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Welcome, Western OPTCG community, to the dawn of EB02! While you're just beginning to explore the treasures within this new Extra Booster today, those of us in the East have been navigating its impact for a while now. As a competitive player deeply involved in the Eastern meta, I've gained firsthand experience with the cards that truly matter – the ones that are shaping victories and influencing the competitive landscape. Consider this your insider's guide to the essential pulls from EB02.
At the forefront of this power surge is EB02-010-monkeydluffy-761. My experiences in the East have shown just how transformative this card is. It wasn't a gradual climb to the top; it was an immediate and decisive takeover, becoming a central point of discussion and adaptation for many players. However, EB02's impact extends beyond just this single powerful leader. This set has introduced a wave of impactful support cards that are finding their way into various strategies and have the potential to significantly alter how we approach deckbuilding across the board. In this article, we'll dissect why certain cards from EB02 are so influential and highlight the standout additions that are poised to impact the Western meta.
The Hottest Meta Contender - Green Purple Luffy & Strawhat Supports
Let's kick things off with the undisputed champion of EB02: EB02-010-monkeydluffy-761 and its incredible Straw Hat support crew! The cards we're about to discuss? These are the absolute must-haves from this set – pulling them will feel like hitting the jackpot! Expect a fierce competition to snag the high-rarity gems in this lineup, as players everywhere will be clamoring to get their hands on them.
Initially, when EB02-010-monkeydluffy-761 was first revealed, most players shrugged it off. The Leader effect seemed too expensive, and the apparent restriction to only Straw Hat characters felt… limiting. Oh, how wrong those first impressions were! In practice, the explosive synergy with its dedicated support cards has catapulted EB02-010-monkeydluffy-761 to meta-defining status. It's consistently ranked as one of the top-tier decks, even in the current East format (OP11).
Meet EB02-035-sanji-pudding, an absolute linchpin of EB02! This card is the glue that holds the entire EB02-010-monkeydluffy-761 strategy together. It allows the deck to consistently out-tempo opponents thanks to the extra DON!! it generates each turn. And when you manage to get multiple copies on the board? Prepare for an even more explosive advantage!
While EB02-017-nami's effect is straightforward – search any Straw Hat Pirate card – its impact on EB02-010-monkeydluffy-761's consistency is massive. It acts as a vital additional searcher, joining forces with ST18-004-zoro-juurou and OP05-076-when-you039re-at-sea-you-fight-against-pirates. This trio of search power makes finding EB02-035-sanji-pudding in almost every game possible, and also ensures you can grab crucial late-game threats like OP09-078-gum-gum-giant and our next superstar, EB02-061-monkeydluffy!
Here he is: EB02-061-monkeydluffy, the deck's ultimate game-ender! Paired with the bonus DON!! from EB02-035-sanji-pudding, this card can effortlessly set up lethal attacks if your opponent isn't careful with their life cards. This is often the final act of the EB02-010-monkeydluffy-761 strategy – once this Luffy hits the board, your opponent is on a rapid countdown to defeat.
Now, let's spotlight some other fantastic Straw Hat tech cards from EB02. These further enhance the reliability of EB02-010-monkeydluffy-761 and even have the potential to shine under other Straw Hat leaders. Take EB02-019-roronoa-zoro, for instance. It's a prime pick for taking down those annoying early-game units like OP08-007-tony-tonychopper against OP01-001-roronoa-zoro-924 and ST08-002-uta when facing OP07-079-rob-lucci-317. Expect this Zoro to be a key player in the upcoming new Roronoa Zoro leader in OP12 as well. And then we have EB02-041-merry-go, the deck's go-to tech card for dodging cost-based removal like OP08-069-charlotte-linlin-252 and OP06-058-gravity-blade-raging-tiger.
EB02-036-nico-robin and EB02-037-franky offer additional tech options that can be slotted into EB02-010-monkeydluffy-761 builds, often depending on individual player preference and the specific meta they're facing.
Impactful and High-Potential Support Cards
Just like its predecessor, EB01, Extra Booster 02 brought a treasure trove of support cards, breathing new life into existing archetypes and laying the groundwork for future strategies! This section will spotlight the EB02 support cards that have already made waves in competitive or semi-competitive decks, alongside those intriguing high-potential cards that might just become tomorrow's meta stars!
