One Piece - Every MVP Arcs of Sanji

Sanji is one of the best-written characters in One Piece, who was born in a royal ‘Vinsmoke’ family but infamously called the ‘Black Leg of the Strawhats.’ Sanji was born in North Blue and was raised and introduced in East Blue as a chef in the Sea Restaurant, Baratie. Sanji is the fourth member to join the Strawhats crew as the ship’s cook who grows strong enough to be the lefthand man of the future King of the Pirates.

Sanji plays a crucial role in every arc of One Piece, resulting in him being the MVP of many arcs in the storyline. Sanji is a fierce character who uses kick-based martial arts for combat. From introducing him as a mere cook to revealing him as one of the Germa, his character development improves in every arc.

1. Mr Prince - The Saviour of Arabasta Kingdom Arc

In the Arabasta having Crocodile one of the Warlords of the Sea as the opponent, Luffy, and Zoro act recklessly and get captured themselves by Crocodile in a prison made of Sea Prism Stone also putting their crewmates Ussop and Nami get caught.

Luffy, most of the crewmates, and Princess Vivi get caught up. Sanji, as Mr.Prince, shows up at a classy entry to save his crewmates with a well-planned strategy, something that his captain and vice-captain always lack. Sanji rescues his crew by distracting Crocodile, kickstarting the Arabasta Arc further.

“Me…I’m Mr.Prince.”

2. Sanji hijacks the Puffing Tom to Save Robin - Water Seven Arc

In the Water 7 Arc, CP9 agents arrive at the Capital to capture Robin with the condition of letting Strawhats escape if she surrenders herself. Sanji all alone hijacks the Puffing Tom, the Sea train that carries the captured Robin and Franky with CP9 agents and Marines that departs to Ennies Lobby. Sanji gives a fair fight to the CP9 assassins along with Ussop who fakes himself as Sogeking who sneaks into the Sea train.

“When a woman lies…. a real man forgives her”

3. Sanji the Saviour of Nami - Skypiea Arc

In their fight with Enel in the Skypiea Arc, Sanji sacrifices himself to save Nami and asks Ussop to take her away from Enel’s flying ship to protect her from the lightning. Sanji takes all the lightning attacks from Eneru as a decoy to let his crew escape. At the same time, Sanji wrecks the machines of the ship making it unable to fly further.

“I Don’t Care If You’re A God. If You Lay Even One Finger On Nami-san, I’ll Become The Devil Of The Blue Sea!”

4. Sanji’s Sacrifice with a smile for his crew - Zou Island

On Zou Island, a part of the Mugiwara crew – Sanji, Nami, Brook, and Chopper will be chased by Gang Bege, one of the worst generation pirates. This arc brings out the real identity of Sanji he biologically belongs to Germa 66 and is a son of the Vinsmoke family. Germa 66 is at once an army of the Germa Kingdom and a prison Underworld mercenary group controlled by the senior Vinsmoke bloodline. Sanji sacrifices himself and leaves the crew to save his crewmembers and people at Baratie who cannot battle against a Yonko, Big Mom. He agrees to stop being a pirate and marry the daughter of Big Mom to form a military alliance between Big Mom pirates and Germa 66. Sanji was ready to accept his most hated biological clan and his father to save his friends.

“I’ve gotta go see a woman. I’ll be back. “

5. Sanji’s cry for his Captain - Whole Cake Island

After learning what has happened in Zou from Nami, Luffy comes to take back his crewmember from Wholecake Island. They both try to stop the marriage and take back Sanji but get betrayed by Pudding. Even Sanji is not ready to rejoin the crew and accepts that this is his fate and fights back his captain to show his denial. But Luffy waited for Sanji by starving to death that he would never eat anything other than what the Cook of his ship prepared. Sanji had tears in his eyes when Luffy claimed how much he fights him, at the end it’s Sanji who gets hurt and says that he will never become the King of Pirates without Sanji. Sanji tolerated getting bullied by the Germa 66, taunted by Big Mom pirates, and fought with his captain, eventually sacrificing his life in order to save his loved ones.

“I wanna go back to the Sunny.”

6. Black Leg Sanji of the Strawhats - Wano Kuni Arc

Sanji played a crucial role in the Wano Arc by defeating Queen the Plague, one of the powerful lieutenant of Kaido and a cyborg. In his battle with Queen, Sanji unlocks the Germa’s superhuman ability which is something that he never wanted to happen. Between the path of being the strongest with Germa powers – the Vinsmoke Sanji or being the kindest one – the Black Leg Sanji of the Strawhats, he chooses the path that keeps him closer to his crew. He defied the Germa suit and defeated Queen with his power as Black Leg Sanji. At the beginning of this battle, he asks Zoro to kill him if he turns out to be an inhumane Germa after the duel.