The Dressrosa arc in One Piece revolves around the Straw Hat Pirates’ efforts to free the Dressrosa kingdom from the tyrannical rule of a monstrous and manipulative Warlord of the Sea, Donquixote Doflamingo. It’s a little too long, but it’s nothing compared to the entirety of One Piece. Besides, the longer the arc, the more iconic moments we get to witness. Let’s take a look at ten of the best moments from the Dressrosa Arc.
10Corrida Colosseum Battle
The entirety of the Dressrosa arc is brimming with fights, one of them being the Corrida Colosseum battle. This battle covered the first half of the Dressrosa arc and gave us an epic introduction to everything that was to follow. Following Luffy as “Lucy,” alongside all the new characters that were introduced, increased our level of excitement and anticipation for the entire arc even more.
9The Straw Hats Against Big Mom Pirates
The unexpected encounter of Sanji and the Zou Team with the Big Mom Pirates‘ flagship was a moment of unity and strength that left a lasting impression. The Queen Mama Chanter’s surprise attack on the Thousand Sunny was met with an incredible display of teamwork from the Straw Hats, who swiftly repelled the assaulters. This incident not only showcased the Straw Hats’ resilience but also laid the foundation for their future battles.
8The Dumb Disguises of The Straw Hats
As the Dressrosa arc unfolds, we see the crew donning a variety of silly disguises, with Luffy’s particularly ridiculous beard stealing the show. While these disguises are eventually discarded, Luffy’s ongoing masquerade as ‘Lucy’ in the colosseum provides a much-needed source of comic relief amidst the arc’s intense drama. This ongoing absurdity and their hilarious attempts to blend in with the locals keep us entertained and amused.
7Franky and Senor Pink
Franky went against Doflamingo’s subordinate, Senor Pink, and it gave us an insight into the guy in a baby costume. Even without a backstory, just Senor Pink’s character was so iconic that he would have been memorable. Of course the story is incredibly sad, making Senor Pink easy to empathize with for us and even Franky. Their fight wasn’t long, but the connection they formed left an impression, and Franky beating someone so intimating was really cool to witness.
6Sabo Battles Fujitora
The title “Admiral” itself tells you about the incredible amount of strength Fujitora possesses and we are already aware of Sabo’s standing in One Piece. Despite holding back throughout the battle, it was nothing to scoff at. From just a brief display of his power, Fujitora easily earned Luffy’s admiration. The battle between these two incredibly powerful individuals was also one of the highlights of the arc.
5The Meteor
There aren’t many moments in One Piece where something extraordinary doesn’t happen. Fujitora dropped a whole meteor on Green Bit, but Law, Doflamingo, and Fujitora still standing after all that was so absurd that it became so memorable. We see the meteor being sliced in half, broken into pieces, and repelled, leaving the three combatants alone on small pillars, surrounded by a decimated environment.
4Zoro Fights Pica
A glimpse at an overpowered Zoro was one of the most iconic moments during the Dressrosa arc. Zoro had already mastered Busoshoku Haki before his fight with Pica, so he could easily penetrate Pica’s defense. The real kicker was when Zoro managed to slash Pica, who took the shape of a giant rock, into two clean-cut halves. Pica was a prominent rival to the vice-captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, and his defeat signifies Zoro’s true strength as a swordsman.
3Usopp Becomes a God
Usopp, already known for his boasting lies and wild imagination, ironically earns his legendary status. This moment, a delightful mix of hilarity and heartwarming sees Usopp’s exaggerations and lies not only inspiring the dwarves but also leading to their unwavering support in the fight against the Donquixote Pirates. His victory over Sugar, using Haki for the first time, and the perfectly timed divine lighting save everyone from meeting a morbid ending in the Dressrosa Saga.
2Gear Fourth
The new gear felt inevitable to beat a warlord of the sea, but everything from the transformation to the timing to the execution of Luffy’s Gear Fourth was excellent. Gorilla D Luffy bouncing around was so on brand of both Luffy and One Piece that it just made perfect sense. It’s hard to top the hype of Kong Gun of Rage, but Luffy’s battle against Doflamingo managed to do just that.
1Luffy Battles Doflamingo
Luffy’s Gear Fourth Transformation deserved a separate mention, but the fight that was the catalyst behind it was much more iconic. The main highlight of the Dressrosa arc was the fight between Monkey D. Luffy and Donquixote Doflamingo. Doflamingo is one of the best villains in One Piece. He is well-written, incredibly threatening, and easy to hate. His story is tragic, but his monstrosity balances it out. His excellent design and characterization made his fight against Luffy a key memory for the arc.
About One Piece
One Piece is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine since July 22, 1997.
The man who had acquired everything in this world, the Pirate King, is Gol D. Roger. The final words he said at the execution tower were “My treasures? If you want it, I’ll let you have it. Look for it; I left all of it at that place.” These words sent many to the seas, chasing their dreams, headed toward the Grand Line, in search of One Piece. Thus began a new age!
Seeking to be the greatest pirate in the world, young Monkey D. Luffy also heads toward the Grand Line in search of One Piece. His diverse crew is joining him along the way, consisting of a swordsman, marksman, navigator, cook, doctor, archaeologist, and cyborg-shipwright, this will be one memorable adventure.
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