Disney Lorcana Explained

Disney Lorcana
Designers:Ryan Miller and Steve Warner
Publisher:Ravensburger
Type:Trading card game
Players:2 or more
Ages:8+
Playing Time:30-45 minutes
Num Cards:Minimum 60

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's film history. 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]

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]

Development and release

In 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.[8] [9] [10] [11] Ravensburger had filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.[12]

At an early release event at Gen Con tabletop game convention, customers waited in hours-long lines to purchase starter decks and booster packs.[13] Cards with particularly high rarity quickly resold for hundreds of dollars prior to the game's initial release,[14] while the promotional cards from the 2022 D23 Expo resold for prices between $1,000 and $3,000.[15]

Gameplay

With decks made up of at least 60 cards,[16] players produce "ink", a resource that allows cards representing characters, items, and song lyrics from Disney media to be summoned.[17] 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.[18]

Ink Types

Players summon Disney characters using different types of "ink". There are six ink types in the game:[19]

Rarities

Cards come in different rarities that are located at the bottom center of the card.[20] The rarities listed in increasing rarity are:

  1. Common (gray circle)
  2. Uncommon (white book)
  3. Rare (bronze triangle)
  4. Super Rare (silver diamond)
  5. Legendary (gold pentagon)
  6. Enchanted (rainbow hexagon)

Expansions

List of expansions! Set number! Set name! Local game store release! Retail release! Notes! References
1The First ChapterAugust 18, 2023September 1, 2023[21]
2Rise of the FloodbornNovember 17, 2023December 1, 2023Introduced "Resist" game mechanic
3Into the InklandsFebruary 23, 2024March 8, 2024Introduced "Locations" card type
4Ursula's ReturnMay 17, 2024May 31, 2024Introduced “Alternate shift” mechanic
5Shimmering SkiesAugust 9, 2024August 23, 2024[22]
6Unnamed setNovember 15, 2024November 29, 2024
The first expansion, "Rise of the Floodborn," was released on November 17, 2023.[23] This 204-card expansion added characters from Pinocchio, The Jungle Book, The Great Mouse Detective, and other properties, and introduced a "Resist" game mechanic.[24] The second expansion, "Into the Inklands," was officially announced on December 6, 2023.[25] This expansion, also 204 cards, introduces characters from DuckTales, TaleSpin, , and Treasure Planet; it also introduces a brand new card type, "Locations." Locations are well-known spots from Disney movies and television shows,[26] and add a new mechanic and more strategy options into gameplay.[27] "Into the Inklands" debuted in hobby stores on February 23, 2024, and was released on March 8, 2024. The third expansion, "Ursula's Return" was officially announced in February 2024 and introduces characters from Encanto. "Ursula's Return"[28] was made available to mass markets on May 31, 2024. "Shimmering Skies" will include characters from Wreck-It Ralph.[29]

Disney Lorcana Challenge

Starting May 2024, the Disney Lorcana Challenge is an event circuit of tournaments and competitions for players of the game.[30]

Competitions in North America!Dates!Held in!Winner
May 25-26, 2024Atlanta, Georgia, United StatesJoshua Paultre[31]
June 8-9, 2024Chicago, Illinois, United StatesBrian Courtade[32]
July 20-21, 2024Fort Worth, Texas, United StatesEdmond Chiu[33]
August 24-25, 2024Toronto, Ontario, Canada
September 21-22, 2024Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
October 26-27, 2024Seattle, Washington, United States
Competitions in Europe!Dates!Held in!Winner
May 25-26, 2024Lille, FranceFrank Karsten[34]
July 6-7, 2024Bochum, GermanyThéotime Buchot[35]
August 3-4, 2024Bologna, ItalyElie Vepierre
September 21-22, 2024Birmingham, UK

