Table of Contents
Hey everyone! With OP08.5 launching on October 25th, we’re about to see a major shake-up in the OP08 meta! Starter Decks 15, 16, 17, 18, and 20 will introduce new cards across all colors, breathing new life into some older archetypes.
We've already seen this in the East meta, where several struggling decks from the OP08 format have made a strong comeback in OP08.5, with higher play rates and improved performance. However, the West meta tends to evolve differently, especially since we don't have Red Purple Law dominating the scene. It’ll be exciting to see how the meta shifts!
Blue Doflamingo
Blue OP01-060-donquixote-doflamingo is the deck to watch out for in OP08.5 meta. The Starter 17 cards give the Doffy deck more {The Seven Warlords of the Sea} cards, giving the archetype more consistency to cheat out the best Characters using the Leader's effect.
ST17-004-boa-hancock shines as one of the best new additions to the list, acting as a 6,000 Power blocker that can also be used aggressively. At the same time, her effect to look at the top cards, place them in any order, and give a Don to your Leader synergizes with OP01-060-donquixote-doflamingo, allowing you to play her on Don 6 and still cheat out a Character through Leader effect.
St17 cards like ST17-003-buggy, ST17-005-marshalldteach, ST17-002-trafalgar-law, and ST17-001-crocodile are potential inclusions in this list as they all synergize with this deck's game plan. There are different ways to build Blue Doffy, going for more control options like OP04-056-gum-gum-red-roc and OP06-058-gravity-blade-raging-tiger or straight-up aggressive playstyle, prioritizing going wide on the field.
Leader effect + OP07-045-jinbe allows you to go wide on the field, threatening to unleash a barrage of attacks to bleed opponent out of Counter plays and slowly put them at risk of losing to your attacks.
Blue Red Marco
Blue Red OP08-002-marco is a deck to watch out for in OP08.5 meta. We haven't seen much of the new Leader in OP08 meta but with the ST15 cards (ST15-004-thatch, ST15-005-portgasdace, and ST15-002-edwardnewgate) the archetype gains a stronger performance in the mid-game.
ST15-005-portgasdace can be tough to remove from the field since opponents need to KO him twice, and the Rush keyword allows Marco players to find value with ST15-005-portgasdace on the turn he's played.
ST15-002-edwardnewgate is the real game changer, allowing you to KO a 5,000 Character on the turn he's played. However, since ST15-002-edwardnewgate can give your Leader 1 Don, you can activate Leader effect for the -2,000 power reduction, allowing ST15-002-edwardnewgate to KO a 7,000 Power Character.
This deck makes use of Leader effect to reduce the power of one of the opponent's Characters, making it exceptionally easier for you to KO them. Additionally, Marco can filter your hand for better cards, and by placing a card on the top of your deck, you can combo it with OP06-119-sanji to ensure a powerful Don 10 turn. Characters like OP02-004-edwardnewgate-511 or OP08-118-silvers-rayleigh are great choices to cheat out through OP06-119-sanji.
Black Smoker
The Black OP02-093-smoker deck is a control deck, aiming to KO opponent's Characters before they get the chance to attack. Using Leader OP02-093-smoker's cost-reduction effect helps you put Characters in range for your removal cards. If there's a 0-cost Character on the opponent's side of the field, OP02-093-smoker gains a +1,000 Power boost, enabling you to set up more aggressive attacks with your Leader.
This list has Characters like OP02-098-koby, ST19-003-tashigi, OP02-099-sakazuki-404, and OP02-121-kuzan who enable the control play style. ST19-003-tashigi shines as the new Starter 19 card that is a must addition to the OP02-093-smoker deck. She can reduce the cost of one of the opponent's Characters by -4 and then trash a 0-cost Character, two effects in one, and with the support of your Leader or other cost reducers, you can remove higher-cost Characters.
ST19-001-smoker is also a new card to add to this list, allowing you to trash a {Navy} type card to prevent the opponent from attacking with two of their Characters. He's limited to shutting down 4-cost Characters, but combined with your cost-reduction effects, you can target higher-cost Characters.
This list uses the OP06-086-gecko-moria + OP05-091-rebecca + OP02-098-koby combo for a powerful late-game value and a method to go wide on the field. OP03-078-issho can trash the opponent's resources and if he sticks on the field, you can use his -3 cost reduction to KO the opponent's threats more easily.
Purple Luffy
Purple OP05-060-monkeydluffy is a ramp Leader who sacrifices a Life card to gain 1 Don. As early as turn 2, you can start developing Characters to pose a threat to the opponent and can play high-cost Characters on earlier turns. Since you're self-damaging your Leader, you'll try to Counter early attacks to preserve Life cards for the late game.
