One Piece TCG Rules: Blockers, Counters, Decks & Mulligans

No. You activate [Blocker] by resting the Blocker card, so it has to be active (upright) when the attack comes in (CR 10-1-4-1).

This matters most for Characters that attacked on your turn. Attacking rests a Character (CR 7-1-1-1), and it only becomes active again in your next Refresh Phase (CR 6-2-4), so it stays rested through your opponent's whole turn and can't block. Your opponent can also attack only your Leader or your rested Characters (CR 7-1-1-2), which means a Character that attacked is open to attack and can't protect anything. Another active Blocker can still block for it.

A Character you played this turn can block on your opponent's turn. The "can't attack the turn it's played" rule only limits attacking (CR 3-7-4).

Both. [Blocker] can be used whenever one of your other cards is being attacked, whether that's your Leader or a Character (CR 10-1-4-1). Since your opponent can only attack your Leader or your rested Characters, in practice you block for your Leader or for a rested Character.

A Blocker can't block an attack aimed at itself, because the rule says "other cards."

1. Attack Step: Your opponent rests their active Leader or a Character to attack, targeting your Leader or one of your rested Characters. [When Attacking] effects activate (CR 7-1-1).
2. Block Step: You may rest one active [Blocker] Character. It becomes the target, and its [On Block] effects activate (CR 7-1-2).
3. Counter Step: You may still use Counters, including on the Blocker (CR 7-1-3).
4. Damage Step: If the attacker's power is greater than or equal to the Blocker's power, the Blocker is K.O.'d and goes to the trash. If it's lower, nothing happens (CR 7-1-4). Either way, your Leader takes no damage from that attack.
5. A Blocker that survives stays rested until your next Refresh Phase.

• The Blocker must be active, and using it rests it (CR 10-1-4-1)
• One [Blocker] per battle, so you can't stack two Blockers on one attack (CR 7-1-2-1)
• Works on attacks against your Leader or your Characters (CR 10-1-4-1)
• Counters still work after you block, because the Counter Step comes after the Block Step (CR 7-1-3)
• Attackers with [Unblockable] can't be blocked (CR 10-1-7-1)
• If the Blocker loses the battle it is K.O.'d, not your Leader damaged (CR 7-1-4-1-2)

Block When:

• Damage would be lethal
• You have expendable blockers
• Opponent invested heavily (lots of DON!!)
• Your blocker would survive anyway

Don't Block When:

• You have life to spare
• Blocker is more valuable than life
• You'd rather take the Life card into your hand (or hit a [Trigger])

The battle rule: The attacker wins if its power is greater than or equal to the defender's power. Ties go to the attacker (CR 7-1-4-1).

Example:

• Attacker: 7000 power
• Defender (your Leader): 5000 power

No Counter: 7000 >= 5000, so the attack succeeds and you take 1 damage.

Trash one Counter +2000 card: Your Leader is at 7000. That's a tie, and the attacker still wins.

Trash a Counter +2000 and a Counter +1000: Your Leader is at 8000. 7000 < 8000, so the attack fails and nothing happens.

1. Counters are used only in the Counter Step of your opponent's attack (CR 7-1-3, 10-2-4-1)
2. The Counter value printed on a Character card is used by trashing that card from your hand (CR 2-10-2, 7-1-3-1-1)
3. [Counter] Event cards cost DON!!: pay the cost, trash the Event, and resolve its effect (CR 7-1-3-1-2). You pay with active DON!! in your cost area, so DON!! you leave active at the end of your turn are what you have for Counter Events.
4. Use as many Counters as you like, in any order (CR 7-1-3-1)
5. A Counter boost lasts for that battle only (CR 7-1-3-1-1)
6. If a card shows more than one Counter value, only the highest applies (CR 2-10-4)

When to Counter:

• When you'd take lethal damage
• When opponent invested heavily (lots of DON!!)
• When the Counter card isn't useful otherwise

When NOT to Counter:

• You have life to spare
• Counter card is more valuable played
• Attack is too big to counter efficiently

• Leader: exactly 1
• Deck: exactly 50 cards, made up of Character, Event and Stage cards (CR 5-1-2-1)
• DON!! deck: exactly 10 DON!! cards
• Copies: no more than 4 cards with the same card number (CR 5-1-2-3)
• Some cards have their own deck-building text, and that text replaces these rules for that card (CR 5-1-2-4)
• No side decks at official events (TRM 2.4)

Your deck can only include cards of colors on your Leader (CR 5-1-2-2).

