Table of Contents
If you are looking for a durable and flexible Leader with a straightforward game plan, ST29-001-monkeydluffy is an excellent option to consider. As one of the few Leaders that start with 6 Life cards, he naturally performs well against aggressive strategies. Combined with his universal Leader effect, this makes him a legitimate counter to fast-paced decks, including Leaders like OP14-020-dracule-mihawk and OP14-041-boa-hancock. If you want a Leader you can main long term and fully customize to match your personal playstyle, ST29-001-monkeydluffy stands out as a strong and adaptable choice.
Welcome to your comprehensive deckbuilding guide for ST29-001-monkeydluffy, a new powerhouse Leader available in the OP14+ format. In this guide, we will break down the core strategies, essential card choices, and flexible tech options that define the deck. Built around the depth and reliability of the Yellow card pool, this Leader offers both stability and explosive potential, making it a consistent contender in the current and future format.
- Deck Core: Cards that are absolute must-includes or found in nearly every winning list.
- Tech Cards: Specialized options for fine-tuning your deck against specific matchups
- Sample Decklists: Proven examples showcasing various builds optimized for different formats.
ST29-001-monkeydluffy operates on a simple yet highly effective game plan centered around his impactful [When Attacking] effect. When you are at 2 or fewer Life cards, you may draw 1 card and then trash 1 card from your hand, giving you precise hand filtering exactly when the game becomes most intense. This ability allows you to stabilize under pressure by finding defensive counters or assemble the final pieces needed to close out the match.
In contrast to other high-Life or high-power Leaders such as OP02-001-edwardnewgate, who must sacrifice his own Life each turn as a balancing mechanic, ST29-001-monkeydluffy comes with no built-in drawback. Beginning the game with 6 Life that provides extra value while benefiting from a purely advantageous effect makes him exceptionally consistent and flexible across a variety of formats.
Being a Yellow Leader further strengthens his spot in the format. Since Luffy gains access to some of the most powerful [Trigger] utility cards in the game, along with an extensive toolkit for life manipulation. The Yellow card pool enables you to adjust your own Life cards or disrupt your opponent’s Life strategically, giving you a meaningful edge in both aggressive and midrange matchups.
If you want a Leader you can confidently main and fully customize to fit your personal playstyle, then set your course and place your faith in ST29-001-monkeydluffy, the future King of the Pirates.
Core Cards
Every strong ST29-001-monkeydluffy deck begins with a reliable core, even though a fully standardized list has not yet been established. Based on the most successful results since the release of OP14 and the newer mini sets, these cards have consistently proven essential. They stabilize your board, maintain steady pressure, and allow Luffy to fully capitalize on his flexible, value driven playstyle.
Staple Event Cards
A flexible defensive tool, OP06-115-youre-the-one-who-should-disappear is a 0 cost Event that provides valuable protection in clutch situations. Its [Counter] effect grants +3000 power to your Leader or one of your Characters by trashing 1 card from your hand, making it a dependable fallback when no traditional hand counters are available. What truly makes this card stand out is its [Trigger] effect. If you have 0 Life cards, you may add the top card of your deck to your Life area. With how versatile ST29-001-monkeydluffy builds can be, manipulating Life is relatively easy, especially with tools like ST13-017-flame-dragon-king. This makes the Trigger effect more consistent and capable of swinging the game by granting one crucial extra turn to close it out.
Run 0-4 copies as recommended.
ST29-016-kizaru-compared-to-two-years-ago-were-a-hundred-times-stronger-now is a 1 cost direct support Event for ST29-001-monkeydluffy. Its [Main] effect grants your Leader [Unblockable], creating a strong line to secure surprise lethal in certain situations. On top of that, it also functions as a 3000 counter, improving the deck’s overall balance between offense and defense.
Run 0-3copies as recommended.
Another staple Event is ST13-017-flame-dragon-king, a 2 cost life manipulation tool that also serves as a powerful 4000 counter. Its [Main] effect allows you to look at and rearrange your Life cards in any order, giving ST29-001-monkeydluffy consistent access to powerful [Trigger] effects at the right moment. Additionally, its own [Trigger] effect lets you add 1 card from the top or bottom of your Life to your hand, then place up to 1 card from your hand on top of your Life. This layered utility and defensive value firmly cements its role as a core piece of the deck.
Run 0-4 copies as recommended.
