The OP11 Red Black Koby deck blends Navy and SWORD-type cards, focusing on board control through Koby’s pseudo-rush ability. This strategy aims to KO threats or at least force opponents to use their Counter cards. Koby‘s loyalty to the Navy means he’ll do everything he can to keep them on the field.
Like many Black decks, the trash plays a key role here, as several effects activate through interactions with trashed cards. This deck can be complicated to play if you’re still new to the One Piece card game, but once you get the correct sequencing of effects/attacks, you’ll get the most out of your Characters and Leader.
There are multiple ways to build Red Black Koby since it has access to two colors, both offering strong synergy with its game plan. The list we’ll cover prioritizes filling the trash early to ensure late-game Characters provide value. We also have multiple {Sword} type Characters to trigger our Leader’s effect.
Leader
Red Black Koby is a 4-Life Leader with two effects that help maintain control of the field. Koby synergizes with {Sword} type Characters, allowing them to attack the turn they’re played. However, they can only attack your opponent’s Characters on that turn. While this doesn’t directly pressure your opponent’s Life, it still lets you target rested Characters to try and KO them.
Some cards in this list also allow you to attack Active Characters. When combined with Leader Koby’s effect, this lets a newly played {Sword} type Character attack an Active Character immediately. Key {Sword} type Characters in this deck include Helmeppo and 8-cost Koby, who can swing the turn they enter play.
Koby‘s second effect triggers once per turn when your opponent tries to remove a {Navy} type Character with an original Power of 7,000 or less through an effect. Instead of being removed, you can place 3 cards from your trash at the bottom of your deck to keep that Character in play. Since this deck includes many {Navy} type Characters with 7,000 Power or less, Koby’s effect helps them stay on the field and continue finding use as part of your strategy.
This deck is trying to control the field through sheer attacks. Eventually, your opponent won’t have the counter cards to protect their characters, and you will have to watch them get KO’d.
Red Black Koby Decklist
How to Play
Early Cards
Peacock and Brannew are both {Navy} searchers. Peacock looks at the top 5 cards, while Brannew looks at the top 3, and each lets you add one {Navy} type card to your hand. Peacock has a higher chance of finding the card you need, but Brannew helps your strategy by sending the other two cards to the trash instead of placing them at the bottom of the deck, fueling your effects that interact with the trash.
Sengoku isn’t a searcher, but he helps with adding cards to your trash. When played, you must trash 2 {Navy} type cards from your hand to draw 3 cards. Sengoku adds more cards to your trash to activate your effects and can draw you better cards to add to your hand.
1-cost Ripper can become a blocker if you have a {Navy} type Character in play, protecting you from one of the opponent’s attacks. Being a low-cost blocker makes him an easy development on the field, especially in the late game. Since Ripper is a {Navy} type Character, Leader Koby can protect him from removal plays, keeping him on the field to block an opponent’s attack.
Early Pressure
The 3-cost Sanji acts as an early aggressor, gaining +3,000 Power during your turn to go for an attack and present some offensive pressure. Since he only has 3,000 Power during the opponent’s turn, he’s weak against the opponent’s attackers, but with Ripper in play, we could protect him from 1 of the opponent’s attacks.
4-cost Hina adds to the Power of your attacks, acting as a 6,000 Power Character to create a strong early presence. If you attach 1 Don to Hina she’ll gain +4 cost, making her harder to remove through certain effects. Hina’s Activate:Main effect lets you place 1 of your cards in the trash to the bottom of your deck to give your Leader or one of your Characters 1 rested Don, adding more punch to your attack.
Attack Active Characters
These cards let you attack Active Characters, helping you maintain control of the field. The Character you choose for the attack depends on your opponent’s board. If they have a high-power Character that needs to be removed, you can grant the effect to your strongest attacker. However, if they have a low-power Blocker like 4-cost Rebecca, you can give the effect to a weaker Character like Brannew to clear the Blocker, ensuring your other attacks go through uninterrupted.
Hibari‘s On Play effect reduces the Power of one of the opponent’s Characters by -2,000, making them more vulnerable to your attacks. When she attacks, Hibari gains +1,000 Power and allows your Leader to attack an Active Character, which we can target with the Power reduction for our Leader Koby to attack and try to KO afterward.
Since Hibari is a Sword type Character, we’re activating her “When Attacking” effect on the turn she’s played, enabling you to control the early state of the game through the Power reduction + Leader attacking an Active Character.
8-cost Koby is one of your strongest plays, boasting 9,000 Power and triggering your Leader’s effect, allowing him to attack a Character the turn he’s played. Additionally, he enables one of your Characters—not just {Navy}—to attack an Active Character.
