Updated October 6, 2026.
In Disney Lorcana, a character can help you win by going on a quest. But when you exert the card to collect lore, it also becomes possible for the opponent to challenge it. That choice—collecting points or dealing with the threat on the board—is a great entry point into the game.
Lorcana is a collectible card game from Ravensburger featuring Disney characters in various roles and illustrations. Here you will learn the most important concepts and what you need to try your first match.
What is the goal of Disney Lorcana?
You try to be the first to reach 20 lore. Lore is the game's points. Characters can collect lore by questing, while cards and effects provide other ways to influence the match.
Each player has their own deck. For standard Constructed play, the basic rule is at least 60 cards, a maximum of two ink types, and a maximum of four copies of the same full card name. Card text and other formats may change the rules.
Four concepts that make your first match easier
- Ink: the resource you use to pay the cards' costs.
- Inkwell: the area where your ink cards are placed. You are normally allowed to place one suitable card from your hand there per turn; it must have the inkwell symbol.
- Exert: turning a card sideways to use it.
- Quest: to exert a character and gain the amount of lore indicated by its lore value.
Quest or challenge?
In a challenge, one of your characters challenges an exerted opposing character. They normally deal damage to each other based on their strength values. The damage remains and is compared to willpower to determine if a character is banished.
Simplified example: If you quest with a character that provides two lore, your points increase by two. The card becomes exerted and can thus normally be challenged on the opponent's turn. You must therefore weigh the points against the risk of losing the character.
A character you just played is normally drying and cannot quest or challenge the same turn. It needs to have been in play since the beginning of your turn. Card text may provide exceptions.
What should you buy to learn how to play?
Start with a ready-made Lorcana starter deck. That gives you a cohesive starting point instead of first trying to build a functional deck from random boosters.
For two players, you each need a deck, a way to track lore, and damage counters. Check what is included in the product. Play a few matches before you start swapping out cards; it will be easier to understand what you want to improve.
If you then want to open cards for fun, you can compare Lorcana booster packs. A booster is a random assortment of cards and does not replace a ready-made starter deck.
If you mainly want to collect
Choose a character, movie, or expansion as a start. A small wishlist makes it easier to choose cards that you want to keep, even when they are not the most expensive ones in the set.
Check the full name, set, card number, language, and version when adding to your collection. A standard version and a special illustration of the same character are different collectibles. Rarity is not a guarantee of price.
See the entire Lorcana range. For individual cards you want to keep, an album can provide an overview.
Choose the right protection for your deck
Lorcana uses standard-sized cards. Choose sleeves intended for play and a deck box that fits your deck with sleeves. Compare fit and capacity in the buying guide for TCG accessories.
Rules and next steps
This guide describes the basics. Check allowed cards and rules for the format before an organized event. Ravensburger has introductory videos and quick-start rules as well as current complete rules and tournament documents.