Dragon Ball Story Booster 01: The Beginning of a New Fusion World Series

Dragon Ball Super Card Game Fusion World has already established two recognisable booster formats: the regular numbered FB releases and the collector-focused SB Manga Boosters.

Now Bandai has introduced a third line.

Story Booster 01 [ST01] is officially the first release in the new Story Booster series. Rather than focusing exclusively on one saga or presenting the original manga artwork of Akira Toriyama, ST01 draws from memorable battles, transformations and scenes from across the Dragon Ball anime.

For collectors, that makes Story Booster 01 more than another Fusion World expansion. It is the beginning of a new product family with its own visual identity, card treatments and approach to storytelling.

What Is Dragon Ball Story Booster 01?

Story Booster 01 is a special Fusion World expansion released in Japan on 8 August 2026.

The Japanese edition contains:

• 6 cards per booster pack

• 20 booster packs per box

• 85 card types across the set

• 5 Leader cards

• 36 Common cards

• 20 Rare cards

• 10 Super Rare cards

• 2 Secret Rare cards

• 12 Energy Marker cards

The set includes three new Leaders alongside two returning Leaders. Its card selection crosses different parts of the Dragon Ball story, with characters including Son Goten, Son Goku, Vegeta, Vegito, Broly, Majin Buu and Dabura.

Bandai’s product list identifies this release as Story Booster 01 [ST01], making it the first numbered entry in the Story Booster range.

What Makes ST01 Different?

The main difference is its connection to the anime.

Story Booster 01 uses its alternate-art cards to recreate important confrontations, opening-sequence imagery and memorable scenes from the animated series. Super Rare alternate arts use designs inspired by original animation cels, while Rare alternate arts revisit recognisable matchups and story moments.

Even the Energy Markers are built around scenes from the anime. ST01 contains 12 Energy Marker designs, with each also available in an alternate-art version.

This gives the set a more cinematic feeling than a normal expansion. Instead of presenting characters in isolation, many of the cards are designed to remind collectors of a particular battle, transformation or episode.

New Field-Based Gameplay

Story Booster 01 is not purely a collector release. It also introduces an interesting new direction for Fusion World gameplay.

Several new Leaders begin the game with a designated Extra card—described as a Field in Bandai’s previews—already placed in the Battle Area. This allows the Leader and Field card to work together from the beginning of the match.

The new Son Goten Leader, for example, begins with Fate Beyond Generations in play. Majin Buu starts with Demonic Maze, while Vegeta begins alongside Wicked Soul Discovered.

This is a meaningful change from the usual structure of a Fusion World deck. Instead of waiting to draw and play a key support card, the strategy can begin on the first turn.

For players, that makes ST01 an expansion capable of creating new deck types rather than simply supplying alternate artwork.

A First for Fusion World Foils

Story Booster 01 also introduces several new card treatments.

Every one of the set’s 36 Common cards has a version featuring a new Dragon Ball-patterned holographic finish. This gives collectors something visually different to find beyond the traditional Rare, Super Rare and Secret Rare chase cards.

The alternate-art Leader cards are also holographic on both sides. Because Fusion World Leaders flip when they Awaken, producing a fully foiled front and reverse side is particularly effective—and ST01 is the first Fusion World release to use this treatment.

Both Secret Rare cards also receive Super Alternate-Art versions, creating the major chase tier of the set.

FB, SB and ST: What Do the Codes Mean?

The simplest way to understand the three booster families is:

Series	Product type	Main focus
FB	Regular Fusion World booster	Main set progression, new cards and ongoing gameplay support
SB	Manga Booster	Original Dragon Ball manga illustrations by Akira Toriyama
ST	Story Booster	Anime scenes, story moments and animation-inspired artwork

The cards remain part of the same Fusion World game. The different prefixes identify the type of product and its creative direction.

How Does ST01 Differ from the Regular FB Sets?

The FB series is the main line of Fusion World booster releases.

It began with FB01 Awakened Pulse and has continued through releases such as Blazing Aura, Raging Roar, Ultra Limit, New Adventure, Rivals Clash, Wish for Shenron, Saiyan’s Pride, Dual Evolution and Cross Force.

