Today we’re diving into “Disney Lorcana.” This is a collectible card game from Ravensburger that blends the magical world of Disney with strategic card gameplay. So, let’s break it down – what it is, what’s good, what’s bad, & if you should pick it up. Let’s get into it.
What It Is
Disney Lorcana is a collectible card game designed to be accessible while still offering strategic depth. It’s aimed at both Disney fans & card game enthusiasts. Players take on the role of Illumineers, magical beings who use ink to bring Disney characters to life in the form of cards. The game is won by accumulating 20 lore points, which players achieve by questing with their characters. It can be played right out of the box with starter decks, but for those wanting more depth, booster packs allow for customization & deck-building.
Lorcana’s gameplay centers around its lore system, which serves as both the resource & victory condition. Characters from Disney movies, in newly imagined forms, are the backbone of your deck, & how you use them—whether for questing, attacking, or challenging—forms the heart of the game. With vibrant artwork & an easy-to-learn ruleset, Lorcana is accessible but offers enough depth to keep players coming back.
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Gameplay Overview
In Disney Lorcana, two or more players race to be the first to collect 20 lore & claim victory with the help of iconic Disney characters, classic songs, & powerful items. Each player takes on the role of a Lumineer, a keeper of important lore from famous Disney stories. You’ll build or use pre-constructed decks filled with Disney characters & magical elements. The objective is simple: gather lore by sending characters on quests & outmaneuver your opponent in this magical world of strategy & enchantment.
Your deck in Lorcana will be made up of at least 60 cards, drawn from the vast collection of cards available in the game. Players can choose to use a pre-built starter deck or construct their own from a combination of cards they own. However, you can only include a maximum of four copies of any single card with the same name in your deck. For example, even if you’re a big fan of Pongo, you can only include four Pongo cards in one deck. But if a character appears in different versions, such as Aurora as “Dreaming Guardian” & Aurora as “Briar Rose,” you can include up to four of each version. This allows for interesting deck-building strategies while keeping restrictions in place to ensure balance.
Another key deck-building rule is that you can only include cards from one or two colors of ink. There are six ink colors in Lorcana: Amber, Amethyst, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, & Steel. Each ink color offers unique tools & abilities, so choosing the right color (or combination of two) that matches your playstyle is essential. For instance, the Ruby & Emerald deck combines Ruby’s aggressive playstyle with Emerald’s control-oriented abilities. Meanwhile, Steel & Sapphire decks focus on gaining extra ink & playing powerful, high-cost characters. The variety of ink colors encourages experimentation, letting players find their preferred playstyle through different deck combinations.
When looking at Lorcana cards, you’ll encounter four main types, each with its own rules. The most common card type is the character card. These represent the various Disney characters you’ll summon to aid you in your quest for lore. Each character card has several important elements, including its ink cost (how much ink it takes to play), its ink type, abilities, strength, willpower, & lore value. For example, the Aurora card (Dreaming Guardian) belongs to the Sapphire ink type, has the ability “Protective Embrace,” & grants other characters Ward. Cards also have classifications like “Floodborn Hero” or “Princess,” which can interact with other cards in unique ways. Characters are your primary way of gaining lore & challenging opponents.
In addition to character cards, there are three other types of cards: items, actions, & songs. Item cards, like Stolen Scimitar, remain on the board & provide continuous effects that you can trigger multiple times. Action cards, on the other hand, resolve immediately & are discarded after use. An example is Ransack, which lets you draw two cards & discard two. Song cards are similar to action cards but come with a unique mechanic: instead of paying their ink cost, you can have one of your characters sing the song, provided the character’s cost matches or exceeds the song’s cost. This can provide a strategic advantage, letting you conserve ink for other plays.
