OP-16 Most Expensive Cards: Best & Top 6 Chase Picks

TL;DR: The OP-16 most expensive cards are the three Admiral Manga Rares, led by Sakazuki at $1,127 in the September 12, 2026 snapshot, followed by Kuzan at $1,109 and Borsalino at $1,043. The set's next OP-16-specific chase cards are Zehahahahaha! and the Ace and Yamato Leader alternate arts. Prices are volatile, and you never need these variants to play.

Updated October 2, 2026: The September 29 optcg-pool snapshot, populated from Limitless card pages, lists base OP16-119 at $33.06 and base OP16-118 at $17.11. The premium values below remain dated September 12 observations because the local pool does not include parallel and Manga Rare records.

Note (prices as of September 12, 2026): InkSight's TCGplayer Market Price snapshot puts Sakazuki at $1,127, Kuzan at $1,109, and Borsalino at $1,043. The next OP-16-specific entries are Zehahahahaha! alternate art at $59.35, the Portgas D. Ace Leader alternate art at $49.43, and the Yamato Leader alternate art at $48.34. The September 29 optcg-pool snapshot lists the base Blackbeard and Ace SEC prints at $33.06 and $17.11, while their alternate-art prints were about $47 and $27 in the September 12 snapshot. These are dated market snapshots, not guarantees. Verify the exact print and current price before transacting.

OP-16 most expensive cards: quick answer

OP-16 "The Time of Battle" is a collector-first set, and its value is concentrated at the very top in the Marineford Admirals.

GODEEPER: Want the deep dive on the headline chase? The Admiral Manga Rare guide covers pull odds and whether to chase. OP-16 Admiral Manga Rare Guide

1-3: The Admiral Manga Rares

The three Manga Rares are all Admirals, which is unprecedented for the main One Piece TCG line (sets normally have one). They are the entire value story of OP-16.

Sakazuki (Akainu): OP16-065OP16-065Shop on TCGplayer is the top chase at $1,127 in InkSight's September 12, 2026 TCGplayer Market Price snapshot. As the Fleet Admiral and Marineford's central Marine, he is the set's headline collector card. The figure is a dated market reference, not a guaranteed sale price.

Kuzan (Aokiji) is close behind at $1,109 in the same snapshot. Verify live on TCGplayer for the current spread since prices move week to week.

Borsalino (Kizaru) rounds out the three at $1,043. All three are premium Manga Rare variants, and the Manga Rare slot is split across the three Admirals rather than concentrated on one card.

The snapshot puts Sakazuki and Kuzan close together at the top, with Borsalino about $84 below Kuzan. Standard prints are the versions used for play; the premium variants are collector upgrades.

The image shows the three Admiral cards that lead OP-16's collector market. InkSight's September 12 snapshot lists them at about $1,127, $1,109, and $1,043 respectively.

4-5: The SEC Character Cards

Below the Admiral Manga Rares, OP-16's next notable chase cards include the Zehahahahaha! alternate art and alternate-art Leaders. The two SEC (Secret Rare) Character cards remain important collector targets, but they are not the only cards in the next price tier.

Marshall D. Teach OP16-119OP16-119Shop on TCGplayer / Blackbeard (OP16-119) is $33.06 for the base SEC print in the September 29 optcg-pool snapshot. Its alternate art was about $47 in the September 12 snapshot. As the Marineford antagonist, he has strong character appeal, but the price is still a market snapshot rather than a long-term forecast.

Ace (OP16-118 OP16-118OP16-118Shop on TCGplayer) is $17.11 for the standard SEC print in the September 29 optcg-pool snapshot. Its alternate art was about $27 in the September 12 snapshot. His appeal is character-driven rather than tied only to the competitive meta, but that does not make future prices predictable.

The gap between a base print and an alternate art matters here. Check the exact card number and finish before comparing listings, and use a current market source because both versions can move independently.

6: The Three Admirals Super Alt-Arts

The Admirals also appear as Super Alt-Art cards, Sakazuki (OP16-065), Kuzan OP16-063OP16-063Shop on TCGplayer (OP16-063), and Borsalino OP16-073OP16-073Shop on TCGplayer (OP16-073). These are striking alternate-art versions at a far more attainable price than the Manga Rares, making them the sensible middle ground for collectors who want premium Admiral art without the holy-grail price tag. For the complete OP-16 collector hierarchy covering every rarity tier, the OP-16 collectors guide explains which cards to hold long-term and how the SEC, Manga Rare, and Super Alt-Art tiers rank against each other.

This image shows Portgas D. Ace and Marshall D. Teach Leader cards. They are separate from the SEC Character cards and the Admiral premium variants discussed above.

Should You Buy?

