Gameplay Rules

Lorcana Gameplay Rules Guide

Hello Lorcana enthusiasts! I’ve put together the below guide to help answer some frequently asked questions regarding gameplay, card interactions and other mechanics of the game. The goal of this guide is to help consolidate all of the known rules from developers (shared via Instagram/Twitter responses, conference Q&A events, etc.).

I’ve also seen some recent posts that some LGS may have been incorrectly ruling on matches during Organized Play. Hopefully this post can help prove as a reference guide for both players and tournament organizers for future questions!

I will work to keep this updated as often as possible. Please let me know if there are any errors below (rulings, grammar-related, etc.) or you have additional recommendations for rulings to add.

Characters

Text and Keywords

“Playing” a character strictly refers to the act of exerting ink to place a character from your hand onto the board.
Characters with bodyguard can only be challenged if exerted. If a character with bodyguard is not exerted, other non-bodyguard characters can be challenged.
Characters with abilities that require them to exert do not also collect Lore on the same action. They can either perform the action (by exerting) or collect Lore (by exerting), but not both simultaneously. Some cards allow for character to be returned to ready status, allowing them to use their ability or safeguard them from opponent’s challenges.
Pay attention to the wording for characters such as Prince Phillip, Dragonslayer compared to Cruella de Vil, Miserable as Usual or Flynn Rider, Charming Rogue. Prince Phillips ability only activated when he is challenging other characters. Cruella de Vil and Flynn Rider have abilities that only activate if they are being challenged.
Evasive characters can challenge non-evasive characters in addition to other evasive characters.

Shifted Characters

Shifted characters can be played as normal, or with a discounted cost if they are placed on top of another character with the same name.
You can place a shifted character on top of another character with the same name, but different color. For example, Mickey Mouse, Artful Rogue can be shifted onto Mickey Mouse, True Friend.
If a character is shifted onto another character, the shifted character will assume all of the existing conditions of the character it is placed on top of, such as being exerted or damaged.
If a character is shifted onto another character, the original character’s abilities, willpower, lore, etc. are no longer in effect.
If a character is shifted onto another character, the shifted character can challenge or quest on the turn it was played as long as the previous character was also able to challenge or quest that turn (the previous character had been played on a prior turn, aka “its ink was dry”)

Actions & Items

Songs

Characters cannot sing songs on the turn in which they are played.

Items

Any items played will remain in play unless a card specifics states to remove item(s). Their initial cost (top-right of card) only needs to be paid the first time there are placed into play. Some items have additional costs to use and will indicate how much ink is required for each use.
The exerting symbol on items helps to indicate if that item’s effect has been used already on this turn.
You can control duplicate items simultaneously.
A subtle detail – but could be helpful for distinguishing items and actions. Currently, all items have a catchphrase in the beginning of their effect, while actions do not.

Gameplay

Lore

Players cannot have their lore reduced below 0.

Inkwell

When placing a card in the inkwell, you reveal it to your opponent (to confirm it is inkable), then place it facedown.
You are not allowed to look at cards in the inkwell after they are placed.
Some cards will allow you to place additional cards in your inkwell beyond the ‘once per turn’ game rules.
Non-inkable cards can be placed into a player’s Inkwell as the result of a card effect (such as Mickey Mouse, Detective or Let It Go)

Miscellaneous

A turn represents the actions of just one player. If a card says “this turn”, its effects will last until the that player completes all of their actions. Once their opponent begins their turn, any “this turn” effects will be removed.
“May” indicates optional effects and is not mandatory.
There is no limit to the size of a player’s hand or inkwell.
When a player attempts to draw (either by card effect or at the start of their turn) but has no cards remaining in their deck, they lose (regardless of who has collected more Lore).
The turn player decides the sequence of card effect/actions if simultaneous effects are triggered.
When activating card abilities to “look at the top x cards of your deck”, you do not need to reveal those specific cards to your opponent. You should ensure that all players can confirm the quantity of cards viewed, but not the identity.
Characters with 0 strength can still challenge other characters.

Specific Card Rulings

Amber (Yellow)

Cinderella, Gentle and Kind

Cinderella can choose herself for her ability, A Wonderful Dream.

Hades, King of Olympus

Hades’ ability, Sinister Plot, does not count himself as it states “each other villain character”.

Hades, Lord of the Underworld

Hades’ ability, Well of Souls, is mandatory (unless no targets exist).

Lefou, Bumbler

Lefou’s ability, Loyal, does not stack. Lefou simply costs one ink if you have a character named Gaston in play. If you have two Gaston characters in play, Lefou will still cost one ink.

Stitch, Carefree Surfer

Stitch’s ability, Ohana, does not include itself. You must control at least two other characters in addition to Stitch in order to draw. Other copies of this card in play count.
You can draw 0 or 2 cards when applying Stitch’s effect, but not 1.

Stitch, Rock Star

Stitch’s ability, Adoring Fans, does not trigger when characters with reduced costs are played. If a character with 3 cost is played by using Lantern to reduce its cost to 2, Stitch’s effect will not trigger.

Just In Time

Since actions resolve immediately, the character must be played immediately.
Similar to the ruling on Stitch, Rock Star, only a character with printed cost of 5 or less can be played using this action.

