Disney Lorcana is a collectible card game released by Ravensburger in collaboration with The Walt Disney Company in late 2023.[1][2][3] It is Ravensburger's first trading card game[4] and features characters from throughout Disney contents, which current expansion sets include characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios films and The Disney Afternoon series. Ravensburger North America CEO Filip Francke described Lorcana as "probably the largest investment that we have ever done into any type of project and initiative".[5]
 Backside of a Lorcana Trading Card Game card. | |
 | |
| Designers | Ryan Miller and Steve Warner |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Ravensburger |
| Release date | August 18, 2023 |
| Type | Trading card game |
| Players | 2 or more |
| Age range | 8+ |
| Cards | Minimum 60 |
| Playing time | 30-45 minutes |
| Website | www.disneylorcana.com |
During the 2022 D23 Expo event, booth attendees received a promotional card and pin of Mickey Mouse - Brave Little Tailor, while a collector set of 6 cards featuring Stitch, Elsa, Cruella De Vil, Maleficent, Robin Hood, and Captain Hook were sold on site at US$50 each. A total of 900 sets were sold.[6]
The premier set, "The First Chapter", was released to board game stores on August 18, 2023 and major retailers on September 1, 2023.[7][8]
Development and release
editIn June 2023, shortly before the game's release, Ravensburger and game co-designer Ryan Miller were sued by the latter's former employer, Upper Deck Company. The suit alleged that Disney Lorcana used game design elements from an unreleased trading card game, originally named Shell Beach and then renamed Rush of Ikorr, which Miller worked on while at Upper Deck.[9][10][11][12] Ravensburger had filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.[13]
At an early release event at Gen Con tabletop game convention, customers waited in hours-long lines to purchase starter decks and booster packs.[14] Cards with particularly high rarity quickly resold for hundreds of dollars prior to the game's initial release,[15] while the promotional cards from the 2022 D23 Expo resold for prices between $1,000 and $3,000.[16]
As of October 2023, Lorcana features characters in part from Fantasia, Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers, Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, Treasure Planet, and Sleeping Beauty.[17]
Story
editDisney Lorcana is set in an alternate world, where there are people called "Illumineers". Illumineers are able to use magical ink to summon "Glimmers", which are beings that resemble Disney characters. The world has regions called "Inklands". At its center is the "Great Illuminary". Its purpose is to be a repository to keep track of every story ever told. These stories are archived in the "Halls of Lorcana".
One day, the Ilumineers disappear and the Great Illuminary calls upon players to be Illumineers themselves. There is a book of stories, a "lorebook", and a tool called an "inkcaster" that allows Illumineers to take the magical ink to create glimmers from the lorebook.[18]
Three types of glimmers exist:
- Storyborn – identical to characters featured in the original Disney films.
- Dreamborn – reimagined Disney characters.
- Floodborn – characters born from a cataclysmic event yet to be disclosed.
Players are tasked to summon glimmers and retrieve "lore". Lore are fragments of a larger story that are kept in the Great Illuminary. But it is still unknown as to who or what the lore is being kept safe from.[19]
Gameplay
editWith decks made up of at least 60 cards,[20] players produce "ink", a resource that allows cards representing characters, items, and song lyrics from Disney media to be summoned.[21] Turns follow a sequence of generating ink, playing cards, using actions from cards, and challenging opposing opponents' character cards. While interacting with each other's cards, players attempt to accrue twenty points (known in game as "lore") before their opponent.[14][22]
Ink Types
editPlayers summon Disney characters using different types of "ink". There are six ink types in the game:[23]
- Amber – feature characters and spells that focus on defense and recovery.
- Amethyst – focuses on spells and abilities that can change the course of the game.
- Emerald – includes characters and abilities that focus on strategic plays.
- Ruby – cards focus on attacks and offensive strategies.
- Sapphire – provides card draw and resource management abilities.
- Steel – focused on defenses and resilient characters.
Rarities
editCards come in different rarities that are located at the bottom center of the card.[24] The rarities listed in increasing rarity are:
- Common (gray circle)
- Uncommon (white book)
- Rare (bronze triangle)
- Super Rare (silver diamond)
- Legendary (gold pentagon)
- Enchanted (rainbow hexagon)
Shift mechanics
editShift is the ability to upgrade character cards in play with different character card with the same name. This is accomplished by paying an ink cost.
