When it comes to the One Piece series, tragedy is often a recurring theme more than you can think of. From beloved characters dying to being left in solitude, the idea of tragedy often evokes another strong emotion – revenge. For years, Oda has planted the idea of revenge in the story, but some of it has yet to be fully expressed.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most anticipated revenge battles from the One Piece series that fans cannot wait to feast their eyes upon. We’ve also ranked them by the significance and hype of the scenes.

TITLEOne PieceCREATOREiichiro OdaRELEASE DATEOctober 20, 1999IMDb RATING (As of May 27, 2026)9/10MAL RATINGS (As of May 27, 2026)8.73/10WHERE TO WATCHCrunchyroll

7. Trafalgar D. Law Still Seeks His Revenge on Blackbeard After Wano

Law vs. Blackbeard from One Piece | Credits: Toei Animation

After the Wano Country Arc, Trafalgar D. Law had become a prominent figure in the narrative. However, Marshall D. Teach (Blackbeard) ambushed Law and the Heart Pirates to steal the Road Poneglyph copies they were carrying. The confrontation ended with the Heart Pirates destroyed and Law escaping and surviving.

Destroying his entire crew means only one thing for Law – complete revenge from Blackbeard. With the Elbaph Arc in the ongoing manga, it doesn’t seem that Blackbeard has made an entrance yet, and neither has Law. But if they ever do, it would be a spectacle to watch: two Devil Fruits vs. an awakened one.

6. Every Time Shanks Felt His Scar It Reminded Him of Blackbeard

Shanks from One Piece | Credits: Toei Animation

While the exact timeline has never been stated in the manga or anime series, anytime after Gol D. Roger was executed, a confrontation between the two ended with Shanks getting the three distinct claw-like scars on his face. Furthermore, Blackbeard also killed his own crewmate Thatch when he was still a Whitebeard Pirate.

If the two were ever to meet again in One Piece, which is highly likely given their Emperor positions, Shanks will unleash all his Haki and Divine Departures on Blackbeard, who will use both the Yami Yami no Mi and Gura Gura no Mi. Their battle would raise hell in the series.

5. Law’s Years of Trauma Still Call for His Revenge on Doflamingo

Law vs. Doflamingo from One Piece | Credits: Toei Animation

The relationship between Trafalgar D. Law and Donquixote Doflamingo is as twisted and tense as it gets in the One Piece anime series. The only peace Law got after losing everything to Flevance was Donquixote Corazon. However, Doflamingo murdered Corazon and took it away.

Even though he was defeated in Dressrosa, Doflamingo survives and is in prison. In hindsight, it feels like Law’s revenge arc is still incomplete as long as the villain survives, calling for an ultimate showdown between two awakened Devil Fruit users.

4. Blackbeard Made It Too Personal for Luffy to Ignore Him

Blackbeard from One Piece | Credits: Toei Animation

Blackbeard vs. Luffy feels like a revenge story always meant to be in the series – while both share the same goals, their ideology and personality are polar opposites. To top that, Blackbeard sold out Ace to the Marines, which eventually led to his execution.

Blackbeard is absolute chaos and a menace in the series, and it only makes sense that Luffy puts him down. Luffy defeating Teach feels inevitable, and fans expect it to become one of the most emotionally charged battles in anime history.

3. Shanks Never Forgave His Father for What Happened in God Valley

Figarland Garling from One Piece | Credits: Toei Animation

To start, the father-son duo from One Piece, Figarland Garling and Shanks, have years of animosity between them, especially tied to their ideals. Born into the elite Figarland lineage, Shanks was separated from his family as a baby during the God Valley Incident – and completely lost the Celestial Dragon ideology of his family.

Shanks likely believes that what Garling stands for, and his association with World Government, are the only things that get in the way of true freedom. If the father and son were to ever clash, island-level destruction is inevitable.

2. Ace’s Death by Akainu Still Lingers Deep in Luffy’s Darkest Memory

Akainu kills Ace in One Piece | Credits: Toei Animation

It doesn’t matter if Blackbeard sold out Ace or his own grandfather – the monstrously buffed Monkey D. Garp – stood in the way, Luffy only saw Akainu as the one to drive his fist through Portgas D. Ace and kill his brother. No matter how calm he may appear, the memory is still there in his brain.

While Luffy went on to become a Yonko and Akainu became a Fleet Admiral, that one haunting past will always linger in the Straw Hat captain’s head. If they ever were to meet again, and Luffy’s dormant emotion gets invoked, Luffy will rain terror and a continuous flurry of Haki-infused punches on Akainu, till the Marine drops dead.

1. The Straw Hats Have Always Aimed to Destroy the World Government

The Straw Hat Pirates from One Piece | Credits: Toei Animation

Every step of the way, the Straw Hat Pirates have fought the Marines and the World Government, opposing their authority. The peak moment was during the Enies Lobby Arc when the group arrived to free Nico Robin; Luffy locked in and ordered Usopp to burn down the World Government flag.

Every member of the Straw Hats completely detests the World Government and would go to any lengths to fight them. Even as we speak now, Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hat pirates are fighting Imu and the rest of the World Government in the One Piece manga; ending Imu and eradicating the World Government is a revenge arc completion we’re all waiting for.

RANKINGREVENGE FIGHT1Straw Hat Pirates vs. World Governemnt2Luffy vs. Akainu3Shanks vs. Figarland Garling4Luffy vs. Blackbeard5Trafalgar D. Law vs. Donquixote Doflamingo6Shanks vs. Blackbeard7Trafalgar D. Law vs. Blackbeard

What are your thoughts on our picks of the most anticipated revenge arcs in One Piece? We’d like to hear your picks and opinions in the comments below.

The One Piece anime series is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
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