The One Piece Card Game is entering a new era. Starting April 2026, Bandai officially rolled out the Block Icon System — a rotation mechanic that changes which cards are legal in official tournaments.
If you’ve been playing since the early sets, some of your go-to cards are now restricted. If you’re just getting into the game, this is actually great news: the entry bar is lower than ever.
This guide covers everything you need to know — how the Block Icon system works, which formats exist, which cards are exempt, and what the rotation means for the current meta.
What Is One Piece TCG Rotation?
Starting April 1, 2026, the One Piece Card Game officially introduced a rotation system through its new Block Icon System. Announced at the Championship 2024 World Finals, this is the biggest rules shakeup since the game launched — and it mirrors the rotation mechanics found in other popular TCGs like Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh!
For years, players could build decks using every card ever printed. With the new system, certain official tournaments (called Standard Regulation events) now restrict which cards are legal based on their Block Icon number. Older blocks are phased out on a rolling annual schedule, keeping the format fresh and lowering the barrier of entry for newer players.
編集部If your card has a “1” printed in the devil fruit icon at the bottom right corner, it is no longer legal in Standard Regulation as of April 2026 — with some notable exceptions.
How the Block Icon System Works
Every One Piece card has a small number stamped inside a devil fruit silhouette at the bottom right corner. This number is the card’s Block Icon, and it indicates which year of the game’s lifespan the card was printed in.
Booster packs release at a pace of roughly four sets per year (one every three months). Each year’s worth of releases gets grouped into one block:
| Block | Sets Included | Standard Status |
| ① | OP-01 to OP-04 / ST01–ST10 | Rotating Out (Apr 2026) |
| ② | OP-05 to OP-08 | Legal |
| ③ | OP-09 to OP-12 | Legal |
| ④ | OP-13 to OP-16 (upcoming) | Legal |
| ⑤ | OP-17 to OP-20 (upcoming) | Legal |
Standard Regulation always allows the most recent three years of cards. As new blocks are released each April, the oldest block rotates out. The block number increments every year — Block 1 rotated in April 2026, Block 2 will rotate in April 2027, and so on.
Standard vs. Extra Regulation
Standard Regulation
This is the new default format for most official events going forward. Decks must be built using only cards from the current three active blocks. Block 1 cards are illegal here as of April 2026 (with exceptions listed below). Standard Regulation events include store-level tournaments like Standard Battles and Flagship Battles, as well as high-level Championship events.
Standard Regulation — Legal Card Pool by Season
| Period | Legal in Standard | Not Legal in Standard |
| Apr 2026 – Mar 2027 | ② ③ ④ ⑤ | ① (OP-01–OP-04, ST01–ST10) |
| Apr 2027 – Mar 2028 | ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ | ① ② |
| Apr 2028 – Mar 2029 | ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ | ① ② ③ |
Extra Regulation
Extra Regulation is the “all-cards-legal” format — essentially the same rules as the pre-rotation game. Every card ever printed, regardless of Block Icon, is legal here. This format is designed for players who want to use their full collection and enjoy a wider, more complex card pool.
Extra Regulation — Legal Card Pool by Season
| Period | Legal in Extra Regulation |
| Apr 2026 – Mar 2027 | All cards: ① ② ③ ④ ⑤ |
| Apr 2027 – Mar 2028 | All cards: ① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ |
編集部Bandai has confirmed plans for Extra Regulation events ranging from small store meetups to large-scale Championships.
Cards That Are Exempt from One Piece TCG Rotation
Not every Block 1 card is gone from Standard. There are three key exemptions:
Manga Rare (Super Parallel) Cards — Never Rotate
Manga Rares from past products, along with all cards sharing the same card number, are permanently legal in Standard Regulation and will never rotate out — regardless of whether they have been reprinted. This exemption applies to every copy of that card number, meaning all versions and arts of those cards remain Standard-legal.”
- Tony Tony Chopper [EB01-006]
- Monkey D. Luffy [EB02-061]
- Nami [OP01-016]
- Shanks [OP01-120]
- Portgas D. Ace [OP02-013]
- Sogeking [OP03-122]
- Sabo [OP04-083]
- Trafalgar Law [OP05-069]
- Eustass Kid [OP05-074]
- Monkey D. Luffy [OP05-119]
- Roronoa Zoro [OP06-118]
- Sanji [OP06-119]
- Boa Hancock [OP07-051]
- Silvers Rayleigh [OP08-118]
- Shanks [OP09-004]
- Buggy [OP09-051]
- Marshall D. Teach [OP09-093]
- Gol D. Roger [OP09-118]
- Monkey D. Luffy [OP09-119]
- Trafalgar Law [OP10-119]
- Monkey D. Luffy [OP11-118]
- Jewelry Bonney [OP12-118]
- Monkey D. Luffy [OP13-118]
- Portgas D. Ace [OP13-119]
- Sabo [OP13-120]
- Dracule Mihawk [OP14-119]
- Enel [OP15-118]
Block Icon–Updated Reprints
Bandai can reprint Block 1 cards with an updated Block Icon number. When a card is reprinted with a new block number, it becomes legal under that block’s rotation window — and all previous versions of that card also become legal in Standard.
