Special Rare vs Manga Rare vs SEC in One Piece TCG: What’s the Difference?

Collecting One Piece TCG cards is all about the thrill of finding those ultra-rare treasures. In the English version of the One Piece Card Game, the highest-end rarities include Secret Rares (SEC), Special Rares (SP), and the elusive “Manga Rare” cards. These rarity types can be confusing for new players, so this guide breaks down each one – what they are, how they look, notable examples, and how rare they truly are. If you’ve been wondering what is a SEC card in One Piece, or the difference between SP and Manga Rare cards, read on for a clear explanation of One Piece TCG rarities.

Secret Rare (SEC) Cards

Definition: Secret Rares (denoted by “SEC” on the card) are among the highest regular rarities in each One Piece TCG set. Typically, a set contains only a couple of SEC cards, often numbered at the end of the set list. They are printed in lower quantities than Super Rares and below. In English booster packs, you’ll generally pull about one Secret Rare per booster box (24 packs)[1]. (Sometimes a very lucky box might contain two, but one per 24 packs is the norm.) This makes SEC cards significantly scarcer than the common, rare, or even Super Rare cards that appear in most packs.

Visual Distinctiveness: Secret Rares are immediately eye-catching. They usually feature full-card artwork with premium foil and design elements. In the One Piece Card Game, Secret Rare cards are known for their gold-foil borders and a textured holofoil finish covering much of the card’s front[2]. This gives them a rainbow shine at certain angles and a tactile feel. The “SEC” rarity code is printed in the bottom right corner of the card (next to the set number) to mark its status[2]. Unlike some other TCGs, One Piece’s Secret Rares don’t exceed the set’s numbering; instead, they adhere to the set numbering with the SEC symbol indicating their rarity[3]. In short, a Secret Rare looks and feels ultra-premium – gold accents, textured foil, and stunning full art make these cards must-haves for serious collectors[4].

Notable Examples: Each set usually has one or two Secret Rares (often key characters). For example, Shanks (OP01-120) from Romance Dawn is a Secret Rare featuring the red-haired pirate with gleaming gold border detailing. Yamato (OP01-121) from Romance Dawn is another SEC card, showcasing a full-art illustration of Yamato with textured rainbow foil[5]. In the Paramount War set, Portgas D. Ace appears as a Secret Rare, and Kuzan (OP03-121) is a Secret Rare in a later set – each with the trademark SEC finish. These cards are not only powerful in gameplay but also highly valued by collectors due to their limited pull rates and gorgeous artwork.

Pull Rate: Secret Rares are difficult to pull – roughly 1 per box on average. In practical terms, that’s about 1 in 24 booster packs containing a SEC card[1]. This rarity keeps their value high. Opening a sealed booster display almost guarantees one Secret Rare, but anything beyond that is lucky. Collectors often buy multiple boxes or singles on the secondary market to chase these, as pulling a specific SEC by chance can be tough. The limited print run and special finish of Secret Rares mean they command high prices relative to lower rarities. However, they’re still more common than the Special Rare and Manga Rare cards described below.

Special Rare (SP) Cards

Definition: Special Rares (SP) are unique alternate versions of existing cards in the set. An SP card is basically an alternate-art “parallel” of a normal card (which might be a Rare, Super Rare, etc.), but it’s given its own rarity category because of its special treatment. These cards feature an “SP” symbol in the bottom corner (before the card’s set number) to indicate their rarity[6]. Unlike Secret Rares which are part of the main set lineup, Special Rares are often considered bonus chase cards – one level above the regular set cards in rarity. In terms of printing, SPs are extremely limited: only about one SP appears per case of boosters (roughly 1 in 6 to 12 boxes, depending on case size)[6]. This means you might have to open hundreds of packs to find a single SP card, making them even rarer than SECs in practice.

