One Piece OP-17 "The World's Strongest Warriors": The 4th Anniversary Set Guide

The One Piece Card Game celebrates its fourth anniversary with what promises to be the most anticipated set of the year: OP-17 "The World's Strongest Warriors," arriving August 28, 2026 in English. The Elbaph arc, the Four Emperors as Leaders, the first-ever Manga Rares of the original Emperors and two brand-new rarities including the mysterious Treasure Rare: it has everything to be a set to remember. In this guide you'll find the dates, the confirmed Leaders, the chase cards and the advice to arrive ready for day one.

Key Takeaways

Question	Quick Answer
When does OP-17 release?	August 22, 2026 in Japan and August 28 in English (with a US pre-release on the 21st). Preorders are already live.
What's the set's theme?	The Elbaph arc and the Four Emperors: it's the game's 4th anniversary celebration booster, with 135 unique cards.
Who are the confirmed Leaders?	Six: Whitebeard (Red), Luffy (Black), Shanks (Green), Kaido (Purple), Big Mom (Yellow) and Rocks D. Xebec (Blue).
What are the new collector features?	The Treasure Rare (above Secret, only one in the set), the new Super Leader Parallel, the "Conqueror's Haki" SPs and the Gold Anniversary cards.
Where can I secure the set?	In our One Piece collection: OP-17 cases and boxes are moving very fast in preorder.

1. What OP-17 Is: The 4th Anniversary Set

Every year the One Piece Card Game celebrates its anniversary with a special booster, and for the fourth birthday Bandai chose the most ambitious theme possible: the world's strongest warriors. OP-17 weaves together the Elbaph story arc — the one currently at the center of the manga, with the Giant Warriors and the cursed prince Loki — and the celebration of the Four Emperors, the legends who have dominated the saga's seas.

The set counts 135 unique cards (131 plus 4 variants) and, like every anniversary, deliberately raises the collecting bar: new rarities, special treatments and the first Manga Rares dedicated to the original Emperors. One Piece anniversary sets have historically attracted more attention than standard boosters — and this one promises to be the richest ever.

2. Release Dates and Formats

The calendar is staggered: it starts with Japan on August 22, 2026, followed by the US pre-release on the 21st and the wide English release on August 28. For markets playing with English cards, the date to mark is therefore the 28th — with preorders already live and, as we're seeing from our own warehouse, demand running faster than supply.

The main format remains the 24-pack booster box, with cases being the high road for those targeting the set's top rarities (unofficial estimates place the Manga Rares at roughly one every 3-4 cases). As always with anniversary sets, the first print run is where collector interest concentrates.

3. The Six Leaders: The Emperors Take Command

The set's competitive heart is the heaviest Leader lineup ever seen in a single booster, officially confirmed by Bandai: Edward Newgate "Whitebeard" (Red), Monkey D. Luffy (Black), Shanks (Green), Kaido (Purple), Charlotte Linlin "Big Mom" (Yellow) and — the surprise that set the community alight — Rocks D. Xebec (Blue), the legendary captain of the crew that united the future Emperors.

For players it means a likely metagame shake-up, with the set also bringing a major power boost to Elbaph's Giant characters. For collectors, six Leaders of this caliber mean six parallel and alternate versions to chase — with one in particular destined to make history, as we'll see shortly.

4. The New Rarities: Treasure Rare and Super Leader Parallel

OP-17 introduces two brand-new rarities that redefine the top of the game's collecting pyramid.

The Treasure Rare: only one in the set

The Treasure Rare sits above the Secret Rare: it's the One Piece Card Game's new top tier, with a single card per set. Bandai has not yet revealed which card will receive this treatment — a mystery fueling the anticipation which, once solved, will define the expansion's most valuable card.

Super Leader Parallel and the celebration SPs

The second novelty is the Super Leader Parallel, an ultra-rare version of the Leaders: Luffy's is the candidate to become the face of the set. Added to these are the six "Conqueror's Haki" SPs — dedicated to Zoro, Kozuki Oden, Garp, Gol D. Roger, Yamato and Silvers Rayleigh — and the Gold Anniversary SPs with gold treatment for the Emperors, Blackbeard and Buggy. An arsenal of variants worthy of a fourth birthday.

Did You Know?

OP-17 introduces the Treasure Rare, the One Piece Card Game's new top rarity: a single card per set, above the Secret Rare. Bandai hasn't yet revealed which card will receive the treatment — that card will be the queen of the expansion.

5. The Chase Cards: The First Manga Rares of the Emperors

The set's collecting masterstroke is the Manga Rares of the original Four Emperors: Shanks, Whitebeard, Kaido and Big Mom receive the manga-style treatment for the first time, with black-and-white artwork drawn from Oda's panels. The set also includes the game's first-ever Manga Leader.

Together with Luffy's Super Leader Parallel and the mysterious Treasure Rare, these cards make up OP-17's absolute chase roster. A special mention for the Loki Secret Rares: the cursed prince of Elbaph who transforms into a dragon marks the card debut of one of the recent manga's most talked-about characters. If you collect the protagonists, remember we have dedicated guides to Luffy cards and Zoro cards — both starring in this set too.

6. Why OP-17 Matters So Much to Collectors

Let's line up the ingredients: an anniversary set (historically the most sought-after), the theme of the saga's most iconic characters, two debuting rarities, the first Manga Rares of the Emperors and the tie-in with the manga's currently running arc. It's the combination that, in previous sets, produced the expansions most appreciated over time.

Add a concrete market factor: preorder demand is already exceeding expectations — we're seeing it directly on our own shelves, where OP-17 cases are moving at a pace unusual even by One Piece standards. As always, we remind you that no outcome is guaranteed and collecting should be lived first and foremost as a passion: but every ingredient for a memorable set is there.

7. How to Arrive Ready for Day One: The Advice

If the set interests you, the operational advice is not to wait for August 28: One Piece anniversary sets have an established history of fast sell-outs and slow restocks, and the first print run is the one collectors favor. Preordering is the right tool to lock in boxes and cases at list price, avoiding the day-one rush (and markups).

For those targeting singles, the alternative strategy is to wait for the first weeks post-release, when the supply of chase cards on the secondary market is at its peak. And for the important cards you'll pull, remember that professional grading is the best way to certify their condition and value right away. You'll find OP-17 boxes, cases and products in our One Piece collection, with the guarantee of genuine, sealed products that sets us apart.

Conclusion

OP-17 "The World's Strongest Warriors" has everything it takes to be the One Piece set of the year: the Emperors as Leaders, Elbaph and Loki making their debut, the first Manga Rares of the four legends and the mystery of the Treasure Rare still to be revealed. August 28 is around the corner — and the window to arrive prepared is closing fast.

At GS Gameon we've followed the One Piece Card Game since the very first set, with genuine, sealed and selected products for players and collectors. Whether you want a case to open with friends, a box to keep sealed or the chase card that crowns your collection, we're ready for day one together with you.

Note: this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Set information is based on the official announcements and previews available at the time of publication and may evolve. The collectibles market is volatile and past performance does not guarantee future results.