An Introduction to the One Piece Card Game
The One Piece Card Game, released by Bandai and licensed by Shueisha, launched in Japan in July 2022 and came to the rest of the world in December 2022. It’s a two-player trading card game that’s already making waves among TCG fans and anime enthusiasts alike.
What makes it special?
Instead of borrowing from familiar systems like mana or energy, One Piece does things a bit differently. You build your deck around a Leader card - the centerpiece that determines which colors of cards you can use. Each leader belongs to one or two colors. For example, a mono-red Luffy leader lets you only include red cards, while a dual-color leader offers more options but usually comes with a lower life total. The closest resemblance we have to this in card games is Magic: The Gatherings Commander format - though One Pieces leader mechanic is distinct from this.
Instead of using resource cards that clog your main deck, One Piece uses a separate DON!! deck of 10 cards. You gain DON!! each turn (up to a maximum of 10), and they serve as both the game’s resource currency and optional power-boosters when attached to characters.
What’s in Your Deck?
Your main deck contains exactly 50 cards, not counting the Leader or DON!! cards. It can include:
- Character cards – Your fighters on the field
- Event cards – One-off effects similar to spells
- Stage cards – Ongoing effects; only one can be active at a time
You can include up to four copies of any card, and all cards must match your Leader’s color(s).
Playing the Game: Turn Structure & Victory
Each turn follows a familiar rhythm:
- Refresh Phase: Ready your rested cards.
- Draw Phase: Draw one card (the very first player skips this on the opening turn).
- DON!! Phase: Add DON!! cards from your DON!! deck (1 on the first turn, 2 per turn after that).
- Main Phase: Play Characters and Stages by paying their costs with DON!!, launch attacks, or use Event cards.
- End Phase: Pass the turn to your opponent.
To attack, you rest (tap) your character or Leader and target either your opponent’s Leader or a rested character. If your attacking power is higher, opposing characters are knocked out. If you land a direct hit on the Leader, they take damage by removing a card from their “Life” pile. Once that pile is empty, one more hit ends the game.
Players can also counter incoming attacks by discarding cards with “counter” abilities to temporarily boost power and defend against hits.
You win by reducing your opponent’s Leader’s Life to zero and landing one final attack, or if they run out of cards in their deck.
Expansions and Collectability
Like many trading card games, One Piece releases new content regularly - typically four sets per year - alongside starter decks, extra boosters, and premium sets.
Cards are labeled with set codes to help collectors and players organize. Examples include:
- ST (Starter Decks)
- OP (Main Booster Sets, e.g., OP-01)
- EB (Extra Boosters)
- PR or PRB (Promotional Cards)
Why It’s Worth Checking Out
This game is quickly becoming a favorite in the TCG community. Its mechanics are beginner-friendly yet full of strategic depth. The DON!! system streamlines resource management, allowing you to focus on gameplay rather than worrying about drawing the right cards to play. Plus, the vibrant organized-play scene -from casual “Pirates Party” events to full-blown championship tournaments, makes it easy to find a community and start competing.
If you're a fan of One Piece, a seasoned card gamer, or just looking for something fresh, the One Piece Card Game is definitely worth a look.
Are you ready to set sail for the One Piece? or are you wanting to do a bit more exploring first - You may also like:
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