5 min read

Less than two weeks ago we told you that OP-17 The World's Strongest Warriors is on its way, and by now a lot more is known. In this blog you'll read everything we know so far: the release date, the theme, the new mechanics, which cards have already been revealed, how the set compares to earlier releases and whether OP-17 is worth holding on to.

When does OP-17 come out?

The dates are firmly set and have by now been confirmed by several independent sources. The pre-release starts on 21 August 2026 and runs until 13 September: in that period you can already play with the new cards at participating stores during release events. The Japanese version comes out on 22 August 2026, and the international (English) version follows on 28 August 2026. Nothing has shifted since our previous update: all dates line up between the official channels and the major retailers.

What does OP-17 stand for?

The name "The World's Strongest Warriors" is no coincidence: OP-17 is the anniversary set for four years of the One Piece Card Game, and for it Bandai has chosen to put the absolute top of the One Piece world centre stage. Six leaders have been confirmed, each in their own colour: Edward "Whitebeard" Newgate (red), Monkey D. Luffy (black), Shanks (green), Kaido (purple), Charlotte Linlin a.k.a. Big Mom (yellow) and, for the first time ever as a playable leader, Rocks D. Xebec (blue).

On top of that, the set leans heavily on the Elbaf arc, the story currently playing out in the manga and anime in the land of the giants. That explains why characters such as Loki and a giant version of Luffy return in this set: OP-17 connects the current story with the strongest pirates in the history of the series.

Which new mechanics are in OP-17?

The biggest innovation of this set isn't in new game rules, but in a new rarity: the Treasure Rare. This is a completely new rarity layer that sits above the Secret Rare (SEC), with exactly one slot per set. For players who already know the game but haven't followed this set yet: a Treasure Rare is therefore the new "highest step" you can pull, above what used to be the rarest card.

The set also makes extensive use of the familiar Manga Rare (SP) style: cards with black-and-white manga artwork instead of the normal colour illustrations. Further on in this blog you'll read exactly which characters get that treatment. Beyond that, the basics of the game (Leaders, DON!! cards, the Life system) stay unchanged; OP-17 is mainly about the celebration through rarities and artwork, not about a new game mechanic.

Which cards have already been revealed?

Quite a bit is concretely known by now, although Bandai is still holding part of it back. This is what we know so far:

  • Manga Rare (SP): the four "original" Yonko — Whitebeard, Shanks, Kaido and Big Mom — all get a Manga Rare version in black-and-white manga artwork.
  • SP Gold (new insert layer): the four Yonko of the current era — Luffy, Shanks, Blackbeard and Buggy — each get their own gold variant. These four characters already got their own anniversary card at the 3rd Anniversary (spread over the sets OP-11 through OP-14, one per set); in OP-17 they are brought together in a single set for the first time.
  • SEC (Secret Rare): Loki from the Elbaf arc has been confirmed as one of the Secret Rares.
  • Treasure Rare: the existence of this single slot is certain, but Bandai hasn't revealed yet which card gets the honour.

Concrete HP values and the full card list haven't been published through the official channels at the time of writing — as soon as that changes, you'll find it via our WhatsApp group.

How does OP-17 compare to earlier sets?

In terms of size, OP-17 with its 131+4 cards (135 unique cards) is in the same ballpark as the sets before it: OP-16 The Time of Battle counted 133. Large main sets of around 130-135 cards have become the norm by now.

The "four Yonko" theme itself isn't new: at the 3rd Anniversary (around OP-13 Carrying On His Will) each of the four current Yonko — Luffy, Shanks, Blackbeard and Buggy — already got one special anniversary card, spread over several sets. OP-17 expands that idea: for the 4th Anniversary all four return in one go, in their own SP Gold layer, together with the classic Manga Rare versions of the previous generation of Yonko. So it's a merging of earlier anniversary traditions into one anniversary set.

Is OP-17 worth holding on to?

For collectors, OP-17 has a few things that make it interesting: it's an anniversary set, the cast consists of the most popular characters in the whole series (the Yonko), and with the Treasure Rare a brand-new, scarce rarity is added on top of the existing Secret Rare. Historically, anniversary sets and sets with a new top rarity draw a lot of attention from collectors, which often keeps demand for these kinds of cards high.

Please note: card values can go up and down. There is no guarantee of an increase in value.

Japanese version: out earlier, but no reason to wait

The Japanese version of OP-17 comes out on 22 August 2026, six days earlier than the international version on 28 August. At RareCards we focus on the English (international) release; as soon as we also offer a Japanese variant, we'll announce that separately. For now: you don't have to wait for or search the Japanese market, the English pre-order with us is the route most of our customers choose.

Pre-order at RareCards

The OP-17 pre-order is coming to RareCards. As soon as it goes live, we'll let you know right away via our WhatsApp group. Join the group so you don't have to keep checking our site yourself — you'll be the first to hear as soon as you can order.

Frequently asked questions

When can I pre-order OP-17 at RareCards? As soon as the pre-order goes live with us, we announce it on our socials and first of all in our WhatsApp group.

What is a Treasure Rare? A brand-new rarity that Bandai is introducing in OP-17, with exactly one slot per set. It sits above the Secret Rare (SEC) and is therefore the new rarest card you can pull. Which card it will be hasn't been revealed yet.

Is the Japanese version of OP-17 the same as the English one? In terms of cards and theme it is, but the Japanese version comes out six days earlier (22 August) than the international version (28 August). RareCards focuses on the English release.

Conclusion

OP-17 The World's Strongest Warriors is set to be the anniversary set of the year for One Piece TCG fans: the Yonko in the leading role, the Elbaf arc as the backdrop, and with the Treasure Rare a brand-new top rarity above the Secret Rare. The pre-release starts on 21 August, the international release follows on 28 August. Want to be sure you don't miss the pre-order at RareCards? Then join our WhatsApp group and stay up to date.