Best One Piece starter deck: ST decks ranked for new UK players

For most new UK players, our pick for the best One Piece starter deck is ST-31 Red Monkey.D.Luffy: it is a straightforward mono-red aggro deck, so you learn the core attack-and-DON!! rhythm without juggling complicated effects. If you would rather out-think than out-punch, ST-33 Blue Kuzan is the gentlest route into control. The ranking below is our opinion, based on how easy each deck is to pick up and how well it holds up in casual play.

This guide is only about choosing a deck. If you have never played, start with our how to play the One Piece Card Game guide, and for sets, English vs Japanese and the wider UK scene see the One Piece Card Game UK guide.

What comes in a One Piece starter deck?

Everything one player needs for a game. According to Bandai's official product pages, each deck in the ST-31 to ST-36 wave contains a 51-card constructed deck (your Leader plus a legal 50-card deck), ten DON!! cards, a playsheet and a bonus OP-16 The Time of Battle booster pack. Two different starters make a complete two-player setup, which is the cheapest way to learn with a friend or a child. The December decks, ST-37 and ST-38, swap the booster for a small 3-card bonus pack and carry a higher US MSRP of $16.99.

Which One Piece starter deck is best for a beginner?

In our opinion, the simpler the plan, the better the first deck. Here is how we would rank the current wave for a brand-new player, using Bandai's own descriptions of each deck's style:

Luffy tops the list because aggro teaches the fundamentals honestly: attach DON!!, swing, and learn when your opponent's blockers and counters change the maths. Zoro is a close second for the same reason. The midrange decks ask you to switch between attacking and defending, and the two control decks reward planning several turns ahead, which is satisfying once you know the rules but can feel slow in your first few games.

Which starter deck is strongest out of the box?

Honestly, they are closer than the ranking suggests. Starter decks are designed to be playable against each other, and we have not seen reliable data separating them at casual level, so treat any "strongest" claim with caution, including ours. Our view is that the midrange decks, Sabo and Kid, tend to be the most forgiving in mixed play because they have options whichever way a game goes. The control decks, Kuzan and Katakuri, typically improve most once you add cards from boosters, as control relies on having the right answer at the right time.

Which colour suits which kind of player?

Pick by temperament first and favourite character second, as you will play a deck you enjoy far more often. As a broad guide:

• Red (Luffy) suits players who like to attack every turn and keep things simple.
• Green (Zoro) suits players who like tempo and big battles, with a little more board management than red.
• Red/Black (Sabo) suits players who want aggression with tools for removing the opponent's Characters.
• Yellow (Kid) suits players who like balanced decks that can defend as well as attack.
• Blue (Kuzan) suits patient players who enjoy controlling the board and the pace of the game.
• Purple (Katakuri) suits planners who like seeing ahead and setting up longer turns.

If two of you are starting together, we would pair a fast deck with a slower one, such as Luffy against Kuzan, so each player sees a different side of the game.

What should you buy after your first starter deck?

A second starter for a friend is the best value next step, followed by booster packs from recent sets to upgrade your favourite deck. The OP-16 pack inside each starter is a decent taste of what boosters add. From there, sets such as the OP-17 The World's Strongest Warriors booster box suit players ready to build properly, and our OP-18 release guide covers what is coming next. You can browse everything we carry in the One Piece Card Game collection at Iconic Trading Cards, and new products appear on our pre-orders page as soon as they can be ordered.

Where can you buy One Piece starter decks in the UK?

Starter decks are sold by UK local game stores and online retailers, and stock tends to move quickly around each wave's release. Iconic Trading Cards lists One Piece sealed product as it arrives; UK sealed delivery is £3.95, and pre-orders are dispatched on or around the official release date. If a starter you want is not listed, it is worth checking back near the next wave, as availability varies.