The Start 18 cards ST18-001-uso-hachi, ST18-004-zoro-juurou, ST18-002-o-nami, ST18-003-san-gorou, and pluffy-n8w93 synergize with the Purple Luffy strategy, giving the who archetype a different approach to games and more consistency.
ST18-004-zoro-juurou and ST18-003-san-gorou stand out as strong additions to this deck's game plan. ST18-004-zoro-juurou is a 6,000 Power Character you can play on turn 2 if you're going first, drawing you a card on the turn he's played. As for ST18-003-san-gorou, he's a value engine, drawing you a card every time he attacks, which forces opponents to remove him as soon as possible.
However, ST18-005-luffy-tarou is likely the best addition to this deck. When he's played, pluffy-n8w93 returns 1 Don and cheats out a 5-cost or less purple {Straw Hat Crew} type Character. Characters like ST18-004-zoro-juurou, ST18-003-san-gorou, or ST18-002-o-nami are considerations to cheat out with ST18-005-luffy-tarou's effects.
The late game relies on ST04-003-kaido-400 and OP08-069-charlotte-linlin, both having powerful effects to help control the field by removing one of the opponent's Characters from play. ST04-003-kaido-400 can also go for a Rush attack, whereas OP08-069-charlotte-linlin, gives you a Life card, making it more challenging for opponents to win the game.
Green Uta
Green ST11-001-uta is a popular deck among players picking up the game and has been a reliable competitive choice in older metas. The Starter 16 cards bring multiple new options to the list to give the archetype a push in performance. ST11-001-uta revolves around {FILM} type cards so the new ST16-005-monkeydluffy, ST16-003-charlotte-katakuri, ST16-001-uta, and ST16-004-shanks fit perfectly with this deck's strategy.
We're more used to ST11-001-uta using the Fortress strategy to create a defensive wall, but this list can be more aggressive. OP02-040-brook and OP02-041-monkeydluffy are key pieces for the aggressive game plan, allowing you to develop multiple Characters in one turn. ST16-003-charlotte-katakuri can be played through OP02-040-brook and through his effect, he'll gain a +2,000 Power boost, becoming a 6,000 Power attacker.
The new ST16-001-uta is a 6,000 Power blocker to protect your Leader or key rested Characters. Moreover, her Activate main effects lets you trash 1 {FILM} type card to attach a rested Don to your Leader or a Characters, this works best when you're trying to win the game with ST11-005-im-invincible, making use of that extra attached Don to force more Counter cards from the opponent.
ST16-004-shanks can KO a rested Character regardless of cost. Removing a high Power Character through ST16-004-shanks without committing attacks on it, instead focusing them on weaker targets or the opponent's Leader.
Red Edward Newgate
Red OP02-001-edwardnewgate is an aggressive deck, using Leader's 6,000 base Power to force more counter cards from the opponent. You are losing a Life card every time you end your turn, so winning the game as fast as possible is important before the opponent gets to aggro you down. The list has multiple defensive events like OP01-029-radical-beam and OP04-016-bad-manners-kick-course to protect your Leader and prolong the game.
The starter 15 cards ST15-004-thatch, ST15-003-kingdew, ST15-001-atmos, and ST15-005-portgasdace synergize with this deck's game plan. ST15-003-kingdew and ST15-001-atmos are great to help prolong the game and protect your Leader, forcing more resources and attacks from the opponent to win the game. ST15-005-portgasdace can be annoying to remove and with the Rush keyword, he poses an immediate threat when played.
OP02-018-marco and OP03-013-marco are two other Characters that will stick on the field for a while, which is perfect for this deck's aggressive strategy. OP02-013-portgasdace and OP08-118-silvers-rayleigh help with controlling the opponent's side of the field, using their Power reduction effects to make it easier for you to attack and KO a rested Character.
OP02-004-edwardnewgate-511 is the strongest play in this deck, giving your Leader a +2,000 Power boost, making it extremely difficult to get their attacks through an 8,000 Power Leader and if you have Life cards left, you won't self-damage, holding onto them to force more attacks from the opponent.
Closing Words
The new Starter cards are set to shake up the meta, breathing new life into older archetypes and bringing them back into competitive play. As these decks regain popularity, players will experiment to identify the top performers in upcoming tournaments. Blue Doflamingo and Purple Luffy are the most anticipated contenders, but it will be exciting to see if decks like Green Uta or Red Edward Newgate have an impact in OP08.5.
