It’s been just over two years (July 2022) since the original release of the One Piece Trading Card Game (TCG). Between then and now, the product has experienced a very strong and faithful player base enjoying the product and competition it has brought.
A few days ago, Bandai officially announced a set rotation that will be implemented for the One Piece TCG next year (2026).
Set Rotation System
Since its original debut, the One Piece TCG card pool has been ever-expanding. Now Bandai is looking to the future and the product’s continued health and accessibility.
According to their announcement, Bandai has implemented a block number system for their products. This means that the many different cards are categorized under different groupings or “blocks”.
A “block” is indicated on a card's bottom right; you'll see a number inside a fruit-shaped symbol. Once April 2026 rolls around, Bandai will enforce that all cards with a block number of 1 will be forbidden from tournament use.
This pattern will then move forward the next year (2027) as cards from block number 2 will be added to the outlawed cards. This pattern will continue until the One Piece TCG reaches the end of its lifespan, whenever that may be.
From this, Bandai is effectively limiting the card pool to about three (3) years' worth of product. This makes it a little easier for newcomers to the game as they wouldn’t have to worry about acquiring strong, competitive staples from the older expansion sets.
Reprinting cards
On that note, it looks like Bandai is trying to cover all of its bases. As part of their explanation, Bandai mentions that any card from a forbidden block group can return to legal status should said card be reprinted in a newer set with a new block number.
Admittedly, this may come off as more of a ‘band-aid’ maneuver. Bandai is essentially telling their players to hold onto these older copies as they may be reprinted in a new set and become tournament legal once again one day.
Bandai Implementing Two Formats
Part of Bandai’s announcement was the introduction of two formats to the One Piece TCG: Standard Regulation and Extra Regulation.
The Standard Regulation format will feature the block number system above. The Extra Regulation format is more or less Bandai’s take on an eternal format where all cards will be available for use.
Reading Bandai’s announcement, it appears more details about the Extra Regulation format will need to be ironed out. Subsequently, players interested in this format should stay tuned for more information down the line.
The future of the One Piece TCG?
The topic of a set rotation comes with both pros and cons. While no means an exhaustive list, we can see the good a set rotation can bring to a TCG.
For one, a set rotation can help mitigate long-term power creep due to unforeseen combinations. The Yu-G-Oh! TCG, for instance, has demonstrated time and time again how one or two cards can be supremely overpowered because of how they interact with an older product.
On top of this, it's also a benefit to give players more options. This helps players across different interest levels engage with the product the way they want to. So long as there are enough players to go around between formats, this can be a major boon.
In an ideal world, the Standard Regulation’s more limited card pool will promote less complexity. Meanwhile, the Extra Regulation format can scratch that itch for players who want to experiment with all their tools.
That said, there are some arguments to be had for the other side. Competitive players who just want to use their cards can end up being alienated. On top of this, having multiple formats doesn't necessarily stop power creep in its tracks. The Extra Regulation format will still need new toys, too, after all.
Even if Bandai does manage to keep a lid on power creep, that won't stop broken cards and combos from existing. After all, even innocuous cards can come together at times to create truly devastating results.
Last, but by no means least, is the bitter pill of player burnout. Each product released is now on a timer. The constant need to keep up-to-date, to make sure your deck is not outlawed, can easily turn away a dedicated fan from the product.
For now, it’s a little early to tell if this system really is good for the longevity of the One Piece TCG. But Bandai and the people they’ve put in charge of the TCG’s game/card design are now walking a thin rope.
Now, more than ever, Bandai has to make sure the product they release is as flawless as possible to keep interest high and to make sure the value of the card -and the game as a whole- doesn’t just plummet.
For those interested in reading the original announcement made by Bandai, you can find it here.