So, you want to play Disney Lorcana (or how I fell back into a CCG)
It began with a dream. A few months ago, I had a dream that I was playing Magic The Gathering. This lingered for a while with me at times floating the idea of getting into a CCG (Collectible Card Game) with my spouse to which they showed interest. But I had been out of the MtG scene twenty-five years ago and really knew I did not want to get back into that. It was fairly toxic when I played those years ago and we did not even have social media. It also can be expensive. Looking at the various CCGs on the market, Disney Lorcana seemed like a sure fit.
Recently released? ✓
Only four expansions out (as of July 2024)? ✓
Filled with Disney IP? ✓
Collaboration between Disney and Ravensburger? ✓
Ongoing storyline? ✓
Engaging artwork? ✓
A tournament scene? ✓
It just checked too many boxes for me to pass up giving it a shot. I let my spouse know while they were on a business trip and then with reluctant ‘yes,’ I began to dive into the lore, cards, and costs to see what kind of commitment I was signing us up for. Thus far I have not been disappointed on any front with my decision.
Ravensburger released Disney Lorcana in August 2023 and has four expansions since then, with a fifth on the horizon. The cards are stunning, with engaging artwork that goes beyond what we know of the Disney movies and sweeps players into the story of Lorcana. You are the chosen of the Great Illuminary, the heart of the realm known as Lorcana. Your imagination is why you have been chosen and armed with an Inkcaster, you now have the ability to manipulate the ink and draw forth images, or glimmers, from the page.
There are six inks, each representative of various traits. For instance, Amber as relayed on the Disneylorcana.com site is described as “Patient and dedicated, they are able to pursue causes and ambitions with single-minded persistence. They often work in communities, either from above as a leader or from within as a healer, bodyguard, or just a loyal follower.”
Keep in mind, as it is specifically called out, Ink is not good or evil. The vast array of Disney characters, both heroes and villains, may be found in the six ink colors; Amber, Amethyst, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, and Steel.
As an aside, I do enjoy that these are reminiscent of Magic The Gathering colors – Black, White, Red, Blue, and Green (and you could count Artifacts as a color). But MtG is the Goat of CCGs!
Unlike in Magic or other CCGs, you are not doing damage to your opponent as a victory condition, you are pursuing the collection of Lore. The expansions have added to the storyline and introduced new or updated cards. For those who are interested in the meta-story, it is well worth the read, as it will also give some insights into the flavor text on the bottom of the cards.
There is of course a collectible element to the game, as cards come in a variety of rarities: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Super Rare, Legendary, and Enchanted. This is pretty standard among CCGs (hence the first ‘C’ – collectible). It also gives folks a reason to continue purchasing cards, either through singles sold on the collectible market or through preconstructed decks, blister packs, or special box sets called troves. The marketing opportunities are incredible with CCGs these days, as you can also fall down the hole of accessorizing with custom boxes, card sleeves, counters, dice, and playmats.
While I would say this gives something for parents to play with their children, sharing in the Disney experience together, I have also seen A LOT of Disney adults in the game and tournament scene. It is a collectible card game after all, and tournaments go hand in hand. Capitalizing on this Ravensburger has a host of prizes for the winners, with promo cards and specialized winners playmats.
If you are looking to get into the game and play casually, it is a great game to play among friends or friendly game store communities. If you want to dip your toes into the tournament scene, recognize that it can be cutthroat. Mileage will vary of course depending on the cultivated game culture in your local area. And the typical disclaimer is every hobby has jerks.
Do not expect to see a lot of “themed” competitive decks. With CCGs, it comes down to combos, card efficiency, and rules bloat. They recently had to “nerf” a card that was dominating play experiences – which if you have played any CCGs, you know this happens. It is difficult to know how every combination of card play is going to translate and interact.
I would caution. If you are a collector and a completionist, I would not recommend this game. The Enchanted cards are extremely difficult to find, which leaves buying them an expensive proposition. Collectors and resellers have leaped on Disney Lorcana, with my social media now advertising plexiglass boxes for cases (not blister boxes or starter decks – but cases!) for long-term storage. Also, it is not unusual to see the winning promos right after a tournament being sold for hundreds of dollars. Ebay and the TCGPlayer website are great resources to track prices. Of course, as new cards are released prices will fluctuate based on rarity and the tournament scene. Better cards cost more as the demand goes up – all hail capitalism.
For those who are looking to get into tournament play, something to keep an eye out for is the multitude of social media groups dedicated to it and depending on where you live. There are probably local groups with social media pages or Discords. Also, there are a few fan websites that will help in your journey – dreamborn.ink which allows you to play with deck builds and inktable.net where you are able to test out said deck designs. There had been another site, Pixelborn, which was gorgeous, but they shut down Lorcana support after a cease-and-desist letter from Disney. Wish they would have just offered a buyout; it was a great site and a resource to the community. But IP laws being what they are and licensing rights, I am sure there was a cause and it is an unfortunate outcome.
I look forward to my ongoing dive into Disney Lorcana. I want to give my spouse the tournament experience and it gives us something to share hobby-wise.
Are you playing Lorcana? Let us know!
Disney Lorcana — Into The Inklands Story