• One-color Leader (e.g. red): only red cards.
• Two-color Leader (e.g. red/green): red cards, green cards, and red/green cards.

A multicolor card counts as every one of its colors (CR 2-3-5), so all of its colors must be on your Leader. A red/blue card can't go in a red/green Leader's deck.

The limit is 4 cards with the same card number (CR 2-14-2, 5-1-2-3), not 4 cards with the same name. Two Characters with the same name but different card numbers are different cards for this rule, so you can play up to 4 of each.

These are common starting ratios, not rules:

• Low Cost (0-3): 16-20 cards - Early plays, Counter cards, searchers
• Mid Cost (4-6): 16-20 cards - Core threats, value characters, removal
• High Cost (7-10): 8-12 cards - Finishers, game-ending threats
• Events: 6-10 cards - Removal, protection, card advantage

Counter Distribution:

• +2000 Counters: 8-12 cards
• +1000 Counters: 4-8 cards
• More Counters = More defensive

Keep hands that:

• Have cards you can play turns 1-3
• Advance your gameplan
• Have at least 1-2 Counter cards
• Include key cards for your strategy

Mulligan hands that:

• Are all expensive cards (6+ cost)
• Have no playable early cards
• Don't fit your deck's strategy
• Are missing critical pieces

Aggro Keep:
1-cost, 2-cost, 3-cost, 4-cost, Event
✓ Great curve, can pressure immediately

Aggro Mulligan:
5-cost, 6-cost, 7-cost, 8-cost, Event
✗ Can't play anything until turn 5

Control Keep:
2-cost blocker, 4-cost removal, 5-cost, Counter, Counter
✓ Early defense, answers to threats

1. Shuffle your deck and place it face-down, then place your Leader face-up in the Leader Area (CR 5-2-1-2, 5-2-1-3)
2. Use rock-paper-scissors (or another method) to decide which player chooses to go first or second (CR 5-2-1-4)
3. Draw 5 cards. Starting with the player going first, each player may mulligan once (CR 5-2-1-6)
4. Place cards from the top of your deck face-down in your Life Area equal to your Leader's Life value (CR 5-2-1-7)
5. The player going first starts their turn (CR 5-2-1-8)

Important:

• The player going first doesn't draw on their first turn and gets only 1 DON!! that turn (CR 6-3-1, 6-4-1)
• Neither player can attack on their own first turn (CR 6-5-6-1)

Effects that last "until the start of your next turn" end. All DON!! given to your Leader and Characters return to your cost area rested, and then all your rested cards become active: Leader, Characters, Stage and DON!! (CR 6-2).

Key Point: This isn't optional. You can't choose to keep cards rested.

Draw 1 card. The player going first skips this on their first turn (CR 6-3-1).

Place 2 DON!! from your DON!! deck into your cost area. The player going first places only 1 on their first turn (CR 6-4-1).

• Turn 1 (going first): 1 DON!!
• Turn 1 (going second): 2 DON!!
• After that: 2 DON!! per turn

Without DON!!-ramp effects, the player going second has all 10 DON!! on their 5th turn and the player going first on their 6th.

You can do these in any order, as many times as you want (CR 6-5-2):

A. Play cards - Play Characters and Stages from your hand by resting active DON!! equal to their cost. A Character can't attack the turn it's played unless it has Rush (CR 2-7-2, 3-7-4).

