What sets are legal in One Piece TCG Standard format?

As of 2026, all released main sets (OP-01 through OP-16), starter decks (ST-01 onward), and Extra Boosters are legal in Standard. One Piece TCG does not currently rotate sets out of Standard. Every released card remains tournament-legal unless individually banned or restricted.

Does One Piece TCG have a rotation system?

No. As of 2026, One Piece TCG uses a non-rotating Standard format. All sets from OP-01 forward remain legal. Bandai manages power level through a ban and restriction list rather than rotating older sets out, unlike Magic Standard or Pokemon.

What is on the One Piece TCG ban list?

The ban and restriction list changes periodically. Banned and restricted cards are typically format-warping leaders or combo enablers. Always check the official Bandai limited card list before a tournament, as it updates roughly every 3-4 months alongside new set releases.

How does OP-16 affect the Standard format?

OP-16 adds six new leaders (Ace, Sengoku, Yamato, Blackbeard, Luffy, Buggy) and new mechanics (Transforming characters, darkness draw-in). It is fully legal on release day June 12, 2026. Expect a ban list update within 4-8 weeks if any OP-16 card proves format-warping.

What is the deck construction rule in Standard?

A Standard deck is exactly 50 cards plus 1 Leader card and a 10-card DON!! deck. Maximum 4 copies of any card by name. Your deck can only include cards matching your Leader's color(s). The Leader determines which colors you can run.

Are starter deck cards legal in tournaments?

Yes. All ST (starter) set cards are Standard-legal. Many competitive decks include reprinted starter cards. ST cards are often the most cost-effective way to acquire staples since they print at fixed rates rather than random pull rates.

How often does the ban list update?

Roughly every 3-4 months, usually timed with new set releases. Bandai announces changes on the official site ahead of the effective date. Always verify the current list 1-2 weeks before any sanctioned tournament you plan to attend.

One Piece TCG Standard Format Guide 2026: Legal Sets

TL;DR: One Piece TCG Standard format guide for 2026. All sets OP-01 through OP-16 are legal: there is NO rotation. Bandai manages power with a ban/restriction list updated every 3-4 months. Deck = 50 cards + 1 Leader + 10 DON!!, max 4 per card name, color-locked to your Leader. OP-16 is legal on June 12, 2026.

One Piece TCG Standard format guide: quick answer

One Piece TCG Standard is a non-rotating format. Every set from OP-01 (the 2022 launch set) through OP-16 (June 2026) is legal. Bandai does not retire old sets the way Magic: The Gathering or Pokemon rotate cards out after a few years.

Power level is managed through a ban and restriction list instead. When a card warps the format, Bandai bans or restricts it rather than rotating an entire set. This means your collection stays usable indefinitely, but you must track the limited card list.

Deck construction at a glance:

1 Leader card (determines your colors)
50-card main deck (Characters, Events, Stages)
10-card DON!! deck (the resource system)
Maximum 4 copies of any card by name
All cards must match your Leader's color(s)

GODEEPER: New to the game entirely? The beginner guide covers the DON!! system and how a turn works before you worry about format legality. One Piece TCG Beginner Guide 2026

Why One Piece TCG Does Not Rotate

Most major TCGs rotate. Magic Standard drops sets after roughly two years. Pokemon rotates by regulation mark. One Piece TCG, as of 2026, has chosen a different path.

The non-rotation model: Every card printed since OP-01 remains legal. A Luffy deck from 2022 can theoretically still be played in a 2026 tournament, though it will be heavily outclassed by newer cards. The format is managed entirely through the limited list.

Why this matters for players:

Your collection never becomes tournament-illegal due to age
Older chase cards retain playability, supporting their collector value
The skill ceiling is higher: you must know a larger card pool
Powerful older cards can resurface when new support arrives

The trade-off: The card pool grows every set. By OP-16, the Standard pool is large. New players face a steeper learning curve because there are more interactions to learn. Bandai compensates with starter decks that provide ready-to-play archetypes.

One Piece TCG Standard format legal card pool showing leaders from multiple sets including OP-16 Every set from OP-01 through OP-16 remains Standard-legal. The non-rotating format means older leaders stay playable, though newer cards dominate competitively.

How the Ban and Restriction List Works

Since there is no rotation, the ban list is the only lever Bandai pulls to control the meta.

Banned cards: Cannot be played at all. Usually reserved for format-warping combos or leaders that dominate to an unhealthy degree.

Restricted cards: Limited to 1 copy instead of the usual 4. This softens a card's impact without removing it entirely.

Update cadence: Roughly every 3-4 months, typically aligned with new set releases. Bandai announces changes ahead of the effective date on the official card game site.

Practical advice: Check the official limited card list 1-2 weeks before any sanctioned tournament. A card that was legal last month may be restricted this month. Do not assume a deck list you saw online is still legal.

OP-16 and the Format

OP-16 The Time of Battle launches June 12, 2026 and is immediately Standard-legal. It introduces:

Six new leaders: Ace (Red), Sengoku (Blue), Yamato (Green), Blackbeard (Black), Luffy, and Buggy (Purple)
New mechanics: Transforming characters (Yamato) and the darkness draw-in (Blackbeard)
Akainu (OP16-065) as a powerful Character removal piece in Navy decks

Expected ban list impact: New sets often trigger a ban list update within 4-8 weeks if a card proves format-warping. Watch for early tournament results on Limitless TCG. If one OP-16 leader posts dominant win rates, expect Bandai to respond at the next list update.

