When Did One Piece TCG Come Out? The One Piece TCG Release Date

Did you know there’s a new way to enjoy the fantastic world of One Piece?

The One Piece TCG has burst onto the scene like a tidal wave, becoming an instant favorite of card collectors and manga fans.

Wait, when did One Pirce TCG come out, anyway?

The first set debuted in December of 2022. It didn’t take long after the One Piece TCG release date for it to explode in popularity. The game perfectly captures the infectious can-do attitude of Luffy and his crew with a unique set of mechanics.

You’ll learn all about the history of the One Piece TCG in this guide, including tips to help you start building a collection.

You can find all the One Piece card game essentials here at Danireon! As North America’s most reliable trading card store, we have singles, booster packs, and accessories from every set. You can also join our friendly Discord community to connect with other collectors.

Overview of the One Piece Trading Card Game (TCG)

When did One Piece TCG come out? We first saw pre-release materials, including promotional decks, in July 2022. But the first set, Romance Dawn, was released in December of 2022.

Since the One Piece TCG release date was announced, the hype surrounding the game has been enormous.

But if you look closely, it makes sense. One Piece has seen over 1000 Manga chapters and anime episodes released, along with merchandise, video games, and light novels.

With countless stories to tell, iconic characters, and memorable moments, a card game is the perfect way to tie everything together.

Introduction to the One Piece World

If you’re new to One Piece, you’re in for a treat!

Imagine a world where glory, adventure, and camaraderie are all found on the open seas. A place where all you need is a dream and friends along the way to find the treasures you seek!

This is the world creator Eiichiro Oda has designed for over two decades. The story's center revolves around Monkey D. Luffy, a pirate with a big grin and an even bigger dream–to become the King of Pirates.

As he navigates treacherous waters, a host of villains, and his comically bad ability to lie to others, he meets a colorful cast of characters with big dreams of their own.

Over 1000 chapters and episodes later, Luffy and his crew are still progressing through their adventure.

As you can imagine, with so much source material, there are plenty of iconic scenes to capture in the card game. When the One Piece TCG release date was first announced, card collectors and fans were excited to see how the setting would translate to a game, and the results blew away expectations.

Basic Gameplay Mechanics

The One Piece Card Game has an accessible floor while providing plenty of depth for seasoned card collectors to enjoy.

You start with a Leader card. You can think of them as your crew’s captain. These cards feature iconic characters from the series, like Enel, Boa Hancock, or Monkey.D.Luffy himself!

Each Leader card has at least one color, determining the color of your deck.

They play a similar role to Commanders in Magic: The Gathering. You aim to knock out your opponent’s leader while keeping yours safe.

To do this, you’ll be playing a host of other cards:

• Characters: Character cards are how you attack and defend in the game. Each character has a mana (or Don!!) cost in the top left corner.

• Events: One Piece keeps it simple, unlike other TCGs with several different support cards. Events are special actions that are played immediately and then discarded.

• Stages: Stage cards resemble Artifacts in MTG or Stadium cards in Pokémon TCG. They provide benefits and remain in play until they are removed.

• Don!!: Don!! Cards are the game’s form of mana or energy. Each turn, you draw 2 Don!! from your deck to the cost area, helping the game progress smoothly.

The strategic possibilities are endless. You can choose an all-out attack like Luffy, a tactical game plan like Robin, or go for pure chaos like Donquixote Donflamingo.

Since the game is so simple to pick up, especially if you’ve played other TCGs before, you’ll pull off exciting strategies quickly!

When Did One Piece TCG Come Out?

You now have the basics of the game, but when did One Piece TCG come out? The One Piece TCG release date was on December 2nd, 2022, outside of Japan, while there were promotional releases before that, starting in July 2022.

Just like Luffy’s Gear Second ability, the card game picked up instant steam. Stores could barely keep the cards on their shelves, leading to skyrocketing prices. Since then, the card game has seen 7 English set releases, with plenty more to come!

The Official Release Date

The One Piece card game has shaken the TCG world like an earthquake from Whitebeard. But when did One Piece TCG come out?

The game was released on December 2nd, 2022, to great fanfare in the global market.

Key Milestones Along the Way

Like Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates’ journey in the series, the TCG has gone on an adventure.

The card game had a previous iteration from Bandai back in 2001. While it didn’t have as explosive of a start as the current game, it set the foundation.

In 2022, Bandai announced they were launching a brand new version to plenty of excitement. They ran several pre-release events, including Demo Deck giveaways in July 2022. There was even a World Premier Event in Los Angeles in late November, which helped the hype build.

