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Greetings, One Piece Card Game enthusiasts! Following our explorations of Red's aggression and Blue's control, we now turn our attention to the vibrant and strategic world of Green.
In case you missed our other deep dives into the upcoming card rotation, you can find quick links to each color's analysis below:
- Block 1 Rotation Guide For Red
- Block 1 Rotation Guide For Blue
- Block 1 Rotation Guide For Green
- Block 1 Rotation Guide For Purple
- Block 1 Rotation Guide For Yellow
- Block 1 Rotation Guide For Black
This color in the One Piece Card Game is defined by its unique ability to 'restand' cards, creating dynamic board states and enabling multiple attacks in a single turn through the manipulation of both DON!! and characters. However, the upcoming Block 1 rotation will significantly impact several notable Green archetypes, including the iconic Supernovas and the Donquixote Pirates, signaling a potential shift in the color's dominant strategies.
Rotation-Proof Cards
Unfortunately for Green enthusiasts, as of now, there aren't any Block 1 Green cards confirmed to be rotation-proof. It's important to remember that the cards currently announced as immune to Block rotation are the Manga Rare cards. Since Green did not have a Manga Rare card in Block 1, it doesn't have any guaranteed exceptions at this time. However, it's always worth waiting for further announcements from Bandai, as more information regarding rotation exceptions could be revealed in the future!
Block 1 Notable Green Leaders
Supernova Trio
The most notable Green leaders from Block 1 are three Supernova-themed leaders: ST02-001-eustasscaptainkid-486, OP01-002-trafalgar-law-269, and OP01-003-monkeydluffy-134.
In the early days of One Piece, ST02-001-eustasscaptainkid-486 was a premium Green leader, primarily due to his ability to attack multiple times in a turn. In a meta with fewer high-value cards and removal options, the ability to attack twice each turn provided significant cumulative impact. While the overall power level of the game has increased, ST02-001-eustasscaptainkid-486 still occasionally achieves victories in smaller tournaments, often as a surprise counter-pick against decks vulnerable to early aggression. Its most recent resurgence was notably against the OP11 meta's strong contender, OP11-040-monkeydluffy-620.
I've previously discussed OP01-002-trafalgar-law-269 and OP01-003-monkeydluffy-134 in my Block 1 Rotation Guide for Red cards, but they warrant mention here as they are also Green leaders. These are aggressive-style leaders that currently see limited play in the meta, though they both experienced periods of prominence in the past. In fact, OP01-002-trafalgar-law-269 was once considered a top-tier deck in the format.
It's worth noting that several Supernova-themed support cards are also rotating out of Standard alongside these three Supernova leaders, a topic we will delve into later in this article.
Semi-Meta Green Contenders
OP04-019-donquixote-doflamingo-913 hasn't achieved significant competitive success, but it has secured wins in smaller tournaments as a meta counter against aggressive decks that primarily utilize low-cost units, often in conjunction with OP05-040-birdcage. However, its reliance on countering specific deck types makes it inconsistent across varied matchups, hindering its overall competitive viability.
It's important to note that OP05-040-birdcage is a Block 2 Green card that can only be used with a Green Donquixote Doflamingo leader. This might suggest a potential reprint of OP04-019-donquixote-doflamingo-913 with a later Block number, or the introduction of a new Green Donquixote Doflamingo leader in the future.
OP04-020-issho-318, on the other hand, is another leader with a potentially strong effect but suffers from a lack of dedicated support cards. The synergy between Navy cards in Black and Green is limited, often making other Black leaders with better archetype synergy a more appealing choice. While recent sets have introduced new Navy cards like OP10-030-smoker-638 and OP10-032-tashigi-893, their effects don't particularly synergize with OP04-020-issho-318. This leader appears to have untapped potential that may be lost if it rotates out without achieving competitive success.
OP03-022-arlong-418 has recently gained much-needed Fishman support cards alongside the release of OP11-021-jinbe-150. From what I've seen from friends playing the deck, it shows promise! It would be a shame if OP03-022-arlong-418 rotates out before having a chance to shine, as its generic effect of synergizing with Trigger cards seems to have high potential, provided it receives the right support cards.
Block 1 Green Staples and Tech Cards
Boss Staples
Block 1 introduced some of the most impactful boss units for Green. Leading the charge is OP01-051-eustasscaptainkid-770, an iconic figure and a cornerstone of many Green strategies. Its ability to function as a formidable defensive wall has cemented its status as a strong card capable of shaping entire deck builds across various Green archetypes. OP01-051-eustasscaptainkid-770 has consistently seen high-level competitive play in decks like OP07-019-jewelry-bonney-910, OP10-001-smoker-112, and OP10-022-trafalgar-law-265, among others. The rotation of OP01-051-eustasscaptainkid-770, a veritable backbone for numerous Green strategies, will undoubtedly be a significant blow if Bandai doesn't introduce compelling replacement boss units for the color. Its versatility as both a defensive powerhouse and an offensive threat has made it an almost indispensable inclusion in a wide array of Green decks.