B. Use Events - For an Event marked [Main], pay its cost, trash it, then resolve its effect (CR 2-7-3).

C. Give DON!! - Put an active DON!! from your cost area under your Leader or a Character. Each one gives +1000 power during your turn (CR 6-5-5).

D. Attack - Rest your active Leader or a Character to attack your opponent's Leader or one of their rested Characters (CR 7-1).

E. Activate effects - Use [Activate: Main] effects (CR 6-5-4). [On Play] effects aren't something you choose to use. They activate automatically when the card is played (CR 10-2-6).

[End of Your Turn] effects activate, effects that last "until the end of the turn" end, and your opponent's turn begins (CR 6-6).

Hand size: The End Phase has no hand-size check, so you can keep as many cards as you like.

Without Rush:

• This turn: Play a 4-cost character
• Next turn: It can finally attack

With Rush:

• This turn: Play a 4-cost Rush character and attack immediately
• Next turn: Attack again

Rush gives you an extra attack!

Offensive Use:

• Apply immediate pressure
• Finish games faster
• Punish opponents who tap out

Defensive Use:

• Rush characters can attack rested enemy characters immediately
• Remove a threat before it attacks again

Remember: Rush only matters on the turn the Character is played. After that it attacks like any other Character.

• [On Play]: when the card is played (CR 10-2-6)
• [When Attacking]: when you declare an attack with it (CR 10-2-5)
• [On Block]: when you activate its [Blocker] (CR 10-2-15)
• [On Your Opponent's Attack]: when your opponent declares an attack (CR 10-2-16)
• [On K.O.]: when it is K.O.'d (CR 10-2-17)
• [End of Your Turn]: during your End Phase (CR 10-2-7)
• [Activate: Main]: you choose to use it during your Main Phase, outside of battle (CR 10-2-2)
• [Main] / [Counter]: Event timing. [Main] is used in your Main Phase, [Counter] in your opponent's Counter Step (CR 10-2-3, 10-2-4)
• [Trigger]: when the card comes off your Life because of damage (CR 10-1-5)
• [DON!! xX]: only while the card has X or more DON!! given to it (CR 8-3-2-3)
• [Once Per Turn]: can be activated and resolved only once per turn (CR 10-2-13)

When your Leader takes damage, you take the top card of your Life. If it has [Trigger], you may reveal it and activate the Trigger instead of adding the card to your hand. The card then goes to the trash unless the effect says otherwise. If you don't activate it, add it to your hand without revealing it (CR 10-1-5).

If the attacker has [Banish], the Life card is trashed and its Trigger can't be activated (CR 10-1-3).

Common [Trigger] effects:

• Play this card - put the Character into play
• Draw - draw a card (some draw 2 and then trash 1)
• Removal - K.O. or rest one of your opponent's Characters with a low cost
• Power - give your Leader or a Character +1000 power during this turn
• Activate this card's [Main] effect - use the Event's [Main] effect

Effects with "can" or "may" are optional. Effects without those words must be carried out as far as possible (CR 8-1-2).

Mandatory:
[On Play] Draw 1 card. → You MUST draw when it's played

Optional:
[On Play] You may draw 1 card. → You CHOOSE whether to draw

Life = Free Cards

When you take damage, you gain a card. This is actually valuable!

Scenario:

• You: 4 life, 3 cards in hand
• Take 2 hits: 2 life, 5 cards in hand
• You traded life for cards!

Sometimes this is the correct play.

Taking Damage Intentionally:

• Gain cards when hand is low
• Hope for Trigger effects
• Save Counter cards for later
• Don't waste blockers on small attacks

Protecting Life:

• When at 1-2 life, protect everything
• Lethal damage means game over
• Block and Counter aggressively at low life

• A K.O.'d Character (CR 10-2-1)
• An Event, as you use it (CR 2-7-3)
• Character cards trashed from your hand for their Counter value (CR 7-1-3-1-1)
• A Character you trash to make room for a 6th (CR 3-7-6-1)
• A Life card after its [Trigger] resolves, unless the effect says otherwise (CR 10-1-5-3)
• Cards trashed by effects

1. The trash is public. Either player can look through both trashes, including their order, at any time (CR 3-5-2)
2. You may reorder your own trash freely. New cards go on top (CR 3-5-2)
3. Cards in the trash can come back through card effects

Track your Trash:

• Know what Counters you've used
• Know what threats are gone
• Know what you can retrieve

Track opponent's Trash:

• What answers have they used?
• What threats are already dealt with?
• What's left in their deck?

