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Welcome to your comprehensive deckbuilding guide for EB02-010-monkeydluffy, the undisputed dominant leader of the EB02 format. This guide dives into the core strategies, essential card choices, and potent tech options that define this powerful Green/Purple Straw Hat deck. We'll explore:
- Deck Core: Cards that are absolute must-includes or found in nearly every winning list.
- Adaptive Core: Strong cards commonly used but can be swapped based on the evolving meta.
- Tech Cards: Specialized options for fine-tuning your deck against specific matchups or for personal playstyle and surprise factor.
- Sample Decklists: Practical examples of how the cards are integrated, showcasing various builds optimized for different meta considerations and playstyles.
Understand how to build a deck that leverages rapid DON!! acceleration and overwhelming board presence, capable of dominating the meta.
Deck Core
EB02-035-sanji-pudding stands as arguably the single most critical card in the entire EB02-010-monkeydluffy archetype. Its [Your Turn] effect, which allows you to regain a DON!! when your leader returns 2 DON!! to the DON!! deck, is the very engine that transforms your leader's costly ability into a sustainable, powerful offensive tool. Games are frequently lost if you fail to draw it early.
Consequently, in most matchups, aggressively mulliganing for EB02-035-sanji-pudding is a fundamental strategic imperative. Moreover, drawing multiple copies allows you to effectively gain free DON!! over subsequent turns, building an overwhelming resource advantage that is difficult for opponents to overcome.
Running 4 copies is a must!
EB02-061-monkeydluffy serves as the primary and most explosive means for EB02-010-monkeydluffy to close out games. Opponents who are careless with their life total can swiftly find themselves in lethal range, as the significant volume of "free" DON!! generated by EB02-035-sanji-pudding can be attached to this card for stronger attacks.
Even when EB02-061-monkeydluffy isn't in hand, simply retaining 6 open DON!! can be enough to bluff its presence, forcing opponents into difficult defensive decisions.
Due to the deck's robust search capabilities, running 3 to 4 copies is optimal, as a full playset of 4 isn't strictly necessary to consistently find this game-ending threat.
These three cards collectively form the incredibly consistent searching core of EB02-010-monkeydluffy. With effectively 12 searchers in the deck, you can reliably find your most crucial pieces, such as the vital EB02-035-sanji-pudding and the game-ending EB02-061-monkeydluffy, in nearly every game.
This robust search power also allows you to fetch scenario-specific answers like OP09-078-gum-gum-giant or ST18-001-uso-hachi precisely when needed. Both EB02-017-nami and OP05-076-when-you039re-at-sea-you-fight-against-pirates ensure strong early-game setup, while ST18-004-zoro-juurou can kickstart a continuous chain of board development and consistent draws, turn after turn.
Run 4 copies of each searcher! Consistency is key.
OP09-078-gum-gum-giant is currently regarded by many as arguably the most powerful card in the entire game, a testament to its unparalleled utility and defensive prowess. Its inclusion in the arsenals of three of the top-tier leaders in the OP-11 format speaks volumes about its impact.
This potent combination of counter power and card cycling fundamentally disrupts opponent's lethal calculations on defensive turns, and its filtering effect is invaluable for fixing bricked hands, particularly given that EB02-010-monkeydluffy runs plenty of cards with no counter value.
Running 4 copies is generally recommended.
The inclusion of searchable 2000 counter cards is a cornerstone of consistency and defense for any competitive deck, and it's no surprise that EB02-010-monkeydluffy has its own valuable options in this regard.
ST18-001-uso-hachi provides crucial late-game utility; its ability to rest an opponent's character with 5 cost or less can be perfectly timed to clear problematic blockers, paving the way for lethal attacks.
Meanwhile, OP07-064-sanji sometimes offers a durable body that can stick to the board. While its cost reduction condition is rarely met, it can occasionally be activated against Black decks, and its 6-cost makes it notably harder for common cost-based removals to deal with.
4 copies each of these are necessary!
EB02-041-merry-go has a decent draw utility, and its powerful [Activate: Main] effect provides an invaluable and unique form of protection against the most problematic cost-based removals. In matchups against decks reliant on effects like OP05-093-rob-lucci from Black, the board-clearing power of OP04-056-gum-gum-red-roc from Blue, or the disruptive OP08-069-charlotte-linlin from Purple, finding EB02-041-merry-go can undeniably dictate victory or defeat. It stands as often the only card in EB02-010-monkeydluffy's arsenal capable of defensively elevating your units' cost, shielding them from otherwise devastating removal effects and ensuring your key characters stay on board.
