5 Powerful Pirates from the One Piece Card Game

The One Piece Card Game is the newest TCG in town, but it's proving extremely popular. One reason why is the evocative feeling of playing the cards, with many of the iconic pirates from the manga and anime receiving spot-on representation in the game. While many TCGs promise gameplay that feels like a power trip, One Piece succeeds at letting you harness the power of some of the coolest characters in all media.

Here, I'll highlight some of the most powerful pirates you can bring to the table.

#5 Dracule Mihawk

Removal attached to a large body is powerful in most TCGs, and One Piece is no exception. Mihawk drops in, takes away one of the opponent's best cards, and then represents a 9000 power threat!

The one-two punch of removal and a potentially game-ending threat is one that some decks just won't be able to recover from, making Dracule my first pick if I'm playing blue.

#4 Roronoa Zoro

Three cost, 5000 power, that can immediately attack. That's all upside. While Zoro isn't splashy like essentially everything else on this list, he is perfectly positioned to excel in an aggressive deck, and aggression is one of the best ways to play One Piece.

Zoro is one of the most memorable characters from the series overall, helping to bump up his position on the list, but if you like winning as quickly as possible, then you need a playset of Zoro.

#3 Monkey D. Luffy

One of the strongest strategies in the One Piece Card Game is pure aggression. The late game is full of cards like the last two pirates on this list, but if you can close out the game before they matter, then things are that much more likely to go your way.

Luffy is great at doing exactly that, coming down early and then letting you utilize your DON!! deck from jump. Finishing the game with an aggressive burst can be surprisingly easy with this protagonist's help.

#2 Shanks

It's not at all surprising to see one of the Four Emperors in this list, but Shanks isn't just the fan-favorite who gave Luffy his iconic hat. No, in the TCG he's also a massive beater that can potentially be unblockable—which, admittedly, he should be as a 9-cost card.

If you're looking for a sudden way to end the game, Shanks is one of the best possible picks, and I would definitely recommend him if you're looking for a straightforward finisher for your deck.

#1 Kaido

My own bias (and my love for the Animal Kingdom characters as a whole) may be shining through here, but there is something just supremely satisfying about playing Kaido. The One Piece Card Game is currently lacking in mass removal options, but Kaido can return a handful of DON!! cards to the deck and remove the rest of the field, setting you up to do some serious damage with Kaido himself.

I really enjoy that kind of haymaker play, and in that regard, you'll find essentially nothing that feels as powerful as Kaido.