In 2022, Shueisha, Bandai, and Carddass declared the creation of a trading card game based on the acclaimed manga, One Piece, to mark its 25th anniversary. Dubbed the One Piece Card Game, it debuted in Japan in July 2022 and spread globally later that year. The introduction of the One Piece Card Game didn’t garner significant excitement; trading card games from popular Japanese series aren’t novel, with only a handful, like Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game and Pokemon TCG, achieving commercial success. Despite expectations, the One Piece Card Game outperformed predictions.
2024 statistics from TCG retailer TCGplayer indicate that the One Piece Card Game was among the top-selling Trading Card Games (TCG). During the last quarter, the booster boxes for the One Piece Card Game: Emperors of the New World set outperformed Pokemon TCG’s Surging Sparks on their website. In Japan, it ranked as the third best-selling TCG in September 2024, trailing only Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokemon. The enduring appeal of the One Piece manga and anime probably contributed significantly to its sales success. However, a portion of its apparent success might also be due to borrowing a significant mechanic from Magic: The Gathering.
The One Piece TCG and the Magic: The Gathering Commander Format Have a Lot in Common
The One Piece TCG Features a Type of Card Known as a Leader
In the Trading Card Game (TCG) based on the popular series “One Piece,” players engage in competitive matches using decks consisting of 50 cards. These cards fall under three main categories: character cards, event cards, and stage cards. Furthermore, each deck possesses a unique card called a Leader, which symbolizes the player and is always kept on the battlefield. The Leader card serves as a guide for the strategies employed by the specific deck. All cards within a single deck must match the color of their respective Leader. If a Leader is defeated in combat, the game is lost by the player.
The One Piece TCG’s Leaders Are Similar to Magic: The Gathering’s Commanders in Concept
In essence, although the actual games might vary significantly, the Leader cards in the One Piece Trading Card Game exhibit a strong similarity to the widely-loved Commander format in Magic: The Gathering. To put it simply, Commander is essentially what its name implies. Players construct a deck of 100 cards and select a unique creature or Planeswalker as their “Commander.” Similar to the One Piece TCG’s Leaders, each player’s deck revolves around the colors of their Commander cards. If a Commander inflicts at least 21 points of damage on an opponent in a single game, that player forfeits the contest.
As a fan, I’ve found that both the Magic: The Gathering Commander format and the One Piece Trading Card Game offer a more laid-back experience compared to traditional card games, providing ample room for creativity. In these formats, I get to customize my decks by selecting cards that complement my chosen Commanders or Leaders, offering numerous possibilities for deck building. This flexibility results in less restrictive rules and more player freedom, which is a refreshing change from competitive TCG play. It seems that these casual-friendly games have drawn the interest of small groups of friends and solo players rather than hardcore TCG enthusiasts, making them an enjoyable choice for those seeking a less intense gaming experience.
While There Are Some Differences Between the Two, MtG’s Commander Format and One Piece’s TCG are Both Casual-Friendly
It’s important to mention that the Magic: The Gathering Commander format differs from the One Piece Trading Card Game in several ways. In the Commander format, players must ensure that each deck only contains one copy of any card (excluding basic lands), while in the One Piece TCG, multiple copies of the same card can be included in a single deck, similar to traditional Magic: The Gathering formats. Despite these differences, their gameplay mechanics, which are user-friendly and appealing, have likely played a significant role in their widespread popularity.
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2025-07-21 18:33