Visual Distinctiveness: Special Rares stand out with their distinct artwork and foil patterns. Each SP is an alternate art of a card already in the set, usually with a creative art style or theme that sets it apart. A common motif for early Special Rares was the “Wanted Poster” design – the card’s art mimics the wanted posters from One Piece’s world, often with a sepia or stylized look of the character’s portrait[6]. SP cards typically have very vibrant colors or thematic artwork that differs from the original card’s illustration. They also receive unique foiling; for example, some SPs have special textured foil or color highlights to fit the theme. Essentially, an SP is a flashier alternate-art version of a character card, which appeals to collectors who love the new art. Despite being parallel prints, they are officially labeled as “SP” on the card, underscoring their special status.

Notable Examples: Many popular characters have Special Rare versions. For instance, Donquixote Doflamingo (OP01-073 SP) from Romance Dawn is an SP alternate art of Doflamingo’s card, featuring him in a unique layout. Ms. All Sunday (Nico Robin) (OP04-064 SP) from Kingdoms of Intrigue is another Special Rare sporting a vibrant design that differs from her normal card. The character Uta (OP02-120 SP) from the Paramount War set also received a gorgeous SP treatment with alternate artwork[7]. Additionally, Boa Hancock (OP01-078 SP) is a well-known SP from the first set, illustrated as a stunning wanted-poster style card. Each of these lists “SP” by their card number and showcases artwork that collectors go crazy for. Special Rares tend to feature fan-favorite characters (often villains or heroes) in novel art styles – making them among the most coveted pulls in any set.

Pull Rate: Special Rares are extremely rare pulls – far more scarce than even Secret Rares. On average, you can expect around 1 SP card in an entire case of booster boxes[6]. A case typically contains multiple booster boxes (in English releases, cases often have 12 boxes), so we’re talking roughly on the order of 1 SP per 200+ packs in many cases. In numeric terms, that’s about a 0.5% (or less) chance of any given pack containing a Special Rare. Many players can open dozens of boxes and only see one or two SPs, if any. Because of this low pull rate, SP cards hold high market value and are sometimes second only to the ultra-rare Manga cards in price. If you pull an SP, consider yourself very lucky – these are among the toughest hits to get from packs[6].

Manga Rare Cards

Definition: “Manga Rare” is the community nickname for a particular type of alternate-art secret card that features artwork from Eiichiro Oda’s original manga panels. These cards do not have a unique rarity code like “MR”; instead, they are technically a special kind of parallel Secret Rare or Super Rare, distinguished by their artwork. In other words, a Manga Rare is usually an alternate art version of a card (often of a high rarity) where the art is taken straight from the One Piece manga. They are exceedingly limited in printing – typically only one Manga-style alternate card is included per set (though one special set included three)[8]. Officially, Bandai doesn’t label these as a separate rarity, but fans call them “Manga Rares” due to their iconic look. You can identify a Manga Rare by the small ★ (star) symbol above the regular rarity on the card, indicating it’s an alternate art parallel[9][10]. In the English One Piece TCG sets, Manga Rares have been the chase of all chases, often featuring pivotal characters in manga-style art.

Visual Distinctiveness: These cards are stunning and very distinct. A Manga Rare card will feature original manga artwork or a scene, often in a monochromatic or screentone style, reminiscent of a manga page. For example, the background might show actual manga panels or line art, and the character’s illustration may be the same as a famous manga panel drawn by Oda. Despite the black-and-white manga art style, the card is usually finished with the same high-end foiling and texture as other alternates – so you get a mix of manga line art with rainbow holofoil and textured finish on top[11][12]. This creates a striking contrast that fans adore. Figure: The ultra-rare “Manga Shanks” alternate art from Romance Dawn (OP01). This Secret Rare parallel uses Eiichiro Oda’s manga artwork, visible in the black-and-white background panels. Manga Rares like this have a small star by the rarity and a textured foil finish, making them the most coveted cards in One Piece TCG.[8] In essence, Manga Rares look like a One Piece manga page brought to life on a holographic card. They usually depict legendary moments or characters (e.g. a dramatic pose of Shanks, Luffy in Gear 5, etc.), which further adds to their appeal. It’s not an exaggeration to say these are the rarest and most valuable cards pulled from English packs[13].

