Top 10 One Piece Moments That Will Make You Cry

While known as a brutal fishman with a hatred for humanity, the actions of the leader of the Sun Pirates turned out to have profound consequences not only for the future of various side characters such as Hancock and Koala, but also his entire species. After a misunderstanding left him mortally wounded, Tiger’s only chance of survival was a blood-transfusion of human blood, but refused because of his deep-rooted prejudice given his history as a slave of the Celestial Dragon. However, in a final act to break the cycle of hatred, he begs his companions to keep the nature of his death a secret and not seek revenge, all in the hope of a better tomorrow.

Fights between friends are always unpleasant, but this brawl in particular was downright heart-breaking for a plethora of reasons. Forced into marriage by the demand of his vile family, Sanji broke off from the Straw Hats to protect those he cared for. Naturally, being the stubborn rubberband that he is, Luffy wasn’t going to take that lying down. Caught between impossible situations, Sanji was forced to battle against his Captain as a last means of getting him to back off…only for Luffy to take each blow without resistance. If you thought watching Luffy get a flaming foot to the skull was tough to watch, just wait until you see Sanji break down afterwards.

Possibly the biggest example of how the World Government and its marines can overshadow even the worst pirates in terms of villainy, the destruction of Robin’s home via the Buster Call was catastrophic, and all because her tribe were inching closer to learning more about the Void Century. As the only survivor of such a senseless massacre, you’d think that would be enough trauma, but no. After learning of her existence, the World Government did what it did best and spread propaganda, turning an innocent victim into a hated criminal that even strangers shunned at every turn.

For the longest time, Nami had been a lone thief. Tricking and manipulating anyone she could in order to get her hands on all the gold and booty possibly. Of course, this took on a whole new dimension when it was revealed she was gathering all this treasure in order to buy her town’s freedom from Arlong and his cronies. Things were made all the worse when her stolen goods were taken and Arlong forced her to start from scratch, brigning her to the end of her tether, First stabbing her tattoo in blind grief before finally asking Luffy to help her. Seeing her brought to her lowest point is truly tragic sight.

When you talk about OG pirates, none come larger and more respected than Edward Newgate. Famous not only for his inhuman strength but treating all of his crew like family, Whitebeard was the last bastion of the golden age of pirates…until his legend finally came to an end during the bitter confrontation at Marineford. Suffering countless wounds at the hands of the Admirals and his treacherous Blackbeard, Pops may have ultimately lost his life, but that doesn’t take away the fact he died standing up after announcing to the world that the One Piece is real. This guy even jumps off the mortal coil like a boss!

He may have been a quack doctor, but the dream of Chopper’s surrogate father was still a beautiful one; to cure the frozen hearts of the citizens of Drum Island with sakura petals despite the whole area being submerged in snow. Following on from their victory against the tyrant king Wapol, Hiriluk’s dream is finally made a reality thanks to Kureha and the Straw Hats, not only ushering in a new age of peace for the oppressed masses, but lighting up the whole island in cherry blossoms. Throw in Chopper crying his eyes out at such a scene, and you have a making of a fairy tale ending!

While this is a triumphant moment as opposed to a saddening one, it’s sure to get the waterworks going all the same. Right as she’s set to be dragged to the Gates of Justice for execution, Robin is shocked to see that the Straw Hats have invaded Enies Lobby to free her, even willing to openly declare war on the World Government for the sake of their friend. Utterly overcome that people would risk their lives for her, for the first time in her life Robin starts to value herself, screaming for her comrades that she wants to live and go out to sea with them.

Just when you’d thought the backstories of the big players in the modern pirate world couldn’t get any sadder, along comes the Surgeon of Death and his past that’s bound to break your heart into a million pieces. Having already lost his family to the terrible disease that had corrupted his body, Law was destined to die young…until his life was saved by the most unexpected of people – Doflamingo’s bumbling, inept brother, who developed such a deep friendship with the embittered Trafalgar boy that he was even willing to defy his brother and give his young charge the Op Op Fruit. This would spare him from the disease…but also lead to him forfeiting his life in the process.

Damn it Oda! It’s not enough that you make us cry over every major and minor character in your pirate pantheon, but now you’re making us cry our eyes out over a ship?! Of course, Merry was more than just a ship to the Straw Hat crew; it was the vessel that led them through thick and thin, and now they had to say goodbye. After being damaged beyond repair, Luffy and company hold a proper funeral for their silent companion, torching it at sea while grieving for it in their own way.

To this day, nothing has compared to the monumental loss that came from watching Luffy’s brother sacrifice his life. Just when it looked like the Straw Hat Captain and the allied pirates had succeeded in their mission of saving the beloved Fire Fist from his imminent demise, along comes Akainu to wreck everything. With his magma Devil Fruit proving to be stronger than even Ace’s flames, all Luffy can do is watch in horror as his brother takes the attack intended for him, the lava fist cutting through his body, leaving only enough life left in him for a final, heart-wrenching goodbye.