Every One Piece Card Game Starter Deck, Ranked

"I want to get into the One Piece Card Game, where should I start?"

"I'd probably suggest picking up one of the Starter Decks"

"Which one?"

"…Uh."

I hope you enjoyed that frame-perfect recollection of a conversation I had to endure over a coffee shortly after I started playing One Piece. It was incredibly awkward in the moment and I have no desire to do it again.

Every One Piece TCG Starter Deck, Ranked

As most of you know, I'm still relatively new to One Piece TCG myself. While I felt comfortable suggesting one of the various starter products to my locals, I truthfully had no idea which one would provide the easiest onboarding experience or best value for money (mostly because I'm the type of idiot who buys the entire list they want to begin playing with) so when I found myself on the receiving end of that all-important question, I ended up looking like a bit daft.

You don't have to do that. You get to look smart, thin and handsome instead — all thanks to this snazzy pocket guide to every single starter deck so far. We'll be taking immediate strength out of the box, important deck-defining cards and current price point into consideration alongside the ease of play for a brand new player to form a comprehensive tier list that you can lovingly ignore as you choose your favorite character anyway — at least I can say I tried!

Here's every single One Piece TCG starter deck, ranked.

#28 ST08 - Monkey.D.Luffy

Somebody has to be the bottom of the barrel. Statistically speaking, it was probably going to be one of the various Monkey.D.Luffy leaders because there's so darn many of them.

The sad truth is there's very little going for ST08 outside of an appearance from the Straw Hat protagonist. Nothing in reprint equity and a rather bland leader combine into a disappointing product that I can't honestly recommend.

There's much better black leaders further down the list. Heck, there's better black Monkey.D.Luffy leaders further down the list.

#27 ST09 - Yamato

It's a similar story for ST09 - Yamato. The leader isn't bad - it's just a little uninspired compared to other options now available in the meta. There's much better Yamato out there!

The yellow card pool was still extremely small when the deck released, which leaves it feeling like a jumbled up pile of cards from across different archetypes. The copies of Narikabura Arrow aren't enough to save this product alone and I'd encourage you to explore a different yellow leader unless Yamato is particularly exciting to you.

#26 ST05 - Shanks

The first starter deck to release following the initial four, the Film deck is dedicated to movie-specific characters and landed well with casual fans who enjoy that side of the hobby. Sadly, Shanks (ST05-001) offers an exceptionally narrow effect that doubled down on existing synergies in the Animal Kingdom Pirates deck... and did so worse and later on. That's not a good recipe for success.

If Purple {FILM} decks appeal to you, the starter deck is surprisingly reasonable. It contains a solid +2000 counter in Buena Festa (ST05 - 014) and a mixture of draw power and blocking capabilities with Gild Tesoro (ST05-006) and Uta (ST05-004). The main problem is that the deck's power level plateaus much faster than other starter decks; it's solid out of the box but won't be winning you any trophies later.

#25 ST06 - Absolute Justice

It pains me slightly to place this deck so low on the list, as it was the game's first foray into a brand new color and it successfully dodged the disjointedness of a small card pool. Unfortunately, that's also the problem - Sakazuki (ST06-001) helms an entirely-Navy themed deck that doesn't synergize well outside of itself.

It also doesn't help that the leader is vastly inferior to other black options outside of Navy, encouraging players to abandon the synergies of the deck shortly after learning to play. For what it's worth, the deck is very fun to play and does a solid job at showcasing exactly what black is all about in a beginner-friendly way.

#24 ST12 - Zoro and Sanji

This deck is just a bit of a mystery to me. It's not particularly weak but the play patterns of Zoro and Sanji (ST12-001) aren't intuitive or new player friendly. The primary partner for your leader ability is two-cost Sanji (ST12-011), who'll gain his +2000 bonus twice if you restand him and swing again. By picking up on-play abilities like Rika (ST12-007), you'll be getting value from both parts of the transaction.

I think this leader is exceptionally cool (if not a bit of a strange choice for the first dual color starter) but still doesn't feel like all the pieces are available to make it stand out from the crowd. Until then, it's hard to recommend a product with no clear upgrade path.

#23 ST03 - The Seven Warlords of The Sea

The first of the original starter decks to appear on this list, ST03 really hasn't aged well. It's the worst of the available mono-blue starters in terms of future potential and commands a higher price point on account of its scarcity. That said, Crocodile (ST03-001) is a bit of a beloved leader in the west and the deck does contain two copies of Love-Love Mellow (ST03-017), a card that routinely sells for over $10.

