Good news for fans of both Disney and trading cards, because the company has begun unveiling the cards for Disney Lorcana. Following last month’s announcement of the Disney trading card game, fresh news has arrived at the annual D23 convention this weekend, bringing with it the first proper look at the game’s initial batch of cards.
Set in the titular fantasy world, Lorcana will have players take on the role of sorcerers known as Illumineers who can access the Great Illuminary, a treasury of all Disney stories and songs, and summon glimmers of classic characters to adventure with. At D23, it was confirmed that the first cards are slated to arrive in fall 2023 with the release of the game’s debut set, titled Disney Lorcana: The First Chapter.
Of these, six have been revealed, consisting of Stitch, Elsa, Cruella De Vil, Maleficent, Robin Hood, and Captain Hook. In addition to a lush illustration, each card shows the character’s name, its cost to play, and offensive and defensive stats, as well as a description of that card’s unique mechanic and a bit of flavor text. Symbols can also be seen in the cards’ bottom-right corners that seem to indicate some sort of power or ranking level, but it’s not yet known what their purpose is.
While the regular cards won’t be available until the First Chapter set comes out next year, Disney is selling a set of special versions for D23, priced at $49.95, which boast a unique foil treatment and distinct D23 and 1st Edition symbols. What’s more, the company is also giving D23 attendees an exclusive card that features Mickey Mouse based on his appearance in the 1938 short film The Brave Little Tailor. Should Lorcana find success, these cards could very well end up becoming valuable collector’s items someday.
Lorcana is the latest collaboration between Disney and board game maker Ravensburger, following the Disney Villainous series. Although Ravensburger has previously stated that the game won’t be as competitively-focused as other TCGs like Magic: The Gathering, the plan is still to support it for a long time, with CEO Filip Francke calling Lorcana a “multi-year series” of releases.
Only time will tell how this whole Lorcana initiative will play out, though with nearly 100 years of Disney history to tap into, Ravensburger will have plenty of options for new cards and sets. And that’s just taking Disney’s vast library of animated classics into account. If Ravensburger eventually branches out into the company’s other IPs like Star Wars and Marvel, it should easily be able to keep Lorcana going for years to come.
Disney Lorcana: The First Chapter will launch in Fall 2023.
Source: Polygon