GODEEPER: Building your first OP-16 deck on a budget? The budget guide covers sub-$100 competitive builds that are fully Standard-legal. OP-16 Budget Deck Guide

OP-16 leader cards entering the Standard format legal pool on June 12, 2026 launch OP-16 leaders join the Standard pool immediately on release. A ban list update often follows 4-8 weeks later if a new card proves too strong.

Deck Construction Rules in Detail

The Leader card

Your Leader sits face-up from turn one. It determines:

Which colors your deck can run (mono-color or two-color leaders)
Your starting Life total (printed on the Leader)
A leader ability you can use during the game

The 50-card main deck

Exactly 50 cards: not 49, not 51
Characters, Events, and Stages
Maximum 4 copies of any single card by name
Every card's color must be included in your Leader's color identity

The 10-card DON!! deck

Exactly 10 DON!! cards
These are your resource system: you add DON!! each turn to pay for cards and power up attacks
DON!! cards are identical and not part of the 50-card count

Color rules

A mono-Red Leader can only run Red cards. A Red/Green Leader can run Red, Green, and Red/Green dual cards. This color-locking is the core deckbuilding constraint and the reason Leader choice defines your whole deck.

Tournament Tiers and Where Format Matters

Locals (weekly events): The most forgiving. Budget and off-meta decks are viable. Format legality still applies but the ban list rarely surprises casual players.

Regionals and larger: Strict deck registration. You submit a decklist. Any illegal card (banned, over-4-copies, off-color) results in a game loss or disqualification. Verify your list against the current ban list.

Online play (Sim): Community simulators usually track the official ban list, but always confirm the sim's list matches the current official one before assuming a deck is legal.

Common Format Mistakes

Running a banned card from an old netdeck: Decklists posted before a ban list update become illegal. Always cross-check.
49 or 51 cards: The main deck must be exactly 50. Sleeve-counting errors cause game losses at sanctioned events.
Off-color splash: You cannot run a Green card under a mono-Blue Leader, no matter how good the card is.
5+ copies across versions: The 4-copy limit is by card name, not by card number. Two different art versions of the same named card still count toward the same 4-copy cap in most cases. Verify on the official rules.

Best-of-Three and Side Decks

Sanctioned One Piece TCG tournaments are typically played in a best-of-three match format. Understanding how matches work changes how you build and pilot a deck.

Match structure: You play up to three games against the same opponent. The first player to win two games takes the match. After game one, the loser usually decides who goes first in game two, which is a meaningful advantage in a game where tempo matters.

Adapting between games: Standard One Piece TCG does not use a traditional sideboard the way Magic does. Your 50-card deck stays fixed across all three games. This means your deck must be built to handle the full range of matchups on its own, since you cannot swap in tech cards between games.

Why this favors consistent decks: Because you cannot adjust your list mid-match, decks with flexible, broadly useful cards outperform narrow decks that crush some matchups and fold to others. A deck that is 60% favored against everything beats a deck that is 90% against half the field and 30% against the rest.

Reading the Meta Before a Tournament

Format legality is only half of tournament prep. Knowing what you will face is the other half.

Check recent tournament results. Limitless TCG aggregates deck lists and win rates from sanctioned events. Before registering, review the top-performing decks from the last few weeks so your deck and play plan account for the real field.

Anticipate the ban list. If a deck has dominated recently, a restriction may be coming. Building around a card likely to be restricted is risky. Conversely, a recent restriction may have opened space for a previously suppressed archetype to rise.

Key Takeaways

One Piece TCG Standard does NOT rotate: OP-01 through OP-16 all legal in 2026
Power managed via ban/restriction list, updated every 3-4 months
Deck = 1 Leader + 50 main + 10 DON!!, max 4 per card name
Cards must match your Leader's color identity
OP-16 is legal June 12, 2026; expect a possible ban update 4-8 weeks later
Always verify the current ban list 1-2 weeks before a sanctioned tournament

GODEEPER: Want to know which OP-16 leader to register for your first tournament? The all-leaders breakdown ranks them by difficulty and meta position. OP-16 All 6 Leaders Explained

One Piece TCG Beginner Guide 2026: DON!! system, turn structure, and starter deck recommendations.
OP-16 All 6 Leaders Explained: The six new leaders with difficulty and meta ranking.
OP-16 Budget Deck Guide: Sub-$100 Standard-legal competitive builds.
OP-16 Sengoku Deck Guide: A control archetype using the new Navy cards.
One Piece TCG Colors Explained: How color identity shapes deck construction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What sets are legal in Standard? A: All main sets OP-01 through OP-16, all starter decks, and Extra Boosters. Nothing rotates out as of 2026.

Q: Does One Piece TCG rotate? A: No. It uses a non-rotating format managed by a ban and restriction list instead.

Q: What is on the ban list? A: Format-warping leaders and combo enablers. The list updates every 3-4 months. Check the official Bandai limited card list before tournaments.

Q: How does OP-16 affect Standard? A: It adds six leaders and new mechanics, legal June 12, 2026. A ban update may follow within 4-8 weeks if a card dominates.

Q: What is the deck construction rule? A: 1 Leader + 50 main deck + 10 DON!!, max 4 copies per card name, color-locked to your Leader.

Q: Are starter deck cards tournament-legal? A: Yes. All ST cards are Standard-legal and often the cheapest way to get staples.

Q: How often does the ban list change? A: Every 3-4 months, usually with new set releases. Verify 1-2 weeks before any tournament.

References

One Piece Card Game Official Rules: Deck construction and format rules
One Piece Card Game Limited Card List: Official ban and restriction list
Limitless TCG OPTCG: Tournament data and meta tracking
OP-16 The Time of Battle Official Page: New set legality and contents
r/OnePieceCardGame: Community format discussion and ban list reactions