Inbound Pursuit July 10, 2024

Best Lorcana Starter Deck

The new Disney Lorcana TCG is capturing the hearts and minds of card collectors and Disney fans alike. Since its release in August 2023, Lorcana has been beloved for its familiar yet innovative game mechanics and countless homages to classic Disney characters.

If you’re ready to dive into this enchanting new world, picking up a starter deck is the best way to start!

We’ve been playing card games for decades–including Magic: The Gathering, Yu-gi-oh!, and The Pokémon TCG, and we’re confident that starter decks are the easiest way to pick up a new game.

So, what is the best Lorcana starter deck?

Several options are available when searching for Lorcana’s best starter deck, depending on your preferred playstyle and characters. This guide will explore how to find the best starter decks to help you enjoy the game!

Whether you’re drawn to quick attacking gameplay, drawn-out strategic decks, or just want to collect your favorite characters, you’ll find the best Disney Lorcana starter decks here at Danireon!

Card collectors across North America have enjoyed the fantastic benefits of shopping with us for years for other iconic TCGs like Pokémon, MTG, and One Piece. We’re proud to help our community learn the ins and outs of Lorcana and enjoy the benefits of this magical new game.

Overview of the Disney Lorcana TCG

Disney is among the most iconic brands in modern culture, boasting a magical history dating back over a century. In a way, it’s almost surprising that a Disney TCG never existed before 2023.

To create Lorcana, Disney partnered with Ravensburger, a German company famous for their extensive inventory of board games, including Reversi. The game was first teased in 2022 but wasn’t officially released until August 2023.

Thanks to Disney’s cast of iconic characters, songs, and settings, Lorcana instantly skyrocketed in popularity. You’ll find cards ranging from Mickey Mouse’s famous dog Pluto to popular songs like The Jungle Book’s The Bare Necessities.

The production value is precisely what you would expect from a product bearing Disney’s name, as the stunning art lets you step directly into the lore. Even the deck boxes and tokens are high-quality, as you’ll find when you get your hands on the best Lorcana starter decks.

Walking down Nostalgia Avenue is fantastic on its own, but Lorcana really shines in its gameplay. Unlike more complex TCGs that take a long time to learn, Lorcana is simple to pick up.

Whether you’re a seasoned vet of Magic: The Gathering or the Pokémon TCG or love everything Disney, Lorcana has something for everyone. Just pick up one of Lorcana’s best starter decks based on the characters and playstyles you enjoy, and you’ll start crafting strategies in no time!

How We Identified The Best Disney Lorcana Starter Decks

After learning the basics of the game, the next pertinent question to increase your enjoyment is a simple one: what is the best Lorcana starter deck?

As the go-to retailer for card collectors across North America, we wracked our brains to figure this out. We wanted our community to be set up for success from the moment Lorcana was released–ensuring we could all have a fantastic time together exploring the enticing gameplay.

We broke things down into a few categories to find the best Disney Lorcana starter decks:

Playstyle: As any seasoned TCG player will tell you, your enjoyment relies highly on your deck's archetype. For example, some players instantly click with aggressive decks that play multiple cards per turn, while others prefer slower gameplay.

Card Synergies: The most reliable way to learn a new TCG is by repeatedly playing simple combos to understand their strengths and weaknesses. Our favorite Lorcana decks allow you to learn game mechanics and earn confidence-building wins.

Character Representation: A starter deck can have all the bells and whistles mechanically, but you won't have much fun if you don’t resonate with the characters. We pinpointed decks with great themes and iconic cards to maximize enjoyment.

Difficulty Level: We had to emphasize the starter part of the equation. Sure, there may be more effective decks in the meta sometimes, but our goal was to identify the decks that facilitated learning.

What is the Best Lorcana Starter Deck?

After researching the options, we settled on a few of the best Lorcana starter decks for new players ready to enjoy exciting gameplay.

Our list includes at least one deck for each of the 6 ‘ink’ types, which is the energy or mana system in Lorcana. This will let you try different playstyles to help you figure out which resonates with you.

The First Chapter (Sapphire & Steel)

The First Chapter (Sapphire & Steel) deck is an excellent launching pad for your Lorcana adventures. This deck centers around two iconic Disney characters: Aurora from Sleeping Beauty and Simba from The Lion King.

You get a foil version of Aurora - Dreaming Guardian, a powerful Hero card that protects the rest of your board from removal cards.

But since the best defense is sometimes a good offense, you also get Simba - Returned King, a powerful card that can hit evasive units with 8 Strength while attacking.

The rest of the deck blends the playstyles of Sapphire and Steel ink wonderfully. Sapphire is a defensive ink, playing to ramp into the late game with powerful cards. This works perfectly with Steel, which contains plenty of removal and low-mana attackers, like Captain Hook - Forceful Duelist.

The First Chapter (Emerald & Ruby)

It’s not every day you see a villain like Cruella de Vil team up with a Prince, but that’s precisely what the First Chapter (Emerald & Ruby) deck has in store for you.

Cruella de Vil - Miserable as Usual is difficult to remove, as you can return her to your hand even after losing a challenge. She does an excellent job of stalling for the two Ruby cards that act as capstones to the deck: Aladdin - Heroic Outlaw and Rapunzel - Letting Down Her Hair.

