Grab your inkcaster and quest into the Inklands, illumineers!
The new set from Ravensburger’s Lorcana trading card game asks illumineers (players) to search for the scattered lore in their mystical Disney universe, and we are grateful we were sent the two starter decks to test out and review before the public is able to go out and buy them. For the first time ever, players are able to visit locations in the game, which provides new routes to strategize your road to victory with your team of beloved Disney characters. Some new but familiar faces we get to see in this third expansion include the first appearance of Pluto into the game, “Ducktales” Scrooge McDuck, and the RLS Legacy crew from “Treasure Planet.”
READ: ‘Frozen’, ‘Zootopia’ and ‘Toy Story’ Sequels Get Release Dates
As I mentioned before, Into the Inklands introduces the new game dynamic of location cards. A few of the locations you can find are pictured below, but I NEED to highlight these card types because their presence made our gameplay so much more fun than what we were used to in the previous expansions. Locations provide you with lore at the start of your turn, which you need 20 of to win the game.
Where location cards really shine (or illuminate, if you will) is in the synergizing opportunities between their abilities, character abilities, and match pressure. Cards like “HeiHei, Accidental Explorer” and “Maui, Soaring Demigod” pair well when multiple copies are on the playfield.
HeiHei moves -> Opponent loses lore
HeiHei quests -> Maui stacks lore
Maui quests -> You bank all of the extra lore and sail your way to victory
Maybe “Peter Pan, Lost Boy Leader” is more your speed as he is able to fly to a location and snag the lore he finds there for you to bank. Really flex on your opponent and bully them with “Cubby, Mighty Lost Boy.” Anytime Cubby moves to a location, he gets +3 to his attack. Captain Hook won’t know what hit him.
I can only imagine how deep strategy will go with these new location cards, but the new character combos are nothing to scoff about either. “Moana, Born Leader” can ensure safe lore collection with her ability “Welcome to my boat.” Characters can quest and then ready back up so they aren’t vulnerable to opponent’s attacks.
READ: Dwayne Johnson & Auli’i Cravalho Both in Talks to Return For ‘Moana 2’
Another great strategy we experienced in the starter decks was with Huey, Dewey, and Louie. “Huey, Savvy Nephew” has the ability “Three Nephews” that ramps up your card draw in the late game if you have all three ducks in play. It feels like some sort of Disney Exodia when you have all three cards because the “support” trait they have lets you add up all of their attack to another card for a monstrous hit to your opponent’s defense.
We had a great time playing with the decks Ravensburger sent us and recommend picking them up for yourself. The new expansion offers over 200 new cards and there are going to be several different options to jump into the Inklands. Retail stores have a release date set for March 8, 2024, but local game stores get an earlier release on February 23, 2024. I heavily encourage you to support your local game stores by purchasing from them and participating in “Lorcana Play“. Below you’ll find the options for the new products in set 3.
READ: Disney Lorcana Championship Coming Early 2025
STARTER DECKS
MSRP US $16.99 / CAN $21.99
Each Starter Deck includes:
- (1) Prebuilt deck of 60 cards, including 2 foil cards
- (11) Damage counters
- (1) Paper playmat
- (1) Paper tracker token
- (1) Quick-Start rules sheet
- (1) Bonus booster pack of 12 randomized cards
BOOSTER PACKS
MSRP US $5.99 / CAN $7.99
A pack of 12 randomized cards contains:
- (1) Foil card of random rarity
- (2) Rare (or higher rarity) cards
- (3) Uncommon cards
- (6) Common cards
GIFT SET
MSRP US $29.99 / CAN $39.99
This Gift Set includes:
- (2) Oversized foil cards, Stitch – Covert Agent and Tinker Bell –
Very Clever Fairy - (2) Playable foil cards of those featured characters
- (32) Damage counters
- (4) Booster packs of 12 additional game cards
- (2) Tracker tokens with themed art
ILLUMINEER’S TROVE
MSRP US $49.99 / CAN $64.99
The Illumineer’s Trove includes:
- (1) Storage box
- (6) Card dividers
- (8) Booster packs of 12 additional cards
- (6) Damage-counter dice
- (1) Lore counter
CARD SLEEVES
MSRP US $9.99/ CAN $12.99
DECK BOXES
MSRP US $5.99 / CAN $7.99
PLAYMATS
MSRP US $19.99 / CAN $24.99
Dimensions: 609 x 342mm
Whether this is your first introduction to Trading Card Games or you’ve got some experience under your belt, you’ll have fun playing this new expansion. New locations, beloved Disney characters, and the passionate team at Ravensburger prove to me that Lorcana is continuing to build speed and provide a quality gameplay experience to the community. Good luck in your quest for Lore, illumineers!
