Disney Lorcana has attracted many new players to the TCG genre by bringing iconic Disney characters and worlds to tabletops across the globe. While many of the older siblings in the genre have decades of mechanics, formats, and rules that new players are expected to learn, Lorcana has kept its gameplay much easier to digest.
Most beginners will look at purchasing a starter deck so that they can immediately jump into a game and learn through action. Each starter deck contains:
- 60 predetermined cards
- The two characters shown on the front of the package are foil cards
- 11 game tokens
- 1 rulebook
- 1 booster pack containing 12 randomized cards from the respective set
We’ve assembled a list of all of the current Lorcana starter decks and ranked them based on which are the best choices for beginners. These rankings are based on simplicity, how well they demonstrate the core of the game, and their upgradeability.
9. Tactical Teamwork (Amber/Sapphire)
This Amber and Sapphire deck has a straightforward win condition: Play items and banish them in various ways to trigger effects. The theme is simple and on paper, the deck should be easy for beginners to play.
What makes this deck fall short is how punishing it can be if you fail to draw the right cards in the right order. Playing characters without items in play means their abilities go to waste. Without many sources of card draw, this deck suffers and can make newer players wonder what they’re doing wrong.
Pros:
- Easy to understand strategy.
- Some of the cards are staples in competitive decks.
Cons:
- Bad draws can completely shut down the strategy which makes the deck inconsistent.
- Doesn’t offer a stable foundation for new players to build off of.
Notable Cards:
- The Queen – Commanding Presence
- Hiram Flaversham – Toymaker
Where to buy:
8. Daring and Deception (Emerald/Ruby)
Daring and Deception brings a fun strategy that isn’t usually found within starter decks of TCGs. Interfering with your opponent’s lore and board sounds exciting, and playstyles like this tend to be very competitive in other games. However, this deck is more complex than it is powerful.
It can be tough for beginners to understand what the win conditions of the build are. To make matters worse, Lorcana doesn’t quite have the card library to properly accommodate this strategy yet.
Pros:
- Could cripple other starter decks.
- Fun color combination for future upgrades.
Cons:
- The deck’s strategy isn’t practical for beginners.
- Doesn’t introduce many mechanics to new players.
Notable Cards:
- Aladdin – Heroic Outlaw
- Cruella De Vil – Miserable as Usual
Where to buy:
7. A Steadfast Strategy (Sapphire/Steel)
A Steadfast Strategy is filled with some of the biggest characters from the first set of Disney Lorcana. This deck has a rather straightforward goal, and can be satisfying to play if given the right conditions. It contains “tall” cards and the means to maintain board advantage once it has been acquired.
The tricky part of this deck is getting the ball rolling. Most of the strength within the deck lies in high-cost cards that require a stable foundation to be played upon. Beginners will find it tough to understand how to create the ideal conditions for the cards to shine.
Pros:
- Many characters that are tough to deal with once played.
- A wide variety of action cards to adapt to different situations.
Cons:
- Can lose before you have a chance to experience what the deck has to offer.
- There are many options introduced in future sets that have weakened the best cards in this deck.
Notable Cards:
- Aurora – Dreaming Guardian
- Grab Your Sword
Where to buy:
6. Madrigal Magic (Amber/Amethyst)
The entire Madrigal family has been added to Lorcana with the Ursula’s Return set. This is a fun deck to play or even to purchase as a gift for any Encanto fans. As a starter deck, it packs a ton of synergy between the family members and each turn feels satisfying to play.
The abilities of the Madrigals cover all sorts of areas, which could be overwhelming to new players at first. This is an excellent deck if you aren’t planning to invest too much into upgrades, since it does a good enough job on its own.
Pros:
- Great for Encanto fans that want a theme deck.
- Lots of synergy built within the Madrigal cards.
Cons:
- The Madrigal theme means that the deck has limited upgrade paths.
- Takes some time to understand how the cards work with each other.
Notable Cards:
- Bruno Madrigal – Out of the Shadows
- Mirabel Madrigal – Gift of the Family
Where to buy:
5. Dogged and Dynamic (Amber/Emerald)
Dogged and Dynamic contains a ton of valuable cards and while it doesn’t feel as strong as it should, it can easily be upgraded to a competitive level. Pongo can quickly create a card and board advantage over your opponent, making things sway in your favor due to overwhelming numbers.
