Summary
Disney Lorcanais finally introducing one of the key mechanics of most other trading card games as it enters its third year.
With the launch ofFabledthis autumn, set rotation is being put into effect. This means we’ll be saying goodbye to the game’s first four sets in Core Constructed, but don’t worry, you’ll still be able to play your cards elsewhere.
Announced as part of the Next Chapter reveal stream, Ravensburger has confirmed that rotation is being added to Lorcana. Found in other TCGs like Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering, rotation simply means the game’s oldest reeleases will leave legal play each year to ensure the card pool remains fresh.
Only A Few Months Left For The First Chapter
Lorcana is opting for a shorter rotation period than most games, though, with sets only remaining legal in Core Constructed for, at most, two years. This means Fabled will push The First Chapter, Rise of the Floodborn, Into the Inklands, and Ursula’s Return out of the format.
The next rotation will then happen a year later, with the currently unannounced set 13. When that launches, Shimmering Skies, Azurite Sea,Archazia’s Island, and the upcoming Reign of Jafar will also rotate out to make way for a new year of sets.
Fortunately, any cards that have been reprinted in a later set (such as in the upcoming Fabled, which is said to be over half reprints of classic cards) will remain legal, and you’ll be able to use any printing of them.
Keep All Your Cards In The Infinite Format
You’ll also be able to play in a new format being introduced at the same time: Infinite. Infinite is an eternal, non-rotating format (think Legacy or Vintage in Magic, or Unlimited in Pokemon) that allows you to play with almost any card ever printed for the game.
Infinite will have its own banlist, which may or may not include the recently bannedHiram Flaversham and Fortisphere).
It will be interesting to see how the Lorcana community takes to rotation. The last year has seen many decks become embedded at the top of the meta, and without things like the Merlin and Mim bounce package, Pawpsicle, or the numerous songs of Steelsong, this should be the single biggest shakeup to competitive play we’ve ever seen.
Fabled, and set rotation, launches on September 5 in big-box stores, after a prerelease on August 29.
