One Piece vs Pokémon vs Magic vs Riftbound: Which Trading Card Game Should You Start With?
Last updated: 29 September 2026 · By Gio, owner of Hobby Collectors Australia, Fairfield NSW
Short answer: start with One Piece if you want the fastest game to learn and a weekly local tournament, Pokémon if collecting matters more than competing, Magic: The Gathering if you want the deepest strategy and group play, and Riftbound if you play League of Legends. The cheapest way for two people to start at our Fairfield store is Magic's Starter Kit 2023 at $24.95, followed by One Piece's Set Sail Deck Set at $49.95 and Riftbound's Zed vs Shen Showdown Deck at $54.95.
We run tournaments for all four games at Hobby Collectors Australia, so this comparison comes from what we see new players actually enjoy — and what they buy first. Below you'll find a side-by-side table, what each game is like, the exact product to start with, and where to play in Western Sydney.
Which trading card game should I start with? The quick comparison
| One Piece Card Game | Pokémon TCG | Magic: The Gathering | Riftbound (League of Legends TCG) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Publisher / started | Bandai, 2022 | The Pokémon Company, 1996 | Wizards of the Coast, 1993 | Riot Games, 2025 |
| Deck | 1 Leader + 50 cards + 10 DON!! | 60 cards | 60 cards (100 in Commander) | Legend + 40-card main deck, 12 runes, 3 battlefields |
| Difficulty to learn | Easy–medium | Easy | Medium–hard | Medium |
| Typical game (our tables) | 20–40 min | 20–30 min | 20–40 min 1v1; 1–2 hrs Commander | 25–40 min |
| Cheapest two-player start at HCA | Set Sail Deck Set SD-01 — $49.95 | Delta Reign Prerelease — $55 per player (includes a Build & Battle Box) | Starter Kit 2023 — $24.95 | Zed vs Shen Showdown Deck — $54.95 (on sale) |
| Best for | Getting competitive fast; anime fans | Collectors, families, first-time players | Deep strategy; 3–4 player group nights | League of Legends players; getting in early |
| Play it at HCA Fairfield | Store tournaments Wednesday 6:30pm & Saturday 11am ($15) | Prereleases & League Challenges | Prereleases every set (official WPN store) | Nexus Nights Tuesday 6:30pm & Saturday 11am; Best-of-3 Friday 6:30pm |
Prices in AUD, checked on our site 29 September 2026. Sale prices can end without notice.
One Piece Card Game: best if you want to play competitively, fast
The One Piece Card Game is Bandai's two-player battle game based on Eiichiro Oda's manga and anime. Every deck is led by a single Leader card, backed by a 50-card main deck and 10 DON!! cards that you spend to power your plays. It turned four in 2026 and is one of the fastest-growing TCGs in our store.
It's easy to pick up because every turn follows the same rhythm: attach DON!!, play characters, attack. In our experience, new players are holding their own at our Wednesday and Saturday tournaments within two or three weeks.
What to buy first
- One Piece Card Game: Set Sail Deck Set (SD-01) — $49.95. Two ready-to-play decks (Luffy and Ace, 51 cards + 10 DON!! each), two Guide Books, a two-player playsheet, deck cases and a bonus OP-17 booster pack. The best buy for two people learning together.
- One Piece Card Game: Starter Deck ST-31 to ST-36 — $34.95 each. Six tournament-legal decks covering every colour, each with a bonus OP-16 booster pack. Pick the Leader and playstyle you like.
New to the game? Read our One Piece Card Game Complete Beginner's Guide and see what's in the newest set in our OP-17: The World's Strongest Warriors release post.
Pokémon TCG: best for collectors and first-time players
The Pokémon Trading Card Game started in Japan in 1996 and celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. You build a 60-card deck of Pokémon, Energy and Trainer cards, power up attacks with Energy, and win by knocking out enough of your opponent's Pokémon to take all your Prize cards.
Pokémon has the simplest rules of the four and the biggest collecting scene, which is why it's the game we recommend most for kids and families. The trade-off is that sealed product sells out fast: beginner decks don't stay on our shelves long.
What to buy first
- Pokémon TCG: Delta Reign [ME06] Prerelease ticket — $55. Sessions run 24–30 October 2026 at our Fairfield store. Entry includes a Build & Battle Box (a 40-card deck plus 4 booster packs and a foil promo), and players who stay for at least two rounds get 3 bonus packs. New and experienced Trainers are welcome. It's the easiest way to learn Pokémon in person.
- Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution — Pitch Black Single Booster Pack [ME05] — $10. A low-cost way to start collecting.
For the full 30th-anniversary lineup, read our Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration launch guide, or browse Pokémon sealed product.
Magic: The Gathering: best for deep strategy and group play
Magic: The Gathering is the original trading card game, first released by Wizards of the Coast in 1993. Players cast creatures and spells using mana from five colours, and each colour has its own playstyle. Standard games start at 20 life with 60-card decks; Commander, the most popular casual format, uses 100-card decks and suits three or four players at one table.
