Dragon Ball Super Card Game Fusion World is trying something new with Story Booster 01 [ST01], releasing in Japan on 8 August 2026 and in English on 21 August. Rather than a standard numbered expansion, it's built around a "story" concept, recreating iconic anime moments through all-foil cards with anime-style backgrounds rather than the usual card frame.
What makes Story Booster different
Every card in ST01 is foil, a departure from the mix of foil and non-foil most Fusion World sets use, and the illustrations are built to look like scenes lifted directly from the anime rather than standard card art. The set includes a new Leader card with the ability to place a Field at the start of the game, a mechanic Bandai hasn't detailed in full yet beyond confirming it exists. At 85 total card types, it's a smaller release than a full numbered booster, split across 5 Leaders, 36 Commons, 20 Rares, 10 Super Rares, 2 Secret Rares and 12 Energy Markers.
Collector focused, not just a player set
The all-foil, anime-scene approach positions Story Booster 01 closer to a collector product than a pure competitive release, similar in spirit to how other games use premium or anniversary boosters. That doesn't mean it's irrelevant competitively, the new Field-placing Leader is a genuine new mechanic, but expect the set's chase appeal to lean heavily on the alternate art and foil treatment rather than raw power level alone.
Where this sits in Fusion World's busy August
Story Booster 01 lands in the middle of a genuinely active month for the Core Dragon Ball game. Store Championship events run through 31 July, an Ultimate Battle promotion runs through 16 August, and Fusion World has a presence at Gen Con from 30 July to 2 August. If you're playing competitively rather than just collecting, that's a lot of in-store activity to work Story Booster 01's release around.
What this means for Australian players
The five to six week wait between the Japanese and English release is a good window to watch how the new Field-placing Leader performs in Japan before deciding whether to prioritise this set once it's available locally. If you're mainly collecting rather than competing, the foil-only, scene-based art style is the real drawcard here, and that appeal doesn't depend on the meta at all.
Check current Dragon Ball Fusion World pricing on C3 as Story Booster 01 singles come online ahead of the English release.
How this compares to a normal numbered booster
Fusion World's main line runs through numbered FB sets, with Cross Force (FB10) as the most recent mainline release in June 2026. Story Booster products sit alongside that main line rather than replacing it, similar to how other TCGs run premium or anniversary boosters as a side release. If you're building a competitive deck, keep following the numbered FB sets as your primary source of new staples, and treat Story Booster 01 as a supplementary pickup for the specific Leader and any Field-related tech it introduces.
The wider anniversary trend across TCGs
Story Booster 01's all-foil, scene-based approach fits a pattern seen across other anime TCGs this year, where established games mark milestones with premium, collector-leaning products rather than simply numbering another mainline set. Weiss Schwarz's BanG Dream! 10th Anniversary Premium Booster follows the same logic. For Fusion World specifically, this is a signal the game is mature enough now, more than two years into its run, to support a side release built purely around presentation rather than needing every product to expand the competitive card pool.
FAQ
When does Dragon Ball Fusion World Story Booster 01 release? Japan on 8 August 2026, with the English version following on 21 August 2026.
What makes Story Booster 01 different from a normal Fusion World set? Every card is foil, with anime-scene style artwork rather than standard card frames, and it introduces a new Leader with the ability to place a Field at the start of the game.
How many cards are in the set? 85 total card types: 5 Leaders, 36 Commons, 20 Rares, 10 Super Rares, 2 Secret Rares and 12 Energy Markers.
Is Story Booster 01 aimed at competitive players or collectors? Both to some degree, the new Field-placing Leader is a genuine mechanic, but the all-foil, anime-scene presentation leans the set toward collectors specifically.
What else is happening in Fusion World this August? Store Championship events run through 31 July, an Ultimate Battle promotion runs through 16 August, and Fusion World has a Gen Con presence from 30 July to 2 August.
Where can I check current Dragon Ball Fusion World prices in Australia? C3 tracks AU pricing across the Core Dragon Ball game as new sets like Story Booster 01 come online.
Does Story Booster 01 replace the main numbered FB sets? No. It sits alongside the main FB line as a supplementary, collector-focused release rather than replacing it, similar to how other TCGs run premium or anniversary boosters.
The C3 Team