One Piece Card Game: Everything a Beginner Should Know About Bandai’s TCG
George Giannoulidis - 17 April 2024
We can safely say that 2023 was an exciting year for the One Piece universe. But let’s start from the beginning. It was March 7, 2022, when Bandai announced that a brand new One Piece trading card game would be released. The One Piece community had been waiting for this moment for years and the news was greeted with excitement.
About nine months later, on December 2, 2022, the first booster set, Romance Dawn, was released.
At the same time as this first release, players got their hands on the game's first starter decks, and the rest is history. In 2023 the foundation was laid for one of the most popular and successful TCGs of our time.
In this blog post, you will learn everything you need to know about the One Piece Card Game. We will start with an overview of the game, explain its rules and products, and talk about the game's learning curve for beginners. By the end of this read, you will also know some basics about the One Piece TCG competitive scene, the current meta, and card collectability.
What is the One Piece Card Game? An Overview
The One Piece Card Game, published by Bandai, debuted on December 2, 2022, with its first booster set, Romance Dawn, marking the beginning of an exciting journey for fans of the beloved manga and anime series. Since then, the game has rapidly gained popularity and acclaim within the gaming community. With a total of six sets released so far, the game has evolved to offer diverse gameplay experiences and an expanding pool of cards.
Driven by its captivating gameplay mechanics and immersive theme, the One Piece Card Game has quickly captured the hearts of players worldwide. Its success can be attributed to its faithful adaptation of the source material, strategic depth, and engaging gameplay, making it a must-have for both fans of the series and trading card game enthusiasts alike.
The game's popularity has soared, with dedicated communities forming around the world to discuss strategies, share deck builds, and organize events. From casual gatherings to competitive tournaments, the One Piece Card Game offers a vibrant and dynamic gaming experience for players of all skill levels.
As we delve deeper into the world of the One Piece Card Game, we'll explore its expansions, card types, gameplay mechanics, and competitive scene, providing you with everything you need to embark on your own One Piece adventure.
So, gather your crew, hoist the sails, and prepare to set sail for epic battles and thrilling adventures in the world of One Piece!
One Piece TCG: Available Expansions
Just like most of the popular TCGs on the market, One Piece is releasing a new booster set every 3 months. As mentioned above, One Piece Card Game has already released six core sets. These are:
One Piece TCG available booster sets (updated - April 2024):
1. Romance Dawn (OP-01) - Release Date: December 2, 2022
2. Paramount War (OP-02) - Release Date: March 10, 2023
3. Pillars of Strength (OP-03) - Release Date: June 30, 2023
4. Kingdoms of Intrigue (OP-04) - Release Date: September 22, 2023
5. Awakening of the New Era (OP-05) - Release Date: December 8, 2023
6. Wings of the Captain (OP-06) - Release Date: March 15, 2024
Of course, these releases were only the core set releases the game offered during this period. Alongside these releases, we’ve seen multiple other official One Piece products by Bandai.
From starter decks and playmats, to deck boxes, binders and sleeves, the company fully supports its game with exciting releases for beginner and experienced players alike. In less than a month, we will also receive the very first extra booster set, the Memorial Collection (EB-01)!
One Piece TCG: Card Types, Rarities, and Illustrations
One Piece TCG showcases stunning artwork depicting characters, scenes, and moments from the beloved anime and manga series. The illustrations capture the essence of the One Piece universe, immersing players in its rich and vibrant world as they engage in exciting card battles.
As for the card types, there are 5 different types in One Piece Card Game:
1. Leader Cards
In the One Piece Card Game, every player must possess a Leader card. Leader cards play a crucial role, as the color of your Leader also determines the colors of cards you can play in your deck. Each Leader card can be associated with one or two colors, indicated by a highlighted hex in the bottom left corner.
Placed face up in the Leader area of the play field, Leader cards remain there throughout the game. Your leader features unique abilities, certain life values, and varying power levels, which are all displayed on the card.
Your leader's life points are a critical factor in gameplay. Successfully attacking an opponent's Leader, when they have no life cards left to draw, is one of the victory conditions in the One Piece Card Game.
2. Character Cards
In the One Piece Card Game, character cards serve as the primary means of offense and defense. Unlike leader cards, character cards display the cost required to bring them into play in the top left corner. You can pay this cost with DON!! Cards (see below).
Another distinguishing feature of the character cards is the notation of the card type directly above the name of the card, which provides several visual clues to differentiate the card types. As mentioned above, the color of the cards in your deck must match the color(s) of your leader.
For example, if your leader is red, you may only use red cards. If your leader is red and green, you can include any combination of red and green cards in your deck. Characters are your main means of attacking or protecting against your opponent's characters or leader.
3. Event Cards
Event cards represent unique actions or abilities that you activate from your hand and then discard. Think of these cards like the trainer cards in Pokemon TCG or the support cards in MTG.
Similar to character cards, events have their own costs and colors. They can therefore only be played if you have the necessary DON!! cards and cover their cost. In addition, as with characters, event cards must match the color of your leader to be included in your deck.