Don't let its unassuming appearance fool you! OP08-007-tony-tonychopper has already found a cozy spot in the revamped Animal Kingdom Pirates build of OP01-001-roronoa-zoro-924. This leader experienced a significant resurgence post-EB02, establishing itself as a fearsome aggressive force. EB02-003-tony-tonychopper acts as a solid character that can be smoothly played off the effects of other Chopper cards like OP08-007-tony-tonychopper or OP04-010-tony-tonychopper.
Remember when OP05-098-enel-426 made a comeback after EB02 hit the East? The reason? This electrifying new boss card: EB02-052-enel! This unit, with its consistent healing every turn, gave OP05-098-enel-426 the late-game resilience it needed and a fighting chance against its dreaded counter, OP09-081-marshalldteach-633. Sadly, this surge of power was short-circuited by the ban of EB01-059-kingdom-come. Nevertheless, EB02-052-enel is a powerhouse that will undoubtedly electrify OP05-098-enel-426 decks once the leader reclaims its competitive spark!
Yellow players, rejoice! Your very own version of the versatile ST04-005-queen has arrived in the form of EB02-054-sanji! This fantastic mid-game unit offers both efficient filtering and a solid blocker body. It's the kind of card you'll want to have a few copies of, ready to be teched into virtually any Yellow deck you build!
The mad scientist himself, OP07-097-vegapunk-968, has been a delightful semi-competitive rogue choice since its release, and EB02 gifted it a brilliant new tool: EB02-056-vegapunk! This character acts as both a reliable searcher and a sneaky summoner, providing much-needed consistency by letting you grab and play the exact Scientist card you need. With this brainy addition, OP07-097-vegapunk-968 can actually stand its ground against aggressive top-tier decks, as swarming the board becomes easier while still maintaining defensive capabilities thanks to EB02-056-vegapunk being a blocker. A friend of mine even piloted OP07-097-vegapunk-968 through several tournaments, reporting surprising success against EB02-010-monkeydluffy-761 matchups!
Bandai seems determined to fill the void left by the banned OP06-086-gecko-moria-281 with more trash-revival options, and EB02-044-sengoku is one of the early recruits! While decks heavily featuring EB02-044-sengoku haven't dominated the competitive scene yet, I have a strong feeling it's only a matter of time. We just need more powerful 4-cost Navy cards to truly unleash his potential. A high-statted blocker that can bring back a character from the trash and has a 1k counter? That's a recipe for future success!
These two troublemakers, EB02-011-arlong and EB02-018-buggy, were instrumental in OP03-022-arlong-418 securing some impressive Flagship Tournament wins in Asia! The sheer aggression this Fish-Man leader can unleash can absolutely catch unprepared opponents off guard, especially in the early stages of a meta. This could become even more relevant with the release of OP11-040-monkeydluffy-620. I've personally faced a few skilled OP03-022-arlong-418 players and definitely see the leader's potential – maybe just a few more impactful trigger cards are all it needs to truly shine!
Confession time: I've been on the receiving end of some tough losses against high-ranking OP05-022-donquixote-rosinante-572 players since EB02 dropped, largely thanks to their slick new support card, EB02-025-donquixote-rosinante. This low-cost value engine can tutor even more valuable cards directly onto the field, including the dreaded OP04-024-sugar and the surprisingly effective OP05-034-baby-5, among others. When you pair this with OP05-022-donquixote-rosinante-572's inherent defensive capabilities, the value generated can quickly snowball out of control. If you enjoy piloting intricate, high-skill rogue decks, I wholeheartedly recommend giving this leader a spin – I believe it still has a ton of untapped potential in the deckbuilding department!
Think of EB02-026-nefeltari-vivi as OP03-056-sanjis-pilaf but with a body that has a counter! Plus, you can reuse her effect multiple times if you can bounce her back to your hand! Any multi-colored Blue leader can slot this card in, but it has fantastic synergy with ST12-001-roronoa-zoro-sanji due to its built-in bounce effect. As a bonus, EB02-026-nefeltari-vivi is a Slash-type character, meaning ST12-003-dracule-mihawk can also bring her onto the field!
EB02-006-yamato offers some welcome support for the fun rogue leaders EB01-001-kouzuki-oden-977 and OP03-001-portgasdace-624. This card makes it easier to activate EB01-001-kouzuki-oden-977's buff effect, especially when you're going second. And with the Rush keyword, EB01-001-kouzuki-oden-977 decks can apply immediate pressure. While EB01-001-kouzuki-oden-977 hasn't exactly been a competitive powerhouse, the arrival of EB02-006-yamato feels like a step in the right direction.
