⚡ The essentials in 30 seconds
- Lorcana is a Disney collectible card game for 2 players
- Objective: reach 20 lore points before your opponent
- Each turn: play cards, send your characters on a quest or challenge your opponent
- Accessible from 8 years old, rules learned in just one game
Disney Lorcana was released in 2023 and has established itself in just a few chapters as one of the most popular TCGs in France. The principle is simple: Disney characters face other Disney characters to accumulate wisdom points called lore. First to 20 lore wins.
This complete guide explains everything you need to know to play your first game, build your first deck, and progress. At Loufoque Paris 5e, an authorized Ravensburger store, you can discover Lorcana in-store, test decks, and participate in regular tournaments.
What is Disney Lorcana?
Lorcana takes place in the Grand Illuminarium, a magical library that contains alternative versions of all Disney characters. These alternative versions are called Glimmers: these are what you play on the table. A Sorcerer Mickey, an Elsa, or a Simba can cohabit in the same deck depending on your strategy.
The game is published by Ravensburger and releases a new chapter (expansion) every 3 to 4 months. In 2026, Chapter 12 — Unknown Lands introduces Pixar characters for the first time: Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and others join the adventure.
Lorcana vs other TCGs: what makes it unique
| Criterion | Lorcana | Magic the Gathering | Pokémon TCG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Objective | Reach 20 lore | Reduce opponent's HP to 0 | Eliminate 6 opponent Pokémon |
| Complexity | ⭐⭐ Accessible | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Expert | ⭐⭐⭐ Intermediate |
| Recommended age | 8+ years old | 13+ years old | 6+ years old |
| Starting price | ~€30 (2-player set) | ~€40-80 | ~€20-30 |
| Theme | Disney / Pixar Universe | Original Fantasy | Pokémon Universe |
The equipment needed to play Lorcana
The 60-card deck and the 2-ink rule
Each player plays with their own minimum 60-card deck. Two fundamental rules to know before building yours:
- Each card can be included in a maximum of 4 copies per deck (except some legendary ones)
- A deck can only contain cards belonging to a maximum of 2 ink colors out of the six available
💡 Beginner's tip
If you're just starting, don't try to build your deck immediately. Start with a preconstructed 2-player set: the 2 decks are balanced, ready to play, and allow you to learn the mechanics without risky investment.
The 6 ink colors and their playstyles
Lorcana's six inks are not just colors: each corresponds to a playstyle, emblematic characters, and a way to approach victory. Choosing your two inks means choosing your way of playing.
| Ink | Playstyle | Emblematic characters | For which player? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🟡 Amber | Support, protection, cheap characters | Cinderella, Mulan, Pumbaa | Patient players who like to protect their allies |
| 🟣 Amethyst | Magic, songs, deck manipulation | Merlin, Ursula, Maleficent | Players who like combos and drawing cards |
| 🟢 Emerald | Speed, agility, evasion | Robin Hood, Kuzco, Peter Pan | Players who like to surprise and destabilize |
| 🔴 Ruby | Aggression, direct damage, constant pressure | Hercules, Gaston, The Lion King | Offensive players who want to win fast |
| 🔵 Sapphire | Strategy, control, advanced drawing | Elsa, Belle, Genie | Methodical players who like to plan |
| ⚫ Steel | Brute force, powerful and expensive characters | Captain Hook, Scar, Stitch | Players who like big characters that are hard to eliminate |
Useful (but not essential) accessories
- Playmat: protects cards, visually defines play areas
- Card protectors (sleeves): essential to protect your rare cards as soon as you invest in a deck
- Lore counter: a D20 die or a phone app works perfectly well
- Deck box: to store and transport your deck without damaging it
How to read a Lorcana card?
Before playing your first game, understanding what each zone of a card means will save you a lot of time. All Lorcana cards follow the same structure.
🃏 Anatomy of a character card
Ink cost (number to pay)
Ink symbol (card color)
Illustration + Name + Character version
Strength (damage dealt in challenge)
Willpower (health points)
Lore points gained in quest
The 4 card types
| Type | Stays in play? | Main role |
|---|---|---|
| Character | Yes (until eliminated) | Quest, challenge, use abilities |
| Action | No (discarded immediately) | Immediate effect: heal, eliminate, draw |
| Item | Yes (permanent or activatable effect) | Passive bonus or activatable ability at will |
| Song | No (discarded) | Special action: can be sung for free by a character |
⚠️ The inkable cards rule
Each card has a symbol in its upper left corner. If this symbol is solid, the card is inkable: you can place it in your inkwell instead of playing it. If this symbol is absent or hollow, it is not inkable—this is often the sign of a very powerful card.
Game setup
Before the first turn, each player follows these 5 steps in order.
Setup Checklist
Shuffle your deck thoroughly, then place it face down in front of you
Place your lore tracker on 0 — or note "0" on your phone
Draw 7 cards — this is your starting hand
Mulligan (optional): if your hand isn't suitable, you can return cards to your deck, reshuffle it, and draw the same number of cards. Only once per game.
Decide who plays first — coin toss, or die roll. The player who starts cannot ink or use abilities on their very first turn.
How does a Lorcana turn work?
Each turn follows the exact same sequence. Once you've memorized it, the game becomes fluid. The game ends as soon as a player reaches 20 lore — even during the opponent's turn.
