10 Epic Zoro Moments Every Anime Fan Should Know (2024)

WARNING: SPOILERS FOR ONE PIECE WANO ARC

One Piece's Zoro has undoubtedly become one of anime's most iconic swordsmen, largely due to his most epic moments throughout the long-running anime. After becoming Luffy's first crewmate, he and the Straw Hat Crew have grown considerably in strength and prestige through the thousand-plus episodes released so far. Zoro's biggest accomplishments have put him on the path to reaching his dream and gaining the admiration of millions of fans worldwide.

Despite his tough and direct nature, Roronoa Zoro is a much deeper One Piece character than many fans realize. The tragedies in his past have shown him pain he never wants to feel again, while his loyalty pushes him to the heights of becoming one of the world's greatest swordsmen. Readers have yet to experience his triumphant rematch against Dracule Mihawk, but these past accomplishments are a sign that Zoro is well on his way to unseating One Piece's strongest swordsmen.

10 Proving His Worst Generation Supremacy Against Killer In Wano

Took Place in One Piece Episode #934

In Wano's first act, Zoro's clash with the also lost First Mate of the Kid Pirates and the recent victim of Kaido's cruel imprisonment, Killer, was by total accident. With the fellow Worst Generation Pirate always wearing a mask, there was little chance that Zoro would have recognized his opponent. However, after taking a scythe through the shoulder, Zoro decided it was time to end the battle in stunning fashion.

The fight was indeed more than each Pirate bargained for, but it was to be expected when two fighters with bounties worth hundreds of millions of berries each clashed. Despite not having access to his usual weaponry, Killer was able to push and even injure Zoro, but one particularly well-animated Oni Giri attack using the scythe that impaled him as a weapon put a decisive end to the fight and provided one of Wano's greatest moments.

9 Luffy And Zoro Punch Through Mother Nature

Took Place in One Piece Episode #257

Enies Lobby is considered the best arc of One Piece for many valid reasons. Robin's tragic story and the Straw Hat's dedication to save her provided a lot of emotional, poignant moments, but a towering tidal wave nearly derailed the train carrying most of Luffy's crew. The Franky Family allies tried to create an impact with canons to split the wave, but their explosive weapons failed to measure up to the joint attack of Luffy and Zoro.

When the sea train started to tilt up, Luffy casually addresses Zoro to follow him while asking for advice on what to call their upcoming joint attack. Just as the wave is about to engulf them, the might of Luffy and Zoro's Gum-Gum 300 Caliber Cannon attack blasted a huge tunnel-shaped hole through the wave, opening up a path to the government facility holding Robin.

8 Sliced The Will Of An Uncuttable Foe

Took Place in One Piece Episode #617

Slicing through stone and steel is impressive but not helpful against Logia Devil Fruit users who can transform their bodies into non-solid elements. Characters like Crocodile and Captain Smoker are immune to standard physical attacks, and Caesar Clown's assistant, Monet, was no different with her Snow-Fruit powers. However, that didn't stop Zoro from breaking her will to fight with one of the series' best displays of intimidation during the Punk Hazard arc.

A few Straw Hats have learned to use One Piece's mysterious Haki powers that unlock several helpful uses, including being able to damage Logia Devil Fruit users. Monet's Snow Logia powers allowed her to reform herself. However, after Zoro demonstrated his ability to cut her physical body and cleaved her in half without using Haki, the fear Zoro instilled in her broke her. She knew he could have easily ended her life if he chose to.

7 Peaked The Interest Of The World's Greatest Swordsmen

Took Place in One Piece Episode #24

Despite Zoro's extreme strength and confidence, he's earned several injuries, especially during his most decisive loss. That confidence was shattered along with two of Zoro's katanas reasonably early in his journey as a Straw Hat pirate. Dracule Mihawk was the first Warlord of the Sea One Piece revealed, and it was an introduction that proved to Zoro, Luffy, and the audience how big the world was and how much the protagonists would need to grow to accomplish their dreams.

Zoro's dream of becoming the world's greatest swordsman led him to gain a high level of notoriety in East Blue's seas, but it wasn't enough to land a single attack on Mihawk. Zoro's determination and honor code stirred something in Mihawk that spurred a curiosity in him that let the young Straw Hats leave with their lives, a curiosity to see how much the seedling pirates would bloom in the future.

6 Cutting Down A Man Of Steel

Took Place in One Piece Episode #119

The Alabasta arc introduced villains that no average person could defeat, even on their luckiest day. While the criminal organization Baroque Works leader had his sandy hands full with Luffy, Zoro had to deal with the second strongest member, Mr. 1, aka Daz Bonez. His Devil Fruit made him a Full-Body Bladed Human and hard as steel.