Once your deck is built, & you’re ready to play, the setup is straightforward. Each player shuffles their deck & places it face down, leaving room on the table for cards in play & a discard pile. You’ll also need a way to track lore, as this is key to winning the game. You can use an official app, dice, tokens, or even a piece of paper to track each player’s progress toward 20 lore. After setup, both players draw seven cards to form their starting hand. Lorcana allows players to mulligan—meaning you can put back any number of cards from your hand to the bottom of your deck & draw the same number to replace them. This helps ensure you start with a decent hand for the early game.
Lorcana gameplay is divided into turns, & each turn consists of four phases: Ready, Set, Draw, & Main. The first three phases pass quickly. In the Ready phase, any cards that were previously exerted (rotated 90 degrees to show they’ve been used) are readied by turning them back upright. In the Set phase, any abilities that trigger at the start of your turn will resolve. The Draw phase is simple—you draw a card from your deck. However, the first player on the very first turn skips the Draw phase to prevent them from gaining an early advantage. After these initial phases, the majority of gameplay happens during the Main phase, where you’ll make key decisions.
During the Main phase, you can play cards, use abilities, send characters on quests, or challenge your opponent’s characters. One of the most important actions is managing your ink. Ink is the game’s resource, & you’ll need it to play cards. Cards that have a frilly golden circle around their ink cost can be placed face down in your Inkwell, adding to your ink pool. You can place one card in your Inkwell per turn, & each card in your Inkwell provides one ink. You’ll use this ink to play character cards, items, actions, or songs. Managing your ink effectively is crucial to building momentum & executing your strategy.
After building your board, you can start sending your characters on quests to collect lore. Quests are the primary way to win the game, as they allow you to gain lore equal to the questing character’s lore value. To quest, you’ll exert the character (turn them sideways), & their lore value will be added to your total. Some characters also have abilities that trigger when they quest, offering even more advantages. The more characters you send on quests, the faster you can accumulate lore & race toward the goal of 20 lore to win.
Alternatively, you can challenge your opponent’s characters to banish them from play. By exerting one of your characters, you can challenge an opponent’s exerted character. Both characters deal damage equal to their strength, & if either character’s willpower is reduced to zero, they are banished to the discard pile. However, both characters deal damage to each other, so even the attacker may take damage. Balancing quests & challenges is key to success in Lorcana, as focusing solely on one approach may leave you vulnerable to your opponent’s strategies.
Disney Lorcana is a dynamic card game that blends Disney’s beloved characters with strategic gameplay mechanics. With a wide range of deck-building options, different card types, & tactical decisions to make each turn, players must carefully balance gaining lore through quests with challenging their opponent’s characters. Whether you’re using powerful items, orchestrating a magical song, or sending characters like Aurora or Moana on quests, every decision brings you closer to victory. Each game offers unique strategies & opportunities, ensuring that no two matches are the same.
The Components
Disney Lorcana shines with its attention to detail. Every card in the game features original artwork, showcasing characters in new, often whimsical ways. Disney fans will appreciate the care put into making each card feel unique, whether it’s the “storyborn,” “dreamborn,” or “floodborn” variations of iconic characters. These designs don’t just add visual flair but also provide depth in how players can build & theme their decks.
The overall quality of the game’s components is excellent. The cards are sturdy, & the artwork really helps immerse players in the Disney universe. The game also comes with tokens & starter decks that make jumping into gameplay easy for new players, with room for customization for the more seasoned crowd.
The Good
One of the major strengths of Disney Lorcana is its accessibility. Whether you’re new to card games or a seasoned veteran, the game strikes a balance between simplicity & strategy. The rules are easy to grasp, making it family-friendly, while the deck-building options & strategic layers make it engaging for more experienced players. The Inkwell system adds a unique resource management mechanic that keeps players on their toes, making every turn a blend of tactical decisions & long-term planning.
The artwork & theme are also huge selling points. Ravensburger has done an amazing job capturing the magic of Disney while giving each character fresh, imaginative twists. Whether you’re playing with a floodborn version of Elsa or a dreamborn Mickey, the cards feel special. The combination of visual appeal & engaging gameplay makes this a game that can be enjoyed both as a collectible & a competitive card game. Replayability is also a standout feature, with each game offering different outcomes based on your deck & strategy.