The deck also contains Dracule Mihawk (ST03-005) and Gecko Moria (ST03-004) for dedicated Warlord decks, which together create a compelling reason to pick up copies of ST03 if you can find them on the market for less than the copies of Love-Love Mellow inside.

#22 ST07 - Big Mom Pirates

Another deck that suffers slightly from being the first of its color, Charlotte Linlin (ST07-001) is almost solely responsible for helping this deck remain at a higher pedigree than ST06. The leader is not only new player friendly but occasionally makes a resurgence as a metagame player in Asia when Charlotte Katakuri (OP03-099) is poorly positioned.

Secretly, this is closer to a Homies starter deck than a Big Mom Pirates one, with Prometheus (ST07-013) and Zeus (ST07-011) providing redundancy in your ability to suit Charlotte Lillin up with a keyword and get to smashing. Banish remains the most terrifying keyword in One Piece so I'm happy to see it here.

Overall, the deck is playable out of the box and has a clear, concise upgrade plan. That helps to make it a great fit for any new player.

#21 ST16 - Uta

We're entering the portion of the list where these starter decks become defensible purchases. That's a huge testament to the strength of these products across the board but also most of the reason why ST16 lands so far down. As part of the most recent wave of releases, it's got some exceptionally solid reprints like New Genesis (ST11-004) and Backlight (ST11 - 003) but still revolves around ST11-001 Uta. You know, the leader from the objectively better starter deck?

Somehow, ST16 feels like a DLC to ST11. The original contains a number of essentials for FILM/Uta that just aren't present in the new update; Brook (OP02 - 040) and Monkey.D.Luffy (OP02-041) are among the primary standouts from back in OP02 that only appear in one of these decks and convince me that you're better off buying the older offering.

It's worth noting that a few of the new cards in ST16 are worth picking up in general (mainly Shanks ST16-004) so I wouldn't blame you for acquiring both Uta decks and smashing them together to get you started.

#20 ST01 - Straw Hat Crew

The deck that started it all, ST01 has aged surprisingly well in the wake of a million other starter decks. Diable Jambe (ST01-016) and Guard Point (ST01-014) are among the cards that still find a home in competitive decks from time to time… just be sure to tag out that Monkey.D.Luffy (ST01-001) for either Roronoa Zoro (OP01-001), Monkey.D.Luffy (ST21-001) or even Monkey.D. Dragon (OP07-001) before you begin. Sadly, he's the part of the deck that's aged the most.

This deck was a perfect instrument of its time; easy to play and simple to understand. Those are huge green flags for any new player-centric product and that's what ST01 needed to be. If that appeals to you, you've found your deck.

#19 ST02 - Worst Generation

I almost put this deck at number ten so I could make a joke about it being Middle Generation. Thankfully, that joke sounded worse when I woke up.

Eustass"Captain"Kid (ST02-001) used to have a reputation for being the default pre-release leader. He's solid, well-rounded and fits into a variety of game plans. Sadly, he's often left lacking in favor of a leader who directly supports your chosen synergy when you port that flexibility into the constructed format.

The actual composition of this deck is a huge win though. Jewelry Bonney (ST02-007), Scratchmen Apoo (ST02-008) and Capone"Gang"Bege (ST02-004) all find play in a variety of green leaders, helping to turn ST02 into a foundational building block for learning and building everything green.

#18 ST04 - Animal Kingdom Pirates

The last of the original four decks left standing, Kaido (ST04-001) is not only one of the most iconic characters across the entire franchise but was directly responsible for teaching the foundational play patterns of many a purple deck. With a handful of powerful Animal Kingdom Pirates synergies and an emphasis on DON!! reduction effects, ST04 was a great place to start.

Even better, the deck brought one of purple's original staples into the game in Queen (ST04-005). Between it and Kaido (ST04-003), you've got a handful of cards that are still played in most competitive purple decks to this day. ST04 provides a great mix of new player learning and forward potential and I highly recommend grabbing it if you can pick one up.

#17 ST14 - 3D2Y

I rank this deck a little higher than most on account of two factors: It was the first deck I ever played a game with and the signpost leader was arguably a top five deck back in the OP08.5 metagame.