Notable Examples: Several sets into the One Piece TCG, we have a few famous Manga Rares. The most notorious is Shanks (OP01-120 Parallel Manga Art) from Romance Dawn, often just called “Manga Shanks”. This card shows Shanks in black-and-white with manga panels behind him and has sold for well over $500–1000 due to scarcity[14]. Another example is Portgas D. Ace’s Manga Rare in the Paramount War set – depicting Ace in Oda’s manga style (this card also commanded prices near $1000 at its peak). Awakening of the New Era introduced Monkey D. Luffy (OP05-119 Manga Rare) featuring Luffy in his Gear 5 form with comic-style artwork, as well as a Trafalgar Law Manga parallel – this set uniquely had three different Manga art cards[8]. In a later set, Roronoa Zoro (OP06-118 Manga Parallel) was released, showing Zoro in a dynamic manga scene[15]. Each of these cards carries the star-marked rarity of an alternate art and stands as a centerpiece for collectors. They’re not just rare – they’re pieces of One Piece history, since the art comes straight from the source material.

Pull Rate: Manga Rares are hands-down the rarest cards in One Piece TCG booster packs. The pull rates are speculative (because they’re so rare, it’s hard to gather data), but estimates put them at roughly 1 in 2 to 6 cases of product[16][17]. That translates to on the order of 1 in 576 to 1,728 packs (since a case is usually 12 boxes, or 288 packs, and it might take several cases to find one)[16]. In simpler terms, the odds of pulling a specific Manga Rare from a single pack are astronomically low – often cited around 0.1% or even lower. Many players will never see a Manga Rare from packs in their life; these tend to be the cards you either hit the jackpot on or end up buying in the aftermarket. Because of this extreme rarity, Manga Rare cards often sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars each[14]. For example, the Manga Shanks card was infamously valuable – some early sales exceeded $2,000 for graded copies. In late 2024 and 2025, new Manga Rares like Manga Ace or Manga Luffy similarly fetch high prices due to high demand and low supply[18][19]. In summary, pulling a Manga Rare is a one-in-a-million feeling – these are the ultimate chase cards in the English One Piece Card Game.

Comparing SP vs Manga Rare vs SEC

So, how do these three rarity types stack up against each other? Here’s a quick overview highlighting the key differences:

As the table shows, Secret Rares vs Special Rares vs Manga Rares differ in both how they’re obtained and how they look. Secret Rares (SEC) are part of every set’s lineup and while rare (about one per box), they are the most “common” of these three categories. Special Rares (SP) and Manga Rares, on the other hand, are parallel cards that take rarity to the next level – they don’t appear in every box or even every case. SP cards offer dazzling alternate artwork (with the SP label on the card) and are very scarce pulls, roughly one per case. Manga Rares are even more extraordinary: these manga-art cards are the rarest in the English One Piece TCG, often serving as the holy grail for collectors due to their connection to Oda’s manga artwork and incredibly low pull rates[14].

In summary, One Piece TCG rarities escalate from regular foils up to Secret Rares, then beyond into Special Rares and Manga parallels. Knowing the difference between SP and Manga Rare cards is important for collectors – SPs are alternate-art variants with unique themes (and labeled “SP”), while Manga Rares are a specific kind of alt art using manga panels (identified by a star and extreme rarity). Both SP and Manga cards are harder to find than standard SEC secrets. If you’re chasing these cards, be prepared for tough odds or consider buying singles. They are highly sought-after, not just for gameplay, but as collectible pieces of One Piece history. By understanding each rarity’s characteristics – from printing and pull rates to visual style – you’ll be better equipped to hunt down your favorite treasures in the One Piece Card Game. Good luck, and happy treasure hunting on the high seas of the One Piece TCG!

Sources: Official One Piece Card Game rarity guides and community data[1][2][6][8][20], which provide details on rarity symbols, card examples, and pull rates in English booster packs. All information is specific to the English-language One Piece TCG as of 2025, ensuring you have up-to-date insights on these special cards.