Disney Lorcana Bans Its First Cards

“No card is ever designed with the intention of it not being played in competition.  But in order to keep the meta-game healthy and challenging without it feeling stale or repetitive seeing the same strategies again and again, the TCG design team at Ravensburger made the difficult decision for the good of the game. We know bans are the last line of defense and we will only pull that lever when it will increase excitement for competitive play.”

NOTE: “Hiram Flaversham – Toymaker” and “Fortisphere” are not removed from the game. Players are encouraged to enjoy playing them in their decks against friends and family. The ban only effects those participating in Disney Lorcana Challenge events or other tournaments and events using the Core Constructed format.

The team have also released an open letter to the community on the decision from Steve Warner, who is the co-lead designer of Disney Lorcana TCG.

Dear Illumineers,

We are writing to address the recent decision to ban the cards Hiram Flaversham – Toymaker, and Fortisphere from play in Core Constructed, the main format used in Disney Lorcana Challenge. This decision was not made lightly, and we understand that it may cause some disappointment. However, we believe it is necessary to preserve the overall enjoyment and balance of the game.

Our primary goal with Disney Lorcana is to create a fun and engaging experience for all players. After extensive observation and feedback from the community, it became clear that Hiram Flaversham – Toymaker, and Fortisphere were consistently leading to gameplay scenarios that were not conducive to this goal.

Specifically, the inability for opposing players to interact with Hiram Flaversham – Toymaker felt less enjoyable than we want in a game of Disney Lorcana. Items such as Fortisphere that Hiram’s ability banished before opponents could interact with the combo, gained a large advantage that was virtually unstoppable. Fortisphere was banned because we feel it placed too much emphasis on players using items in Steel, which is not aligned with the Ink’s core strengths. Rather than fostering strategic depth and diverse gameplay, playing these cards together often led to predictable and one-sided outcomes.

We did also discuss and consider banning Pawpsicle. We believe that Pawpsicle without Hiram Flaversham – Toymaker still provides value to decks attempting a more item-based strategy. This is in line with what we feel Sapphire should do, and thus the reason for removing Fortisphere while leaving Pawpsicle eligible.

While we appreciate the creative strategies players developed around these cards, the presence of Hiram Flaversham – Toymaker and Fortisphere ultimately detracted from the core principles of fun and balanced gameplay that we strive to maintain in Disney Lorcana. We believe that a healthy and vibrant game requires a diversity of viable strategies and a sense of fair competition.

We understand that banning cards can disrupt existing decks and strategies. We are committed to supporting players during this transition and will continue to monitor the game’s balance closely. We encourage players to explore new deckbuilding options and discover the many other exciting possibilities within Disney Lorcana.

We value your feedback and appreciate your understanding. Our commitment remains to ensuring that Disney Lorcana is a game that is enjoyable and accessible for all.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Steve Warner