OP-17 Leaders Preview: All 6 Confirmed, Xebec Is Blue

This OP-17 leaders preview covers what Bandai has officially confirmed for The World's Strongest Warriors: all six leader slots, a confirmed Treasure Rare slot, and a staggered release across Japan and EN markets. The last holdout, the Blue leader slot, closed on August 3, 2026, when Rocks D. Xebec entered the game for the first time.

TL;DR: OP-17 The World's Strongest Warriors has six leader slots, and all six are now officially confirmed: Edward Newgate (Red), Monkey D. Luffy (Black), Shanks (Green, OP17-022), Kaido (Purple), Charlotte Linlin/Big Mom (Yellow), and Rocks D. Xebec (Blue, OP17-039). Release is staggered: Japan on August 22, 2026, EN pre-release on August 21, and EN wide release on August 28, 2026. The Treasure Rare is confirmed too, in the set's official 131+4 card breakdown (135 unique cards): Edward Newgate (Whitebeard), OP17-040, Black, 6 cost, 8000 power, with an On Play draw-1 effect.

What Happened

Bandai's set reveals confirm OP-17 contains six leader slots, continuing the standard leader count from recent sets including OP-16 The Time of Battle. All six are now officially named: Edward Newgate as Red, Monkey D. Luffy as Black, Shanks as Green (OP17-022), Kaido as Purple, Charlotte Linlin/Big Mom as Yellow, and Rocks D. Xebec as Blue (OP17-039), the last slot to close, on August 3, 2026. For the full rundown of OP-16's six leaders and how that set plays, see the OP-16 complete guide. The reveals came through official OPTCG channels ahead of the set's release window, which runs from late August through early September depending on region.

That release window matters: OP-17 is not a simultaneous global launch. Japan gets the set first on August 22, 2026, EN players get pre-release events on August 21, and the EN wide release follows on August 28, 2026. That gap means Japanese tournament results will be public before EN cards are even legal, giving EN players an early look at how the new leaders actually perform before they have to build around them.

OP-17 also confirms the Treasure Rare rarity, a tier sitting above Secret Rare. Bandai's official breakdown for the set lists 131+4 card types, 135 unique cards in total, and the Treasure Rare card is now named: Edward Newgate (Whitebeard), card OP17-040, an On Play effect that draws 1 card on an 8000-power Black body. The rarity name alone signals it's among the hardest to pull and most valuable cards in the set.

Why It Matters

The set's title, The World's Strongest Warriors, follows directly after OP-16's Marineford coverage. That framing opens the door to a wide range of powerful characters in One Piece lore, and Bandai has now delivered on that promise in full: Shanks, Kaido, Charlotte Linlin/Big Mom, and finally Rocks D. Xebec are all officially confirmed leaders, not leaks.

What IS confirmed: all six leader slots named, a 135-unique-card set with a confirmed Treasure Rare slot, and a staggered release rather than a simultaneous one. That's a meaningful structural change to the meta development cycle. With Japan getting OP-17 nearly a week before the EN wide release, expect early JP tournament results to shape how the competitive community approaches tier placements before EN players can even build the decks.

GODEEPER: Get up to speed on everything officially confirmed. OP-17 Release Date Update: August 28 Wide Release →

For context on how OP-17 fits into the current format, the One Piece TCG Standard Format Guide 2026 covers which sets are legal and how rotation works heading into the August window.

Before the new leaders land, it's worth knowing where OP-16 stands. The One Piece TCG Meta Rotation Guide breaks down when to hold or sell cards as a new set approaches.

GODEEPER: See which OP-16 cards are worth chasing before OP-17 hits shelves. OP-16 Best Cards to Pull: Chase and Value Guide (2026) →

The sixth and final OP-17 leader landed on August 3, 2026: Rocks D. Xebec, confirmed as the set's Blue leader and marking his first-ever appearance in the card game. See the full Rocks D. Xebec reveal for his card numbers and on-play ability. Bandai typically releases card details in waves, so check the OP-17 spoilers complete tracker for every confirmed leader and card as they land.

For a complete picture of where OP-16 stands after five weeks of EN play, the OP-16 One Month Meta Report covers which leaders settled at tier and what rotation looks like heading into OP-17 spoiler season.

For the full collection and budget preparation strategy before the set drops, including how to evaluate spoilers as they land, the OP-17 Preparation Guide has a step-by-step breakdown. Ready to commit to pre-ordering? The OP-17 pre-order guide covers every major retailer, MSRP vs. markup, and when to lock in your order.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many leaders are confirmed for OP-17? All 6. Bandai closed out the lineup on August 3, 2026: Edward Newgate (Red), Monkey D. Luffy (Black), Shanks (Green, OP17-022), Kaido (Purple), Charlotte Linlin/Big Mom (Yellow), and Rocks D. Xebec (Blue, OP17-039).

When does OP-17 release? OP-17 is not a simultaneous global launch. Japan gets the set first on August 22, 2026, EN pre-release events run August 21, and the EN wide release follows on August 28, 2026.

What is the Treasure Rare rarity in OP-17? Treasure Rare is an established OPTCG rarity tier sitting above Secret Rare. Bandai's official breakdown for OP-17 lists 131+4 card types, 135 unique cards total, and the Treasure Rare card is confirmed: Edward Newgate (Whitebeard), OP17-040, Black, 6 cost, 8000 power, with an On Play effect that draws 1 card.

Who is the OP-17 blue leader? Rocks D. Xebec, revealed August 3, 2026. Base leader print OP17-039, with a Secret Rare alt art at OP17-118. It's his first-ever appearance in the card game.

What arc does OP-17 cover? OP-17 The World's Strongest Warriors follows OP-16 The Time of Battle, which covered the Marineford arc. The new set's title suggests continued focus on the strongest fighters in the One Piece world.

Will OP-17 be legal in standard format on release day? Yes, but release day differs by region. OP-17 becomes standard legal in Japan on August 22, 2026, and in the EN competitive pool on August 28, 2026, after EN pre-release events on August 21.

References

• One Piece Card Game Official Site
• OP-17 The World's Strongest Warriors on Limitless TCG