Summary

• The Wano Arc showcases unparalleled world-building in One Piece, highlighting character depth and growth amidst intricate storytelling.
• Luffy's crew experience significant personal development and power-ups, with Sanji, Robin, Nami, Usopp, Jinbe, Chopper, Brook, Franky, and Zoro all evolving.
• The Wano Arc marks a turning point for Luffy, showcasing his peak strength, leadership, and character growth as he faces tough battles and takes on new challenges.

The Wano Arc is the longest and one of the most complex arcs in One Piece, for its attention to detail and intricate world-building of the nation of Wano. Eichiro Oda has carefully developed the history, culture, and customs of Wano, adding depth to the world of One Piece, finishing the journey of characters like Momonosuke and Kin'emon, but also crafting many interesting new characters, like Oden and Yamato. However, the Straw Hats keep being the most three-dimensional and unique characters of the series, and they evolve the most during the events in Wano.

The Wano arc took One Piece to unprecedented heights, it hasn’t only been an exciting episode in the story, exploring themes like honor, loyalty, oppression, and freedom, but also in the incredible atmosphere of the battle in Onigashima, the Straw Hats had exceptional development.

Some of Luffy's pirate crew acquired new power-ups during the arc, which led them to turn the situation around against the Beast Pirates, and they also experienced major personal growth, making the Straw Hats have their most character development so far in the series, proving why the Wano arc is peak.

Sanji Vinsmoke Overcomes His Tragic Past

Episode #1020: "Sanji's Scream! An SOS Echoes Over the Island,"; Episode #1057: "For Luffy - Sanji and Zoro's Oath"

Sanji didn't want to rely on anyone during the WCI arc. However, in Wano, Sanji called out to Robin for help when he was captured by Black Maria, and he didn't care that all Onigashima heard him.

Sanji was worthless to the Vinsmoke family. Feeling like a failure made him willing to sacrifice himself for others several times throughout the series: Sanji wanted to sacrifice his dream to stay in Baratie and repay Zeff, he received Enel’s attack instead of Ussop in Skypiea, and in Thriller Bark, he would have taken Luffy's pain, but Zoro stopped him. This was explored during the Whole Cake Island arc, where Sanji attempts to sacrifice his dream and leave the Straw Hats without asking for their help, and he faces his family on his own to protect Zeff and the crew.

Sanji didn't want to rely on anyone during the WCI arc. However, in Wano, Sanji called out to Robin for help when he was captured by Black Maria, and he didn't care that all Onigashima heard him. This shows how much Sanji has grown. Before, he wouldn’t have asked a crewmate, much less a woman that he strongly protected, to risk her life for him and fight in his place. He wanted to live and knew that he could rely on Robin, and he also trusted that she could win on her own.

Additionally, Sanji used his Germa powers in one of the best scenes in Wano Arc, which awakened his genetic modifications, showing exceptional development in his battle against Queen. After realizing that the awakening was caused by the Germa suit, Sanji decided to destroy it to ensure that he would not lose his humanity like his family. Sanji completed his character arc by accepting that he didn’t belong in Germa 66, and by thinking about the kind of person he wanted to be for Luffy and his Straw Hats crewmates, clearing up all the doubts that tormented him about his past.

Robin Embraces Her Identity as a “Demon Child”

One Piece Episode #1044: "Clutch! A Demon Incarnate, Robin!"

Robin has the biggest growth out of the Straw Hats throughout the story, from believing she didn’t deserve to live to finally finding her place in Luffy’s crew, and this was reinforced in the Wano arc. In Wano, Robin learns to not cling to the past by overcoming the illusions of the people she loved who were taken from her in Ohara. She rises above the memories that tied her before, and now she continues to live with hope.

Before, people only wanted to use Robin because of the Poneglyphs. That’s why she was happy that Sanji relied on her. Also, now that she has found friends who are willing to protect her, like Saul told her as a child, she wants to do everything she can for the people who count on her, even becoming a "devil." She embraced the title of “Demon Child” after rejecting it for 20 years, and accepting her identity allows her to fight without restraint with her new form, “Demon Fleur.”