Midgame Core Pieces
One of the deck’s primary attackers is OP06-104-kikunojo, a 4 cost, 6000 power Character that has consistently appeared in Yellow builds across multiple metas. With a strong stat line, Kikunojo can comfortably swing into 6000 power Leaders. Her [On K.O.] effect allows you to place up to 1 card from the top of your deck into your Life area, while her [Trigger] effect lets you play her for free, creating an unexpected attacker at no cost. Both effects activate only when your opponent has 3 or fewer Life cards, making her particularly effective against lower Life Leaders such as OP13-002-portgasdace and OP11-040-monkeydluffy. This gives ST29-001-monkeydluffy a solid spread of favorable matchups thanks to Kikunojo’s offensive pressure.
Run 0-4 copies as recommended.
One of the most cohesive and multi purpose core cards in the deck is EB03-053-nami, a standout 5 cost, 6000 power Character. Her [On Play] effect attaches 1 rested DON!! to your Leader, then adds the top card of your opponent’s Life to their hand if they have 3 or more Life. This makes her especially strong against Leaders that sit at high Life totals or rely on three or fewer Life conditions, such as OP13-002-portgasdace and OP11-040-monkeydluffy, while immediately boosting your Leader’s offensive output.
Her value extends further with her [On K.O.] effect, which allows you to reveal the top card of your Life and play a 6000 power or lower Character from your hand. She can replace herself with another copy or deploy a key unit like OP06-104-kikunojo. This blend of tempo, synergy, and sustained board presence makes EB03-053-nami a top tier staple in any ST29-001-monkeydluffy build.
Run 4 copies as recommended.
The deck’s midgame stabilizer is OP12-119-bartholomew-kuma, a 6 cost, 7000 power Character that provides exceptional sustain. His [On Play] effect lets you add 1 card from your deck to your Life by trashing 1 card from your hand, improving Luffy’s durability while turning excess resources into long term value. After resolving this effect, Kuma gains +2 cost until the end of your opponent’s next End Phase, effectively becoming an 8 cost body that avoids many common removal thresholds.
In addition, his [On K.O.] effect during your opponent’s turn adds another card from the top of your deck to your Life area, meaning Kuma can potentially generate two extra Life cards over the course of a game. While drawing multiple copies may feel clunky, Kuma remains a strong attacker that significantly enhances the deck’s life regeneration engine.
Run 1-4 copies as recommended.
ST29-005-jinbe is a 6 cost, 5000 power vanilla character that primarily serves as a 2000 counter. His [Trigger] effect allows you to play him for free if your Leader is “Monkey.D.Luffy,” giving you a surprise attacker at no cost. This combination of defensive reliability and situational tempo makes Jinbe a solid core inclusion that strengthens the deck’s overall stability.
Run 4 copies as recommended.
Life Control Closers
The first life burn closer of the deck is EB03-055-nico-robin, a 7 cost, 8000 power Character with extremely impactful effects. Her [On Play] effect requires you to trash 1 card from the top of your Life, then add up to 2 cards from the top of your deck to your Life area as long as your Leader has the Straw Hat Crew type, which makes her a perfect fit for ST29-001-monkeydluffy. She also has a threatening [Opponent’s Turn][On K.O.] effect that deals 1 damage to your opponent, punishing them for removing her and applying constant burn pressure.
This combination provides immense value in both resource generation and board presence. Leaving her on the field forces opponents to deal with an 8000 power attacker that demands significant investment. Removing her immediately is just as dangerous, as it guarantees burn damage and can cost them the game if they miscalculate. Because she generates Life, applies pressure, and threatens guaranteed damage, EB03-055-nico-robin stands out as one of the strongest staples for ST29-001-monkeydluffy in the current meta.
Run 3-4 copies as recommended.
The deck’s explosive finisher is OP13-108-jewelry-bonney, a 9 cost, 10000 power Character with a threatening [On Play] effect that grants herself [Rush] and deals direct damage to your opponent’s Leader, provided your Leader has the Egghead type. This creates a powerful endgame sequence capable of closing games in a single turn once your board is established.
She also has a [Trigger] effect that rests one of your opponent’s Characters with a cost of 7 or less, offering situational defensive value. However, her primary role is to serve as a decisive win condition that gives ST29-001-monkeydluffy a clear and explosive way to end games.
Run 4 copies as recommended.
