ST-37 and ST-38: the Alabasta and Baroque Works starter decks
Two Alabasta-themed starter decks close out 2026. What's in the box, how Bandai says they play, and which one to pick.
The short version
- ST-37 The Desert Princess and the Pirates is a Red/Blue starter deck with characters from the Straw Hat Crew and the Kingdom of Alabasta.
- ST-38 Baroque Works is a Blue/Black starter deck that Bandai describes as cycling through your hand while K.O.ing your opponent's Characters.
- Both release on 18 December 2026 in English at a suggested $16.99, and on 19 December 2026 in Japan at ¥1,320.
- Each box holds a 51-card constructed deck, 10 DON!! cards, a 3-card bonus pack and a playsheet.
- Each deck has 17 card types: 1 Leader, 2 Super Rares and 14 Commons.
Bandai is closing 2026 with two starter decks set in Alabasta. ST-37 The Desert Princess and the Pirates is Red/Blue and puts the Straw Hats alongside the Kingdom of Alabasta. ST-38 Baroque Works is Blue/Black and plays Crocodile's organisation. Both are out on 18 December 2026 in English at $16.99, and on 19 December in Japan at ¥1,320.
The timing makes sense: Alabasta and Baroque Works are the core of the live-action Season 2 story. We've taken the details below from Bandai's English and Japanese product pages as of 18 October 2026. The Leaders haven't been revealed yet, so we're not guessing at them.
ST-37 and ST-38 at a glance
| ST-37 The Desert Princess and the Pirates | ST-38 Baroque Works | |
|---|---|---|
| Colours | Red/Blue | Blue/Black |
| Theme | Straw Hat Crew and the Kingdom of Alabasta | Baroque Works |
| Play style (Bandai's words) | Overwhelms opponents with a flurry of attacks | Cycles through your hand and K.O.s opposing Characters |
| English release | 18 December 2026, $16.99 | 18 December 2026, $16.99 |
| Japanese release | 19 December 2026, ¥1,320 | 19 December 2026, ¥1,320 |
| Deck | 51 cards, 17 types: 1 Leader, 2 SR, 14 C | 51 cards, 17 types: 1 Leader, 2 SR, 14 C |
| Extras | 10 DON!!, 3-card bonus pack, playsheet | 10 DON!!, 3-card bonus pack, playsheet |
51 cards means a Leader plus a legal 50-card deck, ready to play out of the box. The bonus pack is the newer part: three extra cards, and the Japanese page says they're drawn from a pool of 17 types. Bandai hasn't said what's in that pool. If it includes alternate arts, the bonus pack will matter to collectors more than the deck itself.
ST-37: Red/Blue Straw Hats and Alabasta
Bandai pitches ST-37 as a deck that wins by attacking more often than the opponent can block, and Red is the colour that does that best. Blue usually brings hand control and bounce, which helps clear the way. The box art shows Luffy and the crew in their desert gear with Vivi, which fits the 'desert princess' in the name.
If you're new, a Red-based aggressive deck is a good first teacher. It forces you to count power and Life every turn, which is the skill the game is built on. Our colours guide explains what each colour does if you want to know what you're signing up for.
ST-38: Blue/Black Baroque Works
ST-38 does the opposite job. Bandai describes a deck that swaps cards in and out of your hand and K.O.s the opponent's Characters, which is typical of Black removal paired with Blue card flow. Decks like that win slower, by running the opponent out of things to do. The box art leads with Crocodile and his agents.
Control-style starters are harder to pilot in your first week, but they reward players who already know another TCG. If Baroque Works is your favourite part of the story, that's a perfectly good reason to pick it.
Which one should you buy?
| If you… | Pick |
|---|---|
| Are brand new and want simple, fast games | ST-37 |
| Already play another TCG and like control | ST-38 |
| Want to learn with a friend | Both, one each |
| Mainly collect Alabasta-era cards | Whichever bonus pack pool turns out better; wait for the reveal |
Two starters at $16.99 each come to about $34. If all you want is a way for two people to learn the game, the Set Sail Deck Set SD-01 does that for $24.99. For the broader choice between the starters already on shelves, see which starter deck to buy first.
Frequently asked questions
- When do ST-37 and ST-38 come out?
- Both starter decks come out on 18 December 2026 in English and on 19 December 2026 in Japan.
- What colours are ST-37 and ST-38?
- ST-37 The Desert Princess and the Pirates is Red/Blue. ST-38 Baroque Works is Blue/Black.
- What's in an ST-37 or ST-38 box?
- A 51-card constructed deck (1 Leader, 2 Super Rare types and 14 Common types), 10 DON!! cards, a 3-card bonus pack and a playsheet.
- How much do ST-37 and ST-38 cost?
- Bandai's suggested price is $16.99 each in English and ¥1,320 each, tax included, in Japan.
- Who are the Leaders of ST-37 and ST-38?
- Bandai hadn't revealed the Leader cards as of 18 October 2026. The box art shows Luffy, Vivi and the Straw Hats for ST-37 and Crocodile with Baroque Works agents for ST-38.
Sources
Stop guessing what your cards are worth
Bounty's deck builder checks the 50-card main deck, the four-copy limit and colour match with the Leader, and you can paste in a list as text. It also shows how much of an upgraded list your collection already covers and what the missing cards cost.
