pirates is one of the most tragic tales in One Piece. They first discovered Laboon in the West Blue, befriended the whale, and then took to the Grand Line, where they left Laboon behind, promising to come back one day.

Shortly after, half of the pirates fell ill. Not wanting to risk the others, they left the crew, leaving it under the command of Brook. The pirates then got into a battle, learning shortly after that the enemy weapons were laced with poison.

Condemned to die while floating in the Florian Triangle, the Rumbar Pirates began playing a beautiful melody. One by one, the pirates died, until only Brook remained, wasting away at his piano.

1 Bye Bye Merry

Going Up in Flames

One Piece Emotional Moments Going Merry Funeral

The Straw Hat Pirates have had two iconic ships during their voyage, with the first being the Going Merry. This iconic ship survived a good chunk of the Grand Lind, but ultimately succumbed when its keel broke during the Water 7 arc.

The entire crew was understandably devastated by the news that the Merry would no longer be able to sail. After completing one final voyage, the keel broke, leading to the crew to hold a funeral for the vessel that saw them into the Grand line.

The entire funeral scene is full of emotion, with each crew member shedding tears for their beloved ship, all while a light music box version of the main theme plays. It ends with the spirit of the Going Merry saying, "I really have been happy, because I had you."

7 Best Outfits of Straw Hat Pirates in One Piece

Clothing defines a character's style and personality. Here are some of the best outfits in One Piece.

Release Date October 20, 1999

Network Fuji TV

Directors Hiroaki Miyamoto, Konosuke Uda, Junji Shimizu, Satoshi Itō, Munehisa Sakai, Katsumi Tokoro, Yutaka Nakajima, Yoshihiro Ueda, Kenichi Takeshita, Yoko Ikeda, Ryota Nakamura, Hiroyuki Kakudou, Takahiro Imamura, Toshihiro Maeya, Yûji Endô, Nozomu Shishido, Hidehiko Kadota, Sumio Watanabe, Harume Kosaka, Yasuhiro Tanabe, Yukihiko Nakao, Keisuke Onishi, Junichi Fujise, Hiroyuki Satou