Since the One Piece TCG release date, there have been new seat releases, events, and official merchandise to keep the fun going. How many One Piece TCG sets are there, you may ask?

There have been 7 in the Western world, with 500 Years in the Future being the latest set. Japan is one set ahead, in case you’re like us and can’t wait to get your hands on the newest releases!

And with the release of the live-action One Piece on Netflix, excitement for the card game is only continuing to grow!

Future Releases to Watch Out For

There’s always a new expedition on the horizon in the One Piece world. The Western world is gearing up for OP-08 Two-Legends in September of 2024, which will see Silvers Rayleigh join the battle and new Whitebeard cards.

In late 2024 or early 2025, we’ll be getting OP-09, Four Emperors. If you want to harness the power of the world’s most powerful pirates, that set has precisely what you’re looking for.

Between those two, several new starter decks will be based around iconic characters like Donquixote Donflamingo, Uta, and Luffy.

With frequent releases, you know the card game is in great hands for the long run, so now is the perfect time to jump in!

Want to Get in On the Fun Yourself?

Luffy could not turn down the call to the open sea. And just like that call, we find the exciting world of the One Piece card game irresistible.

So how do you get started? From the first starter deck you ever grab to how to build your collection with the right card shop, we’ll cover everything you need to know.

How to Start Playing

Beginning your journey in the One Piece card game is easier than selling cotton candy to Chopper.

We recommend investing in a One Piece TCG starter deck. They come with 50 handpicked cards, a Leader card, and plenty of Don!! cards. If you aren’t sure which one to go with, choose your favorite character and have fun learning the mechanics from their perspective!

Take time to master the basics. Learn how it feels to play character cards and manage your mana while keeping your Leader safe. You can even buy 2 decks to play against yourself, which is affectionately called ‘goldfishing.’

But once you’ve gotten the basics, you should find a crew like Luffy. Visit your local game store, grab a friend (or three) to join the fun, or head to the Danireon Discord to talk shop with other players!

With enough practice, you’ll learn more about timing your attacks, managing your energy, and which stage cards work best for your strategy.

Building Your Collection

Starter decks are a great starting point for your One Piece TCG journey. Once you’ve gotten the hang of a particular playstyle, you should have a great idea of the cards you need to upgrade your deck.

We recommend opening One Piece TCG booster boxes and packs to find rare cards. These will open your deck to new strategies and help you flex your creative muscles.

You can also trade with other players or card shops. A duplicate card for someone else could be what you need to dominate the high seas!

When you grow your collection, we recommend investing in high-quality sleeves or binders to keep your hard-earned cards safe.

As the game continues to grow, keep your finger on the pulse of the community. Follow fan sites, social media pages, and communities to keep up with new releases, ban lists, and meta-shifts.

Perhaps most importantly, if you want to build a treasure hoard collection that even the Straw Hat Pirates would be jealous of, you must find a reliable card shop. Thankfully, you don’t have to search for long!

Get Started at Danireon Today!

Danireon is North America’s #1 trading card shop!

We founded our store to serve the Pokemon TCG community, quickly growing it as the most dependable source for singles, booster packs, and new releases.

So when the One Piece TCG was announced, we knew it would be a fantastic game for our community.

We stocked our shelves with One Piece TCG singles and One Piece TCG booster packs from the first OP-01 release, and the rest is history.

When you shop with us, our trusted reputation for authentic cards, speedy shipping, and friendly customer support will bring you peace of mind. Rather than trawling through Amazon or eBay for cards, you’ll find all the iconic characters, events, and stages you need here at our online store.

Our team loves discussing all things card games. Whether you want a recommendation on a starter deck based on previous games you’ve played, have questions about upcoming releases, or need some deckbuilding advice, we’re here to help!

And with our free Discord community, you’ll find a supportive and friendly community of collectors with whom you can enjoy the magic of the One Piece card game!

Final Thoughts on the One Piece TCG Release Date

So, when did One Piece TCG come out?

The game was teased in July of 2022 but wasn’t officially released until December 2nd of that year. Since then, the game has already seen 7 Western releases, with two more planned. The manga and anime versions have 1000 chapters, so there’s enough source material to last a lifetime.

And with the game’s easy-to-pick-up mechanics, now is the perfect time to join in the fun.

If you’re ready to set sail, Danireon has you covered. Browse our inventory for a starter deck or two, or join our free Discord community to learn more about the wonders of the game!