Since 1 April 2026, One Piece Card Game has rotation. The Standard format, which is what almost every official tournament uses, no longer allows every card ever released: only those from the most recent blocks. In this guide we explain how the block system works, which sets are legal now and until when, what happens to cards that rotate out and what is worth buying if you want to play.
What the Standard format is
Standard is the main format of One Piece Card Game. Bandai uses it for the Championship 26-27, store tournaments, release events for each set and store Treasure Cups, unless the event says otherwise.
The idea is simple: the pool of legal cards is refreshed every year, so Standard is played with roughly three years' worth of cards. Bandai explains that, without this system, by 2026 the game would already have four years of cards and by 2032 it would be ten, which would make the game much harder to understand and prepare for.
What the block icon is
Every card has a block number printed in the bottom right corner. That number decides whether the card is legal in Standard. For the regular boosters, Bandai groups them in fours:
- Block 1: OP-01 to OP-04.
- Block 2: OP-05 to OP-08.
- Block 3: OP-09 to OP-12.
- Block 4: OP-13 to OP-16.
- Block 5: from OP-17 (following the same rule, that would be OP-17 to OP-20).
Starter decks, Extra Boosters (EB) and Premium Boosters (PRB) have their own block number printed on each card, so for those products the most reliable thing is to check the icon on the card. There are also two special cases:
- Block X. Since April 2026 it appears on new Super Parallel cards and on cards that share their number. In general they are legal in Standard even when the rest of their set rotates out. Bandai keeps an official list of these cards, last updated on 30 October 2026.
- Cards treated as block 4. Some older cards count as block 4 even though they carry a lower number. Bandai has an official list of 14 cards in this situation, such as OP01-039 Killer, OP03-008 Buggy and ST01-011 Brook, and has confirmed that every card with a 1 icon in PREMIUM BOOSTER -ONE PIECE CARD THE BEST vol.2- counts as block 4. According to Bandai, the cards on that list are legal in Standard from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029.
Which sets are legal now
From 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, Standard allows cards from blocks 2 to 5. Block 1 is out.
| Block | Boosters | Standard status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OP-01 to OP-04 | Rotated out since 1 April 2026 |
| 2 | OP-05 to OP-08 | Legal until 31 March 2027 |
| 3 | OP-09 to OP-12 | Legal, and stays in for the season starting April 2027 |
| 4 | OP-13 to OP-16 | Legal |
| 5 | OP-17 onwards | Legal |
The next change has already been announced: from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2028, Standard will allow blocks 3 to 6, and block 2 will leave the format. Bandai has not yet published rotation dates for the following blocks, apart from the one for cards treated as block 4 mentioned above.
OP-18 The Dominance of God releases in English on 20 November 2026. If you want to see what is coming next, it is all in EB-05 and OP-18: the new One Piece sets.
What happens to cards that rotate out
A card that leaves Standard does not stop existing and does not become banned. You simply can no longer use it in Standard tournaments. You can still play it:
- In the Extra format, which allows every card.
- In casual games with friends.
There is one exception worth knowing: if Bandai reprints a card with a newer block number, all of its earlier artworks become legal in Standard. For example, OP01-016 Nami and OP04-016 Bad Manners Kick Course already have an updated block number. Before you sell or put away a rotated card, check the official list of cards with an updated block.
The official formats: Standard and Extra
| Format | Which cards it allows | Where it is played |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Blocks 2 to 5 (until 31 March 2027) | Championship 26-27, store tournaments, release events and store Treasure Cups |
| Extra | Every card released, from block 1 onwards | Extra Grand Battle at stores (since May 2026) and side events at Regionals and Finals |
Both formats started on 1 April 2026 and share the same list of banned cards and banned pairs. Several older cards that were banned (Great Eruption, Moby Dick, Enies Lobby and Ice Age) were unbanned that day, but as they are block 1 they can only be played in Extra. The full list is in One Piece TCG banned cards.
How to tell if your deck is Standard legal
- Check the icon in the bottom right corner of every card: it has to be 2, 3, 4, 5 or X.
- If you have a block 1 card, check whether it is on the official list of cards treated as block 4 or with an updated block.
- Make sure you are not running any banned card or banned pair.
- Get a few games in before the tournament. You can play One Piece TCG online for free in ARENA, our simulator, which uses the official rules.
What to buy if you want to play
Rotation changes quite a lot about what is worth buying. If your goal is to play Standard, these are the key points:
- Blocks 4 and 5 have the longest life. A booster box from OP-13 onwards gives you cards that will stay legal for several seasons.
- Be careful with block 2. Cards from OP-05 to OP-08 rotate out on 1 April 2027. For playing, there is no point opening boxes of those sets now: just buy the singles you are missing for this season.
- Singles before packs. Once you know which deck you want, buy the specific pieces as singles. If you have not decided yet, check the best meta decks or learn to build your own deck.
- For collecting, rotation matters less. A rotated card can keep its value thanks to its rarity or artwork. Sealed product from older sets is bought more for collecting than for playing.
- Test before you buy. If you are torn between two decks, test your deck in ARENA against the AI or in a private room with a friend before you spend money on the cards.
- For tournaments, buy English. Official tournaments in Europe are played with English cards. French cards are also accepted, but Japanese cards are not allowed.
Always check the official information on Bandai's website, because the block lists and the lists of cards with updated blocks are revised over time.
Frequently asked questions
Which sets are legal in Standard right now?
Until 31 March 2027, cards from blocks 2 to 5: OP-05 onwards, plus block X cards and cards treated as block 4.
When is the next rotation?
On 1 April 2027. On that day block 2 (OP-05 to OP-08) leaves and Standard moves to blocks 3 to 6.
Where is the block icon?
In the bottom right corner of the card. It is a number inside a small icon, or an X on some special cards.
Can I still use my OP-01 to OP-04 cards?
Yes, in the Extra format and in casual games. In Standard, only if the card is on the official list of cards with an updated block or treated as block 4.
Keep reading
- One Piece TCG banned cards: the current banlist and its history.
- Best One Piece TCG decks: the Standard meta tier list.
- How to play One Piece Card Game, step by step.
One Piece card images: © Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Toei Animation. One Piece Card Game is a Bandai product; ONLYCHASES is not affiliated with Bandai.
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