Zoro's brute strength and technique had seemingly met their match against the opponent who could form steel blades from anywhere on his body. However, in what is arguably one of the first displays of Haki in One Piece, Zoro was able to cut through the formidable Devil Fruit power in one of Alabasta's best battles, despite being covered in blood and not fully understanding the skill he'd awakened.

5 When Nothing Happened Against Kuma On Thriller Bark

Nothing Took Place in One Piece Episodes #376 - #377

It took nearly everything the young Straw Hat pirate crew had to triumph in Thriller Bark against the Zombie Giant Oars and the Shadow-using Warlord of the Sea Moria. This made it all that more terrifying when an even stronger Warlord arrived to take Luffy's head, something an exhausted Zoro would not allow. It was a very intense encounter at the time, but it had a completely different context added when One Piece explained Kuma's life and timeline later on.

The end of Zoro's confrontation with Kuma is a fan favorite moment for many, but it often overshadows the incredible battle the swordsman put up against the overwhelming foe. Zoro contributed significantly to the defeats of Moria's strongest zombies, meaning that he survived against Kuma without his full strength. The fight leads to the perfect conclusion for the character and proves that Zoro is willing to put nearly any burden on himself to keep his friends, even Sanji, alive.

4 Three Thousand Worlds Versus An Admiral's Meteor

Took Place in One Piece: Stampede Movie

Many One Piece movie releases range from delivering outrageously silly situations to stunningly epic moments. The action-packed One Piece: Stampede brought together many characters Luffy and his crew have encountered in the past, including a few of the most powerful swordsmen who couldn't help but cross swords with Zoro. However, one particularly strong Marine Admiral threw much more than just his swordsmanship at the Three Sword Style user.

Zoro's clash with the blind Admiral resulted in Fujitora using his gravity-manipulating powers to summon a colossal meteor, providing Zoro with yet another opportunity to test his ability to cut anything. He did just that and successfully cut the island-destroying rock into two giant pieces that would have still killed hundreds of pirates and marines if Mihawk had not been there to obliterate what Zoro could not.

3 The Beast Pirate's King Falls To Zoro's Blades

Took Place in One Piece Episode #1062

One Piece's anticipated Wano arc proved to be entirely worth it with the many incredible reveals and battles, especially during The Raid of Onigashima. Even after sustaining brutal injuries against Big Mom and Kaido, Zoro was not done impressing fans in the samurai-centric arc. After accepting a risky serum with painful side effects, the Straw Hat jumped back into the fight, where Kaido's strongest supporter waited to join him.

King's backstory revealed that he was one of the last remaining Lunarians who were once known for their extreme strength, impossibly durable bodies, and ability to create fire. He was all that and more when he spawned a considerable Dragon-sized threat for Zoro and helped create one of One Piece's best episodes. While the fight brings Zoro closer to death than ever, he discovers the small window through which King can take damage to earn what might be his flashiest win yet.

2 Zoro Halves A Mountain Sized Foe

Took Place in One Piece Episode #719

Zoro's consistent desire to test himself and his ability to cut anything came to a head during the Dressrosa arc when a mountain-sized foe presented itself, and all the aspiring swordsman could do was smile and do what was needed. Doflamingo's mighty crew consisted of wacky but dangerously powerful pirates. Still, all were dwarfed by Pica, the Rock-Fruit user who could control stone to create ginormous versions of himself made of hard stone.

Pica's ability proved to be incredibly troublesome for several characters trapped on Dressrosa. Despite the colossal squeaky-voiced Pica's consistent hiding, shifting of the environments, and throwing mountain-sized punches, they all fell to pieces under Zoro's might, especially with his Three Thousand Worlds sword technique that halved Pica's most significant attack.

1 Deflecting Kaido and Big Mom's Joint Attack On Top Onigashima

Took Place in One Piece Episode #1025

Several of Zoro's most epic One Piece moments display overwhelming strength combined with narrative significance. The series has yet to have a moment more grand and satisfying than when Zoro single-handedly deflected the joint attack of two Pirate Emperors, among the most powerful attacks fans have seen. If he'd failed, the most promising Worst Generation members would have fallen to the overwhelming might of the past generation that overstayed their welcome.

Kaido and Big Mom ruled their domains with an iron fist of fear, requiring brilliant tactics and Luffy's broken Devil Fruit powers to conquer. With the combined might of the cruel Pirate Emperor's Haki, their Ocean Sovereignty attack had enough force to melt the ground before them and split the sky open after Zoro tanked the blast and reflected it into the clouds with his own energy. It was a tactic that left Zoro a broken and exhausted mess, but it surpassed all his past accomplishments.

Source: Crunchyroll (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), Briaraptor, Animedoon, Movie & Series Clips/ YouTube

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One Piece

One Piece chronicles the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, an easy-going young pirate with the power to stretch like rubber, gained from eating a Devil Fruit. Luffy and his diverse crew sail across the Grand Line in search of the ultimate treasure, the One Piece, to become the Pirate King.