The Best One Piece Trading Card Game Instructions for Complete Newbies

Fans of trading card games (TCGs) who are also interested in One Piece will find a lot to like about the One Piece Card Game. It was announced in December 2022 that pre-orders for the decks of this TCG, which was developed by Carddass and licensed by Shueisha, would be available.

Since there are only two players in a game of One Piece Card Game, each player takes their turn simultaneously. Veterans of other trading card games will have no trouble picking up the rules and the general gameplay.

Though the official website provides a comprehensive rule manual, TCG newbies may still find it difficult to grasp the game’s nuances.

All you newbies out there who want to play the One Piece Trading Card Game need look no further; I have put together a comprehensive beginner’s guide so you can dive right in and have a good time without having to worry about the rules.

Card types in One Piece Card Game

Every player has a maximum hand size of 61 cards (10 Don!! Cards + 1 Leader Card).

This card is the “Leader” of the deck. Once it has been successfully attacked five times, the game is over. When a Leader Card is used to attack another Leader Card or a rested Character Card, it does not take damage itself.

A character card is a playable card that can attack, apply effects, trigger impacts, and counter other character cards or leaders.

These cards don’t actually attack, but instead provide benefits to your deck in the form of stat boosts and other effects through what are known as “Event” or “Stage” effects.

Don!! Cards: Don!! It is possible to use some cards to trigger effects in other cards. Like money, these cards have to be spent in order to trigger other cards’ effects.

Prepare for the One Piece Card Game

Before starting to play, check that everything is where it should be. Make sure your deck is properly shuffled before placing it in the deck area. To claim the leadership position, simply place your card in the leader position with the face up.

Then, add five cards to the Character Area via random draw. After that, shuffle the deck and draw five more cards to add to your Life total. The health gauge will appear here. When you’re done, your Don! Deck Area will have 10 of your cards added to it.

The Rules for One Piece Card Game

1. You must pay the associated fee for each card’s use. You can see the price in the card’s upper-right corner. For example, a cost of 1 indicates that only 1 active Don!! Card is being used.
2. More than four cards with the same number cannot be included in your deck.
3. Adding a Don!! Card to a card increases its effectiveness.
4. The color of the leader card determines the color of the rest of the deck. In a deck with a red Leader Card, the blue cards are inaccessible.

5. If both you and your competitor have simultaneous effects, the one whose turn it is at the time will trigger first.

6. It is not possible to attack your opponent’s cards on their first turn.

7. During your turn, a character cannot make attacks.

8. Before the game begins, you have the option of shuffling your five character cards again.

9. The effects and stages of a card can only be used once before they are permanently removed from play.

10. If a character card is K’O’d while holding a Don!! Card, the Don!! Card is returned to the cost area in a rested condition.

Playing the One Piece Card Game

There are five phases to each turn in One Piece TCG. The phases are the Refresh Phase, the Draw Phase, the Don!! Phase, the Main Phase, and the End Phase. To decide who goes first, play Rock-Paper-Scissors.

We’ll use Player A and Player B as illustrations in order to clarify the gameplay. Due to Player A’s victory in Rock, Paper, Scissors, they will go first. My explanation of the rules will be presented in the form of a mock match in which each player takes a turn.

First round: Player A

1. Both the Refresh Phase and the Draw Phase are skipped on the first turn. Since it is their first turn in the match, they will instead begin with the Don!! Phase and draw one Don!! Card. They’ll add the card’s price to the appropriate slot.

2. In this turn, Player A will play a Character Card into the Character Area. Resting the Don!! Card prevents its use during the same turn. No more turns for them.

First round: Player B

1. Even though it’s Player B’s turn, they’ll be skipping the Refresh Phase and instead drawing a single Character Card. They now have a total of 6 Character Cards, instead of the 5 they started with.

2. And then they take a double-draw of Don!! Cards. They can “rest” these cards in order to set down a Character Card in the designated space.

Second round: Player A

1. Finally, in this turn, Player A can enter Refresh Phase. All of the cards that were put to rest become “active” at this point. These cards can be played this turn for attacks, effects, or card draws.
2. During the Draw Phase, Player A draws one card, and during the Don!! Phase, Player A draws two cards.
3. Finally, in the Main Phase, Player A can launch an attack against the character. They’ll put down the Leader or Character Card they’re currently using and go after the opponent’s leader or a rested character. You win if your card’s power is equal to or greater than your opponent’s card.
4. Once a character card has been “trashed,” meaning it has been defeated, it can no longer be used. When a Leader Card is attacked, one card is removed from their Life Area and placed into their hand.

Second round: Player B

1. All of Player B’s actions during the Refresh, Draw, and Don!! Phase mirror those of Player A’s.
2. As Player B attempts to attack, Player A can use the effects and counters on their own Character Cards, Event Cards, and Stage Cards to fend off the attack. The power of your opponent’s cards can be increased with the help of an Event or Stage Card.

The game ends when either your Life total or your opponent’s Life total reaches 0, whichever comes first. Whoever has the most cards or lives remaining wins.

One Piece

Eiichiro Oda is the creator of the Japanese manga series One Piece. Since the 22nd of July, 1997, it has been serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shnen Jump.

Gol D. Roger is the Pirate King because he owns everything in this universe. At the top of the tower, he uttered his last words: “My treasures? I’ll give it to you if that’s what you want. Have a look around; I dropped everything off there. Many people, inspired by these words, took to the seas in pursuit of their dreams, sailing westward toward the Grand Line in the hope of finding One Piece. Therein marked the start of a brand new era!

Also on the hunt for One Piece and the fame and fortune that come with it is a young man named Monkey D. Luffy. This journey will be one for the record books thanks to his eclectic crew of swordsmen, marksmen, navigators, cooks, doctors, archaeologists, and a cyborg-shipwright.