In the land of the Illumineers, Lorcana is about to hit one of its biggest milestones as a trading card game: set rotation. Come the introduction of the eagerly anticipated ninth chapter of Lorcana, Fabled, the first four sets (The First Chapter, Rise of the Floodborn, Into The Inklands, and Ursula’s Return) leave the core constructed format to be played competitively in Lorcana’s new ‘Infinity’ format (more of that another time). Fabled promises to include reprints of cards from the first four chapters – though which ones remain a mystery (well, apart from one or two spoilers). As speculation swirls, I wanted to highlight my top pick from each ink I’d love to see reprinted, along with my odds on their return.
Amber
Rapunzel – Gifted With Healing (The First Chapter)
Arguably the card that has gate kept amber (at least at a competitive level), Rapunzel –Gifted With Healing, has been a staple in amber decks. Her enter the battlefield (ETB) effect Gleam and Glow allows players to heal up to 3 damage off a character and draw the same number of cards which is huge in keeping the gas in the tank and the high lore threats coming down for any amber aggro strategy. Card draw is a premium in TCGs and sadly its something Amber, on the whole, lacks but this 4 cost, 1 strength, 5 willpower princess bucks that trend, sticks to the board and is a constant threat for the opponents to leave no floating damage around. The temptation to for the opponent to quest is also called into question, making your opponent think twice whether she is in hand or not. All in all, Rapunzel is a fair card and one that Amber could really do with not being locked away in a hidden tower.
Chance of reprint: 3/5 – certainly a possibility
Amethyst
Madam Mim – Fox (Rise of the Floodborn)
Your opponent is playing amethyst, they ink up to 3 and you just know exactly what will be coming. We’ve all been there. For some Madam Mim – Fox is simply too overpowered, after all she is a 4 strength and 3 willpower rush character, that can take out pretty much any early game character, and some later game ones too. She truly is a thorn in the side for so many players. So why do I hope she gets reprinted? Honestly I think the game needs her. Aggro strategies seem to be on the rise, and with cards like Daisy Duck – Donald’s Date, who boasts 4 willpower, there needs to be some sort of answer to her and other early threats. It isn’t as if Madam Mim – Fox comes down without a price; you still need to bounce something back to hand which can slow you down as well and good players will only a 1 for 1 trade. Does she survive? Sadly I don’t think so, not without some of the other parts of the bounce package, but I think she is a necessary evil, one that will certainly continue to see play in the Infinity format.
Chance of reprint: 1/5 – About as likely as a purple dragon
Emerald
The Queen – Disguised Peddler (Rise of the Floodborn)
Boy, do I love this card. I love the art. I love the effect. The Queen – Disguised Peddler was the card that really got me hooked into Lorcana, especially after a Lorcana Villain Youtube video outlined different combinations of ink to pair her up with. Whenever this card does well at a set championship, my interest once again piques. The Queen – Disguised Peddler is an uninkable 3 cost character, that once dry can be exerted using its effect A Perfect Disguise which allows you to discard a card in hand and gain the lore printed on the card. Cue combos with Mickey Mouse – Giant Mouse, Gantu – Captain Crankyhead or Mirabel Madrigal – Family Gatherer which can all net you some big explosions of lore if she is left unchecked. She never really got her day in the sun, but with Prince John – Greediest of All and Diablo – Devoted Herald potentially rotating out, maybe there’s finally space for her to shine.
Chance of reprint: 4/5 – I’m going to be optimistic on this one.
Ruby
Be Prepared (The First Chapter)
Arguably the most iconic song in Lorcana thus far, Be Prepared is a 7 cost uninkable song that when played banishes all characters on the board. Nothing is more soul-destroying than being on the end of this, as your opponent smugly removes everything and is able to claw their way back into the game and start to assert Ruby’s top end power. Be the one that plays it, and you are left laughing like a hyena in the Elephant Graveyard. In all seriousness, board wipes have their place in all TCGs, and Lorcana is no exception. Be Prepared can swing games spectacularly – sometimes in your favour, sometimes not. Drawing it too early is a big fat L, which I think keeps it fair and deserving of a reprint. Also, there is huge scope for the artwork to go hard if Ravensburger choose to reprint this and give it the special enchanted treatment. Be Prepared to see this card again – I’ll get my coat.
Chance of reprint: 4/5 – What would Lorcana be without Baker’s ‘Be Prepaaaaarrreeed’
Sapphire
Pawpsicle (Rise of the Floodborn)
A controversial card choice, Pawpsicle is a 1 cost inkable item that allows you to heal 2 damage off a character but, more importantly, it draws a card upon play essentially replacing itself (this effect known as a cantrip from Magic: The Gathering). Item decks in particular thrive off having this type of card utilising cards like Tamatoa – Happy As A Clam to recur them from the discard to replay them and keep on drawing cards. This is also the perfect card that symbioses with Belle – Apprentice Inventor, allowing you to play her on turn one, banish the Pawpsicle to the discard pile, ready to recur later. The diminutive card is powerful, almost too powerful, which may be why its ‘cousin’, the Fortisphere was banned. Can item decks thrive without cards like this, I’m not convinced.
Chance of reprint: 2/5 – About as likely as a fox getting a badge and joining the police
Steel
Strength of a Raging Fire (Rise of the Floodborn)
There were other cards that I wanted to put in here, but they’ve either been already announced as a reprint (Tinker Bell – Giant Fairy – The First Chapter) or announced as banned (A Whole New World – The First Chapter). Adding onto that I think categorically – famous last words – that Let The Storm Rage On is not getting reprinted. But Strength Of A Raging Fire, a 3 cost inkable song, lets you deal the same amount of damage equal to that of the characters you have in play. Damage dealing songs are needed in Lorcana and the first four sets are where they all originate, so surely we can’t lose them all. Strength of a Raging Fire is a fair card that gains no card advantage, but allows a player to keep tempo and having a card like Cinderella – Ballroom Sensation (I know she’s being rotated out) sing this on turn 2 is nowhere near as disgusting as her singing Let The Storm Rage On. Who knows, maybe Lorcana will print some alternative damage based songs, but I think this one should stick around.
2/5 – They couldn’t could they?
Bonus Card
Alice – Growing Girl
A legendary card from Rise of the Floodborn, Alice – Growing Girl saw some minor play as a surprise tech option in some set championship winning decks. Her unique ability of being able to give all your other characters ‘support’ is something that on the surface could be incredibly powerful, allowing you to start trading favourably into your opponents. As the sets continued on, other cards have been produced that reward players for having ‘support’ characters in their deck – The Great Illuminary – Radiant Ballroom, Clarabelle – News Reporter to name just a couple. When Alice – Growing Girl herself reaches 10 strength, she quests for a total of 5 lore. Add a card like Maximus – Team Champion, and then you are cooking on gas! Alice has never really had her moment in the spotlight and is one I am desperate to come back.
3/5 – We’re not all mad here…right?
