this is going to be such a predictable list:

1. Water 7/Enies Lobby: ok basic answer but there's so many good character moments that somehow all come together, it's insane. robin's arc makes me cry, usopp's arc makes me cry, and every strawhat involved has their own unique tragic reaction to those driving conflicts. a tapestry of character-motivated bad decisions.

2. whole cake island! look. im a huge reiju fan. a huge sanji fan. a huge lusan fan. the build up and tension of the luffy vs sanji fight is so good, especially with how it really pushes sanji into this desperate show of violence and cruelty that luffy immediately sees through, until sanji is forced to admit what he wants. very good. it's like my dream hurt/comfort fic, the right mix of conflict, emotional catharsis, and of course sanji crying.

3. baratie: i kept going back and forth between baratie and skypeia, but i love sanji's intro lol. i go back to it a lot because sanji's short temper and violence contrasted with kindness is very endearing as an introduction, as is just the ever-present idea he has that he can sacrifice his own life as a way of repaying other peoples' kindness. then the zoro and sanji give up your stupid dreams bit. thumbs up

shout out to skypeia, alabasta, and long ring long land, though. love those too.