‘One Piece’ Ends the Year With Its Highest-Rated Episode Ever on IMDb
Few anime have endured as long as ‘One Piece,’ and even fewer continue to improve with age. The Toei Animation series has surpassed 1,100 episodes and consistently attracts passionate audiences each week. This extensive history makes the latest milestone of ‘One Piece’ achieving its highest-rated episode particularly significant.
The series has always been a target for both admiration and controversy online. Review-bombing has been a recurring issue, with rival fandoms inundating episodes with negative ratings. This made a perfect score a rare achievement for fans.
The final episode of the year premiered with an IMDb rating of 9.9/10, marking it as the highest-rated episode in the series. This episode, Episode 1180, titled “Elbaph in Despair – Diabolical Covenant, ‘Domi Reversi,’” aired on September 27. The post garnered over 41,000 views within hours.
To put this in context, some of the most acclaimed episodes sit just below this rating. The episode that adapts the manga’s 1000th chapter has a score of 9.8 on IMDb, while the climactic battle between Luffy and Kaido, “Believe in Momo,” holds a 9.5.
It’s important to note that early ratings can fluctuate. A previous report indicated that none of the show’s episodes had achieved a stable 9.9, with episodes 377 and 1136 rated at 9.8. It also mentioned that several episodes initially reached 9.9 before settling lower due to varied user feedback.
Thus, the 9.9 for Episode 1180 is a debut score and may change as more votes are cast. Nevertheless, such a high launch rating speaks volumes about fan reactions.
The episode continues the fallout from Imu’s takeover of Gunko, leaving the Giants of Elbaph in a more desperate situation than fans anticipated. It concludes the first season of the Elbaph Arc, stopping right as Imu appears after taking control of Saint Manmeyer Gunko, just as she is about to recall her life with Brook. One reviewer noted that the episode illustrates what happens when Imu stops observing from a distance and takes action.
The ‘Domi Reversi’ sequence stands out as a highlight. The reviewer described it as the moment when the episode becomes genuinely unsettling, praising the eerie visuals surrounding Imu. The transformation of Dorry and Brogy also adds emotional depth to the episode.
The cliffhanger is intentionally grim. The Straw Hats are separated from the main battlefield, Gaban has fallen into the Underworld, and the children remain trapped. Imu is openly discussing breaking Elbaph’s spirit.
Even the closing card received a creative touch. In a nod to Imu’s Domi Reversi, the ‘To Be Continued’ screen is initially displayed in negative space before flipping back to normal. It’s the kind of subtle detail that fans love to analyze.
The Elbaph Arc began on April 5 as the 22nd season of the anime and has run for 21 episodes thus far. It follows the Egghead arc, which spanned 67 episodes from January 2024 through late December 2025. Together, they have propelled the series through a significant stretch of the final saga.
Viewers have commended how distinct this segment feels compared to earlier battles in Elbaph. The tone has shifted toward dread, and the show has embraced that change. This may explain why fans were so eager to rate it highly.
The bittersweet aspect is that this achievement signifies the end of the road for now. ‘One Piece’ confirmed on social media that Episode 1180 is the finale for the year, with the anime set to return in 2027. No specific date has been announced.
This leaves fans with a lengthy period of speculation. With the arc paused on such a tense note, theories regarding Imu, Gunko, and the fate of Elbaph will likely dominate discussions. The series has a knack for turning a pause into an event.
For now, the rating serves as a reminder of how deeply the series resonates with its audience. A score this high, even if it eventually changes, demonstrates that anticipation remains as strong as ever.
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