New to Lorcana and want the fast version that actually gets you playing? You're in the right place. This beginner's guide teaches you the rules, the turn structure, and a few safe starter purchases. All examples use Core Constructed legal cards from sets 5-9 so you can walk into a local event and feel ready. (Lorcana.gg)

TL;DR

Goal: be the first to reach 20 lore by typically questing with your characters.

• Deck size: No less than 60 cards, up to 4 copies of a card with the same exact name. Up to two ink colors.
• Ink: once each turn, you may put one inkable card from your hand into your inkwell face down. Spend ink to play cards.
• Core Constructed today: sets 5-9 are legal. Older sets rotated out with the release of Set 9. Reprints remain legal. Always check current rulings based on the latest rotation, bans, or any restrictions.

What You Are Trying to Do, in One Line

You win Disney Lorcana by getting to 20 lore before your opponent. You do that by questing with your characters during your turn. Everything else supports that plan by either controlling the board, your opponent's lore, and sometimes even their hand size.

The Turn Structure, Simplified

Each turn goes like this:

1. Ready your exerted cards.
2. Set step handles start-of-turn triggers.
3. Draw a card.
4. Main phase:

   • Put one inkable card into ink if you want.
   • Play characters, actions, items, and locations.
   • Quest with ready characters to gain lore.
   • Challenge an exerted opposing character with one of yours.
   • Sing songs if the cost requirement is met.

5. End your turn.

The official Learn page covers these beats with visuals, but the summary above is enough to start.

Beginner warning: only exerted characters can be challenged. If a character is ready, it is typically safe from challenges that turn.

Cards You'll Actually Play on Day One (Core-Legal Examples)

Let's use a few friendly cards you can see and understand right away. All are legal in Core.

A Low-Cost Character that Teaches Combat Math

Lilo - Junior Cake Decorator

Ink: Amber

Cost: 2

Text: Support - whenever Lilo quests, you may add her Strength to another chosen character's Strength this turn.

Role: early quester that also helps a teammate win a challenge that same turn. You learn two things at once: how to push lore and how to swing a fight in your favor.

A Clean Tempo Song that Feels Great to Cast

Try Everything

Ink: Amber, Song, Cost 4

Text: a character with cost 4 or more can exert to sing this for free. Remove up to 3 damage from a chosen character and ready them. They can't quest or challenge for the rest of this turn.

Role: heal and reset a key character, then threaten a big quest next turn.

A Tidy Removal Song that Teaches Targeting and Inking

Into the Unknown

Ink: Amethyst/Sapphire, Song, Cost 3

Text: a character with cost 3 or more can exert to sing this for free. Put chosen exerted character into its player's inkwell facedown and exerted.

Role: answer an exerted threat and ramp the opponent into an awkward turn. Great lesson card for "exerted only" targets.

A Flexible Removal Spell with a Higher Ceiling

Wrong Lever!

Ink: Emerald, Action, Cost 3

Text: choose one - return a chosen character to hand, or put a card named Pull the Lever! from your discard on the bottom of your deck to put the chosen character on the bottom of its owner's deck.

Role: bounce is good enough for tempo. Bottoming is even better once you set it up.

Beginner warning: singing a song exerts your character. That character will not quest or challenge that turn unless a card effect says otherwise, and even then many songs include limits. Be sure to read the card completely for full clarifications.

Your First Three Turns, Scripted

• Turn one: ink a midgame card you do not need right now. Pass if you don't have a 1-cost card to play.
• Turn two: ink again. Play a 2-drop like Lilo - Junior Cake Decorator if you have it. If the coast is clear, quest with your 1-drop.
• Turn Three: Board is scrappy and your best character is damaged? Try Everything to heal and ready it for next turn's push.

What to Buy to Start Playing Tonight

1. A Core-legal starter deck from Shimmering Skies or Reign of Jafar. They are ready to play, teach the basics, and are legal in Core. Then sleeve them so they shuffle well.
2. An Illumineer's Trove for your current set if you want a storage box and accessories.
3. Upgrades: Protect your deck with some official sleeves and playmats.

When you are ready for a simple shopping path, use my Fabled Buyer's Guide for friendly picks and budget notes: Disney Lorcana Fabled -- A Friendly Buyer's Guide

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

• Challenging too much. If you never quest, you never win. Trade only when it protects or opens up more lore.
• Over-inking. Ink is once per turn and typically permanent. Do not throw away action cards you will need later.
• Singing at the wrong time. Remember that the exerted characters are exposed without defense plans in place. Plan your turn around that. Try Everything will ready a character to keep them safe, but it still stops them from questing or challenging that turn.
• Forgetting legality. Core Constructed uses sets 5-9. Reprints keep old printings legal, but check current announcements before an event.

Quick Answers to Common Questions

Is Lorcana hard to learn?

No. The rules are friendly and the win condition is clear. Mastery takes time. Learning is fast.

How many cards are in a deck and how many copies can I run?

No less than 60 cards. Up to four copies of a card with the same name. Up to two ink colors.

What is Core Constructed?

A rotating format that currently uses sets 5-9. With the release of Set 9, the first four sets rotated out of Core. Reprints keep earlier printings legal.

Are starter decks good for learning?

Yes. They are built to teach and play clean games right away. After two sessions, start making 4-8 card swaps for consistency and desired playstyle and you will feel the deck tighten up.

Where can I check a rule in detail?

Use the official comprehensive rules page for exact wording and timing.

Practice Plan You Can Run Tonight

• Shuffle a starter deck. Draw 7 cards. Mulligan cards you don't want (send to the bottom of your deck) and re-draw the same amount of cards you chose for the mulligan so your starting hand is back to 7 cards. The starting player skips their first draw.
• Play a game or two back to back so you can understand the goal of the deck and what you like and what you would change about it..
• After each game, answer one question: what gained or denied the most lore in that game? That is your next upgrade target.
• Ask a friend to read your cards out loud as you're learning them. Hearing lines helps you catch timing mistakes.

Light Disney Magic, Practical Table Habits

Keep it fun. Announce your plays. Flip your exerted cards the same direction every time. Use tokens or dice for damage and lore. Say "quest for 2" and move your lore tracker together. The small habits make your first few games smooth.

Next Steps

• Read the official How to Play once for pictures and timing reminders.
• Use the buyer's guide when you want upgrades that make sense.

You've got this. Shuffle up, race to 20, and enjoy!

Conclusion

Thanks for reading. Are you looking forward to learning Disney Lorcana this year? This article was brought to you by CoolStuffInc, the best place for all Disney Lorcana products, and other popular TCGs. Love reading or hearing me yap about TCGs? Follow me on X!