Nami Proves Her Convictions Are More Important to Her Than Her Life

One Piece Episode #1008: "Nami's Surrender?! Ulti's Fierce Headbutt"

Just like Bellemere's, Nami’s convictions are more important for her than her own life.

Nami has been a liar throughout the series, but she preferred to tell the truth and get headbutted by Ulti, even if her skull was about to crack, than to say that Luffy wouldn't be the Pirate King. She was going to sacrifice herself to defend her captain, which shows how loyal she is to Luffy and how much she believes he will be Pirate King. This scene is similar to when Bellemere decided to sacrifice herself before saying that Nami and Nojiko weren't her daughters. Just like Bellemere's, Nami’s convictions are more important for her than her own life.

Nami overcomes her fears in Wano. She was part of the “coward trio” of the Straw Hats, along with Ussop and Chopper, but she stood up before Big Mom to save Zeus, who had betrayed her before. This caused Zeus to fuse with her climatact, giving her an impressive power up. In episode #1070, Nami also defies Kaido by telling him that he was lying about Luffy’s death. Before, she used to get herself out of dangerous situations, but now she has the determination to willingly put her life on the line, just like Luffy told her in episode #5.

Usopp Fights Despite His Fears

One Piece Episode #1063: "Luffy is on the Move! A Turning Point to a New Era!"

Usopp has always been the most cowardly of the Straw Hats, but he overcomes his fear and fights, even with tears down his face, to rescue Kiku and Kin’nemon. Usopp didn’t run away, even though he knew he wasn’t powerful enough to win. He accepted himself by acknowledging that he would do anything to survive, and his words inspired and changed Kiku and Kin'emon's mindset.

While Usopp's development wasn't prominent in the Wano Arc, this is because he already had most of its character growth previously. Nonetheless, Wano made clear that Usopp is slowly walking down the path of fulfilling his dreams of becoming a brave warrior of the sea, because someone isn’t brave because he has no fears but because he rises above them.

Jinbe Officially Becomes a Straw Hat in Wano

One Piece Episode #981: A New Member! Knight of the Sea Jinbe!; Episode #1040: "The Pride of a Helmsman - The Enraged Jinbe!

Jinbe fulfills his promise to Luffy to meet him again and the Straw Hats in Wano. Jinbe arrives at the perfect moment to save the Straw Hats from the Beast Pirates at the start of the battle in Onigashima and s the fight without knowing the reason behind it. He didn’t know Momonosuke or Kin’nemon, but this shows he believes in Luffy and will follow him without asking.

The knight of the sea fights Who’s Who, where it’s suggested that Jinbe knew about Sun God Nika because of his connection to the Sun pirates. This will be relevant to the story to help Jinbe achieve his dream of equality between fishmen and humans. Jinbe’s character had been developed in the story before he ed the crew, like his prejudice toward humans and fishmen coexisting, which he overcame thanks to Ace, Whitebeard, and Luffy, so now he plays the role of the voice of reason in the Straw Hats, and gives them the power they need for the battles.

Tony Tony Chopper Got a Step Closer to His Dream in Wano

One Piece Episode #1023: "Preparations OK! Chopperphage Nebulizer"

Chopper’s dream is to be a doctor who can cure every disease, and he got a step closer to fulfilling it during the events of Wano. He saved the prisoners and Luffy from the mummy virus in Udon Prison and during the raid in Onigashima he worked with Miyagi and Tristan to find the antidote to the Ice Oni virus and save allies and enemies. Chopper has become an excellent doctor, and Wano set the stage to make the moment Chopper found the cure for the people affected by the Smile fruit a pivotal moment to achieve his dream.

Chopper also improves himself to be able to fight stronger opponents. Thanks to Caesar, he extended the duration of “Monster Point” from 3 to 30 minutes. Chopper decided to use the rumble ball to help in the battle and didn't care about the side effects, he would face the risk, so he can protect his crew. Chopper has grown to become a powerful pirate, and in the arcs will have to deal with completely eliminating the side effects.

Brook Amazingly s the Other Straw Hats in Wano

One Piece Episode #1043: Slash the Nightmare - Brook Draws His Freezing Sword!