You Have Forgotten Me

If an opponent only has 1 card in hand when this action is played, they will discard that card and the action will resolve. The opponent does not discard the next card is added to their hand (by effect or draw).

Lantern

You can stack the effects of multiple copies of Lantern to reduce the next character you play by more than 1 (but not less than 0).

Amethyst (Purple)

Anna, Heir to Arendelle

Using Anna’s ability, Loving Heart, to choose an opposing character that is already in ‘ready’ state will have no effect on that character during the opponent’s next turn.

Elsa, Spirit of Winter

You can use Elsa’s Deep Freeze ability to select characters that are already exerted. They can’t ready at the start of the opponent’s next turn.

Mickey Mouse, Wayward Sorcerer

If you have multiple copies of this character in play, their Animated Broom abilities will stack and can reduce Broom characters’ cost to 0 (but not below 0).

Pascal, Rapunzel’s Companion

Pascal’s Camouflage ability is an ongoing ability that can be activated or removed if the conditions are met or changed. If Pascal becomes the only character on your side of play, it will lose Evasive.

Friends on the Other Side

You must draw exactly two cards.

Emerald (Green)

Beast, Wolfsbane

Beast’s ability, Roar, is not optional and will exert all opposing damaged characters even if you do not wish for them to be exerted (such as characters with bodyguard).

Cheshire Cat, Not All There

Cheshire Cat’s ability, Lose Something, is mandatory.

Genie, Powers Unleashed

Genie’s ability, Phenomenal Cosmic Power, is effective immediately and resolves if no actions are subsequently played (this is my understanding based on similar card rulings)

John Silver, Alien Pirate

John Silver’s ability, Pick Your Fights, can be applied to multiple characters and can be changed each time it is applied.

Steal from the Rich

This ability will trigger each time one of your characters quests during the turn and can be triggered by the same character more than once on a given turn.

Sudden Chill

If an opponent has no cards in hand when this action is played, the action will resolve. The opponent does not discard the next card is added to their hand (by effect or draw).

Dr. Facilier’s Cards

You can stack the effects of multiple copies of Dr. Facilier’s Cards to reduce the next action you play by more than 1 (but not less than 0).

Ruby (Red)

Aladdin, Heroic Outlaw

Aladdin’s ability, Daring Exploit, will trigger even if Aladdin is banished during the challenge.

Captain Hook, Ruthless Pirate

Once Captain Hook is banished, it’s ability, You Coward!, will not be applied to characters and any opposing characters that had gained Reckless from the ability will no longer be considered “Reckless” (can’t quest and must challenge if able)

Mulan, Imperial Soldier

Mulan’s ability, Lead by Example, applies to all other characters and does not grant Mulan +1 Lore for this turn. Other copies of Mulan in play would receive +1 Lore if this ability is triggered.
Mulan’s ability, Lead by Example, will trigger even if Mulan is banished during the challenge.

Be Prepared

All characters in play are banished, even the player who plays/sings Be Prepared.
Characters with Ward are still banished, as this card does not “choose” those characters.

Sapphire (Blue)

Aurora, Dreaming Guardian

Aurora’s ability, Protective Embrace, applies to all other characters and does not apply to herself. A second Aurora, Dreaming Guardian would gain Ward (as well as give Ward to the first Aurora, Dreaming Guardian)

Belle, Strange But Special

You can only place an additional inkable card using Belle’s ability, Read a Book. Noninkable cards cannot be placed into the inkwell using this ability.

Gramma Tala, Storyteller

Gramma Tala’s ability, I Will Be With You, is not triggered if Gramma Tala is discarded.

Hades, Infernal Schemer

If a shifted character is chosen for Hades’ ability, Is There a Downside to This, both the shifted character as well as the previous character (the one under the shifted character) will be placed into that opponent’s inkwell.

Mickey Mouse, Detective

The card placed into the inkwell by Mickey Mouse’s ability, Get a Clue, is not revealed to either player.

Robin Hood, Unrivaled Archer

Robin Hood’s ability, Feed the Poor, is mandatory if the criteria is met. If both player’s hands are equal in size, the criteria is not met.

Let It Go

If a shifted character is chosen for Let it Go, both the shifted character as well as the previous character (the one under the shifted character) will be placed into that opponent’s inkwell.

One Jump Ahead

The card placed into the inkwell is not revealed to either player.

Coconut Basket

The chosen character can change each time this item’s effect is triggered.

Eye of the Fates

You can stack the effects of multiple copies of Eye of the Fates to grant a character additional Lore for this turn.
Characters will Reckless are still unable to quest, even if granted Lore through this effect.

Fishbone Quill

Non-inkable cards can be placed into a player’s inkwell using Fishbone Quill’s ability, Go Ahead and Sign.

Steel (Grey)

Mickey Mouse, Musketeer

Mickey Mouse’s ability, All for One, is an ongoing ability that will be removed from other characters when Mickey Mouse is banished.

Starkey, Hook’s Henchman

Starkey’s ability, Aye Aye Captain, does not stack. Multiple copies of Captain Hook or Captain in play will only grant Starkey +1 Lore.

Beast’s Mirror

You cannot activate multiple Beast Mirror effective simultaneously (to meet the “no cards in hand” criteria).