ST-30 Starter Deck EX Luffy & Ace — The Marineford Brothers Deck Guide
The first-ever Luffy & Ace brother leader card hits June 12 alongside OP-16. Foil DON!! cards, an alternate art bonus pack, and a Marineford midrange build ready to play out of the box.
ST-30 Starter Deck EX Luffy & Ace releases June 12, 2026 alongside OP-16 — and it's the first deck to feature Luffy and Ace together on a single leader card, themed around the Marineford arc. It's a Starter Deck EX, which means foil DON!! cards and a bonus pack with one alternate art card from the deck. 51 cards, ready to play, competitive midrange build.
What is the ST-30 Starter Deck EX?
The "EX" in Starter Deck EX is meaningful — it's an upgraded format above the standard starter decks. Two key upgrades: foil DON!! cards (standard starters ship with regular stock DON!!) and a bonus pack containing one card that also appears in the main deck, but as alternate art. It's a better physical product than a standard starter for roughly the same price tier.
The centrepiece is the leader card: Luffy & Ace on the same card — a brothers co-leader format tied to the Marineford arc. This is the first time these two characters have shared a leader card, which makes ST-30 a collector piece as much as a playable deck.
First Luffy & Ace co-leader card. The Brothers theme is one of the game's most emotionally resonant — collector demand for this leader card is guaranteed. Foil DON!! cards make it visually distinct. Releases with OP-16 (the Marineford set) — the two products were designed together and the deck is built to synergise with OP-16 cards.
What's in the box?
| Item | Qty | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-constructed deck | 51 cards | 17 card types. Ready to sleeve and play immediately. |
| DON!! cards (foil) | 10 | Foil DON!! energy cards — EX exclusive. Regular starters ship non-foil. |
| Bonus pack | 1 card | One alternate art version of a card from the main deck. Art exclusive to ST-30. |
| Play sheet | 1 | Quick reference guide for new and returning players. |
The alternate art card in the bonus pack is a single random card from the deck's 17 types — it varies. For collectors, this is a low-key extra; for players it's a nice touch. Don't buy multiples of ST-30 just to chase bonus pack variants.
How does the Luffy & Ace deck play?
ST-30 is classified as a Midrange deck. The leader effect is built around elevating your own characters on the opponent's turn — the Brothers mechanic rewards reactive play, buffing your board in response to your opponent's actions rather than just going wide or tall.
The Marineford arc lends itself to a mix of aggressive characters (Ace, Whitebeard crew) and defensive pivots — the deck should feel like the arc itself: big moments with emotional weight, not just linear pressure. For new players, it's a strong entry point into the game's midrange archetype.
- Archetype: Midrange. Balanced between aggression and board control.
- Core mechanic: Leader ability buffs your characters on the opponent's turn — rewards knowing when to act and when to hold.
- Synergy with OP-16: the deck was designed to pair with the Marineford booster. OP-16 cards add depth to the Marineford character pool this deck draws from.
- Upgrade path: slot in OP-16 Ace and Whitebeard crew singles to strengthen the list immediately after release.
Is ST-30 worth buying?
- If you're a new player: yes. Starter Deck EX is the best entry point into the game — full functional deck, foil DON!!, and an alternate art card you won't get elsewhere.
- If you're a collector: the Luffy & Ace co-leader card has genuine collectible value. It's the only version of this leader card in EN — no booster reprint.
- If you're an existing player: pick up one copy for the leader and bonus pack alt art. You likely won't need the full deck, but the leader is the buy.
- Box EV for multiples: poor. Starter decks have fixed contents — buying more than 1–2 copies is only worthwhile if you're targeting the alt art specifically.
One copy is a straightforward buy for most players — you get a playable Marineford midrange deck, foil DON!! cards, and the Brothers leader as a collectible. The co-leader card design is a first in EN and worth having.
Where to buy ST-30
ST-30 releases June 12 at standard EN retail. No import required — available wherever OP-16 is sold.
- Most LGS carry starter decks on release day at MSRP — often cheaper than online with no shipping cost.
- Call ahead to confirm ST-30 is in their launch order alongside OP-16.
- Pre-order listed alongside OP-16 packs and boxes.
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- JumpIchiban has ST-30 listed for EN release.
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- JP ST-30 released April 11. Available now from JP import shops.
- Identical contents to EN version — Japanese card text. Useful if you want the leader card now rather than waiting for June 12.
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Quick answers
What is a Starter Deck EX vs a regular Starter Deck?
Is the Luffy & Ace leader card exclusive to ST-30?
Is ST-30 good for competitive play?
Does ST-30 work well with OP-16 cards?
When does ST-30 release in English?
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