# The 12 Greatest Anime Story Arcs of All Time

> Long wars, short tragedies, and the run that ruined everyone's evening. Vote for the one that hooked you.

*By YPB Team · Published August 21, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-12-greatest-anime-story-arcs-of-all-time*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Yorknew City (Hunter x Hunter)** — score 1000/1000
   Hunter x Hunter's auction heist, and the arc that made the Phantom Troupe.
2. **Buu Saga (Dragon Ball Z)** — score 912/1000
   Dragon Ball Z's last run, fusion dances and a Spirit Bomb from the whole planet.
3. **Return to Shiganshina (Attack on Titan)** — score 879/1000
   Attack on Titan's season three finale and the answer in the basement.
4. **Frieza Saga (Dragon Ball Z)** — score 809/1000
   Dragon Ball Z on Namek, five minutes that lasted a season and produced the first Super Saiyan.
5. **Chimera Ant Arc (Hunter x Hunter)** — score 789/1000
   Hunter x Hunter's long, bleak masterpiece about what the strong owe the weak.
6. **Pain's Assault (Naruto Shippuden)** — score 684/1000
   Naruto Shippuden's destruction of the Leaf Village and its most complete arc.
7. **Soul Society Arc (Bleach)** — score 684/1000
   Bleach's rescue mission, still the run every fan points newcomers to.
8. **The Promised Day (Fullmetal Alchemist)** — score 560/1000
   Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood's convergence of every plot thread at once.
9. **Wano Country (One Piece)** — score 559/1000
   One Piece's samurai epic, the longest arc in the series.
10. **Enies Lobby (One Piece)** — score 410/1000
   One Piece's declaration of war on the World Government, and the Merry's farewell.
11. **Entertainment District Arc (Demon Slayer)** — score 410/1000
   Demon Slayer's Ufotable showcase and the Upper Moon Six fight.
12. **Shibuya Incident (Jujutsu Kaisen)** — score 228/1000
   Jujutsu Kaisen's Halloween catastrophe, where the series stopped being fun.

Tags: animation, japan, classics, all-time