It's hard to believe that Disney Lorcana will have been out for TWO years come August of this year. (The First Chapter released on August 18th, 2023 at hobby shops and retailers shortly after September 1st the same year.) We're rapidly approaching set 8, Reign of Jafar, which will round out the foundation of rotation moving forward. Before we get into the details, however, let's first understand what set rotation is and how it affects other card games.

What is a set rotation?

Set rotation in Disney Lorcana involves limiting the usable card pool based on the number of sets released. This practice is common in established games like Magic: The Gathering, which has multiple formats to accommodate both new and veteran players due to its extensive history. While offering diverse play experiences, this can divide the player base, making it crucial to manage formats strategically to ensure continued enjoyment for everyone. Some of Magic: The Gathering's more popular formats include:

• Commander
• Standard
• Modern

Formats in other games

Commander in itself has a subset of rules beyond the scope of this article, but with the many years Magic: The Gathering has been around, it's able to be extremely expressive with formats and rules which makes for an enjoyable experience no matter what format you find yourself in. Given that Lorcana is the first trading card game for many, it's important to understand what set rotation means to you as a player and how to properly plan for it.

How Disney Lorcana will introduce set rotations

An example of how each year will introduce a rotation, where the prior year's sets fall off to make way for then new year's sets.

Disney Lorcana is opting to introduce a set rotation once Fabled releases on August 29th at hobby shops and September 5th at retailers. With that, the following sets will no longer be legal for core constructed format:

• The First Chapter
• Rise of the Floodborn
• Into the Inklands
• Ursula's Return

Now on the surface, removing cards sounds counter-intuitive. However, what this does is allow for other cards that were less utilized during a current block rotation a "second wind", with the possibility of synergizing much better with newer cards introduced in its block rotation. From a manufacturing perspective, this allows Disney Lorcana to focus on newer products while phasing out older sets in a logical manner. Does that mean your cards from these sets are worthless? Absolutely not! Now, let's talk about another aspect of set rotations, and that's reprints.

What are reprints?

Whether you own Stitch - Rockstar from The First Chapter, Into The Inklands Set Championship, or Fabled, all will be playable in core-constructed in the Year 2-3 block rotation.

Reprints are cards released in previous sets that get re-added to new sets, typically at the start of a block rotation. What that does is allow some deck-defining cards to remain legal during a block. This also allows for cards that were previously oppressed to remain in a newer format with less opposition. The added benefit of reprints is that if you already have the cards from a previous set, those cards are legal for core constructed. You will not need to obtain the reprints from the newer sets, thus saving you a bit of headache (and money!) when navigating through a block rotation. If you've had a chance to see some of the Reign of Jafar reveals so far, you'll notice we're already starting to see a few reprints coming as soon as the end of the month.

To Infinity, and beyond!

Ravensburger announced an eternal format for Disney Lorcana called Infinity, which will include all sets from the beginning. This format will exist alongside the core constructed format, with the card pool remaining largely unchanged except for bans or errata. Disney Lorcana co-creator and Brand Manager Ryan Miller affirmed Ravensburger's commitment to supporting both formats. While the implications for competitive play at official Disney Lorcana Challenges are currently unclear, further updates regarding the Disney Lorcana Challenge circuit will be shared during the Disney Lorcana Worlds broadcast on Twitch, June 28th-29th.

What now?

Disney Lorcana is entering an exciting period as a new format is introduced. While adapting can be demanding, it offers substantial rewards. Moving forward, engaging with both formats can keep your skills honed for any challenge. Alternatively, if a relaxed, at-home experience is preferred, Infinity remains an option. Ultimately, the best way to play is the way you find most enjoyable.

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