These are the core expansions that steadily develop the game. They normally introduce new Leaders, Battle cards and Extra cards across multiple colours, while advancing Fusion World’s competitive card pool.

Their artwork is generally created specifically for the card game, presenting characters in polished modern illustrations.

Story Booster 01 still contains playable new cards, but its identity is more tightly tied to the anime. Its alternate arts resemble animation cels, famous matchups, opening scenes and moments that viewers may immediately recognise.

In short:

• FB sets build the main Fusion World release sequence.

• ST sets revisit the Dragon Ball anime as a story.

ST01 does not replace the FB series. It sits alongside it as a themed special release.

How Does ST01 Differ from the SB Manga Boosters?

The SB series is the Manga Booster range.

Manga Booster 01 [SB01] and Manga Booster 02 [SB02] use illustrations taken from the original Dragon Ball manga by Akira Toriyama. The alternate-art cards also feature Toriyama’s manga artwork, giving the range a very distinctive printed-page appearance.

SB01 introduced Energy Markers directly into Fusion World booster packs, with 21 exclusive designs. SB02 continued the concept with another 21 Energy Markers and a new selection of manga artwork.

The difference is therefore mostly the source material:

• SB celebrates the original manga.

• ST celebrates the anime and its story scenes.

Collectors who prefer Toriyama’s original linework may naturally favour the SB releases. Those who grew up watching Dragon Ball on television may find the cinematic artwork of ST01 more immediately nostalgic.

Which Series Is Better for Collectors?

Each range offers a different reason to collect.

The regular FB sets are important because they form the backbone of Fusion World. Early products such as FB01 may carry long-term historical appeal, while later sets introduce new characters, mechanics and competitive cards.

The Manga Boosters have a strong art-driven identity. Original Toriyama manga illustrations give SB01 and SB02 a connection to the source material that is difficult for future releases to replicate.

Story Booster 01 has a different advantage: it is the first set in a completely new series.

“First” releases often remain important because they establish the style and expectations of the product line. If Story Boosters become a recurring part of Fusion World, ST01 will always be the set that introduced:

• The Story Booster name

• Anime-cel-inspired alternate arts

• Dragon Ball-patterned holographic Commons

• Double-sided holographic Leaders

• The new Field-based Leader strategies

• Anime-scene Energy Markers

That does not guarantee future price growth, but it gives the product a clear historical position within Fusion World.

Japanese and English Packs Are Different

Collectors should pay attention to the region when buying Story Booster 01.

The Japanese booster contains 6 cards per pack, while the English-language product contains 12 cards. The two versions should not be compared pack-for-pack because their product configurations and expected distribution are different.

The Japanese version released first on 8 August 2026, while the English release followed on 21 August 2026. Bandai confirms that the Japanese ST01 packs contain six cards and that the set includes 85 card types.

For Australian collectors purchasing the Japanese edition, the appeal is its original Japanese presentation, compact booster format and earlier domestic release.

Is Story Booster 01 Worth Opening?

ST01 appears to offer a strong balance between collectability and gameplay.

Collectors have animation-inspired alternate arts, two Super Alternate-Art Secret Rares, holographic Commons, double-sided foil Leaders and alternate-art Energy Markers to chase.

Players receive new Leaders and Field-based strategies that can affect deck construction from the beginning of a game.

Most importantly, Story Booster 01 has a recognisable identity. It is not simply another set of Dragon Ball characters placed into a booster. It has been designed around the moments that made the anime memorable.

The Start of Something New

Fusion World’s booster range can now be understood through three different lenses.

The FB series develops the main game.
The SB series celebrates the original manga.
The ST series brings the anime’s story to the cards.

Story Booster 01 is the first attempt at that third approach, and it arrives with enough exclusive artwork and new treatments to feel genuinely different.

For Dragon Ball collectors, particularly those who grew up with the anime, ST01 may become one of the most memorable Fusion World releases so far—and if the Story Booster series continues, this will always be where it began.