Eiichiro Oda always keeps One Piece readers guessing what’s going to happen next with every release of every chapter, often with a cliffhanger.
Eiichiro Oda knows how to build up anticipation with the release of every One Piece chapter. The legendary mangaka often puts the Straw Hats in the most dangerous situations, leaving readers on the edge of their seats as they eagerly wait for what happens next. Due to the weekly release schedule of the Shueisha manga, Oda regularly ends chapters on exciting cliffhangers. It’s proven to be a recipe for success given the 516 million number of copies sold within its lifetime.
These chaper endings often range from important story revelations to the arrival of a major antagonist. Even after a 1,000 chapters, Oda continues to deliver amazing cliffhangers. One Piece is well known for its extensive world building as a long-running series, but even the most dedicated readers are taken by surprise by Oda’s creative direction, which results in some of the best chapter endings. Readers never really known what to expect from the world’s most successful living mangaka.
10The Five Elders Are Summoned to Egghead
Warrior Gods Make Their Arrival Known in Egghead
Manga Chapter
Story Arc
Chapter 1109
Egghead
The World Government wants to keep the general populace in the dark regarding the Void Century. When their lead scientist Vegapunk threatens to spill their secrets within a ten-minute time limit, Jaygarcia Saturn resorts to desperate measures as he summons the rest of the Five Elders to Egghead. Luffy already has a difficult time dealing with Saturn and his ability to regenerate from any powerful attack in One Piece.
Now he is forced to fight a potentially losing battle against not one but five otherworldly beings. The situation becomes dire as large shadowy creatures arise from demonic summoning circles. With the impending arrival of the remaining Elders, the Straw Hats have no choice but to run and fight their way off Egghead.
9Minks Announce That Raizo is Safe
A Promise is Kept For the Kozuki Clan
Manga Chapter
Story Arc
Chapter 816
Zou
In a span of ten whole days, Jack the Drought nearly drove the Mink Tribe to extinction with his brutal methods of interrogation, all in a frantic search for the missing ninja Raizo. Despite the very real threat of death, not a single mink gave away his location, leaving Jack with nothing to show for his efforts.
However, when the Straw Hats arrive with a few retainers of the Kozuki clan, the minks revealed that Raizo was, in fact, safe the entire time. The Mink Tribe had sacrificed life and limb to uphold a vow they made two decades ago. In one of the greatest acts of loyalty in the One Piece manga, they kept their promise to protect the Kozuki clan from Kaido’s forces.
8Kidd and Law Are Soundly Defeated
The Race to Become Pirate King Narrows Down the Playing Field
As a Yonko, Shanks is one of the most powerful pirates in the New World – few One Piece characters can take him down.
Manga Chapters
Story Arc
Chapters 1079 and 1081
Egghead
Monkey D. Luffy, Trafalgar Law, and Eustass Kid truly made a name for themselves after defeating Kaido and Big Mom. Their bounty of 3,000,000,000,000 berries ranks among the highest in pirate history. Unfortunately, when Law and Kid went their own separate ways, their entire crews were decimated by chance encounters with Blackbeard and Shanks, respectively. It turns out that even if they can team up to defeat a Yonko, they cannot individually beat one themselves.
Despite their power, both captains suffer devastating losses in their cliffhangers. With their crews beaten up and their prized ships completely destroyed, their dreams to become Pirate King are now a distant memory. This harsh reality check serves as a reminder that not just anyone can find all the Road Poneglyphs. Blackbeard and Shanks have taken out fierce competitors in their search for the One Piece treasure.
7Kaido Wages the Greatest War in the World
He Truly is More a Monster Than a Man
Manga Chapter
Story Arc
Chapter 795
Dressrosa
The Kid Pirates investigate what seems like a meteor strike at their home base. It turns out that somebody had jumped off a sky island and crash landed with the force of a falling star. Despite a difference of 10,000 meters, a monstrous giant emerges from the crater and walks away with a minor headache. Kaido proves himself to be the world’s strongest creature with only a few panels of screentime.
The narrator even lists off every single instance where he shrugs off execution attempts by his enemies. For several years, One Piece manga readers have awaited Kaido’s debut in the series proper. He is the last of the original Yonko to make a physical appearance. With a declaration of war against the world, he certainly lives up to very high expectations.
6Ace and Blackbeard Evenly Clash at Banaro Island
The Winner Changes the Course of History
Manga Chapter
Story Arc
Chapter 441
Post-Enies Lobby
Portgas D. Ace is never one to give up in the face of sheer adversity. His fiery spirit is matched only by the smoldering hot flames of his Mero Mero no Mi. Ace wields the power of the sun as he forms a large burning sphere against Blackbeard, who conjures up a massive black-hole with his Yami Yami no Mi. Their resulting attacks cause a huge explosion that engulfs the entire island they stood on.