However, it feels as though Ravensburger didn’t want to include too many menacing characters for Pongo to cycle into your hand each turn. The deck is still viable as far as starter decks go, but it’s much better as a foundation for a future deck once you’ve put the cards into action and seen how the gears turn.
Pros:
- Minimal effort required to snowball makes it perfect for new players still learning the game.
- Upgrades are simple since it’s a matter of filling the deck with the best character cards.
Cons:
- Isn’t very powerful right out of the box.
- The value of the individual cards are very low.
Notable Cards:
- Pongo – Determined Father
- Lucky – The 15th Puppy
Where to buy:
4. Might and Magic (Amethyst/Steel)
If you’re looking to make your way into competitive Lorcana (or any TCG for that matter), then the Might and Magic starter deck is the perfect introduction to a popular mechanic found in every TCG out there. The deck revolves around the “bounce” mechanic, which returns a character from play back to your hand. While this doesn’t immediately sound useful, the inclusion of characters with “enters play” and “exits play” abilities means you can multiply the uses you get out of each card.
Pros:
- Very fun and rewarding mechanic for new players to learn.
- Future-proof. The “bounce” mechanic will always have a place in the meta.
Cons:
- The concept might be a bit slow to grasp for players with limited TCG experience.
- Lack of staying power to maintain a stable board state.
Notable Cards:
- Madam Mim – Snake
- Merlin – Rabbit
Where to buy:
3. Stand Together (Sapphire/Steel)
The Stand Together deck is built around Heroes, and contains many effects that could be considered “plot armor.” The strategy of the deck is straightforward, as new players can simply play whatever cards come into their hand and manage to find success.
The focus on Hero characters means that players are set on to a path and directed where to go. For new players, this is exactly what they need to learn Lorcana with minimal complexity.
Pros:
- Heroes are a broad category so the open-ended them allows for easy upgrades in the future.
- If played right, can be somewhat competitive right out of the box.
Cons:
- If a villain meta ever comes around, the hero synergy of the deck will feel pitiful.
- Not everybody wants to play the “good guys.”
Notable Cards:
- Imperial Bow
- Anna – True-Hearted
Where to buy:
2. The Heart of Magic (Amber/Amethyst)
This starter deck was once considered the best, but has lost its throne due to the introduction of increasingly more powerful mechanics each release. The Heart of Magic is a powerfully simple deck that is a fantastic purchase for new players. This deck represents what The First Chapter did best: Showcase the iconic characters of Disney and give the players an engaging TCG.
The Heart of Magic can be played without a grand strategy in mind. You’re able to play menacing characters such as Flotsam and Jetsam, and then bring them back to your hand after being banished with Dr. Facilier – Agent Provocateur. Cinderella and the other Princess cards also bring game-changing synergies to the deck and can lead games on their own.
Pros:
- Covers all of the basics of Lorcana.
- One of the strongest starter decks.
- Many upgrade options.
Cons:
- Outdated, doesn’t contain the latest additions to Lorcana.
- Lack of valuable staple cards.
Notable Cards:
- Moana – Of Motunui
- Dr. Facilier – Agent Provocateur
Where to buy:
1. Plenty of Pluck (Ruby/Sapphire)
The Plenty of Pluck starter deck from Into the Inklands is the best entry for players new to Lorcana or TCGs in general. An ideal first deck would contain a majority of the mechanics that Lorcana has to offer while containing many different strategies to explore; Plenty of Pluck checks off both of these boxes.
The deck sports many keywords such as Reckless, Evasive, and Resist. The broad range of abilities included means you have many different options for defeating your opponent. When it comes to the competitive environment, this deck can be the foundation for many different playstyles.
Pros:
- Includes all of the latest mechanics such as Location cards and the Resist keyword.
- Broad synergies make the deck easy to upgrade.
Cons:
- Some character abilities can be quite wordy.
- Could eventually suffer the same fate of The Heart of Magic and become outdated over time.
Notable Cards:
- Scrooge McDuck – Richest Duck in the World
- Moana – Born Leader
Where to buy:
Published: Jun 3, 2024 10:53 am