Introduced in the Ursula's Return expansion in May 2024, the shift mechanic gained alternative ways of being activated beyond paying an ink cost. For example, players can discard a song card in order to play shift on top of another character.[25]
Expansions
edit| Set number | Set name | Local game store release | Retail release | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The First Chapter | August 18, 2023 | September 1, 2023 | [26] | |
| 2 | Rise of the Floodborn | November 17, 2023 | December 1, 2023 | Introduced "Resist" game mechanic | [26] |
| 3 | Into the Inklands | February 23, 2024 | March 8, 2024 | Introduced "Locations" card type | [26] |
| 4 | Ursula's Return | May 17, 2024 | May 31, 2024 | Introduced “Alternate shift” mechanic and "Sing together" mechanic | [26][27] |
| 5 | Shimmering Skies | August 9, 2024 | August 23, 2024 | [26][28] | |
| 6 | Azurite Sea | November 15, 2024 | November 29, 2024 | [26] |
The first expansion, "Rise of the Floodborn," was released on November 17, 2023.[29] This 204-card expansion added characters from Pinocchio, The Jungle Book, The Great Mouse Detective, and other properties, and introduced a "Resist" game mechanic.[30] The second expansion, "Into the Inklands," was officially announced on December 6, 2023.[31] This expansion, also 204 cards, introduces characters from DuckTales, TaleSpin, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, and Treasure Planet; it also introduces a brand new card type, "Locations." Locations are well-known spots from Disney movies and television shows,[32] and add a new mechanic and more strategy options into gameplay.[33] "Into the Inklands" debuted in hobby stores on February 23, 2024, and was released on March 8, 2024.[31] The third expansion, "Ursula's Return" was officially announced in February 2024 and introduces characters from Encanto. "Ursula's Return"[34] was made available to mass markets on May 31, 2024. "Shimmering Skies" will include characters from Wreck-It Ralph.[35]
Disney Lorcana Challenge
editStarting May 2024, the Disney Lorcana Challenge is an event circuit of tournaments and competitions for players of the game.[36]
| Dates | Held in | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| May 25-26, 2024 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Joshua Paultre[37] |
| June 8-9, 2024 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Brian Courtade[38] |
| July 20-21, 2024 | Fort Worth, Texas, United States | Edmond Chiu[39] |
| August 24-25, 2024 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Diego Saz[40] |
| September 21-22, 2024 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| October 26-27, 2024 | Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Dates | Held in | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| May 25-26, 2024 | Lille, France | Frank Karsten[41] |
| July 6-7, 2024 | Bochum, Germany | Théotime Buchot[42] |
| August 3-4, 2024 | Bologna, Italy | Elie Vepierre [citation needed] |
| September 21-22, 2024 | Birmingham, UK |
Reception
editLorcana has been received well, having a score of 7.3 on BoardGameGeek,[43] a Recommended from Polygon,[44] and winning Best Ongoing Card Game at the 2023 Tabletop Awards.[45]
Ravensburger North America’s CEO Stephane Madi claims hearing a "number of players who have told us that Disney Lorcana TCG has given them a chance to share their love of the hobby with their families, or how it’s brought a number of new faces to organized play events" and they "believe (and have heard from our partners and players) that Disney Lorcana TCG has grown the size of the TCG pie, as opposed to taking a piece of it".[46]
References
edit- ^ Hall, Charlie (2022-09-09). "The first cards for Lorcana, Disney's answer to Magic: The Gathering, are spectacular". Polygon.
- ^ Kim, Matt (2022-09-16). "Lorcana Interview: How the New Disney TCG Prioritizes Players Over Collectors". IGN.
- ^ Sowa, Alexander (2022-09-19). "Disney's Lorcana Mixes Mickey Mouse With Magic: The Gathering". CBR.
- ^ "Ravensburger unveils its first-ever Disney Collectible Trading Card Game – Disney Lorcana" (Press release). Ravensburger AG. 2022-08-30. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
- ^ Hall, Charlie (2022-08-30). "Disney will launch a new card game to go up against Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon". Polygon.
- ^ "D23 Expo 2022 Collector's Set". Mushu Report. 15 November 2022.