4. Stage Cards
Stage cards, akin to Stadium cards in Pokemon, can be played directly from your hand, similar to Event cards. However, once played, they persist until removed by a card effect or replaced by another Stage card. Positioned adjacent to Leader cards, Stage cards offer a range of effects that benefit their owner.
Like other cards with abilities, Stage card effects trigger at specific times during a turn. For instance, "On Play" abilities activate when the Stage card is played, "Activate Main" abilities can be used during your Main Phase, and "End of Your Turn" abilities are activated at the conclusion of your turn, after all other actions have been completed.
5. DON!! Cards
DON!! cards play a pivotal role in the One Piece Card Game, and provide a versatile source of power and utility.
Just like lands in Magic: The Gathering, DON!! cards are also used to pay the cost of other cards so that they can enter the field (characters, events, stages). But that’s not the only thing DON!! cards do.
At the same time, dons can be paid to activate a card’s ability or to give a card +1000 power for its next attack. Assigning a DON!! card to a character or leader is very simple: Choose an active, non-rested DON!! card from your cost area and place it under the target card.
At the start of each round, two DON!! cards are replenished from the DON!! deck to the cost area, ensuring that the game runs smoothly.
One Piece Card Game: Card Rarity
As with all trading card games, One Piece has multiple rarities that of course show how difficult it is to pull the card and thus determine its value. To find out the rarity of each card, all you have to do is take a look at the bottom right corner. There you will find the serial number of the card and, in a small rectangle, its rarity.
There are currently 6 different rarity levels for One Piece cards: Common (C), Uncommon (UC), Rare (R), Super Rare (SR), Secret Rare (SEC) and Leader (L). There is another rarity, the Promotional (P) cards, which cannot be drawn from a pack but are only available as part of a promotion. These are the standard rarities of the game. Still, One Piece has two more “hidden” rarities…
Some cards from each set are also available in Alternate Art (AA) form. These holofoil versions of standard cards are extremely rare to come by and are usually the crown jewels of each set. Finally, we have the SP (Special Art) cards. Some sets offer a unique “thematic" rarity. In OP03, for example, we had a beautiful “WANTED” design for our favorite One Piece character cards.
How to Play One Piece - Documentation and Sources
From the day One Piece was launched by Bandai, the company has also published extended documentation for new players to understand and enjoy the game. To learn how to play the game, you have 3 basic options:
1. Read the basic rules of the game - Official One Piece Card Game website (HERE)
2. Watch the official guide and learn how to play the One Piece Card Game (HERE)
3. Download the teaching app for beginners - Official One Piece TCG app (HERE)
Alternatively, TCGs have always been one of the best ways to socialize. You can, therefore, learn the game from other, more experienced players. This is usually a smart and fun solution. Local tournaments like those hosted by Black Flame Collectibles in Thessaloniki, are always beginner-friendly. In such events, players are more than happy to teach you how to play the game.
If on the other hand, you prefer to go to such events prepared, you can start by visiting the links provided above. Once you’re familiar with the basic rules of the game, you can start building your deck. Deck building in One Piece is fairly easy.
Before you start building your deck, you can always have a look at platforms and websites that analyze the current One Piece meta and showcase the best decks. Some of the most comprehensive websites for this are Limitless and One Piece Top Decks.
One Piece TCG: Best Products for Beginners
To begin your journey into the One Piece Card Game, you can opt for one of the available starter decks, which are the best choice for those new to the game. These pre-built decks provide a ready-to-play experience that allows you to quickly familiarize yourself with the rules and mechanics of the game. The starter decks are ideal for casual play with friends in the first few weeks and offer an easy introduction to the world of One Piece TCG.
Once you have gained confidence and are ready to improve your gameplay, booster packs become invaluable. As mentioned earlier, these packs contain additional cards that can be added to your deck to increase its strength and versatility. If you want to dive deeper into the game and compete in more challenging battles, booster packs give you the opportunity to refine and optimize your deck for success.
Let your One Piece Adventure Start Today
We hope this guide provides everything you need to know before entering the world of One Piece Card Game. With its unique gameplay, diverse strategies, and enthusiastic community, One Piece TCG promises endless excitement and adventure for players of all levels.
At BFC, we're dedicated to providing you with the best One Piece products at unbeatable prices, ensuring that your gaming experience is both enjoyable and affordable.
Additionally, don't miss out on our upcoming official events, including weekly locals starting from May 2024. There, you won’t only win awesome prizes, but you will also engage with fellow fans and showcase your skills on the battlefield. Your One Piece adventure awaits – seize it today!
For the latest updates on our One Piece events and offerings, make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
FAQ
Is One Piece TCG Successful?
Absolutely! With its engaging gameplay and rich lore, the ONE PIECE TCG has garnered a strong following and continues to thrive in the TCG community.
When Did One Piece Card Game Launch?
The One Piece Card Game was launched on December 2, 2022.
Who Created One Piece TCG?
One Piece Card Game was created by Bandai, a renowned Japanese company known for its production of other popular collectible card games like Dragonball and Digimon.
Is One Piece Card Game Available Online?
Yes, the ONE PIECE Card Game is available online, as Bandai has developed a teaching app for beginners. The app is available for iOS and Android devices.