Next in line is OP04-031-donquixote-doflamingo-175, another instantly recognizable Green boss unit. Its power lies in its capacity to dramatically shift the game's tempo, whether by disrupting wide-swarming aggressive boards or rendering multiple opposing boss units ineffective against control-oriented strategies. The fact that it's searchable with OP05-034-baby-5-561 makes OP04-031-donquixote-doflamingo-175 a key reason why the Donquixote Pirates package is a viable inclusion in numerous Green decks. This card has been a competitive staple in archetypes such as OP07-019-jewelry-bonney-910, OP10-001-smoker-112, and OP06-021-perona-parallel.
Finally, we have OP04-119-donquixote-rosinante-177, a potent boss unit with a more niche application. It primarily serves as a counter against Black, boasting the ability to flood the board while possessing an anti-KO effect. However, its requirement of playing alongside 5-cost units somewhat restricts its general usability within all Green decks. Despite this limitation, OP04-119-donquixote-rosinante-177 has found success in builds like OP07-019-jewelry-bonney-910.
Utility Characters and Events
OP01-033-izo-308 is a valuable 2k counter with a strong, generically useful effect: resting any 4-cost or lower unit upon play. This card can be effectively integrated into any deck aiming for a resource-starve strategy against opponents relying on key early-game units that need immediate answers.
OP01-052-raizo-480 is, in my opinion, an often underestimated support character that doesn't see as much play as it deserves. In a well-constructed deck and with skillful piloting, OP01-052-raizo-480 can provide significant card advantage and even absorb attacks. Many of my successful OP07-019-jewelry-bonney-910 builds include a single copy of OP01-052-raizo-480; it's one of my personal favorite tech choices.
OP02-029-carrot-parallel finds its place in decks that benefit from a DON!! restand effect, such as OP07-019-jewelry-bonney-910 and OP11-021-jinbe-150, while also providing a crucial 2k counter. I utilized this card in some of my OP07-019-jewelry-bonney-910 builds back in the OP09 meta, before more efficient Green 2k counters were introduced.
OP01-055-you-can-be-my-samurai stands out as one of the few direct draw event cards available to Green. It sees play in decks that can effectively utilize the Wano search package consisting of OP01-041-kouzuki-momonosuke-686 and OP07-022-otama-148. This event has found success in certain iterations of Wano OP06-021-perona-parallel and even appears in some modern OP10-001-smoker-112 decklists.
OP03-025-krieg-539 is a highly specialized tech card employed primarily to counter aggressive strategies. It can be used against leaders like OP01-060-donquixote-doflamingo-859 and OP01-001-roronoa-zoro-924. Its most recent surge in usage was in some OP07-019-jewelry-bonney-910 builds that specifically needed an answer to the now-banned aggressive leader, ST10-001-trafalgar-law.
Block 1 Archetype-Specific Green Cards
Donquixote Pirates
Once the rotation takes effect, the Donquixote archetype will lose several key support cards. This will be a significant blow for players who enjoy OP05-022-donquixote-rosinante-572, a Block 2 leader heavily reliant on these cards. OP04-024-sugar-999 stands out as the archetype's most impactful character. Often a troublesome, low-cost unit, it can significantly influence how opponents plan their turns. Furthermore, the Donquixote-themed 2k counter cards, OP04-021-viola and OP04-032-baby-5-682, will be sorely missed by decks utilizing the Donquixote package.
Supernovas
Ah, the Block 1 Supernovas rotating out… As many of you know, OP07-019-jewelry-bonney-910 is my most played leader, so this rotation is a tough one for me. Several crucial Supernova cards will be leaving the Standard format. The good news is that OP07-019-jewelry-bonney-910 is getting a new starter deck in June. This suggests we might see new Supernova cards to fill the gaps left by the rotation. Let's discuss the impact:
Assuming no reprints occur before the rotation, ST02-007-jewelry-bonney-parallel represents the most significant loss for all Supernova-themed leaders. As an Activate: Main searcher, this card not only allows you to retrieve a key card but also often absorbs an attack in the process. In optimal setups, ST02-007-jewelry-bonney-parallel can even generate multiple card draws. Searchers are vital for any archetype's consistency, so losing Green's primary Supernova searcher will undoubtedly be a painful setback for decks like OP07-019-jewelry-bonney-910 and OP10-022-trafalgar-law-265, as well as any future Supernova leaders.
OP01-039- and ST02-004-caponegangbege-693 are two frequently used staple Blocker Supernova cards, often included as defensive support for OP01-051-eustasscaptainkid-770. ST02-008-scratchmen-apoo-478 is a Supernova 2k counter with the added utility of being able to rest an open DON!!, which can be particularly useful against Purple decks running OP09-078-gum-gum-giant.