- ^ Burton, Corinna (20 February 2024). "Lorcana: here's where to buy the Disney TCG". Dicebreaker. Gamer Network. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ Jarvis, Matt (2023-09-01). "PSA: Disney Lorcana gets its full release today, which means you might be able to actually find it". Dicebreaker. Gamer Network. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- ^ "Disney Card Game Gets Sued For Allegedly Copying Rival's Design". Kotaku. 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
- ^ Hall, Charlie (2023-06-07). "Disney Lorcana launch threatened by Upper Deck lawsuit". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
- ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (2023-06-12). "Disney Lorcana Still Targeting August Launch, Calls 'Stolen Game' Allegations 'Baseless'". IGN. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
- ^ "Games lawyer decodes Upper Deck's Disney Lorcana lawsuit". Wargamer. 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
- ^ Meehan, Alex (2023-07-13). "Disney Lorcana studio calls Upper Deck lawsuit "more of a PR stunt than a genuine legal dispute"". Dicebreaker. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
- ^ a b McDonald, Brooke (21 August 2023). "Here's what to know about Disney Lorcana, now available in stores". Denver 7 ABC. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (9 August 2023). "Disney Lorcana Cards Are Already Selling for Hundreds of Dollars". IGN. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ Lambertsen, Carrie (30 July 2023). "All D23 Disney Lorcana Cards (& How Much They're Worth)". Screenrant. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ Dodge, John (2023-10-03). "Every Playable Disney Property Featured in Disney Lorcana". CBR. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
- ^ Switzer, Eric (2023-03-14). "EXCLUSIVE: Disney Lorcana Narrative Lead Answers Our Biggest Story Questions". TheGamer. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ Switzer, Eric (2023-07-28). "Disney Lorcana's Story, Explained". TheGamer. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ "Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game: Quick Start Rules". Ravensburger.com. November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
- ^ Hall, Charlie (17 August 2023). "A Disney Lorcana guide for absolute beginners". Polygon. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ Martens, Todd (25 August 2023). "'Disney Lorcana' aims to shake up the trading card game space". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ "Inks And Their Attributes | Disney Lorcana by Ravensburger". Disney Lorcana by Ravensburger. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ Liebl, Matthew (29 September 2023). "Disney Lorcana TCG: All 6 Card Rarities explained". Along Main Street. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ "Disney Lorcana Reveals New Twist to Shift Mechanic (Exclusive)". Gaming. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ a b c d e f "Disney Lorcana release dates and latest news". Wargamer. 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ Carter, Chase (2024-04-29). "Disney Lorcana's new Sing Together mechanic encourages duet performances". Dicebreaker. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- ^ Parlock, Joe (2024-06-12). "Disney Lorcana's Newest Set Is Shimmering Skies, Launching This August". TheGamer. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ Disney, La rédaction de Tout (2023-09-23). "Lorcana chapitre 2 : précommande, date de sortie, personnage Disney... tout ce que l'on sait sur Rise of the Floodborn - Tout Disney" (in French). Retrieved 2023-09-23.
- ^ "Rise of the Floodborn". www.disneylorcana.com. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
- ^ a b "Announcing Into the Inklands | Disney Lorcana by Ravensburger". www.disneylorcana.com. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
- ^ Richman, Olivia (2023-12-12). "How Locations Work in Disney Lorcana: Into the Inklands". Esports Illustrated. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
- ^ "Disney Lorcana Explains Location Cards". Gaming. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
- ^ "Ursula's Return Card Prices". Basedeck. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ "Shimmering Skies". www.disneylorcana.com. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Eyles, Christopher (2024-04-05). "Ravensburger Reveals Details For Disney Lorcana TCG Challenge Events". CBR. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ "Surprising Disney Lorcana Deck Wins First Challenge Event". Gaming. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ "TCGplayer Infinite". TCGplayer Infinite. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "TCGplayer Infinite". TCGplayer Infinite. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ Fisher, Jessica (2024-08-26). "Diego Saz Claims Victory at the Disney Lorcana Toronto Challenge! | Disney Lorcana by Ravensburger". www.disneylorcana.com. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
- ^ Hall, Charlie (2024-05-29). "Here's that gold, serialized Disney Lorcana card that'll be auctioned for an astronomical price in 20 years". Polygon. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ "TCGplayer Infinite". TCGplayer Infinite. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Disney Lorcana". BoardGameGeek. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ Golovchuk, Stan (2023-07-25). "Disney Lorcana's greatest asset may be its most divisive quality". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ Jarvis, Matt (2023-12-02). "Tabletop Awards 2023 winners: this year's best board games, RPGs, designers and publishers". Dicebreaker. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ Carter, Chase (2024-04-17). "Disney Lorcana's publisher says its runaway success has only "grown the size of the TCG pie"". Dicebreaker. Gamer Network. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