PHASE 1
Ready
Stand up all your exerted cards + draw 1 card
PHASE 2
Set
Place 1 card face down in the inkwell (optional, once/turn)
PHASE 3
Main Phase
Play cards, quest, challenge, use abilities, sing
Phase 1 — Ready
Ready (vertical position) all your exerted characters and items. Then draw a card from your deck. Simple, but crucial: this is what makes your characters able to act again.
Phase 2 — Ink
You may place one card from your hand face down in your inkwell. These inked cards will be used to pay the cost of your cards in subsequent turns.
🎯 Strategic Tip
Deciding which card to ink is one of the most important decisions in the game. Early in the game, ink high-cost cards that you won't be able to play for several turns. Late in the game, keep everything in hand if your inkwell is already sufficient.
Phase 3 — Main Phase: The 5 Possible Actions
You can perform as many actions as you like, in any order, as long as you have ink available.
Play a Card
Pay its cost by exerting cards from your inkwell. Put it into play. Important: a character played this turn cannot quest, challenge, or use its abilities (unless it has the keyword Rush).
Go on a Quest
Exert (turn 45°) a ready character. You gain its lore points. This is your primary way to score. But be careful: an exerted character can be challenged by your opponent.
Challenge
Exert one of your ready characters to attack an opponent's exerted character. Both characters deal their strength damage to each other. The one whose willpower drops to 0 is banished.
Use an Ability
Activate the ability of a character or item in play, if its text allows it. Some abilities cost ink, others require exerting the character.
Sing a Song
Song cards can be played for free by "singing": exert a character whose cost is equal to or greater than the song's cost. The character is exerted, but you save all the ink.
Special Rules to Master
Exerted vs. Ready: The Fundamental Rule of the Game
This is the core mechanic of Lorcana. A ready character (vertical) can act: quest, challenge, use abilities. An exerted character (tilted) has just acted and can do nothing more this turn and can be challenged by the opponent.
⚠️ Common Beginner's Mistake
Sending all your characters on a quest every turn is tempting to score quickly — but it exposes your entire army to opponent challenges. Knowing when to quest and when to keep your characters ready is key to the game.
Ability Keywords
| Keyword | Effect | In Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Rush | Can act immediately on its turn | Quest or challenge immediately after being played |
| Bodyguard | Must be challenged before other characters | Protects your other exerted characters |
| Resist | Takes 1 less damage from each challenge | Very difficult character to eliminate |
| Evasive | Can only be challenged by a character with Evasive | Secures quests |
| Sing-Song | Can sing songs without paying for them | Saves ink on Song cards |
Can you play with more than 2 players?
Yes. Lorcana offers official multiplayer rules for 3 or 4 players. Play proceeds clockwise. The victory threshold remains 20 lore. In multiplayer, threat management becomes more complex: challenging the leading player may be collectively more profitable than protecting your own position.
How to Build Your First Lorcana Deck
Step 1: Choose Your 2 Inks
The combination of your two inks defines your play style. Some effective combos to start with:
| Combination | Style | For Whom? |
|---|---|---|
| 🔴 Ruby + 🟣 Amethyst | Aggressive with songs | Offensive players who enjoy combos |
| ⚫ Steel + 🔵 Sapphire | Control + big characters | Patient and methodical players |
| 🟡 Amber + 🟢 Emerald | Support + speed | Players who enjoy protecting and surprising |
Step 2: Balance the Cost Curve
A well-built deck contains cards at all cost levels. A simple rule to start with:
- 1-2 Ink Cards (30%): to avoid getting stuck early in the game
- 3-4 Ink Cards (40%): the core of your deck, active from mid-game
- 5-7 Ink Cards (30%): your powerful characters, playable late in the game
Step 3: Choose Your First Product
| Product | Contents | For Whom? |
|---|---|---|
|
2-Player Gift Set €29.90 |
2 balanced preconstructed decks, ready to play | First discovery for 2 players |
|
Trove Pack Ch.12 €54.90 |
8 boosters + illustrated storage box | Already a player, wants to expand their collection |
|
Display 24 Boosters Ch.12 €139.90 |
24 boosters from the current chapter | Confirmed player, rare hunter |
Your First Lorcana Evening: Step-by-Step Practical Guide
Knowing the rules is good. Organizing a real first evening with friends who don't know Lorcana is another matter. Here's the guide no one tells you about that changes everything.
What to Prepare Before the Evening
📋 Lorcana Evening Checklist
How to Explain Lorcana to Someone Who Has Never Played a TCG?
No need to explain everything before starting. Use this 3-minute explanation script:
The 3-minute script:
1. The Goal: "First to 20 lore wins. We gain lore by sending our characters on quests."
2. The Inkwell: "Each turn we can place a card face down in our inkwell. These are like our resources — they'll allow us to play more expensive cards later."
3. Questing: "If I exert my character, it goes on a quest and gives me lore. But it becomes vulnerable."
4. Challenging: "I can attack an opponent's exerted character with one of my characters. Both deal damage to each other. The first to drop to 0 willpower is banished."
Playing Lorcana at Le Loufoque: Tournaments and Pre-releases
Le Loufoque Paris 5e is an authorized Ravensburger store. This means several concrete advantages:
- Regular constructed tournaments: standard format, open to all skill levels
- Set championships: with each new chapter, an official in-store tournament
- Pre-release evenings: discover new Chapter 12 cards in advance, with exclusive packs not available elsewhere
- Team advice: our advisors know the meta and can guide you on your first deck according to your play style and budget
🏪 Le Loufoque Store — 5 rue Dante, Paris 5e
Open daily. Find all our Lorcana events in-store or on our website.