ST-37 vs. ST-38: Comparing Two December One Piece Starter Decks
English-region product guide checked October 19, 2026.
The next choice between these two One Piece Card Game starter decks begins with their announced play styles. ST-37, The Desert Princess and the Pirates, is a Red/Blue deck built around repeated attacks. ST-38, Baroque Works, is Blue/Black and focuses on cycling cards through your hand and KO’ing opposing Characters. Those are Bandai’s stated themes, rather than a tested ranking of the decks. ST-37 details, ST-38 details.
The confirmed comparison
| Feature | ST-37 | ST-38 |
|---|---|---|
| Theme | Straw Hat Crew and Kingdom of Alabasta | Baroque Works |
| Announced colors | Red/Blue | Blue/Black |
| Published approach | Multiple attacks | Hand cycling and Character KOs |
| Constructed deck | 51 cards | 51 cards |
| Additional contents | 10 DON!! cards, one three-card Bonus Pack, one playsheet | 10 DON!! cards, one three-card Bonus Pack, one playsheet |
| Product-detail release date | December 18, 2026 | December 18, 2026 |
Both detail pages list the same date and contents. However, the official product index shows December 19 for ST-38, conflicting with its December 18 detail page. Recheck regional information before making plans.
What the 51-card description means
The game’s normal construction uses one Leader, a 50-card main deck, and a separate 10-card DON!! deck. The main deck uses Characters, Events and Stages; its colors must be included on the Leader. That helps explain the difference between a product’s constructed-deck count and the separate DON!! cards. Official Rule Manual, “Decks”.
Both product pages list a rarity breakdown of one Leader, two Super Rares and fourteen Commons. These are the announced rarity categories, not a count of every physical copy in the box or a guarantee about the Bonus Pack’s individual cards. The pages also warn that duplicate cards can occur. ST-37 specifications, ST-38 specifications.
Choosing a direction before the full comparison is possible
Start with the characters and decision-making style that appeal to you. The published themes can narrow your reading list, but they do not establish matchup results or guarantee that either deck suits every beginner.
For a gameplay decision, compare the exact Leader text and complete card counts when those details are available. A character theme alone cannot tell you which upgrades will work. When inspecting a revealed list, ask which actions its Leader rewards, which support cards enable those actions, and whether you enjoy making those decisions repeatedly.
Learn the shared rules before buying upgrades
DON!! cards are used to pay costs and can also be attached to Leaders or Characters for a power increase during your turn. Spending resources to develop a board and assigning them to attacks are choices you can practice with either starter direction. Official Rule Manual, “DON!! Cards” and “Main Phase”.
The game is normally played head-to-head. A starter is one player’s starting deck, so plan for an opponent with their own deck when arranging a first game. Card text takes precedence when it contradicts general rules; consult the current Comprehensive Rules for detailed interactions.
The pages list tournament legality seven days after regional release, with a local pre-release exception. Confirm your event’s applicable information. ST-38 legality notes.
Choose a theme you want to explore, learn the unchanged deck first, and use specific play experiences to decide what you would like to modify. The published colors, contents and broad approaches are enough for an early shortlist; exact card text should drive the final gameplay comparison.
Sources
- Bandai, ST-37 product details and ST-38 product details, English NA/EU/OC/LATAM/ME pages, checked October 19, 2026.
- Bandai, English product index, checked October 19, 2026; its ST-38 date differs from the detail page.
- Bandai, Official Rule Manual, version 1.11 and Comprehensive Rules, version 1.2.1, updated August 28, 2026.