The Sky Island arc was one of the longest and most riveting stories of the One Piece universe. It followed Luffy and the Straw Hat Crew's ascension into the clouds, where they sought to prove the legendary city of gold's existence and plunder the riches therein.
However, their mission did not go unopposed. God Eneru, his priest minions, and even the indigenous Shandorian warriors all fought against the heroes during their foray into the Upper Yard. The best fights of the Sky Island arc can truly shed a light on the storytelling genius behind it.
10 Luffy, Usopp, & Sanji Teamed Up To Defeat Satori
Satori was the guardian of the ordeal of spheres and arguably the weakest of Eneru's four priests. However, his precognitive ability (then referred to as Mantra) allowed him to predict the attacks of his enemies and rendered the man a more difficult adversary than his corpulent form might suggest.
Moreover, he has demonstrated a resistance to the backlash of impact dials, allowing him to employ it repeatedly against Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji. Ultimately, the cook would only be able to defeat him after his captain paralyzed his body by entrapping it in his elongated Gum-Gum limbs.
9 Wypur & Gan Fall Brought Down Shura
Shura flew on a winged beast and could emit jettisons of fire from his lance. They were devastating enough to obliterate the Going Merry, nearly ruining her beyond repair.
While Gan Fall may not have been able to defeat him through his own aerial prowess, Wyper succeeded where he failed. By overlapping impact dials and delivering a brutal compression to the villain's chest, Shura was slain in a single hit. It was an excellent demonstration of the Shandorian leader's ability despite his absence of Devil Fruit powers.
8 Zoro Used Creativity To Defeat Braham
Though much of Sky Island's conflict was against Eneru's forces, the Straw Hats and Shandorians clashed on several occasions. One of the memorable battles was between Zoro and Braham, a gunslinger who used blinding lights to disorient melee attackers.
By provoking the Shandorian and compelling him to come closer, Zoro was able to cut his adversary down after dodging dozens of bullets. It illustrated his adaptability in battle and the fact that he relies on more than brute strength and speed in order to find victory.
7 Zoro & Wypur's Battle Royale Against Ohm Was Multifaceted & Intense
Ohm was a treacherous opponent for the massive hound at his disposal. After surrounding his arena in impregnable barbed wire, it became a battle royale between all parties caught within his barrier (including Wyper, Zoro, himself, and even a giant snake).
Fortunately, the swordsman was victorious despite the villain's versatile metal attacks. Should he have failed, Roronoa would have forfeited more than his own life — Chopper would have also succumbed to his wounds from his previous battle with Gedatsu. Bizarrely, Zoro would discover that as well trained as Ohm's dog Holy may have been, he answered the commands of any who addressed him.
6 Chopper Single-Handedly Defeated Gedatsu
Gedatsu was Eneru's swamp priest and a man capable of conjuring noxious poison clouds. Despite Chopper's appalling failure against Shura, he was able to defeat his latest opponent through an ambitious application of his many forms.
While his punches were not powerful enough to knock the villain unconscious outright, they did submerge him beneath the clouds. Unable to pull himself free, Gedatsu would gradually vanish beneath the surface and was pacified for the rest of the arc.
5 Wyper's Fight Against Luffy Was A Battle Between Leaders
Wyper's battle against Luffy portrayed both leaders in a positive light. While the Straw Hat captain was initially able to deflect the barrage of traditional cannonballs that the Shandorian launched at him, he could not defend against his energy beams.
Despite the ferocity both combatants displayed, their fight would be interrupted, and neither of them dealt grievous harm to their opponent. This would allow both warriors to concentrate their full attention on bringing down Eneru — they each had their chance, but with varying success.
4 Nami Proved Herself Against Hotor & Kotori
Hotori and Kotori were the brothers of Satori, the priest who had been slain by the Straw Hats early into their foray of Upper Yard. Understanding their opponents' superior power, they ambushed Nami and Gan Fall aboard the Going Merry, hoping to capitalize on the wounds Eneru had dealt to Sanji and Usopp to finish their victims off.
However, Nami was able to defeat them through ingenuity, alertness, and the power of the impact dial. It was a brilliant display of the navigator's prowess and a rare instance where she saved crewmates more powerful than herself.
3 Nico Robin's Fight Against Yama Was Her First Meaningful Contribution To The Crew
Yama was the enormous commander of Eneru's forces and an inexorable juggernaut. He used his body weight as a weapon, crashing through the forest and destroying priceless artifacts that Nico Robin hoped to study.
Despite her diminutive stature and strength, she was able to defeat him through intelligence and the power of her Devil Fruit. By placing arms around his neck, she snapped it before hurling him off of a steep cliff. Yama was the first difficult opponent that Robin defeated by herself in service to the Straw Hats.
2 Eneru Had An Epic Battle Against An Unlikely Coalition
Once Eneru's "game" neared its conclusion, the only four participants left were Roronoa Zoro, Nico Robin, Wyper, and Gan Fall (with Nami cowering behind the ruins). Despite the God's unique physiology, the Shandorian was able to damage him by using a modified impact dial (since it harnessed the power of the sea, which Devil Fruits are naturally vulnerable to).
Much to the group's horror, this would be insufficient in overcoming their mutual adversary. By electrifying his body with timed shocks, Eneru was able to revive himself and eradicate his enemies with little effort.
1 Luffy Was The Only One Capable Of Defeating Eneru
Capable of reaching up to two hundred million volts, Eneru's raw power was unmatched by every other person in Sky Island. However, since Luffy's body is made of rubber, he provided the perfect counter to the villain's otherwise unbeatable body (especially since he could physically harm him).
While Monkey may have struggled to overcome the God on account of his heat-based attacks and gold manipulation, he eventually rode up Giant Jack with Nami, leaping from the sky and delivering the finishing blow with the large bauble attached to his arm. His victory saved all of Skypiea and earned the captain a large sum of treasure for his aid.
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