Running 4 copies is generally recommended.
OP07-066-tony-tonychopper offers valuable DON!! management, as its [On Play] effect can recover a rested DON!! if your count is equal to or less than your opponent's. However, players must be acutely aware that OP07-066-tony-tonychopper does not possess the "Straw Hat Crew" type; its presence on the board directly prevents your EB02-010-monkeydluffy leader from activating its powerful ability. Opponents can exploit this by choosing not to attack Chopper, thus locking your leader's effect for their next turn. To mitigate this, a common strategy is to play OP07-066-tony-tonychopper as your fifth character, allowing you to later play over it with a Straw Hat unit to re-enable your leader's explosive turns.
Run 2-4 copies based on preference.
Adaptive Core Cards
Initially, ST18-005-luffy-tarou wasn't a common sight in EB02-010-monkeydluffy builds, but he's emerged as a vital answer to removal-heavy metagames. His ability to play a purple "Straw Hat Crew" character of 5 cost or less from hand, by returning a single DON!!, is a powerful counter to decks that aim to clear your board every turn. Playing two units in one turn creates a significant board presence that is hard for opponents to fully dismantle. Furthermore, ST18-005-luffy-tarou's 7-cost and 8000 power make him a resilient threat, often surviving common cost-based removals and pressuring your opponent's life.
The optimal curve often involves playing EB02-035-sanji-pudding on 5 DON!!, followed by ST18-005-luffy-tarou and another EB02-035-sanji-pudding on subsequent turns. This sequence establishes a formidable board of multiple high-power characters. Critically, when ST18-005-luffy-tarou returns 1 DON!! and then plays another EB02-035-sanji-pudding, that new EB02-035-sanji-pudding's [On Play] draw effect will often activate immediately, as your DON!! count may now be equal to or less than your opponent's, providing crucial card advantage alongside your growing board.
Run 2-4 copies based on your preference and meta read.
EB02-037-franky is a reliable DON!! accelerant, especially crucial in scenarios where EB02-035-sanji-pudding isn't immediately drawn. His ability to add a rested DON!! to your deck, both on play and when attacking, helps recover the DON!! lost from your EB02-010-monkeydluffy leader's effect, ensuring you maintain momentum and hit your key DON!! thresholds for later turns. Furthermore, EB02-037-franky provides an early unit to hit your opponent's life or characters, proving especially decent against aggressive decks like OP05-002-belo-betty that try to go wide and pressure early.
EB02-036-nico-robin EB02-036-nico-robin is a flexible defensive option often included in builds seeking additional blockers beyond OP07-066-tony-tonychopper. She performs exceptionally well against decks with big attackers, such as OP09-001-shanks or OP11-040-monkeydluffy.
Beyond her immediate defensive utility, her [On K.O.] effect serves as a crucial emergency searcher in the late game, allowing you to cycle for vital "Straw Hat Crew" cards like OP09-078-gum-gum-giant for defense or other key 2k counters when protecting yourself from lethal.
Run 0-4 copies of each, depending on your preferred playstyle.
These two cards primarily serve as additional searchable 2000 counter power for your EB02-010-monkeydluffy deck, providing crucial defensive options that can be fetched by your numerous searchers. While their main effects are rarely activated, they're valuable to have in hand for protecting your life or key characters during opponent's attacks. In those incredibly rare, opportune moments, OP05-070-fra-nosuke's [Rush] ability can catch an unsuspecting opponent off guard, providing a surprise additional attack to push for lethal.
Run 0-2 copies of each as deck filler to increase your counter cards.
As a 0-cost [Counter] event, OP03-072-gum-gum-jet-gatling is incredibly vital for its ability to cycle through your hand. Given that EB02-010-monkeydluffy often runs plenty of counterless cards, this card is invaluable for clearing bricked hands during defensive turns, ensuring you always have active counter power when you need it most.
Run 0-2 copies as deck filler to increase your counter cards.