EB02-002-sabo joins the Red Revolutionary ranks as a new 2k counter. While he hasn't been a staple in winning lists, even with the success of OP05-002-belo-betty-673 since EB02, you can never really go wrong with a solid 2k counter in your arsenal, right?
EB02-045-trafalgar-law provides some nice support for Black Dressrosa leaders like OP10-042-usopp-752 and OP04-039-rebecca-109, and also looks promising for the upcoming Koala Dressrosa leader in OP12. Bandai seems to be leaning into hand disruption for Black, as we're seeing more cards with similar effects on the horizon in OP12.
When EB02-005-fake-straw-hat-crew was first revealed, it felt a bit… out there. But it might just find its purpose in the deck builds for the highly anticipated Rayleigh leader in OP12! Keep an eye on this one!
These generic searcher events caused quite a stir upon their reveal, with many in the community predicting they'd become meta-defining staples in numerous decks. However, the reality has been quite different. They haven't seen significant competitive success, and most top-tier decks have opted to leave them out entirely. While I could still see these cards finding their niche in the future, it seems their time in the spotlight hasn't arrived just yet.
Non-Impactful Support Cards
While EB02 delivered some serious heavy-hitters, like any set, it also included its fair share of cards that haven't quite shaken up the meta. These range from situationally useful to, well, let's just say they haven't found their champion leader yet. Nevertheless, for the sake of completion (and perhaps a chuckle or two!), here's a look at the other support cards EB02 brought to the table.
Purple saw some new additions aimed at bolstering existing but less dominant archetypes. Specifically, we got a few more pieces for OP03-058-iceburg-857's Galley-La crew, some potential sidekicks for EB01-021-hannyabal-300/OP02-071-magellan-215's Impel Down inmates, and a sprinkle of support for OP06-042-vinsmoke-reiju-parallel's Germa Kingdom forces. Time will tell if these additions can elevate these strategies.
Red received a couple of cards that could theoretically find a home in various Animal Kingdom or Straw Hat Crew builds. Think potential inclusions for leaders like ST21-001-monkeydluffy, OP01-001-roronoa-zoro-924, and the ever-evolving OP08-001-tony-tonychopper-611. Perhaps a hidden gem lies within this batch waiting to be discovered!
Green's share of the less impactful support included a new Supernova character that hasn't quite found its footing in the current meta, alongside a Straw Hat event that's yet to see widespread play. Additionally, there were a couple of cards seemingly designed to further support the Animal Kingdom Pirates under OP08-001-tony-tonychopper-611 and the Mink tribe led by OP08-021-carrot-404.
Blue's offerings in this category spanned a few different directions. We saw some cards that could, in theory, synergize with OP02-026-sanji-974's more vanilla-focused approach, alongside potential additions for the Warlords under the command of OP07-038-boa-hancock-390 or OP01-060-donquixote-doflamingo-859. There were also a couple of cards that might find a niche in decks helmed by ST13-002-portgasdace or the tricky OP10-042-usopp-752.
Black received a collection of support cards that touched upon various themes within the color. We saw potential additions for Thriller Bark's spooky crew, the notorious agents of CP, the structured ranks of the Navy, and even a couple of cards that seem to hint at future possibilities for a Brook or Laboon-centric leader or archetype. Could these be seeds for strategies yet to bloom?
Finally, Yellow received a Fish-Man character that could potentially support OP11-022-shirahoshi and the aggressive OP03-022-arlong-418. Intriguingly, there were also a couple of cards that might foreshadow a future Yellow Straw Hat Pirate leader. Perhaps most excitingly, this batch also included what appear to be early teasers for entirely new archetypes: the mysterious Alchemi and Treasure Pirates. Keep your eyes peeled for more on those!
Conclusion
Extra Booster 02 delivered a powerful punch to the One Piece Card Game meta. The dominance of EB02-010-monkeydluffy-761 and its dedicated Straw Hat support is undeniable, showcasing the set's immediate impact. Beyond the top-tier contenders, EB02 also provided intriguing support cards that have found homes in various other strategies, demonstrating its depth. Even the cards that haven't yet reached the competitive forefront offer glimpses into potential future archetypes and strategies, keeping the game exciting and ever-evolving.
Whether you were chasing the elusive Luffy leader or experimenting with the set's more niche offerings, EB02 has undoubtedly left its mark on the game and continues to shape how we play. It's a set that rewards exploration and understanding, and its influence will likely be felt for sets to come.