Brook had great development during Thriller Bark and shined his best on Whole Cake Island. This explains his ing role in Wano, which he excelled at, coming to assist when the situation needed, like when he cut Zeus while Franky ran over Big Mom, froze the traps of Black Maria to free Sanji, and protected Robin after her fight. Also, Brook's best moment in Onigashima was his fight against Black Maria's subordinates.

The Wano arc shows that Brook isn’t swayed by his past, as he wasn’t fooled by Black Maria's illusions. He thought about the present, and was only worried about helping Robin, proving how much he cared about his crewmates. Brook, as a former captain of the Rumbar Pirates, knows what Luffy wants, and what he needs to do to help his crew. Brook has the experience of a 90-year-old man, and he accomplishes his duty as a crewmate by helping the others Straw Hats until he can achieve his dream of meeting Laboon again.

General Franky Upgrades Were Showcased In Onigashima

One Piece Episode #1041: "Showdown Battles of the Monsters! Yamato and Franky"

Franky stands out in Wano, not because he grew as a character, but because of his skills and abilities that help the Straw Hats win the battle in Onigashima, like repairing the ships for the samurais and using his motorcycle, Kurosai FR-U IV to run over Big Mom. Franky's highlight of the arc was his fight vs Sasaki, an ancient Zoan-type devil fruit , which showed his current power and upgrades to the General Franky, with his defensive abilities and powerful Radical beam.

Franky’s engineering abilities have no limits and General Franky will definitely have bigger upgrades in future arcs. Also, the end of the Wano Arc revealed an important connection to Franky's past, when it was disclosed that the Ancient Weapon Pluton, whose plans Franky possessed and defended at the cost of his life, lies somewhere beneath the island.

Zoro’s Introspection Allows Him to Awaken Conqueror’s Haki

One Piece: Episode #1060 "The Secret of Enma! The Cursed Sword Entrusted to Zoro"

Haki means ambition. During the time skip, Zoro abandoned his pride to ask Mihawk to train him to be able to sur him, and Mihawk tells him that it seems that he now has a better cause than his own ambition. This proves that Zoro's dream of becoming the world's greatest swordsman wasn’t primarily driven by his promise to Kuina anymore, or even for himself, it was to Luffy and make him Pirate King.

In Onigashima, when Zoro re Shimotsuki Kozaburo, he realizes that Enma was testing him and understands that he didn’t have enough power to control the sword, which means that his ambition wasn’t enough. Zoro's priority was Luffy, but when he re his original drive, he puts both of his ambitions together: his promises to Luffy and Kuina. This finally allows Zoro to unlock his potential, consciously use Conqueror’s Haki, and be able to coat Enma and defeat King, one of the strongest Beast Pirates. This is a pivotal point for Zoro’s battles. His willpower will keep making him stronger.

The Wano Arc Gave Luffy His Biggest Growth in the Series

One Piece Episode #1071: Luffy's Peak: Attained! Gear Fifth

Luffy’s strength at the end of the Wano Arc is at its peak. With his devil fruit awakening and his new transformation Gear 5, he’s able to defeat Kaido, one of Luffy’s hardest fights. The Wano arc also gave Luffy significant growth as a character. It was shown by his conversation with Otama that he has already made peace with Ace's death, even though it still hurts him, he re his brother deeply, and his memory inspires him to fulfill Ace’s promise and help the people in Wano.

Luffy proves to be a full-fledged captain, showing his leadership abilities by maintaining his composure when necessary and inspiring Momonosuke to stand up for himself and be a true leader. Luffy and Momo's relationship is similar to when he first met Koby. Both were cowards, and Luffy inspired them to be brave and follow their paths. More importantly, Luffy becomes one of the Four Emperors, and his first act is to put the land of Wano under his protection.

The events in Onigashima have a lasting impact on the world and the narrative of One Piece. It has delved into the evolution of Luffy’s crew and proven the Wano arc is peak because it set the stage for the Straw Hats character development for future events, preparing them for the difficult battles in the arcs until finally reaching the “One Piece” in Laugh Tale.