There is a general consensus that new islands/arcs bring new opponents that are stronger than the SHs and in the final fights the SHs surpass these opponents and become stronger. This view is based on general anime progression of power levels of the main cast. In OP though this is not a hard and fast rule, while the opponents are hyped up they are not necessarily stronger than the SHs. In many of the arcs if you put the opponents and the SHs against each other in fresh state there is a good chance that the SHs will turn out to be actually stronger.
For example throughout East Blue there is no villain that is stronger than the SHs (Usopp the exception). Even in Sanji vs Gin Sanji was already pretty hurt beforehand. Not until Alabasta do we get enemies that require Luffy and Zoro to surpass themselves midfight. Luffy needed three rounds against Croc and Zoro had to learn haki to cut steel. Sanji if not for the cheap tricks would have beaten Mr.2 easier. As much as EL is appreciated in the fandom in terms of power level progression it is one of the worst. From getting ragdolled to beating the opponents high-ext diff the SHs make the most astounding jumps in terms of strength in the time span of an overnight train journey. This begs the question that were the SHs really that behind their opponents?
For example throughout East Blue there is no villain that is stronger than the SHs (Usopp the exception). Even in Sanji vs Gin Sanji was already pretty hurt beforehand. Not until Alabasta do we get enemies that require Luffy and Zoro to surpass themselves midfight. Luffy needed three rounds against Croc and Zoro had to learn haki to cut steel. Sanji if not for the cheap tricks would have beaten Mr.2 easier. As much as EL is appreciated in the fandom in terms of power level progression it is one of the worst. From getting ragdolled to beating the opponents high-ext diff the SHs make the most astounding jumps in terms of strength in the time span of an overnight train journey. This begs the question that were the SHs really that behind their opponents?
