In Disney Lorcana, every card falls into one of four primary categories. Each type has a specific role on the board, from questing for lore to providing tactical support. Here is a breakdown of how they work.
1. Characters (Glimmers)
Characters are the heart of the game. These are “glimmers” of Disney characters summoned from the Great Illuminary. They are the only cards that can quest for lore or challenge an opponent’s exerted characters.
Characters are further divided into three classifications:
- Storyborn: Characters as they appear in their original Disney stories.
- Dreamborn: Characters reimagined by the imagination of an Illumineer.
- Floodborn: Powerful, transformed versions of characters that typically feature the Shift keyword.
2. Items
Item cards represent magical objects, tools, or artifacts. Unlike characters, items do not quest or challenge. Once played, they stay on the board and provide ongoing benefits or activated abilities that can be used once per turn by exerting the card or paying an ink cost.
3. Actions & Songs
Actions are one-time-use cards that provide an immediate effect and are then moved to the discard pile.
- Songs: A special sub-type of Action cards. Songs can be played by paying their ink cost, or they can be played for free if you exert a character of a specific cost (or higher) to “sing” the card.
4. Locations
Locations represent iconic settings from Disney stories. Introduced in later sets, these cards stay on the board once played. They have a “Move Cost” that allows you to move characters to that location for specific bonuses. Many locations also generate lore automatically at the start of your turn.
Card Type Comparison Table
| Card Type | Stays in Play? | Can Quest? | Main Function |
| Character | Yes | Yes | Generating lore and challenging opponents. |
| Item | Yes | No | Providing passive or activated support abilities. |
| Action | No | No | Providing immediate, one-time effects. |
| Song | No | No | An Action that can be played for free by a character. |
| Location | Yes | No | Generating passive lore and granting buffs to characters. |
Understanding Lorcana Card Game
Regardless of the type, every card contains several key pieces of information:
- Ink Cost: The number in the top-left corner required to play the card.
- Inkwell Icon: A gold border around the cost indicates the card can be put into your inkwell.
- Classifications: Traits found at the bottom of the card that interact with other card abilities.
Mastering how these card types interact is the first step toward becoming a top-tier Illumineer. Whether you prefer a deck heavy on aggressive characters or a control-style deck focused on items and actions, knowing your card types is essential.