Step 1: Read Card Text Carefully
Look for keywords and conditions:

• "When you [action]..."
• "If you have [condition]..."
• "For each [thing]..."
• Cards with a {Type}, such as {Straw Hat Crew}

Step 2: Identify Themes
Common synergy themes:

• Type Synergies: Cards that boost {Straw Hat Crew}
• Color Synergies: Effects that care about card colors
• Action Synergies: "When you draw" + draw effects
• Stat Synergies: Power boosts that stack

In card text, { } braces name a type and [ ] brackets name a card (CR 2-1-2, 2-4-3).

Pattern 1: Type
Cards that care about {Straw Hat Crew}:

• "All {Straw Hat Crew} gain +1000"
• "If you have 3+ {Straw Hat Crew}..."
  Build deck with mostly that type!

Pattern 2: Engine + Payoff
Engine: Cards that do an action repeatedly (draw, search)
Payoff: Cards that reward that action ("When you draw, +1000")

Pattern 3: Setup + Finisher
Setup: Ramp DON!!, draw cards, control board
Finisher: Big Rush attackers that close the game

1. Aggressive Beatdown
Plan: Attack every turn, kill by turn 5-6
Cards: Low-cost characters, Rush, direct damage

2. Board Control
Plan: Remove their threats, win with superior board
Cards: Removal events, efficient characters, value

3. Big Finishers
Plan: Survive early, play massive threats late
Cards: Ramp, defense, 8-10 cost bombs

4. Combo
Plan: Assemble specific cards, execute combo
Cards: Search effects, combo pieces, protection

Ask yourself:

1. What cards win me the game?
   Look at your biggest threats and finishers

2. How do I get to that point?
   What setup and resources do I need?

3. What stops me from winning?
   What answers exist? What's my backup plan?

Where to Look:

• Cardboard2 LGS Finder (cardboard2.com/lgs)
• Bandai's official event listings and the Bandai TCG+ app
• Facebook groups for your area
• Ask at nearby game stores

For official Bandai events (TRM 2.4):

• A legal deck: 1 Leader, 50 cards, 10 DON!!
• Main deck in opaque, identical sleeves. Leader and DON!! sleeved or unsleeved so they look different from your deck
• Extra sleeves, a pen for result slips, and any dice or counters your deck needs
• Your Bandai TCG+ account and the entry fee, if there is one
• Photo ID if asked (required at age-limited or invitational events, TRM 2.3)

Also nice to have:

• Playmat
• Water and snacks
• Trade binder (if you want to trade)

Before the Event:

1. Arrive 15-30 minutes early
2. Register and pay the entry fee, if any
3. Find a seat and socialize
4. Wait for pairings

During Rounds:

1. Pairings announced
2. Find your opponent
3. Play your match. In Bandai's Tournament Rules Manual, standard rounds are best-of-one (30 minutes + 5 minutes extra time), and top cut is best-of-three (TRM 3.5). Ask your store how they run it.
4. Report results to organizer
5. Wait for next round

After the Event:

1. Prizes distributed
2. Trade with other players
3. Get feedback on your deck

Do:

• Greet your opponent
• Communicate clearly
• Ask before touching their cards
• Call a judge if confused
• Shake hands after

Don't:

• Rush your opponent
• Get angry at bad luck
• Accuse of cheating (call judge instead)
• Be a sore winner or loser

1. Tell people you're new - They'll help you
2. Ask questions - Better than making mistakes
3. Don't worry about winning - Focus on learning
4. Take notes - What worked? What didn't?
5. Have fun - It's a card game, enjoy it!