The Bad
However, while “Lorcana” excels in many areas, it does have some potential downsides. For one, the core mechanics, although unique, might feel a little light for players used to more complex card games like “Magic: The Gathering.” The simplicity that makes it accessible can also limit the depth for those seeking a highly competitive or intricate experience. While deck-building offers flexibility, the color identities aren’t as distinct as in other card games, which could make the gameplay feel somewhat similar across matches.
Another potential issue is how the game’s Disney theming clashes with certain mechanics. The idea of beloved Disney characters “attacking” each other might feel out of place for some players, especially those expecting a more peaceful or collaborative interaction. Even though the game emphasizes questing for lore, the combat aspect could feel jarring given the characters involved. Some players may find this shift in tone awkward & out of sync with the otherwise family-friendly presentation.
The Verdict
So, should you buy Disney Lorcana? If you’re a fan of Disney or collectible card games, this game is a no-brainer. The blend of beloved Disney characters, innovative gameplay mechanics, & stunning original artwork make it a standout in the card game market. It’s accessible to new players while still offering enough strategy to keep veterans engaged. The game is a lot of fun, & the flexibility in deck-building keeps it fresh across multiple playthroughs. Plus, the promise of future expansions & the introduction of new characters like the floodborn versions hints at even more exciting content to come.
That said, if you’re someone who’s looking for a card game with deep, complex mechanics, “Lorcana” might feel a bit on the lighter side. While there’s definitely strategy involved, the game doesn’t reach the same depth as some of the more established collectible card games. Also, the combat mechanics involving Disney characters might not sit well with everyone. If you’re more into the lore & thematic elements of Disney, this game is perfect. But if you’re after something with a heavy focus on deep, tactical play, you might find it lacking.
Final Verdict
If you’re into collectible card games & love Disney, this one’s going to be right up your alley. The Disney theme really shines through, & that’s one of the biggest draws here. The characters feel like they belong in the world they’ve been built for, & the mechanics, like singing songs or questing for lore, are clever nods to the Disney magic. Whether you’re playing as Mickey, Elsa, or Maleficent, it feels like these characters are doing what you’d expect them to do, & that kind of thematic consistency is a huge plus.
The game itself strikes a nice balance between depth & accessibility. While it’s definitely designed to be a collectible card game, you don’t need to dive too deep into deck-building right away. Even with just a couple of starter decks & a few boosters, you can put together a solid deck that plays well & offers plenty of strategic choices. This makes it a great game for families or casual players who may not want to invest heavily in booster packs right from the start.
One of the more interesting aspects of the gameplay is the focus on lore & questing rather than just straight-up attacking your opponent. It feels different from a lot of other CCGs, & in a good way. You’re still making meaningful decisions, but the goal isn’t always about knocking out your opponent’s characters—it’s about gathering enough lore to win. That twist gives the game its own identity, even though it borrows elements from other games.
Now, let’s talk about the art & collectible side of things. The artwork is fantastic, & if you’re someone who likes to collect cards for their visual appeal, you’re going to love this. The variety of card designs, even with the same character appearing in multiple versions, keeps things interesting. Plus, the fact that they’ve included a wide range of Disney characters across different styles gives the game a lot of flavor.
If there’s one thing I’d point out as a possible drawback, it’s that this is still very much a collectible card game. For some, that might mean the temptation to keep buying packs to get the best cards, which can get expensive. But the good news is, you don’t have to go all-in if you don’t want to. You can absolutely enjoy the game with just the base cards or a few boosters, especially if you’re playing casually or with younger players.
Overall, I think this is a really solid start for Disney’s entry into the collectible card game space. It’s fun, thematic, & accessible enough for newcomers while still offering enough depth for experienced CCG players to dig into. If you’re a fan of Disney or collectible card games in general, I’d recommend giving this one a shot—you’ll likely find something to enjoy.
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