The hit anime JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is based on one of the longest-running manga franchises out there, penned by famed author Hirohiko Araki. This is the tale of the heroic Joestar family, and its multi-generational quest to fight the forces of evil. It begins in the Victorian era, when the musclebound gentleman Jonathan Joestar and his allies embark on a quest to slay Jonathan's foster brother turned vampire, Dio Brando. 50 years later, his grandson Joseph Joestar clashes with the ancient Aztec Pillar Men on the eve of World War II.
Fast forward another 50 years, and now Jotaro Kujo and his stand-using allies are on a quest to travel to Egypt and destroy DIO for all time before Holly Joestar succumbs to DIO's deadly influence. This third arc, Stardust Crusaders, is arguably the most iconic and popular in the anime. Which ten episodes of Stardust Crusaders did fans enjoy the most, according to IMDb viewer ratings?
10 Episode 34: "D'Arby the Gambler, Part 1" (8.4)
After fighting many battles in Singapore, Hong King, India, and more, Jotaro Kujo's gang arrives in Egypt at long last to hunt down DIO. But there are many more villainous stand users in the way, and one of them is the aristocratic gambler D'Arby!
With his stand Osiris, he can claim the soul of anyone who loses to him in a game of chance. Polnareff and Joseph try their luck, only to end up the victims of this insidious stand. Now it may come down to Jotaro Kujo to save the day, and this episode ends on a real nail-biter of a cliffhanger.
9 Episode 11: "The Emperor and the Hanged Man, Part 2" (8.4)
Most of the Stardust Crusaders episodes on this list take place near the end of this arc, but episode 11 is an exception. The streets are running red with blood as two of DIO's deadliest stand users clash with Polnareff, Avdol, and Kakyoin.
In the last episode, Avdol took a bullet for Polnareff, and now our heroes are grieving while fighting for their lives against a master gunslinger and a mirror-based assassin. How can they possibly stand up this dual threat and make it out of India alive?!
8 Episode 42: "The Miasma of the Void, Vanilla Ice, Part 1" (8.4)
This episode, like most on this list, takes place during the final stretch of the battle against DIO, when the stakes are through the roof and all stands are on full blast. In this tense episode, two battles are taking place.
On one hand, Jotaro has entered the video game battle against the younger D'Arby brother, and his simulated baseball skills are really something to behold. Elsewhere, the deadly stand known as Cream advances on Avdol and Polnareff, threatening to devour them completely in a void!
7 Episode 35: "D'Arby the Gambler, Part 2" (8.6)
Fans loved the high-stakes gambling battle so much, they ranked both episodes of it in the top 10 episodes of Stardust Crusaders. Picking up right where the previous episode ended, Jotaro takes a seat and prepares to gamble with human souls to defeat D'Arby.
Both gamblers are using every trick up their sleeve, both physical and mental, and D'Arby soon realizes that he's not up against any ordinary high schooler. Still, D'Arby is a master gambler for a reason, and even an innocent boy nearby may be part of the scheme...
6 Episode 44: "The Miasma of the Void, Vanilla Ice, Part 3" (8.6)
We now return to witness the next phase of battle against the deadly stand Cream! Iggy's stand The Fool saves Polnareff's life, but it may be too late for this dog to survive the battle. Polanreff takes it upon himself to take down Vanilla Ice, and he soon finds a way to do just that.
Hint: Vanilla Ice is a vampire, and doesn't quite realize it. Later, Jotaro and the others come upon a petite vampire with an extra face on the back of his head, practically right outside DIO's bedroom door.
5 Episode 45: "DIO's World, Part 1" (8.7)
The final battle against the vampire overlord DIO is a long and bloody one, and fans were thrilled the entire time. It begins with part 1, and in this episode, Polnareff is the first hero to realize that DIO's stand power is truly beyond comprehension.
The heroes come face to face with DIO sooner than expected, and they flee out a window to avoid DIO's home turf advantage. But the sun has set, and DIO can walk freely. Now, the heroes are desperately trying to form a plan, and Kakyoin, upon realizing that The World is a close-range fighter, has a sudden idea.
4 Episode 43: "The Miasma of the Void, Vanilla Ice, Part 2" (8.7)
Polnareff and Iggy's battle against Vanilla Ice was a real showdown, and all three episodes of this battle ended up on this list. Here, in the battle's middle, Vanilla Ice shows what he is truly capable of. He has a huge advantage over both Iggy and Polnareff, and not even a sand decoy of DIO (courtesy of Iggy) fools him for long.
Vanilla Ice shows his brutal side and beats Iggy nearly to death, and when Polnareff injures him, Vanilla Ice injures him right back with the power of his stand, Cream. The episode ends on a dark note, with both Polnareff and Iggy facing imminent doom!
3 Episode 46: "DIO's World, Part 2" (8.9)
The titanic struggle against DIO dominates the rest of the list, and interestingly, the last three episodes will be in chronological order as well as ratings order. Now, as the battle in downtown Cairo heats up, Kakyoin bravely stands up to DIO and confronts him with Hierophant Green's power.
DIO proves his superiority, but Kakyoin, even in defeat, deduces The World's Power and warns Joseph about its nature. Joseph sustains a serious wound once DIO freezes time with The World, and angered by this, Jotaro prepares to duel the vampire himself. There's nothing left to lose!
2 Episode 47: "DIO's World, Part 3" (9.0)
So far, DIO and his minions have carved a bloody swath through Jotaro's group of six crusaders, and Jotaro has had just about enough. Now, he and DIO clash stand to stand, and Jotaro strains to keep up with The World's hard-hitting punches.
DIO keeps freezing time, until Jotaro slowly starts to develop an immunity by returning the favor! Not even a stab to the chest can put Jotaro down, and Jotaro plays dead long enough for DIO to turn his back. At this moment, Jotaro strikes back and nearly kills DIO for good, but the vampire lord has one more card to play...
1 Episode 48: "Long Journey Farewell, My Friends" (9.0)
Here we are, at the final and best-rated episode of Stardust Crusaders. DIO has pushed himself to the limits of power, assuming a new form as he fully assimilates the body of Jonathan Joestar. He and Jotaro clash once again, and Jotaro finds himself on the back foot in the face of such strength.
Finally, Jotaro finds a way out of this, and he destroyed DIO for good. The sun rises just in time, and DIO's remains are turned to ashes as the survivors make their way home. It's been a long journey, and much was lost. But another generation of Joestars is ready to fight evil once the dust settles...