The first confirmed example is the original Nami [OP01-016], which is being reprinted with a Block 5 icon. Once that reprint is released, every Nami copy across all arts becomes Standard-legal.
編集部Not every reprint will receive an updated Block Icon.
Bandai has confirmed that reprints will be handled on a case-by-case basis depending on the play environment, not on a fixed schedule.
Block 4 Reprieve Cards
A selection of Block 1 cards have been granted a temporary extension — they are treated as Block 4 cards, meaning they won’t rotate until April 1, 2029. These include:
- Killer [OP01-039]
- You Can Be My Samurai!! [OP01-055]
- Curly Dadan [OP02-005]
- Gum-Gum Rain [OP02-068]
- Buggy [OP03-008]
- Kaya [OP03-044]
- Nojiko [OP03-048]
- Gum-Gum Jet Gatling [OP03-072]
- Six King Pistol [OP03-097]
- Bad Manners Kick Course [OP04-016]
- Ideo [OP04-077]
- Corrida Coliseum [OP04-096]
- Brook [ST01-011]
- Jewelry Bonney [ST02-007]
- Hina [ST06-008]
Additional Block 4 reprieve cards exist beyond these — check the official One Piece Card Game website for the complete and up-to-date list.
How Will Rotation Affect the Meta?
The honest answer is: less dramatically than you might expect — at least at first. Recent expansions have pushed the game’s power level high enough that many Block 1 cards were already being left out of competitive lists in favor of superior alternatives from newer sets.
That said, certain archetypes take a significant hit. Blue Doffy loses its core package along with the Leader itself. Green Bonney loses Kid and Doflamingo, forcing the deck to rebuild around newer tools. Blue/Red Ace sees Gum-Gum Red Roc leave, removing one of its most consistent lines.
For rogue and creative deck builders, this rotation stings the most. The vast two-year-deep toolbox of Block 1 tech options disappears from Standard overnight. But with every gap Block 1 leaves behind, new cards from upcoming sets will fill the void — that’s the natural rhythm of a healthy rotating format.
Pros & Cons of the Block Icon System
- Lower barrier of entry — new players don’t need expensive early-set staples
- Prevents dominant cards from warping the meta indefinitely
- Keeps the environment feeling fresh and evolving year-over-year
- Extra Regulation preserves the full-pool experience for veterans
- Reprints with updated Block Icons can revive beloved cards
- Cards players invested in can lose tournament value quickly
- Losing fan-favorite cards may reduce motivation for longtime players
- Tracking which card version is legal can be confusing
- Returning players face a steeper learning curve adapting to the new rules
One Piece TCG Rotation — Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly does Block 1 rotate out?
Block 1 cards became illegal in Standard Regulation on April 1, 2026. They remain fully legal in Extra Regulation events.
Where do I find the Block Icon on my card?
Look at the bottom right corner of the card. You will see a small circled number (1, 2, 3…) printed inside a devil fruit silhouette icon.
Can I still use Block 1 cards at all?
Yes — Block 1 cards are completely legal in Extra Regulation events, which use the full unrestricted card pool.
Will Block 1 cards be reprinted with updated block numbers?
Some will, some won’t. Bandai has stated that reprints will be done on a case-by-case basis based on the play environment, not on a fixed schedule. Not every product reprint will automatically receive an updated icon.
If my Block 1 card gets a new-icon reprint, can I use my old copy?
Yes.
The exemption applies to every copy of that card number — all versions and arts of the card become Standard-legal once any version has been reprinted with an updated block icon.
Which Block 1 cards are permanently exempt from rotation?
The five Manga Rare (Super Parallel) cards — Shanks (OP01-120), Nami (OP01-016), Ace (OP02-013), Sogeking (OP03-122), and Sabo (OP04-083) — will never rotate out of Standard Regulation.
How big are Extra Regulation events going to be?
Bandai plans to run Extra Regulation events at all scales — from local store battles up to Flagship Battles and eventually Championship-level events. Specific scheduling and frequency details will be announced as the format develops.
Summary
The Block Icon System is now live as of April 2026.
Standard Regulation events going forward will only allow Block 2 and newer, so make sure to check the icon on every card before building your competitive deck.
said, Block 1 cards aren’t gone forever — keep an eye on official reprint announcements, and don’t forget that Extra Regulation gives you a place to run your full collection. As the format evolves, expect Bandai to continue fine-tuning the system based on community feedback.
