Why Start Collecting One Piece Cards Today? Beginner’s Guide
You probably have your favourite One Piece character.
Maybe it is Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Law, Ace, Shanks, or someone completely different. Maybe there is a scene or story arc in One Piece that has always stuck with you.
Whatever it is, that is one of the reasons why collecting One Piece cards can be so much fun.
You are collecting your characters, artwork, moments, and a series you care about. You don’t even need to be a seasoned TCG collector to join in.
Whether you have never owned a Trading card before, have collected Pokémon cards in the past, or have recently discovered the One Piece Card Game, there are many ways to start collecting something that is personal to you.
Why collect One Piece cards?
Well, there is never a single reason people collect TCGs.
Some people like the artwork. Some people collect their favourite characters while others enjoy the hunt of finding all of the things they want in a TCG. Some people enjoy opening booster packs while others hunt for specific cards and build their collection around them.
One Piece is perfect for this because of how much there is to collect from it.
There is a vast library of characters, crews, locations, story arcs, moments, cards, sets, and much more to choose from. This allows you to customise your collection however you want.
I’m sure you could think of a few ways to collect based off of what we have mentioned.
Some of the popular ways to collect include:
- Cards with your favourite characters
- Straw Hat Pirates cards
- Cards with story arcs
- Leader cards
- Alternate Art or Parallel cards
- Cards from a specific set
- Artwork you like
There is no requirement of what you need to collect, only what you enjoy collecting.
In fact, knowing what you enjoy collecting is one of the best pieces of advice you can take with you.
Do I need to collect rare cards?
One of the biggest misconceptions about collecting cards is that you need to start with rare cards.
You do not!
You can start with something as simple as a card with your favourite characters on it.
It can be easier to learn about cards, sets, artwork, products and TCG collecting in general by starting small.
As you learn, your preferences will become more evident.
Maybe you discover that you like to collect leaders or alternate artwork. Maybe you discover that you want a binder full of your favourite characters, that’s totally fine!
Singles or booster packs? Which is better for a collector?
There are two big differences when it comes to buying One Piece cards.
Singles are individual cards that you buy.
This is beneficial if you know what you want.
For example, if you are collecting Zoro, you can look for Zoro cards instead of opening packs and hoping to find them.
Singles are also great if you are looking to complete a set or find specific artwork.
Booster packs, on the other hand, contain a random selection of cards.
This is exciting because you don’t exactly know what you will find. Opening a pack can lead you towards new characters and artwork that you didn’t know you wanted!
This is why many people love TCGs – for this very reason.
Neither singles nor booster packs are better, it is up to you which way you would like to collect.
Some people enjoy the hunt of singles while others may enjoy the surprise of booster packs. Some people may do a bit of both.
What about booster boxes?
A booster box contains multiple booster packs from a set.
Booster boxes are great if you enjoy opening products as it gives you a bigger experience of opening cards. They are also good if you like a certain set’s artwork instead of searching for one card.
That said, opening sealed product should be treated as an experience, not a guarantee of pulling a card.
If you need a specific card, buying the single is usually the most straight forward approach.
Why are One Piece cards collectible?
For collectors, part of the appeal is being able to have cards from the Japanese line and enjoy the products that come with it.
The artwork is the highlight, and people collect them because they like the Japanese cards/products, availability, or collecting methods.
For collectors in India, Japanese One Piece TCG can also be a wonderful opportunity to learn a different side of the collecting hobby.
It is important to remember that collecting and playing are not always the same thing. Language, releases, and game play can differ depending on what you need.
If you are collecting, focusing on the products/cards that fit your collection is key.
You can collect without spending a fortune!
Starting a collection doesn’t have to be expensive right away.
If you’re starting with around ₹2,000, you can explore our guide to 3 One Piece TCG cards worth considering under ₹2,000 to see what you can get within that budget.
You can set a monthly or one-time budget and collect within that range.
For example, one collector may like to buy a few individual cards while another may like to sometimes buy a booster box. Another collector may like to buy a starter deck and then some singles.
Whatever floats your boat, just collect within your budget.
There will always be another card, set, or product out there.
You don’t need to have everything.
Collect your characters, not just your rare cards.
Rarity is one of the most important aspects of collecting TCGs, but it is not the only aspect.
A common and cheap card featuring your favourite character can mean a lot more to you than a rare card featuring a character you don’t care for.
That is what collecting is all about.
Two collectors can have completely different collections based off of the same set.
One may collect Luffy, while another collects every Trafalgar Law card they can find, and a third may ignore characters altogether and collect cards for the artwork. That’s collecting!
What about card value?
Card value is an inevitable part of TCG collecting, as some cards are more desired than others.
It is important to separate collecting from investing.
Many TCG collectors treat their collections like investments, however, prices change and fluctuate. Something that is expensive now could easily become cheap in a few months.
For someone starting their journey into TCG collecting, it’s always best to ask themselves whether they like a card first, rather than if the card will increase in value.
Building a collection based off of cards you like will give you the most enjoyment.
How can a new collector get started?
You just need a few simple things.
- Decide on what you like: Choose whatever character, crew, story arc, or artwork you like.
- Learn the basics: Learn what sets, rarities, parallels, booster products, starter decks, promos etc. are.
- Decide on a budget: Decide how much money you would like to spend (or have) and collect within that range.
- Choose how you would like to collect: Do you enjoy opening packs, looking for specific cards, or a mix of both?
- Start small: You don’t need an entire collection to start with. One card is a great start!
Why get started now?
The best thing about getting into a TCG is that you don’t need to know everything already.
You can learn as you collect.
Your first few cards may lead you to a set that introduces you to a character you had never considered collecting before. You may start with singles before discovering that you enjoy opening sealed products.
There’s so much to discover when you get into collecting, and you can change as much or as little as you’d like.
Get started with collecting your favourite One Piece characters today!
For Indian TCG collectors searching for One Piece TCG, DojoTCG is all about making collecting easier for you.
We focus on Japanese One Piece TCGs, including singles and sealed products, for collectors looking to customise their collections based on their preferences.
However, the most important part of collecting is what and why you decide to collect something. You don’t need the rarest card or the biggest collection. You don’t even need to know what your collection will look like a year from now.
Get started with a single card that you like and see what happens next.
Collect with Honor