OP01-047-trafalgar-law-290 and ST02-009-trafalgar-law-161 are crucial components of OP10-022-trafalgar-law-265 decks. The former's bounce effect is key to repeatedly triggering cheap On Play effects from cards like OP11-106-zeus-731, OP10-111-monkeydluffy-161, and OP04-101-carmel. The latter synergizes with EB01-012-cavendish-193 to enable multiple attacks while also restanding DON!! cards.
ST02-013-eustasscaptainkid, OP01-054-xdrake, and ST02-017-straw-sword-248 were once staple cards in Supernova decks. However, they have largely been replaced by newer, more efficient options. Nevertheless, they occasionally resurface as off-meta tech choices in more unconventional builds.
Film Package
ST11-001-uta is poised to take a significant hit from the rotation of Block 1 Film support cards. Three of her key Film characters are slated to leave the Standard format. This includes the aggressive duo of OP02-041-monkeydluffy-175 and OP02-040-brook-parallel. This pair enabled the deck to establish a wide board presence, a critical part of it's game plan. Additionally, OP02-036-nami-374, crucial for bolstering Uta's draw power, will also be rotating out.
Beyond those with specific effects, several vanilla Film cards, while lacking unique abilities, still play a vital role in the archetype's strategy. These include OP02-034-tony-tonychopper-parallel-809, OP02-043-roronoa-zoro, and OP02-028-usopp-parallel.
While ST11-001-uta did receive new support cards in her most recent starter deck, it appears insufficient to fully compensate for the substantial loss of these foundational Block 1 Film cards.
Wano Country
Several Wano Country cards are also scheduled for rotation. This will undoubtedly impact decks that rely on the Wano draw engine. The core of this engine is the combination of OP01-041-kouzuki-momonosuke-686 and OP01-055-you-can-be-my-samurai. We see this draw engine in archetypes like Wano OP06-021-perona-parallel, OP06-022-yamato-parallel, and EB01-001-kouzuki-oden-977. Speaking of EB01-001-kouzuki-oden-977, several critical character cards for that strategy are also facing rotation. These include OP01-046-denjiro, OP01-035-okiku-189, and OP01-121-yamato-869.
Block 1 Off Meta Green Leaders
Green has often been the subject of playful banter. It is sometimes considered the underdog of the One Piece Card Game. Indeed, several of its off-meta leaders from Block 1 possess effects that could be described as weak. Nevertheless, in the spirit of acknowledging all aspects of the game, we offer a shout-out to these less-utilized leaders: OP01-031-kouzuki-oden-806, OP02-026-sanji-974, OP02-025-kinemon-280, and OP03-021-kuro-249. While they may not have achieved widespread competitive success, they represent the diverse possibilities within the Green archetype. They likely hold a special place for the players who experimented with them!
The Future of Green Post-Rotation
For a significant period, Green's presence in the meta has been largely defined by its Supernova leaders. Among them, OP07-019-jewelry-bonney-910 has been a consistent and competitively relevant mainstay. Therefore, the upcoming loss of numerous Supernova support cards will undoubtedly have a substantial impact on these leaders. The rotations of OP01-051-eustasscaptainkid-770 and ST02-007-jewelry-bonney-parallel will likely be the most keenly felt.
Looking at other archetypes within Green, the current landscape appears somewhat uncertain. While OP10-001-smoker-112 is a potent leader, its late-game viability is still heavily intertwined with the presence of OP01-051-eustasscaptainkid-770. EB02-010-monkeydluffy-761 has emerged as a strong contender since the release of Extra Booster 02, but its core identity leans more towards Purple than Green. Bandai has introduced several new archetypes for Green, including Minks, Fishmen, and Sea Kings. However, none of these have yet achieved significant competitive success on a broader scale.
The future direction of Green will likely become clearer with the upcoming card reveals from new sets and decks. The release of the OP07-019-jewelry-bonney-910 starter deck in June will be particularly informative. It may provide crucial insights into the potential replacements and new strategies that will shape the color's identity in the post-rotation environment. We will have to wait and see what exciting new tools Bandai has in store for Green players.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Block 1 rotation will bring significant changes to the Green landscape in the One Piece Card Game. The loss of key Supernova support, iconic boss units like OP01-051-eustasscaptainkid-770, and valuable utility cards will necessitate adaptation and innovation from Green players.
While the future of established Green archetypes appears uncertain, the upcoming Jewelry Bonney starter deck and future set releases hold the potential to introduce new strategies and revitalize the color. The community will need to closely examine these upcoming cards to discover the next dominant forces in Green's post-rotation evolution. The Green metagame is set for a significant transformation, and the strategies that emerge will undoubtedly be fascinating to witness.