Tech Cards
Considered the best tech card in the deck, OP08-036-electrical-luna allows you to freeze opposing units, which is incredibly strong in the mirror, against aggro like OP01-001-roronoa-zoro and OP05-002-belo-betty, and even against OP07-019-jewelry-bonney's midrange units. The 3 DON!! cost rarely hurts, given the ample DON!! acceleration EB02-035-sanji-pudding provides.
Run 0-4 copies depending on expected matchups.
One of the most underrated tech cards, EB02-019-roronoa-zoro excels at attacking opposing early units, effectively clearing aggro threats before they can even swing. He's particularly useful against OP07-079-rob-lucci decks, allowing you to proactively deal with their high-impact, low-cost characters like 3-cost EB01-046-brook, 4-cost OP02-096-kuzan, and 2-cost ST08-002-uta.
Run 0-4 copies depending on the expected metagame.
OP05-077-gamma-knife is often included as a specific answer to OP07-019-jewelry-bonney's formidable 8-cost OP01-051-eustasscaptainkid-701. It offers a clean way to remove this problematic unit from the board, clearing the path for your aggressive finishers.
Run 0-2 copies if you anticipate facing many Bonney decks.
Used in some rogue builds, OP05-067-zoro-juurou-134 provides an extra 3-cost body that helps ramp DON!! quickly. This enables potent turns like playing ST18-005-luffy-tarou earlier, or dropping EB02-035-sanji-pudding plus another 3-cost unit on your 5 DON!! turn. It can also provide that single extra DON!! needed to reserve for a defensive OP09-078-gum-gum-giant.
Run 0-2 copies as deck filler for the 3-cost character slot.
A versatile tech card, OP07-036-demonic-aura-nine-sword-style-asura-demon-nine-flash is commonly used late game to rest blockers for lethal, providing that crucial extra power boost. However, it can also be used early to rest a key mid-game unit, allowing you to immediately attack into it and force counters. A clever combo involves increasing EB02-017-nami's cost with EB02-041-merry-go to meet OP07-036-demonic-aura-nine-sword-style-asura-demon-nine-flash's requirement for resting a unit.
Run 0-2 copies depending on player preference.
OP09-063-usopp serves as an additional target for ST18-005-luffy-tarou for builds that run the full four copies of ST18-005-luffy-tarou.
Run 0-2 copies of you want more targets for ST18-005-luffy-tarou.
Sample Deck Lists
Now that we've explored the individual strengths and strategic roles of key cards in EB02-010-monkeydluffy, let's see how these pieces come together. The following sample decklists offer practical examples of how these cards are integrated, showcasing various builds optimized for different meta considerations and playstyles.
This first list offers a fairly standard build, optimized for the OP11 Format. It includes 3 copies of ST18-005-luffy-tarou, a strategic choice given the prevalence of removal decks like OP11-040-monkeydluffy and OP07-079-rob-lucci. As OP11 is a Luffy-dominant meta, 2 copies of OP08-036-electrical-luna are also teched in, specifically targeting the EB02-010-monkeydluffy mirror match. The pilot's inclusion of a single OP07-036-demonic-aura-nine-sword-style-asura-demon-nine-flash likely reflects personal preference and a desire for a surprise factor.
This second list diverges by reducing most tech events in favor of a blocker-heavy approach. It opts for a full playset of OP07-066-tony-tonychopper alongside 2 copies of EB02-036-nico-robin. These additional blockers are particularly effective against the numerous large units found in OP11-040-monkeydluffy decks, as stopping attacks simply requires sacrificing a blocker instead of committing multiple counter cards from hand.
This third list, a winning entry from the EB02 format, maintains a fairly standard core while incorporating tech cards against aggro strategies. It includes two copies of OP08-036-electrical-luna and 2 copies of EB02-019-roronoa-zoro. This version is exceptionally strong against aggressive decks such as OP01-001-roronoa-zoro and OP05-002-belo-betty. Sometimes, even eliminating a single early unit with EB02-019-roronoa-zoro can be the decisive blow for a win.
Conclusion
With its unparalleled ability to ramp DON!!, flood the board with powerful characters, and adapt to various meta threats, EB02-010-monkeydluffy stands as a truly dominant force in the EB02 meta. By understanding the strategic roles of its core cards and intelligently incorporating tech options discussed in this guide, you're well-equipped to construct a deck that's both consistent and explosive. Experiment with these builds, tailor them to your local meta, and unleash the full potential of the Straw Hat Crew to claim victory!
