Disney Lorcana has enchanted players around the world, combining the magic of Disney storytelling with strategic card play. Whether you’re a seasoned card game player or new to trading card games (TCGs), Lorcana’s gameplay is easy to learn and packed with fun and strategy. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the basics of how to play Lorcana and get you ready for your first game.

What is Lorcana?

In Disney Lorcana, players take on the role of “Illumineers,” magical beings who summon Disney characters, items, and songs from the Lorcana universe. Your goal is to be the first to collect 20 Lore—the game’s victory points—by strategically playing cards, completing quests, and outmaneuvering your opponent.

Setting Up the Game

What You’ll Need:

1. A Deck: Each player needs a 60-card Lorcana deck. You can build your own deck or use pre-constructed starter decks.

2. Tokens or Counters: These track Lore and other game mechanics, like damage.

3. Play Area: A table or mat to organize your cards.

Card Types and Key Terms

Lorcana cards come in several types, each serving a unique purpose in the game. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Characters

• Characters are your main tools for earning Lore and battling your opponent.
• Each character has stats for Strength, Willpower, and Cost (the ink required to play them).

2. Actions

• One-time effects that help you gain an advantage, such as drawing cards or removing an opponent’s character.

3. Items

• Persistent effects that stay in play and provide ongoing benefits.

4. Songs

• Special cards with powerful effects, often requiring characters to sing them.

Key Terms:

• Ink: The resource used to play cards. Think of it like “mana” in other TCGs.
• Exerted: A card that is “used” for a turn, often turned sideways to show it’s tapped.
• Questing: The act of sending a character to gain Lore.
• Challenging: Using a character to attack your opponent’s characters.

How to Play Lorcana

Step 1: Setup

1. Shuffle your deck and draw 7 cards.

2. Decide who goes first (flip a coin or roll a die).

3. Both players begin with 0 Lore.

Step 2: Your Turn

Each turn has 4 phases:

1. Draw

• Draw a card from your deck (the starting player skips this on their first turn).

2. Ink Well

• You may place one card from your hand face-down in your Ink Well. This becomes a resource you can use to play cards.
• Not all cards are “inkable”—check for the Ink Drop Icon on the bottom left corner of the card.

3. Actions

• •Spend Ink to play cards from your hand. You can:
• •Play Characters, Items, or Songs.
• •Use character abilities.
• •Exert characters to Quest for Lore or Challenge an opponent’s character.

4. Ready and Exert

• Ready (untap) all exerted cards at the start of your next turn.

Step 3: Winning the Game

• The first player to reach 20 Lore wins the game.
• If your deck runs out of cards, you do not lose—you simply stop drawing.

Key Strategies for Beginners

1. Balance Your Deck

Include a mix of characters, actions, and items to ensure versatility in gameplay.

2. Manage Your Ink Well

Decide carefully which cards to place in your Ink Well. A powerful card might be tempting to save, but you’ll need enough Ink to play other cards.

3. Quest Wisely

Questing earns you Lore but leaves your characters vulnerable to challenges. Time your quests strategically.

4. Defend and Attack

Use challenges to slow down your opponent while building your Lore total.

Why You’ll Love Lorcana

Disney Lorcana combines the beloved magic of Disney characters with easy-to-learn gameplay and deep strategy. Whether you’re summoning Elsa to freeze opponents or using Mickey Mouse to rally your team, every game feels like stepping into a Disney adventure.

Ready to Play?

Now that you know the basics, grab a deck and dive into the enchanting world of Lorcana. Whether you’re playing for fun or aiming to master competitive strategies, the magic is in your hands. Happy questing! 🎴✨

Would you like to learn more? Check out our Lorcana deck-building guide or visit our store to pick up your first deck!