I found the deck to be perfect for a new player experience - it's simple and far less clunky than something like ST06 - Absolute Justice - and highly rate the ability to stay with your first leader as your One Piece journey progresses. Sadly, the deck itself doesn't contain much that makes the cut at the highest level, with Sanji (ST14-003) being the sole survivor. As a result, you should expect to spend a decent chunk to eventually drive this deck to full power.

#16 ST21 - EX Gear 5

Starter Deck EX: Gear 5 marked the dawn of a new age in the One Piece TCG, serving as the spiritual successor to Starter Deck 1: Straw Hat Crew. It is designed to reinvigorate the iconic low to the ground, hit-fast-think-later gameplay of the original starter deck and that's perfect as an entry point. In my eyes, that's an incredible product — every player deserves a taste of the simplistic experience that got us all hooked regardless of when they started playing. 

Sadly, it's the same simplicity that leaves ST21 slightly lacking once your introduction is complete. Copies of Sanji (ST21-003) and Roronoa Zoro (ST21-015) will carry a little weight in other leaders, but most other cards are too synergistic to make the leap elsewhere. This product is a spectacular way to learn how to play, and that's all it ever needed to be.

#15 ST10 - The Three Captains

The Three Captains should be viewed as a premium product for learning how to play One Piece. It was released with three leader choices, a deck box and a snazzy set of foil DON!! cards as part of the "Ultra Deck" line, a pair of products designed to appeal to both new and existing players at a slightly higher price point.

Previously, this deck would have place much higher on my list due to the absurd amount of variety and learning opportunities it presents to a new player, but Trafalgar Law (ST10-001) proved to be far too powerful and has since been banned from the game. Two leaders to play around with is still a hefty endorsement alongside those bonus items but it's hard to mitigate the stigma of recommending something with a banned card in it.

#14 ST23 - Red Shanks

It's a little difficult to accurately place Shanks on a list like this. The leader has a proven track record of top tournament finishes since he released in OP09, but the starter deck doesn't do a great job of teaching that to a new player. Shanks is popular as both an aggressive and controlling leader, leading to a starter deck that feels like a bit of a mish-mash. Even worse, the new cards don't really feel like they belong in the deck!

ST23 does include some of the important framework for building Shanks, including Lucky.Roux (OP09-015) and Yassop (OP09-013) but nothing that would make me want to purchase the product over buying the singles I need. As a result, I'd recommend passing on this unless you want to learn to play alongside Shanks.

#13 ST20 - Charlotte Katakuri

It's no big surprise to see so many of the more recent Starter Decks positioned so highly on this list. They're stuffed with reprints to heavily bolster a preexisting leader alongside five brand new cards to give them a power jump to relevancy. Charlotte Katakuri (OP03-099) was already finding success as one of yellow's more appealing leaders before the starter deck and continues to garner demand in the wake of it.

The reason Charlotte Katakuri falls slightly short is because of how few of the cards typically convert into full-powered tournament winning deck lists. Charlotte Pudding (OP03-112) is a must-have for Big Mom Pirates decks and thankfully makes the cut, but the rest is a little lacking once you've learnt to play.

ST20 is a fantastic introduction to the power of yellow for new players joining the game right now but does need a little help to get itself to full power, landing it at number thirteen on my list.

#12 ST11 - Uta

There's not a ton to say here that wasn't discussed when talking about the newer counterpart to this deck, ST16 - Uta. I believe this deck is the superior of the two on account of how many OP02 all-stars find themselves reprinted inside - cards you'll need to acquire if you want to keep playing Uta (ST11-001)

ST11 also plays slightly better out of the box. I'd heavily consider grabbing both if you're able to do so and slapping in four Nami (OP02-036) to get your journey on the right track.

#11 ST13 - The Three Brothers

There was a time where this product was the undisputed king of starter decks, but times have slowly changed. It doesn't carry quite the same pedigree as it once did and some of the newer starter products are just that good. ST13 is the second "Ultra Deck" product, which causes it to come in at a slightly higher price point. In exchange, you get access to three potent leader choices - including ST13 - 003 Monkey.D.Luffy.

Luffy was the single best-performing leader in OP08.5 with 17 premier level wins and countless tops since it was released in April 2024, and remains a serious contender to this day. The deck is notoriously complicated, making it a tough fit for a new player but a rewarding payoff if you're willing to smash your head against the wall until it sticks. The other two leader offerings inside of ST13 also provide a sweet jumping off point for those looking to buy their time before tackling the dragon.

