Union Arena Bleach Ichigo Deck Guide: Purple Build 2026

How we checked this: we pulled both Purple Bleach regional lists from Bandai's top-placing archive through their Bandai TCG+ deck codes, compared them with a September Squad Zero list, read every card on Bandai's official card list, priced both builds on TCGplayer on October 16, 2026, and worked out the draw odds with a script.

Updated October 16, 2026: We added the actual regional list and a current Squad Zero list with prices and odds, fixed the Raid explanation and Ichigo's removal wording (he can remove any cards from your sideline, not just the two he milled), dropped the old TCG Contender tier score, and added Bleach Vol. 3's dates.

The Union Arena Bleach Ichigo deck lists

Bandai's archive has two Purple Bleach top fours from the 2025-26 regionals, second at Gen Con and third at Carta Magica. Both deck codes open the same 50 cards. That's the Renji list. The newer build swaps the Renji package for Squad Zero characters; blackjesus319 took third at a Tower Games event on September 20 with it. The two share 19 cards.

Cards without a set code are from UE01BT; Ichigo (103) and (104) are from the UE01ST starter. Four Renji (047) at $9.47 is the gap between the two builds.

How the Ichigo engine works

Both builds fill one zone: the removal area. Cards go there from your sideline or your hand, and the payoff is Ichigo (BLC-2-051). He's 4 energy and 4000 BP with Nullify Impact, and he gains Damage 2 if you have ten or more cards in your removal area, or two or more Squad Zero cards with different names. With four or more differently named Squad Zero cards there, he also gains Impact 1. JWA called him "this deck's strongest card" when the second Bleach set landed.

Image: Bandai, UNION ARENA official card list

The Renji list counts to ten. Ichigo (041) mills two and removes any number of sideline cards, cutting 500 BP off an opposing front-line character for each. Renji (047) can remove four sideline cards for a 3000 BP cut when played, and pays 1 AP for Damage 2 of his own. Ichigo (104) removes four to draw and gain Impact 1. Uryu Ishida, the 1-energy Renji and the 1-energy Ichigo keep the sideline stocked, and Getsugatensho sidelines a 5000-or-less character while an Ichigo is on your field.

Image: Bandai, UNION ARENA official card list

Squad Zero counts names. Senjumaru (BLC-2-057) and the Shatatsu Karagara Shigaraminotsuji event both remove Squad Zero cards from your hand to widen their sideline range, and Shatatsu draws a card for each one. Five different Squad Zero names in the list (Senjumaru, Oh-Etsu, Ichibe, Tenjiro, Kirio) make the four-name Impact reachable. The Royal Palace digs for them.

What the odds say

The Renji list runs one fewer copy of its best card and relies on Ichigo (041) and Renji to do the work first. Squad Zero plays four, which is the main reason it's the build people are bringing to locals now.

Where Purple Bleach stands now

Not at regionals. The 2026-27 season's only Bleach top four on Bandai's archive is the Green Kenpachi/Toshiro list in third at Core TCG's regional, dated July 31. UnionArenaDecklists has Ichigo at Tier 4 with 80 public lists, newest October 10. Recent finishes are locals: blackjesus319's third on September 20, a fourth at an OP Weekly on September 16, and a fifth at a UNION ARENA Tournament Vol. 3 event on September 5.

JWA ranked Squad Zero third of seven Bleach decks after the second set and the Ichigo/Rukia Purple build first, writing that he was "less bullish on Squad Zero than the Ichigo/Rukia build." The cheaper list has since caught up at locals.

The next shake-up is close. Bleach Vol. 3 (UEX08BT) has its pre-release on November 6 and releases November 13, and an Advanced Deck comes out the same week as the pre-release.

MetallicTCG's deck profile walks through the Purple Ichigo/Renji build from the regionals season:

Our take

Build Squad Zero if you want to play Bleach this month. It's half the price, it runs four of the Ichigo that wins games, and the shared core carries over. Hold off on four Renji (047) until Vol. 3 is out and someone posts a regional list with it again. If you're playing to win a regional right now, Bleach isn't the pick; Green Kenpachi/Toshiro is the version with a result.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Purple Ichigo a good deck in Union Arena? For locals, yes. The Renji list made two regional top fours last season, but no Purple Bleach deck has made one in 2026-27.

What does Ichigo Kurosaki's card actually do? Ichigo (041) mills two cards, then removes any number of sideline cards; an opposing front-line character loses 500 BP for each one until the end of the turn.

Is there a different color build for Bleach in Union Arena? Green Kenpachi/Toshiro took third at Core TCG's regional dated July 31, 2026. In Purple, Squad Zero Ichigo is the other build.

What is the Raid mechanic and why does it matter for this deck? Raid plays a card on top of a matching-name character on your field, which switches to active and may move to the front line. The cheap Ichigos and Renjis are your Raid targets.

How much does a Purple Ichigo deck cost? $98.66 for the Renji regional list and $51.43 for Squad Zero on October 16, 2026.

Related Reading

• Union Arena Current Meta: official regional results across every set.
• Union Arena Deck Building Guide: the 50-card, 4-copy, single-title rules.
• Union Arena Trigger System Explained: the Color, Get and Raid triggers in these lists.
• Union Arena Raid Mechanic Explained: how Ichigo and Renji Raid.
• Best Manhwa Like Bleach: For readers who want the same soul-power-system, tournament-fight energy in manhwa form.