Reception

Lorcana has been received well, having a score of 7.3 on BoardGameGeek,[36] a Recommended from Polygon,[37] and winning Best Ongoing Card Game at the 2023 Tabletop Awards.[38]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The first cards for Lorcana, Disney's answer to Magic: The Gathering, are spectacular . Hall . Charlie . 2022-09-09 . Polygon .
  2. Web site: Lorcana Interview: How the New Disney TCG Prioritizes Players Over Collectors . Kim . Matt . 2022-09-16 . IGN .
  3. Web site: Disney's Lorcana Mixes Mickey Mouse With Magic: The Gathering . Sowa . Alexander . 2022-09-19 . CBR.
  4. . Ravensburger unveils its first-ever Disney Collectible Trading Card Game – Disney Lorcana . Ravensburger AG . 2022-08-30 . 2022-10-07.
  5. Web site: Disney will launch a new card game to go up against Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon . Hall . Charlie . 2022-08-30 . Polygon .
  6. Web site: D23 Expo 2022 Collector's Set . Mushu Report . 15 November 2022.
  7. Web site: Burton . Corinna . Lorcana pre-orders: here's where to buy the new Disney TCG . Dicebreaker . . 25 August 2023 . 17 August 2023.
  8. Web site: 2023-06-08 . Disney Card Game Gets Sued For Allegedly Copying Rival's Design . 2023-07-13 . Kotaku . en.
  9. Web site: Hall . Charlie . 2023-06-07 . Disney Lorcana launch threatened by Upper Deck lawsuit . 2023-07-13 . Polygon . en-US.
  10. Web site: Ryan . Dinsdale . 2023-06-12 . Disney Lorcana Still Targeting August Launch, Calls 'Stolen Game' Allegations 'Baseless' . 2023-07-13 . IGN . en.
  11. Web site: 2023-06-12 . Games lawyer decodes Upper Deck's Disney Lorcana lawsuit . 2023-07-13 . Wargamer . en-US.
  12. Web site: Meehan . Alex . 2023-07-13 . Disney Lorcana studio calls Upper Deck lawsuit "more of a PR stunt than a genuine legal dispute" . 2023-08-01 . Dicebreaker . en.
  13. News: McDonald . Brooke . Here's what to know about Disney Lorcana, now available in stores . 30 August 2023 . Denver 7 ABC . 21 August 2023.
  14. Web site: Dinsdale . Ryan . Disney Lorcana Cards Are Already Selling for Hundreds of Dollars . IGN . 30 August 2023 . 9 August 2023.
  15. Web site: Lambertsen . Carrie . All D23 Disney Lorcana Cards (& How Much They're Worth) . Screenrant . 30 August 2023 . 30 July 2023.
  16. Web site: November 20, 2023 . Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game: Quick Start Rules . November 20, 2023 . Ravensburger.com.
  17. Web site: Hall . Charlie . A Disney Lorcana guide for absolute beginners . 17 August 2023 . 30 August 2023 . Polygon.
  18. News: Martens . Todd . 'Disney Lorcana' aims to shake up the trading card game space . 30 August 2023 . Los Angeles Times . 25 August 2023.
  19. Web site: Inks And Their Attributes Disney Lorcana by Ravensburger . Disney Lorcana by Ravensburger . 16 June 2024.
  20. Web site: Liebl . Matthew . Disney Lorcana TCG: All 6 Card Rarities explained . Along Main Street . 16 June 2024 . 29 September 2023.
  21. Web site: 2024-02-29 . Disney Lorcana release dates and latest news . 2024-06-02 . Wargamer . en-US.
  22. Web site: Parlock . Joe . 2024-06-12 . Disney Lorcana's Newest Set Is Shimmering Skies, Launching This August . 2024-06-14 . TheGamer . en.
  23. Web site: 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 . 2023-09-23 . fr-FR.
  24. Web site: Rise of the Floodborn . 2023-09-23 . www.disneylorcana.com . en-US.
  25. Web site: Announcing Into the Inklands Disney Lorcana by Ravensburger . 2024-02-29 . www.disneylorcana.com . en-US.
  26. Web site: Richman . Olivia . 2023-12-12 . How Locations Work in Disney Lorcana: Into the Inklands . 2024-03-01 . Esports Illustrated . en.
  27. Web site: Disney Lorcana Explains Location Cards . 2024-02-29 . Gaming . en.
  28. Web site: Ursula's Return Card Prices . 2024-05-03 . Basedeck . en-US.
  29. Web site: Shimmering Skies . 2024-07-13 . www.disneylorcana.com . en-US.
  30. Web site: Eyles . Christopher . 2024-04-05 . Ravensburger Reveals Details For Disney Lorcana TCG Challenge Events . 2024-06-14 . CBR . en.
  31. Web site: Surprising Disney Lorcana Deck Wins First Challenge Event . 2024-06-14 . Gaming . en.
  32. Web site: TCGplayer Infinite . 2024-07-13 . TCGplayer Infinite . en.
  33. Web site: TCGplayer Infinite . 2024-07-29 . TCGplayer Infinite . en.
  34. Web site: Hall . Charlie . 2024-05-29 . Here’s that gold, serialized Disney Lorcana card that’ll be auctioned for an astronomical price in 20 years . 2024-06-14 . Polygon . en-US.
  35. Web site: TCGplayer Infinite . 2024-07-13 . TCGplayer Infinite . en.
  36. Web site: Disney Lorcana . 2023-12-04 . BoardGameGeek . en-US.
  37. Web site: Golovchuk . Stan . 2023-07-25 . Disney Lorcana's greatest asset may be its most divisive quality . 2023-12-04 . Polygon . en-US.
  38. Web site: Jarvis . Matt . 2023-12-02 . Tabletop Awards 2023 winners: this year's best board games, RPGs, designers and publishers . 2023-12-04 . Dicebreaker . en.