This product still offers fantastic value and will really reward those looking for a deck offering skill expression, but it certainly isn't the cleanest fit for everyone. If the idea of a difficult deck is off-putting to you, I'd encourage you to pursue one of our earlier choices instead.

#10 ST24 - Green Jewelry Bonney

I was overjoyed to see my beloved Jewelry Bonney receiving a starter deck... and then slightly disheartened by new support. Bonney is a deck that just plays all of the good green cards, how did we somehow end up with support that's better for other leaders?!

All jokes aside, this starter deck is a solid taste of everything green has to offer and helps to reach new players about opportunity windows and managing their resources. That said, it feels disjointed and unfocused out of the box because of the variety on display. I'll be picking this deck up for the copies of Kid & Killer (ST24-002) and Law & Bepo(ST24-004) but recommending something else to new players fresh out of the box.

#9 ST19 - Black Smoker

If I had a nickel for every mono-black starter deck leader that proved to be competitive once fully upgraded, I'd have three nickels. Which isn't a lot… but it's weird that it happened so consistently.

The story of Smoker (OP02-093) is awfully similar to that of ST14 Luffy. I'm awarding it a slightly higher slot on account of the deck being newer and more readily available, and both Sengoku (ST19-002) and Tashigi (ST19-003) hold a place as a firm four-of in tournament winning lists of the past - that's enough upside to edge out the other black leader.

The deck also contains Navy staples that should be very appealing to players hoping to pursue that archetype in the future, which also counts as a win in my book. Sakazuki (OP05-041) has recently returned to the format and can be a great upgrade path!

#8 ST22 - Ace and Newgate

Due to real world shenanigans, ST22 actually released after the wave of decks between ST23 - ST28 here in the west. While that didn't place the deck dead on arrival, it did mean that the format had grown past the expectations of Bandai by the time it hit game store shelves. Ace and Newgate (ST22-001) is a wonderful mix of the core gameplans of blue leaders: it's got utility, powerful combos and buckets of card draw. That makes it a great pickup if blue is just appealing to you in general. 

The deck is heavily focused on {Whitebeard Pirate} synergies, but it's a little guilty of jamming all the synergies into the same deck instead of supporting any given one. I Am Whitebeard!!(ST22-015) is incredibly powerful, but doesn't mesh well with non-newgate finishers. If you want to play ...I Will Make Whitebeard the King of the Pirates (OP12-058) from Legacy of the Master (OP12), it requires an entirely different cost curve. It's a shame that the two don't quite fit together as you'd hope. 

However, this product will improve with age. Carrying On His Will (OP13) contains a new Ace leader that loves many of the cards in this deck, including Kouzuki Oden (ST22-005), who is only available in this deck. If you're interested in getting ahead of the game for that leader, ST22 is a solid purchase. 

#7 ST25 - Blue Buggy

Buggy really struggled to find his footing when he first released in OP09, but it feels like this starter deck surgically studied his shortcomings and addressed them systematically. ST25 bolsters our favorite genius jester from the butt of the joke all the way to a serious metagame contender... which is really quite apt when you think about it.

Crocodile & Mihawk (ST25-003) is custom-card levels of strong for this leader and I can't see it ever falling out of favor. This deck is an utter blast to play out of the box, upgrades easily and has some serious potential at the tournament tables. It's hard not to consider that a home run.

#6 ST26 - Purple Black Luffy

There's just so many versions of Luffy to choose from!

I'm a really big fan of this deck. I think it's a phenomenal choice if you enjoy the idea of playing above-rate cards all the time and using your leader to mitigate their downsides. Even better, the deck is flush with some of the most important cards you'll need to build out this leader going forward: Gum-Gum Giant(OP09-078), Roronoa Zoro (OP09-076) and the shiny new Monkey.D.Luffy (ST26-005)(product-hover id="632778") all stand out as cards worth having. 

I just find the deck to be a little difficult to navigate for newer players straight out of the box, and the theoretical upgrade path for purple and black can prove to be quite expensive. If you're a well-versed TCG player or think you're up for a challenge, I'd point you in this direction.

