OP-18 "The Dominance of God" is here — and Franky finally gets his Leader card

OP-18 "The Dominance of God" is here — and Franky finally gets his Leader card

Bandai revealed the next One Piece Card Game set, OP-18 "The Dominance of God," at ONE PIECE DAY '26. After seventeen sets without one, the Straw Hats' shipwright finally has a Leader card of his own — and he's not the only new face in the format.

Here's everything confirmed so far, and what it means if you're deciding which Leader to build around first.

What's new in OP-18

Franky, Leader at last. Franky enters as a green/purple Leader. His signature ability gives every Stage card in your hand a +3000 counter, turning Stage-heavy builds — previously a niche archetype — into a genuine strategy.

Gunko, a new face from the Knights of God. Gunko is a purple/black Leader introduced as a Celestial Dragon and member of the Knights of God (Tenryuubito). Her deck revolves around playing cards from the trash, giving the format its first dedicated graveyard-recursion Leader.

A brand-new colour attribute: "?" OP-18 introduces a "?" (question mark) colour attribute — the first new colour since the game launched. The full ruleset for how "?" interacts with existing colour requirements hasn't been detailed yet; that will become clear once Bandai publishes the full card list closer to release.

Two Secret Rares by Yoshitaka Amano. The set's Secret Rares are illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano, the artist best known for his character designs across the Final Fantasy series. It's a notable crossover moment for a card game usually illustrated in-house or by manga-adjacent artists.

The theme: Water Seven meets the Knights of God. OP-18 draws on the Water Seven arc while introducing the Knights of God as a new thematic thread — tying a beloved earlier arc to new lore.

Release window: OP-18 is set for a worldwide simultaneous launch in November 2026, continuing the same-day Japan/English release pattern Bandai adopted from OP-15 onwards.

Franky or Gunko: which Leader should you build around first?

If you like straightforward synergy you can explain in one sentence, Franky's Stage-counter package is the easier on-ramp — you're rewarded just for playing the Stage cards already in most Straw Hat-adjacent decks. If you enjoy grinding out value and playing a longer game, Gunko's trash-recursion plan rewards patience and card advantage over raw early pressure. Neither has a confirmed decklist yet, so treat any "best build" claims you see online as speculation until Bandai publishes full card lists.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the new One Piece Card Game leader Franky?

Franky is a new green/purple Leader debuting in OP-18, the shipwright of the Straw Hat Pirates. His ability boosts every Stage card in hand with a +3000 counter.

What is the OP-18 The Dominance of God release date?

Bandai has confirmed a worldwide simultaneous launch in November 2026. An exact calendar date hadn't been published at the time of writing — check Bandai's official channels closer to release.

Is Yoshitaka Amano illustrating the One Piece Card Game?

Yes, for OP-18 specifically: Amano illustrates the set's two Secret Rare cards. This is a one-set collaboration announced alongside the rest of OP-18's reveal, not a change to the game's regular art direction.

Which OP-18 leader should I try first in 2026, Franky or Gunko?

It depends on your playstyle: Franky suits players who want an accessible, synergy-driven Stage deck; Gunko suits players who prefer a slower, resource-recursion game plan. Full decklists aren't public yet, so this is a starting-point read rather than a tested verdict.

When does OP-18 release worldwide?

November 2026, as part of Bandai's simultaneous Japan/English release policy that's been in place since OP-15.

How do I preorder OP-18 ahead of the worldwide launch?

Preorder details, including which retailers and regions get allocations, hadn't been announced at the time of writing. We'll update this article once Bandai and regional distributors confirm preorder windows — for now, our general One Piece Card Game stock is linked below.

A quick note on where this comes from

Andromeda Collectables is not an official partner of Bandai, One Piece Card Game, Shueisha, or Yoshitaka Amano. Everything above is our summary of Bandai's own ONE PIECE DAY '26 reveal, reported for collectors who want the facts in one place. We don't stock OP-18 yet — it isn't out — but our current One Piece Card Game range is linked below if you want to keep building your collection while you wait.