One Piece is a shonen anime about pirates that is still going on to this day. The fact that it has yet to end after being released in 1999 is all the proof you need to realize that it is one of the best anime of all time. It has incredibly emotional moments, action highs, and even an interesting art style.
That being said, one of the biggest pulls of a show like One Piece is its characters. Luffy, the main character, in particular, is an interesting individual to follow. With a seemingly endless well of power-ups, lots of unique abilities, and an interesting personality, his fight scenes are, without a doubt, the best ones in the series. So, we compiled a list ranking all his coolest ones you should revisit!
10 Luffy VS. Captain Kuro
The fight with Kuro is the first time we see Luffy’s serious side. Up to this point in the series, he had only shown a sunny smile and a happy-go-lucky attitude. Even when fighting the Black Cat pirates, he is not really angry, treating the fight lightly.
It is only after he hears the absolute disdain Kuro has for the pirate life that he takes the fight seriously. His Rubber Rubber Devil Fruit is put on display for the first time in a real fight setting. This fight set the tone for what One Piece fights will look like in the future. And it’s only gone uphill from there.
9 Luffy VS. Bellamy
Bellamy was a cocksure, loud-mouthed braggart who wasn’t even in the same league as Luffy. His fight with Luffy was a joke compared to what the Straw Hats had to tackle regularly. But that’s what made it special.
The reason for the fight was that Bellamy mocked Luffy’s dream. Luffy was prepared to turn the other cheek, ready to emulate his idol Shanks’ refusal to fight over meaningless stuff. But when Bellamy mocks his core belief in One Piece, he puts him down. Decisively and with brutal efficiency. All it takes is one punch.
8 Luffy VS. Arlong
Luffy shows his best side when he’s fighting for something. In this case, it was Nami, his navigator. At this point, Nami had not officially joined the crew. In fact, she had just cheated them not too long ago to pay off Arlong. Despite all of this, Luffy doesn’t even need to listen to Nojiko and Nami’s history to stand up for Nami.
Arlong was a menace that had to be put down. And Luffy does so with prejudice. At no point in the fight is he truly threatened by the Fishman. He gives out beating after beating, taking out Nami’s frustrations for her.
7 Luffy VS. Bartholomew Kuma
Bartholomew Kuma, the Tyrant, was a monster in human skin when he met the Straw Hat Pirates at Sabaody in more ways than one. His power was a completely unknown territory for Luffy, and instead of monologuing like a typical villain, he had a job to do, and the Straw Hats were just there to receive a beatdown.
What made this fight memorable was the deconstruction of Luffy’s character in the face of absolute power. There was no hope of winning, not enough time to figure out what Kuma could do, and no convenient power spike for Luffy to turn the situation. The emotional impact of losing his entire crew to this monster is devastating yet beautiful.
6 Luffy VS. Enel
The entire Skypiea arc was a build-up to the Luffy vs. Enel fight. Enel was as close to a god as we’re likely to get in the One Piece universe, and his mastery of Lightning and creative use of his power seemed impossible to counter. On top of that, he had the never before seen “Mantra” power, which allowed him to see attacks coming before they hit him.
Enter Luffy, with a promise to free the people of Skypiea and a very simple Devil Fruit power, at least in comparison to Enel. But this simple Rubber Man was the natural counter to Enel’s electricity. This was an action-packed fight with a lot on the line and the arrogant, cocky Enel with one of the most punchable faces in the One Piece universe.
5 Luffy VS. Usopp
Going Merry was the Straw Hat Pirates’ ship up until the end of the Water 7 arc. It had been with them all the way from the start. It was as much a part of the crew as anyone else. So, when Luffy made the hard decision to retire it due to the extensive damage it received along the way, Usopp challenged Luffy for the rights of the ship.
Usopp had no chance to win. He knew this, Luffy knew this, and everyone watching knew this. But despite the result of the fight being a forgone conclusion, the emotional impact of what it meant to both of them shines through. Usopp finally stands up for something, and Luffy has to hurt one of his true friends; it’s a gripping moment that needs all the context that led up to this point to be appreciated, and all the more potent for it.
4 Luffy VS. Crocodile
The epic battle between Luffy and Crocodile was the conclusion of one of the best arcs in the anime. The final and last confrontation between the two is satisfying for a multitude of reasons. Luffy is carrying the hope of the entire nation of Alabasta on his shoulders, Vivi’s pleas, and his own need to prove himself stronger than one of the Warlords of the Sea.
Crocodile was the first Logia-type that Luffy had to defeat. Without even knowing what Haki was at that point, Luffy, despite his goofiness, figured out how to beat the Sandman with blood-coated fists. The sacrifice and sheer grit needed to make all of this work and still come out on top made this fight unforgettable.
3 Luffy vs. Doflamingo
Doflamingo counts among the more terrifying villains in the One Piece universe. His ever-smiling face belies an evil matched by few others. His fight with Luffy was made intense because of his broken Devil Fruit power, the String String Fruit, and a honed Conqueror’s Haki. This is the first time we saw Luffy face off with someone with a similar level of Haki as him, and seeing him confront and overcome this barrier was incredibly satisfying.
Doflamingo was also in the unique position of being incredibly strong but not so overpowered that Luffy had no chance of winning at all. This was a fight between equals, and while Luffy has overtaken this level of power since, Doflamingo’s challenge is not one he’s soon likely to forget.
2 Luffy VS. Lucci
More than the action-packed scenes and the first unveiling of the Gear 3 form, this fight leaves a lasting impression because of the highly charged emotions that led up to this moment. Nico Robin’s “I want to live!” still rang loud as Rob Lucci, leader of CP9, transformed into a Cheetah-human hybrid to fight Luffy.
The combination of Robin’s plight, the seemingly insurmountable barrier that was Lucci’s might, and the sheer confidence of the Straw Hat Pirates that Luffy will win make this fight so memorable. This fight was unforgettable and a true testament to Oda’s storytelling.
1 Luffy VS. Katakuri
The fight between Luffy and Katakuri in the world of mirrors is a uniquely defining moment for Luffy’s character development. The fight was not the usual goal-oriented battles that Luffy had previously fought. This battle was not about saving anyone or anything; it was a fight for the sake of the fight itself.
The fact that there was nothing on the line made it all the more remarkable. Luffy had already achieved his goal of saving Sanji and taking the red poneglyph. He had no reason to continue the fight, yet he chose to risk everything and return to the mirror world to defeat Katakuri. This battle was a testament to Luffy’s growth as a character and his unwavering determination to become the pirate king. In a way, it was a fight for Luffy’s dream itself, to overcome everything and become the Pirate King.