Rocks.D.Xebec OP17 Deck Guide
Build a precise early game, then turn 10 DON!! into flexible multi-character turns with Rocks.D.Xebec. This guide covers the decklist, mulligan, curve lines, tech choices, matchups, and gameplay tips.
Decklist
Updated OP17 list for Rocks.D.Xebec.
Mulligan
Rocks does not have a traditional searcher, so you do not need to hunt for one exact combination. Your priorities depend mainly on your curve and the matchup.
Going First
Charlotte Linlin OP17-049 is your main priority. You can play it at 5 DON!! and begin using its defensive effect while potentially generating extra resources.
Going Second
Edward.Newgate OP17-040 is especially important. At 6 DON!!, it is an excellent development play and can immediately increase the pressure from your Leader.
Based on the Matchup
Keep Gloriosa OP17-046 when your opponent has an important 5-cost Character you need to answer quickly. Miss Buckingham Stussy OP17-054 is almost always useful to have, but multiple copies can become clunky. Streusen OP17-050 is good early, but is not worth mulliganing specifically for.
Curve Guide
This curve is a guideline, not an automatic sequence. Rocks depends heavily on the opposing board, so it is often better to answer the situation than to simply play your most expensive available Character.
Going First
Going Second
10 DON!! Plays
Rocks.D.Xebec OP17-118 turns your 10-DON!! turn into a flexible double-deploy. Pick the pair that best matches the board state and matchup.
Tech Cards
Buckin OP08-051
Buckin is only included for its 1K Counter when you need more defense against early-game pressure. Do not play it onto the board: its body and On Play effect offer no meaningful value, and having it among your Characters also interferes with the condition that lets Rocks OP17-118 become a 2K Counter in hand. The main list instead finds more defense through Characters such as Wang Zhi and Captain John.
Rocks Pirates Stage
The Stage is not recommended in this version. You must trash a card from your hand to use its effect, while the deck already has other ways to compensate for its lack of traditional Counters.
Gravity Blade
Gravity Blade is not needed in the current list, but can become a useful Tech Card in a metagame with many difficult 6-cost Characters. Its main drawback is that it is not a Rocks Pirates card, reducing the consistency of the Leader effect.
Mr. 3 (Galdino) OP16
Mr. 3 (Galdino) follows the same logic. It can be useful in a field full of large Characters costing 9 or less, but being outside the Rocks Pirates type also reduces the consistency of the Leader effect. Keep non-Rocks Tech Cards limited and only include them for a real metagame need.
Matchups Format 17.5
See Xebec's win rates when going first or second in OP17 Rocks D. Xebec stats in OP17 Format.
Xebec looks like one of the more complete decks in the current field. It pressures slower leaders, keeps cards flowing, and has enough high-end tempo to stay favored across a large part of the matchup spread.
Tips
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Do not always play on curve. At 8 DON!!, two 4-cost Characters can be better than Shiki. Newgate plus Kyo, Linlin plus Stussy, or another combination may fit the opposing board better.
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Use the Leader effect regularly to refresh your hand. The deck is built around Rocks Pirates to make the reveal as reliable as possible.
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Trash 2K Counter Events when Don Marlon can recover them. Use them for the Leader effect and immediately get that defensive resource back.
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Keep Rocks OP17-118 in hand when your board is already strong. A second large development wave is not always needed, and Rocks can instead serve as a 2K Counter.
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Use Kyo to protect important Characters from removal. Because the deck regularly generates extra cards, trashing 2 cards can be worthwhile to preserve an essential threat.
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Stussy can defend without using Counter. Its On Play effect can stop a 6-cost Character from attacking, then its Activate: Main can neutralize any Character. A rested Stussy also often attracts an opposing attack before it can repeat its effect.
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Do not automatically use Captain John's effect. It must be rested to redirect attacks, but that can expose it to removal. Against Kaido, for example, keeping it active can avoid a Power reduction making it easy to remove.
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Use Kaido when its Power reduction creates real value. If there is no worthwhile target, simply develop it as a 6K Blocker.
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Wang Zhi can heavily punish boards full of 1-cost Characters. Against Purple Enel, it can bottom deck several small Characters at once.
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Stussy is especially effective against Purple Enel. Stop its key 6-cost Character from attacking while you continue developing your board and Enel must spend resources dealing with Stussy.
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Remember the differences between your pseudo-Counters: all three effects require an opposing attack. Linlin gives modest protection to your Leader or any Character, Newgate gives much stronger protection but only to your Leader, and Shiki strongly protects your whole board against opposing Characters, but not against the opposing Leader, and only once per turn.
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Multiple Newgates can stack their effects. With two in play, you can trash two cards to raise your Leader's Power significantly during an attack.
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Keep 1 DON!! available when setting up a lethal attack with Unblockable. No Authority in the World That Lasts Forever!!! needs that DON!! to grant Unblockable, and poor DON!! management can cost you a winning line.
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Use Gloriosa to prepare lethal. Bottom decking a 5-cost Blocker before your attack sequence can matter more than developing another threat.
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Do not play 10-cost Rocks only because you reached 10 DON!!. Against Red Ace OP17, it can let the opponent benefit from a cost reduction on their own 10-cost Edward.Newgate OP17. Before playing it, check whether developing three Characters truly outweighs what the opponent can do next turn.