Aladdin can singlehandedly turn a game, as he boasts 5 Strength and the ability to drain 2 lore after a successful attack. Rapunzel, which comes with 3 copies, also drains 1 lore from the opponent.

Emerald's play style brings plenty of tricky maneuvers, while Ruby boasts high-tempo removal cards like Dragon Fire. Each ink style complements the other perfectly, leading to a fast-paced strategy.

Rise of the Floodborn (Amethyst & Steel)

Lorcana’s first expansion brought rise to a new set of starter decks, and Rise of the Floodborn (Amethyst & Steel) is our favorite. The deck pairs Merlin - Shapeshifter with Tiana - Celebrating Princess for a well-rounded deck.

Amethyst excels in giving you extra card draws, though some of this deck’s best examples come from the Steel side with Cinderella - Knight in Training and The Huntsman - Reluctant Enforcer.

The deck does lack some late-game firepower but more than makes up for it in early tempo and late-game defensiveness. We like Dr. Facilier - Savvy Opportunist in the later stages for a solid evasive attack if you need to close out a game.

Into the Inklands (Amber & Emerald)

It wouldn’t be Disney without a cute dog-themed deck, and Into the Inklands (Amber & Emerald) is the perfect way to pay homage to characters like Pluto and the 101 Dalmatians.

Pongo - Determined Father leads the way as one of the two hero cards of the deck. For just 3 ink, you get a solid mid-game attacker and the ability to cycle your deck for more character cards to put on the board.

Peter Pan - Lost Boy Leader is the Emerald hero in this deck, giving you another way to stack lore while keeping your board full.

But the deck's real star is Pluto, Mickey’s faithful dog. Pluto - Friendly Pooch has plenty of utility for a 1-cost card, allowing you to play cards for one less ink. This leads to one of the deck’s capstone cards, Pluto - Determined Defender, which features the Bodyguard keyword and the ability to heal 3 damage per turn.

Unless your opponent has reliable removal, your upgraded Pluto can keep your board safe long enough for Peter Pan and your lovable group of dogs to win the game!

Ursula’s Return (Amber & Amethyst)

The newest set released for Lorcana is Ursula’s Return, which sounds frightening for fans of The Little Mermaid.

The Ursula's Return (Amber & Amethyst) starter deck is one of our favorites, blending the powers of Amber and Amethyst for a wide deck that uses the Support keyword and healing to get the job done.

Mirabel Madrigal - Gift of the Family is the deck’s centerpiece, buffing all other Madrigal cards to help you win purely through questing. Camilo Madrigal - Prankster is a fantastic utility card that can attack or accumulate lore, while Isabela Madrigal - Golden Child poses a significant threat with evasive attacks.

And, of course, there’s Bruno Madrigal - Out of the Shadows. While the iconic song tells us not to talk about him, we probably should, given that his card can help you return vulnerable cards to your hand.

Why Starter Decks are the Best Way to Start Playing or Collecting

You now have an idea of the best Lorcana starter decks, but are they really the best way to go?

The options can be overwhelming when you’re first getting started in a new TCG. You could buy Disney Lorcana booster boxes and try to create a deck, but without understanding the mechanics, you’re in for an uphill battle.

Starter decks allow you to focus on practicing and learning mechanics. For example, if you want to learn to play fast-tempo, it’s much easier to pick up the Emerald & Ruby deck rather than trying to create your own. The same applies to wide strategies and the Dog-themed Into the Inklands deck.

Each starter deck comes with a few rare cards that can be hard to find independently. So, even if you plan on creating your decks down the line, you’ll be set up with a strong foundation for the future.

Starter decks are far cheaper than purchasing several booster packs, and many cards within are still used in the competitive meta.

With that, starter decks are cemented as the ideal way to start learning Lorcana. But where should you go to pick up these starter decks and any extra cards?

Why Shop at Danireon for the Disney Lorcana Best Starter Deck?

The #1 home for Disney Lorcana cards in North America is at Danireon!

We’ve been in the TCG business for years, building a community of fans, players, and collectors. While our roots are in the Pokémon TCG, we were thrilled to see the release of Disney Lorcana and have loved the game since its release.

Our mission is to continue to grow our community, both in local games at our shop in Ottawa and online on our Discord server. As such, we’ve collected a growing inventory of Disney Lorcana singles to help you round out your decks.

We’re also the most reliable place to find the newest Disney Lorcana booster packs from all the set releases, including full booster boxes, starter decks, and other sealed products.

We offer fast shipping across Canada and the United States, ensuring you get your new cards well ahead of schedule to enjoy with friends. You’ll also have access to our friendly and knowledgeable team, which can help you whether you want deckbuilding advice or have shipping questions.

Start This Journey on the Right Foot With the Best Disney Lorcana Starter Deck Today!

No matter which playstyle or starter deck catches your eye, there’s something magical about Disney Lorcana. Between iconic art, simple gameplay, and a rapidly growing community, now is the perfect time to join in on the fun.

So, if you're ready to delve into the enchanting world of Disney Lorcana, don't hesitate–pick up a Starter Deck and let the magic begin. With all the pre-built strategy and Disney nostalgia you could ask for, these decks are the best way to start your Lorcana journey. Browse our inventory to get started!