#5 ST27 - Black Marshall.D.Teach

Truthfully, Blackbeard and Purple Black Luffy are incredibly close. Arguably interchangeable. Both products are fantastic launch platforms for anybody looking to make their way into an established archetype and that's absolutely fantastic. 

ST27 gets the edge based solely on my own personal perceptions of the leader. Blackbeard is a menace that I expect to remain a focal point of the One Piece TCG metagame for some time, and this product is the only place you can secure copies of Marshall.D.Teach (ST27-005). If you are the type to take satisfaction in sucking the joy from your opponent's eyes, look no further than Marshall.D.Teach.

#4 ST28 - Green Yellow Yamato

I want to put this deck higher on this list so darn badly. It's such a smart choice for a starter deck and I feel like the new support is actively strong. I just can't fault any of the other decks above this. That's how good this product line is!

ST28 breathes new life into Yamato (OP06-022) through additional benefactors of their DON!! movement effect and new ways to break through blockers and smash some heads. Kin'emon (ST28-003), Kouzuki Momonosuke (ST28-004) and Izo (ST28-002) all feel like slam dunk must-plays in the leader and that's exactly what I want to see from a leader. 

My only knockback here is that ST15 - Edward Newgate feels like a simpler aggressive shell with better long-term value if you move to a different leader. That's the only tiebreaker. If you love Yamato or want to dip your toes into green and yellow, this is a great buy.

#3 ST15 - Edward Newgate

Ah, the iconic Edward Newgate. He was once the most feared leader in the entirety of One Piece, dominating tournaments like nothing we'd ever seen. While the age of the Whitebeard Pirates might be over for now, there's no telling when they might rise again.

Edward Newgate is probably my perfect example of how to do a starter deck for someone who has never previously played a TCG. Powerful. Punchy. Simple. You're immediately rewarded for understanding the one thing your deck does well and you'll feel like you're improving each time you play. It also doesn't hurt that Edward.Newgate (ST15-002) has been a certifiable powerhouse in a number of red leaders since release. ST15 gets my vote for any player brand new to TCGs and isn't yet worried about what they'll do later on.

#2 ST17 - Donquixote Doflamingo

We've reached the "Starter Decks I Immediately Bought Myself" category. If you thought that a starter deck reinvigorating a previous leader to a position of power was impressive, what would you think of a leader from the very first set becoming arguably the best deck in the game off the back of a starter product?

That's what happened with ST17. Buggy (ST17-003), Marshall D.Teach (ST17-005), Trafalgar Law (ST17-002) and Boa Hancock (ST17-004) raised this leader from the ashes and have helped to solidify Donquixote Doflamingo (OP01-060) as one of the decks to watch. The deck has a very low floor and a surprisingly high ceiling, turning it into the perfect pathway for a player looking to focus on solely one deck.

It may not be the undisputed top deck of the format any more, but Donquixote Doflamingo (ST17) remains an impressive pick up to begin your One Piece journey.  

#1 ST18 - Monkey.D. Luffy

Monkey. D. Luffy (OP05-060) has been a relatively consistent contender at the top tables since he released, but this starter deck provided an unbelievable wave of support that has helped purple Luffy leaders since the product released. 

Uso-Hachi (ST18-001), Zoro-Juurou (ST18-004), O-Nami (ST18-002) and San-Gorou (ST18-003) have all completely redefined this strategy and see play universally alongside this leader at the biggest events in the world, and these cards are only available inside of this starter deck. As a result, they're worth a healthy chunk of change even if Luffy isn't the right leader for you. Honestly, I haven't seen a deck with this level of financial EV in a long time. 

Purple Luffy can take a little bit of practice to understand the nuance but the deck is incredibly fun and has a long shelf life. I feel comfortable encouraging you to buy two copies and enjoy the experience they'll offer. It just upscales incredibly well into any other Purple leader that catches your fancy. 

Closing Thoughts

Whoa, that's a whole lotta decks. Hopefully, you're less confused by their existence now. I'll try to keep this article updated as new starter decks make their way into the game so you've always got a reasonable reference point in regard to how they stack up against the competition.

Need further help? No problem. Pop me a message at @HowlingMines on X (formerly Twitter) or @howlingmines.com over on Bluesky and I'll look to take care of you. Alternatively, give my other work here on TCGplayer a peek for another slice of everything nice about your favorite card game.

But until next time, 

I've been HowlingMines, you've been amazing.

Stay safe out there — and happy gaming!