• Collectors: the Admiral Manga Rares are the definitive chase; the Super Alt-Arts are the attainable alternative. Wait for the EN market to settle and buy the specific single you want.
• Players: ignore all of the above. Standard prints play identically and cost a fraction. For the cheapest way to build a competitive OP-16 deck without touching any of these chase cards, see the OP-16 budget deck guide.
• Investors: be cautious. Launch-window prices are volatile and hype-inflated. Sakazuki and Ace have the most durable demand, but current highs are not guaranteed.

SHOP: Deciding whether to chase a chase card? Check current OP-16 prices on TCGPlayer. Shop TCGplayer →

Did OP-17's launch hurt OP-16 chase-card prices?

OP-17 released August 22 in Japan and August 28 EN, so the timing question that used to be forward-looking is now checkable: did a new set launch put pressure on OP-16's chase-card prices?

For meta-relevant staples, the answer is often yes. Attention and playtesting time shift to the new set, and secondary demand for the old set's competitive singles can soften. The OP-16 Admiral Manga Rares and the Ace/Blackbeard SEC prints, though, are also collector cards. The September 12 snapshot shows the three Admirals at $1,127, $1,109, and $1,043, but it does not establish a causal link to OP-17's launch.

The SEC Character cards may behave differently from the Manga Rares, but a current snapshot cannot prove why. The practical approach is to compare dated sales for the exact print before claiming that OP-17 changed demand. OP-17 has its own headline chase card now; the OP-17 best cards to pull breakdown covers that set's current collector picture.

Key Takeaways

• The three Admiral Manga Rares lead the OP-16-specific price table: Sakazuki $1,127, Kuzan $1,109, and Borsalino $1,043 in the September 12 snapshot
• Zehahahahaha! alternate art, the Ace Leader alternate art, and the Yamato Leader alternate art are the next OP-16-specific entries at about $59.35, $49.43, and $48.34
• The September 29 optcg-pool snapshot lists the base Blackbeard and Ace SEC prints at $33.06 and $17.11; their alternate-art prints were about $47 and $27 in the September 12 snapshot
• All figures are dated market snapshots and volatile; verify current pricing before transacting
• You never need any of these to play; standard prints are cheap and identical
• OP-16 is a collector-first set, its value concentrated in the Admirals
• OP-17's launch cannot be assigned as the cause of any OP-16 price movement from a single dated snapshot

GODEEPER: Wondering whether to grade a chase card before selling? The grading guide covers timing. One Piece TCG Card Grading Guide

Related Reading

• One Piece TCG OP-16 Guide: Set Review & Leaders (2026): Full OP-16 set overview, all six leaders, and key mechanics.
• One Piece TCG How to Read a Card: Every Part Explained: One Piece TCG how to read a card.
• OP-16 Best Cards to Pull: Value and competitive ranking.
• One Piece TCG Most Expensive Cards 2026: All-time OPTCG value context.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the most expensive OP-16 card? A: The September 12, 2026 snapshot lists the Sakazuki Manga Rare at about $1,127. Volatile; verify live.

Q: Most expensive in order? A: Sakazuki MR, Kuzan MR, Borsalino MR, Zehahahahaha! alternate art, the Ace Leader alternate art, and the Yamato Leader alternate art. Blackbeard and Ace SEC variants follow closely behind.

Q: How much are the SEC cards? A: The September 29 optcg-pool snapshot lists Blackbeard's base SEC at $33.06 and Ace's at $17.11. Their alternate-art prints were about $47 and $27 in the September 12 snapshot. Verify current prices before buying.

Q: Good investment? A: Be cautious. Prices are early and hype-inflated. Sakazuki and Ace have durable demand, but highs may not hold.

Q: Needed to play? A: No. Every expensive card is a collector chase; cheap standard prints play identically.

Q: Best time to buy EN singles? A: There is no fixed best time. Compare recent sold prices for the exact print and decide whether the current premium fits your budget. Prices move as supply and demand change.

Q: Did OP-17's launch hurt OP-16 chase card prices? A: A current snapshot does not show causation. Compare dated sales for the exact OP-16 print before attributing a change to OP-17.

References

• SNKRDUNK OP-16 Manga Rare guide: Admiral Manga Rare prices
• Buyee OP-16 chase cards guide: chase values and buying
• OP-16 The Time of Battle Official Page: SEC and Super Alt-Art card numbers
• InkSight OP-16 market snapshot: TCGplayer Market Price snapshot checked September 12, 2026
• Limitless OP16-118 Portgas.D.Ace: readable card-market reference used for the September 29 local pool snapshot
• Limitless OP16-119 Marshall.D.Teach: readable card-market reference used for the September 29 local pool snapshot
• TCGPlayer: Portgas D. Ace SEC (OP16-118): Ace SEC listing reference
• TCGPlayer: Marshall D. Teach SEC (OP16-119): Blackbeard SEC listing reference
• TCGPlayer One Piece TCG: EN market pricing reference
• Limitless TCG card database: card reference and market context