Tech Cards
With the core of ST29-001-monkeydluffy established, it is time to explore the Tech Cards. These flexible options allow you to tailor Luffy’s strategy, address specific weaknesses, and respond to key meta threats. Choosing the right tech pieces ensures Luffy remains adaptable and competitive across a wide range of matchups.
Most Popular Option
If you want to add more consistency to your ST29-001-monkeydluffy decklist, consider OP13-113-lilith. She acts as a 1-cost searcher with a highly efficient [On Play] effect that lets you look at the top 4 cards of your deck and reveal up to 1 card with a [Trigger], excluding Lilith herself, to add to your hand. This provides strong deck filtering and improves consistency, especially since most core cards in this build carry a [Trigger] effect, greatly reducing the risk of dead draws. On top of that, Lilith’s own [Trigger] effect allows you to activate her [On Play] ability for free, giving you extra value and easier access to key pieces without spending additional resources.
Run 0-4 copies depending on personal preference.
2k Counter Options
A solid additional 2000 counter, OP07-099-usopp is a 1-cost vanilla Character with a [Trigger] effect that grants +2000 power to your Leader or one of your Characters until the end of your next turn. This card offers excellent flexibility, as it retains value whether used as a hand counter or activated through its [Trigger] effect, allowing it to adapt smoothly to the game’s tempo. It is also a card you are happy to reveal late in the game, where every small power boost can decide crucial exchanges. Its dual utility makes it a deceptively strong inclusion in ST29-001-monkeydluffy decks.
Run 0-4 copies depending on personal preference.
If you need another 2000 counter that can also function as a conditional draw engine, PRB02-016-otama is a 2-cost Character with an [Activate: Main] effect that lets you add 1 card from the top or bottom of your Life cards to your hand, then grant +3000 power to your Leader or one of your Characters. This works exceptionally well with the naturally high starting Life of ST29-001-monkeydluffy, and it becomes especially valuable when your opponent is attempting to limit your resources. It also enables stronger offensive pushes when Otama’s effect is activated. Additionally, her [Trigger] effect allows you to rest up to 1 of your opponent’s Characters with a cost of 4 or less, disrupting their offense for a turn. Despite these powerful effects, her primary value remains as a reliable 2000 counter in Luffy builds.
Run 0-4 copies depending on personal preference.
One of the most popular Yellow tech options, OP04-100-caponegangbege is a 3-cost Character with a powerful [Trigger] effect that can single handedly swing games if revealed at the right moment. It prevents up to 1 of your opponent’s Leader or Characters from attacking during that turn, often shutting down potential finishing plays, especially against aggressive decks like OP14-020-dracule-mihawk. On top of that, being a 2000 counter further solidifies Bege as a strong tech inclusion for ST29-001-monkeydluffy lists.
Run 0-4 copies depending on personal preference.
Another dependable 2000 counter option is ST29-009-nico-robin, a 4-cost [Blocker] with a [Trigger] effect that allows you to play her for free if your Leader is “Monkey.D.Luffy.” This provides a reliable defensive [Blocker] to help you survive critical turns, which is easy to enable in a deck built around Life manipulation like ST29-001-monkeydluffy.
Run 0-4 copies depending on personal preference.
Event Card Options
One of the strongest Event tech cards available is OP07-116-blaze-slice, a 1-cost control tool with both [Main] and [Counter] utility. It grants +1000 power to your Leader or one of your Characters for the turn, and if you have 2 or fewer Life cards, you may also rest one of your opponent’s Characters with a cost of 4 or less. This makes it highly effective against go wide strategies while also serving as an offensive tool to push through blockers in matchups like OP13-079-imu and OP07-019-jewelry-bonney. Although its [Trigger] effect rests a 4-cost or lower Character for free, it is often better to keep Blaze Slice in hand for proactive pressure rather than relying solely on reactive Life flips.
Run 0-2 copies depending on personal preference.
Another low cost control option is OP05-115-two-hundred-million-volts-amaru, a 2-cost Event that offers both versatility and finishing potential. Its [Main] effect grants +3000 power for the turn, enabling stronger attacks and forcing heavier defensive commits. If you have 1 or fewer Life cards, you may also rest 1 of your opponent’s Characters with a cost of 4 or less, ideally a [Blocker], making it a strong late game finisher. Its [Trigger] effect allows you to add the top card of your deck to your Life by trashing 2 cards from your hand, offering clutch survivability in grind heavy games. This balance of offense and defense makes it a flexible option in matchups such as OP13-079-imu and OP07-019-jewelry-bonney.