When attacking, 8-cost Koby returns two cards from your trash to the bottom of your deck to give your Leader or a Character +1,000 Power until the end of your opponent’s turn. This bonus Power adds an extra kick to your attack, making it harder for your opponent to Counter while also serving a defensive role by helping protect a Character or your Leader from incoming attacks.
You’ll often use this effect on Leader Koby, turning him into a 6,000 Power Leader. If 8-cost Koby stays on the field, you can reactivate this effect on your upcoming turn, maintaining the extra +1,000 Power every turn.
Combo with Koby
Helmeppo is a {Sword} type character that can attack a rested Character on the turn he’s played. He also isn’t above 7,000 Power, so your Leader can protect him from a removal effect once per turn.
Helmeppo enables an explosive turn 3/4 play by letting you cheat out a {SWORD} type Character with a cost of 8 or less from your trash for one turn.
On Play, Helmeppo lets you trash a card from your hand, then draw a card, after which you must select a {SWORD} type Character with a cost of 8 or less from your trash and play it. The best target is 8-cost Koby, which can attack immediately and activate his effect for added value. 8-cost Koby can even grant Helmeppo the ability to attack an Active Character, giving you more control over the field.
If you don’t have an 8-cost Koby in your trash, Helmeppo will trash a card from your hand. Thus, you can trash a Koby from your hand and then cheat him out on the field.
At the end of the turn, the Character played through Helmeppo is placed at the bottom of your deck. While you don’t get to keep it on the field, you still get an attack and its effect, gaining value before it leaves.
Rush Aggression
Monkey D. Dragon is a Rush attacker that goes for a 9000 Power attack. Additionally, he can attach 2 rested Don to your Leader or one of your Characters. This allows for an extremely offensive turn, lining up two high-power attacks that can win you the game or deplete the opponent’s Counter resources.
+2,000 Counters
Aramaki is primarily a +2,000 Counter, but in certain situations, you may need to play him for his effect, enabling a {Navy} type Character to attack an Active Character.
You’ll never play Berry Good and Bogard unless you have the worst hand imaginable. They’re mostly just a {Navy} type +2,000 Counter who can be searched.
Mulligan
- Early draw card Brannew, Peacock, or Sengoku.
- Going First: Sanji, Hibari, Hina, and Helmeppo.
- Going Second: Hina and Helmeppo.
Turn-Based Gameplay
Going First
- Turn 1 (1 Don): Peacock, Sengoku, or Ripper.
- Turn 2 (3 Don): Brannew + 1-cost Character.
- Turn 3 (5 Don): Hibari + attack with your Leader. Or you can play Hina.
- Turn 4 (7 Don): Helmeppo + 8-cost Koby.
- Turn 5 (9 Don): 8-cost Koby. + Ripper if you need the blocker or 8-cost Monkey D. Dragon.
- Turn 6 (10 Don): 8-cost Koby. + Ripper if you need the blocker or 8-cost Monkey D. Dragon.
Going Second
- Turn 1 (2 Don): Peacock, Sengoku, or Brannew.
- Turn 2 (4 Don): Hina.
- Turn 3 (6 Don): Helmeppo + 8-cost Koby.
- Turn 4 (8 Don): 8-cost Koby or 8-cost Monkey D. Dragon.
- Turn 5 (10 Don): 8-cost Koby. + Ripper if you need the blocker or 8-cost Monkey D. Dragon.
Other Cards to Include
- 4-cost Kuzan trashes the top 3 cards of your deck On Play, helping to fuel effects that interact with the trash. He’s a 5,000 Power Character with an “When Attacking” effect that allows one of your {Navy} type Leaders or Characters to attack an Active Character. This lets you choose the best attacker to KO an Active Character.
- Honesty Impact is a control card that gives an opponent’s Character -4,000 Power then it KO’s a Character with 6,000 Power or less. You can target one Character with the Power reduction and then KO it, or you can target two Characters if the KO target isn’t above 6,000 Power. This makes it easier for you to attack the other Character after you’ve reduced its Power by 4,000.
- As for 7-cost Koby, when he attacks, your Leader’s base power becomes 7000 until the end of your opponent’s next turn. So you can go for a heavy attack with Leader Koby, and your opponent will have a rough time trying to get their attacks through. Additionally, during your opponent’s turn, 7-cost Koby loses 3,000 Power, becoming a 4,000 Power Character, vulnerable to your opponent’s attacks. It’s worth protecting him if your opponent doesn’t have multiple attackers lined up and you have a Blocker like Ripper to take a hit for the team.