Magic has the steepest learning curve of the four, but also the most beginner products. Hobby Collectors Australia is an official Wizards Play Network (WPN) store, so we run prereleases for every new set.
What to buy first
- Magic: The Gathering Starter Kit 2023 — $24.95. Two ready-built 60-card decks and a how-to-play guide. The cheapest two-player starter of any game in this post.
- Magic: The Gathering | Marvel Super Heroes — Beginner Box — $45.00 (was $60.00). 200 cards, tutorial decks and playmats for players who want superhero-themed first games.
- Magic: The Gathering — Foundations Commander Deck — from $49.95. A ready-to-play 100-card deck for Commander group nights.
Start with our guide to What Is Magic: The Gathering?, then browse all Magic: The Gathering products.
Riftbound: best for League of Legends players who want to get in early
Riftbound is Riot Games' first physical trading card game, set in the League of Legends universe. Each deck is built around a champion Legend and one or more Domains (Riftbound's version of colours), and players fight over shared battlefields with Units, Spells and Gear. Set 4, Vendetta, released on 31 July 2026.
Riftbound is the newest game here, so local communities are still small and friendly — a good time to learn alongside other new players. At our store it also has the most weekly events of the four, with Nexus Nights on Tuesdays and Saturdays and a Best-of-3 event every Friday. Its rules sit between One Piece and Magic in complexity.
What to buy first
- Riftbound TCG: Vendetta – Zed vs Shen Showdown Deck — $54.95 (was $75.00). Two complete 56-card decks (Zed and Shen), two Vendetta booster packs, two paper playmats, tokens and a rulebook. Riftbound's closest equivalent to One Piece's SD-01 or Magic's Starter Kit.
- Riftbound Champion Decks — single ready-to-play decks built around one champion. Stock rotates quickly between sets, so check the collection page for what's available.
Learn the basics in What Is Riftbound TCG? A Beginner's Guide, and see our full breakdown of the Zed vs Shen Showdown Deck.
Which TCG is cheapest to start in Australia?
Magic: The Gathering is the cheapest to start: the Starter Kit 2023 gives two people complete decks for $24.95. One Piece is next at $34.95 for one starter deck or $49.95 for the two-player Set Sail set, then Riftbound at $54.95 for the Zed vs Shen Showdown Deck.
Pokémon's cheapest way in right now is a $10 booster pack for collecting, or the $55 Delta Reign Prerelease if you want to play. What people spend after that depends on how competitive they get — which is exactly why we suggest playing a few store games before buying big.
Where can I play trading card games in Western Sydney?
Hobby Collectors Australia runs regular events for all four games at Shop 2, 20–26 Ware St, Fairfield NSW 2165. Online-only card shops can sell you a deck, but they can't sit across the table and teach you to play it.
- One Piece: Store Tournament every Wednesday at 6:30pm and Saturday at 11am. $15 entry includes a booster pack and a participation promo card.
- Pokémon: Delta Reign Prerelease, 24–30 October 2026 ($55).
- Magic: The Gathering: prereleases for every new set as an official WPN store.
- Riftbound: Nexus Nights every Tuesday at 6:30pm and Saturday at 11am, a Best-of-3 event every Friday at 6:30pm, plus Pre-Rift events for each new set.
See every upcoming date on our events page, or ask other local players which game clicked for them in our Discord community.
Frequently asked questions
Which trading card game is easiest for beginners?
Pokémon has the simplest rules, and One Piece is the easiest to become competitive in. Magic: The Gathering takes the longest to learn but has the most depth.
Which TCG is cheapest to start?
Magic: The Gathering's Starter Kit 2023 is $24.95 at Hobby Collectors Australia and includes two complete 60-card decks. It's the cheapest way for two people to start any of these four games.
Can I play more than one game?
Yes. Many of our regulars have a "main" game for tournaments and a second for casual nights. Buying two cheap starters — say a Magic Starter Kit and a One Piece starter deck — is a good way to compare them yourself.
Are your cards authentic and factory sealed?
Yes. All sealed products at Hobby Collectors Australia are brand new and factory sealed, and every product comes with a guarantee of replacement or a full refund. We're also an official Wizards Play Network store for Magic: The Gathering.
What do I need for my first store tournament?
A legal deck for that game — any starter deck in this post works — plus card sleeves if you have them. Prerelease events include the cards you play with, so you don't need to bring a deck to those.
Come try them all in Fairfield
The best way to pick a trading card game is to play one. Visit Hobby Collectors Australia at Shop 2, 20–26 Ware St, Fairfield NSW 2165 — open Monday to Friday 2pm–9pm and Saturday to Sunday 10am–5pm — and our team will help you find the right starter for you, or book into the next event on our events page. Questions? Email info@hobbycollectorsaustralia.com.au or message us on Discord.