Disney Lorcana has made a significant move in the competitive play scene by announcing its first-ever card bans. This decision comes in response to the dominance of certain deck types, particularly Sapphire/Steel and Ruby/Sapphire variants, in numerous tournaments since the game’s inception in 2023. By introducing a ban list, the developers aim to ensure a more balanced and engaging metagame.
Effective April 8, “Hiram Flaversham – Toymaker”and “Fortisphere”will be considered illegal for competitive play. Elaine Chase, Chief Marketing Officer for TCGs from Ravensburger, the publisher of Disney Lorcana, acknowledged the complexity behind this choice: “No card is ever designed with the intention of it not being played in competition. However, to maintain a healthy metagame that feels fresh and challenging, the TCG design team at Ravensburger made the difficult decision for the good of the game.”
Impact of the Bans on Disney Lorcana
Removal of a Powerful Combo
The decisions to ban these cards may come as a surprise to many players. Hiram Flaversham – Toymaker formed a crucial part of a combo that enabled players to discard items for additional card draws. This created a resilient engine, particularly when paired with the Pawpsicle card, allowing players to recycle draws multiple times before their opponents could react.
On the other hand, Fortisphere presented a means of drawing cards for free and could be discarded at a low cost to provide a character with the Bodyguard trait. Its ability to synergize seamlessly with Steel decks to facilitate extra card draws likely contributed to its ban.
This ban is noteworthy for a couple of reasons. First, it marks the inaugural instance of outright card bans in Disney Lorcana—previous adjustments have been achieved via errata rather than bans. Second, the decision notably spares the Pawpsicle card, which is integral to many item-focused Sapphire decks. The developers likely view this as a more nuanced approach, considering Pawpsicle’s unique interactions with certain cards.
Editorial Insight: A First for Disney Lorcana
Cautious Steps in Card Banning
Bans are powerful measures within trading card games and are typically executed with extreme caution. Disney Lorcana’s decision to enforce bans comes nearly two years after its launch, a timeline considerably longer than competitors like Star Wars Unlimited. While Sapphire-themed decks have been notably successful, the choice of these specific cards for banning remains unexpected. Hiram Flaversham has been a key player since the game’s early days, and its absence will certainly be felt as competitive events, including the upcoming Disney Lorcana World Championships, loom on the horizon.
For more details, you can visit Disney Lorcana.
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