By this point in the One Piece manga, it’s not made clear who emerges as the victor of this bout. However, the narrator points out that it will trigger a major event in the story later on. Several chapters later, readers are now aware that Blackbeard’s victory brought about the entire Marineford saga.
5Shanks and Whitebeard Split the Skies
A Legendary Encounter Between the Past and the Present
A One Piece animation of Shanks using Conqueror’s Haki against Blackbeard has gone viral on social media, with debate soon following the fan video.
Manga Chapter
Story Arc
Chapter 434
Post-Enies Lobby
The World Government had very good reason to be wary of a meeting between Shanks and Whitebeard. They are two of the most powerful known pirates in the One Piece manga by this point. As soon as he boarded the Moby Dick, Shanks had already knocked out several weaker crew mates with a burst of Conqueror’s Haki, and even damaged the enormous battleship.
After a brief argument regarding Blackbeard, Shanks and Whitebeard draw their weapons and split the very skies above them in an epic clash. Such a fearsome display of power had yet to be seen by other characters. It was clear that both pirate captains weren’t all that serious about their confrontation. Readers can only wonder in amazement at what they are truly capable of in a real fight.
4Luffy Activates Gear 4 Against Doflamingo
It’s No Longer Fun and Games For the Straw Hat
Manga Chapter
Story Arc
Chapter 783
Dressrosa
Dressrosa is the first real test of strength for Luffy after the One Piece time skip. Donquixote Doflamingo’s strength and speed are far above the Straw Hat’s Gear 2 and Gear 3 techniques. At the climax of the Dressrosa arc, Luffy decides he cannot waste time anymore since Doflamingo is set to destroy the entire country with his ultimate move, Torikago. The Straw Hat activates Gear 4, the latest upgrade to his powers.
The final panel of this One Piece chapter ends with a text bubble over a dark background, with the words ”FOURTH” centered inside the white sphere. For the first time since he entered the New World, Luffy forces himself to go all out against an extremely dangerous threat. He puts his own heart and soul into a last ditch effort to end Doflamingo’s reign of tyranny.
3Zunesha Declares Luffy to be the Next Joy Boy
The Drums of Liberation Are Heard Across Wano Country
Manga Chapter
Story Arc
Chapter 1043
Wano Country
On top of the skull dome, Kaido uses his kanabo to land a decisive blow on Luffy, via some unwanted interference by CP0 agent Guernica. The Straw Hat is left for dead as Kaido transforms into his monstrous dragon form, going back downstairs into his castle to fight the rest of the samurai alliance. Hope seems to be lost until the very end of the One Piece chapter. From a far away distance, Zunesha sends Momonosuke a very special message.
The second coming of Joy Boy is upon them. Luffy begins to smile as he releases steam from his mouth. Zunesha says it’s been over 800 years since he last heard the ”Drums of Liberation.” Somehow, there is a deeper connection between Luffy and Joy Boy that has yet to be explained. The Five Elders are fully aware of this potential threat, which is why they ordered Guernica to eliminate Luffy by any means necessary.
2Vegapunk Reveals the World is Sinking
He Predicts Everyone and Everything Will Sink Into the Sea
Manga Chapter
Story Arc
Chapter 1113
Egghead
Despite their desperate efforts to stop Vegapunk’s message from going live all over the world, the Five Elders fail to destroy the broadcast Den Den Mushi in time. Even in death, the world’s greatest scientist outsmarts them with various decoys all over the island. The transmission finally plays as Vegapunk drops his doomsday prediction. He believes the world is going to sink into the bottom of the sea.
It’s the worst case scenario for the World Government since now the entire global population is aware of what’s really going on. Imu’s earlier destruction of the Lulusia kingdom already raised sea levels by a single meter. Vegapunk’s message will carry major ramifications for the rest of the One Piece manga as countries struggle to survive in the wake of an impending flood.
1Imu Secretly Rules The World
The Empty Throne Isn’t Quite Empty
Manga Chapter
Story Arc
Chapter 908
Levely
For the longest time, Oda led One Piece readers to believe that the Five Elders were top of the chain of command in the World Government. In a shocking turn of events, the historical Levely reveals that even the Five Elders answer to a supreme ruler of the world. They seek guidance from a mysterious entity only known as Imu, who sits on top of the Empty Throne in the center of the entire world.
The very existence of Imu proves the World Government is built on a foundation of manipulative lies. According to lore, nobody is supposed to sit on the Empty Throne since it symbolizes equality between different kingdoms. It’s certainly not the case with the series’ biggest revelation. Imu serves as a dark manifestation of corruption within the political realm, and could very well be Luffy’s endgame opponent in the climax of the series.