Run 0-1 copy depending on personal preference.
Utility Card Options
If you need a cheap [Blocker], EB01-052-viola is a solid consideration. She is a 2-cost Character with an [On Play] effect that gives you two options. You may look at all of your opponent’s Life cards and return them in any order, or turn all of your Life cards face down. The second option is rarely relevant, but Viola primarily earns her slot as a low cost [Blocker] that protects key units and helps you survive crucial turns.
Run 0-2 copies depending on personal preference.
For a reliable searcher, consider ST29-004-sanji, a 4-cost direct support card for ST29-001-monkeydluffy. His [On Play] effect lets you look at the top 4 cards of your deck, reveal up to 1 Straw Hat Crew type card, and add it to your hand, placing the rest at the bottom in any order. Additionally, his [Trigger] effect allows you to trash 1 card from your hand to play him for free. This combination of filtering and tempo provides strong justification for his inclusion as a tech option.
Run 0-4 copies depending on personal preference.
If you need optional board control without committing additional DON!!, the 5-cost OP07-113-roronoa-zoro is an excellent inclusion. His [Trigger] effect lets you rest up to 1 of your opponent’s Leader or Characters if your Leader has the Egghead type. This allows you to disrupt high power Characters like OP13-042-edwardnewgate or even opposing Leaders such as OP14-020-dracule-mihawk, making Zoro a strong situational tech card.
Run 0-4 copies depending on personal preference.
For players who want to swarm the board, P-118-lilith is an excellent option. This 6-cost, 6000-power Character has an [On Play] effect that allows you to play up to 1 Egghead type Character or a Character with a [Trigger] and a cost of 5 or less from your hand. This enables strong synergy plays, especially by summoning stabilizers like OP06-104-kikunojo or other key tech units.
Run 0-2 copies depending on personal preference.
Lastly, one of the oldest but still effective tech options is OP03-123-charlotte-katakuri, an 8-cost, 8000-power Character with a reliable [On Play] effect that allows you to place up to 1 Character with a cost of 8 or less on the top or bottom of its owner’s Life cards face up. This can be used on your own Characters to set up future [Trigger] effects or on your opponent’s units to disrupt their board state. This added layer of control gives ST29-001-monkeydluffy even more strategic depth in the later stages of the game.
Run 0-2 copies depending on personal preference.
Sample Deck Lists
Decklist Placement: Flagship Tournament - 1st Place (Oshiki)
This flagship-winning list by Oshiki takes advantage of ST29-001-monkeydluffy’s deckbuilding flexibility and includes several unique tech options such as OP07-113-roronoa-zoro for board control, P-118-lilith for swarm potential, and OP03-123-charlotte-katakuri as a flexible late-game unit.
Decklist Placement: Flagship Tournament - 1st Place (Ikiri)
This solid decklist went undefeated in a flagship tournament piloted by Ikiri. Its focuses more on improving the deck’s overall consistency by including searchers like OP13-113-lilith and ST29-004-sanji to reliably find key pieces of the deck at the right moment.
Decklist Placement: Flagship Tournament - 1st Place (Rio)
The last list, by Rio, secured a 5–0 run and takes a more defensive approach by including versatile 2000 hand counters such as OP07-099-usopp, PRB02-016-otama, and OP04-100-caponegangbege. It also includes EB01-052-viola as a cheap [Blocker] to further increase the deck’s resiliency
Conclusion
To wrap up, ST29-001-monkeydluffy is one of the most durable and flexible Yellow Leaders available in the ST29 and OP14+ format. His 6 starting Life gives him a natural edge against aggressive decks, while his [When Attacking] filtering effect keeps your late game turns precise and controlled. Unlike other high Life Leaders that require sacrifices, Luffy offers stability with no inherent drawback.
With powerful life manipulation tools like ST13-017-flame-dragon-king, pressure pieces such as OP06-104-kikunojo and EB03-053-nami, sustain from OP12-119-bartholomew-kuma, and explosive finishers like EB03-055-nico-robin and OP13-108-jewelry-bonney, the deck blends defense, tempo, and decisive closing power into a cohesive strategy.
If you want a Leader that rewards smart life management and clean sequencing while remaining adaptable to different metas, trust in ST29-001-monkeydluffy and prove that resilience and timing define the future King of the Pirates.!
