Disney Lorcana Glossary: Terms Every Illumineer Should Know
Welcome to the comprehensive Disney Lorcana glossary! Whether you're a new player trying to understand game terminology or an experienced Illumineer looking to clarify specific rules, this alphabetical reference guide covers all the essential terms you'll encounter in your Disney Lorcana journey.
A
Action
A card type that provides a one-time effect when played. Action cards go to your inkwell (discard pile) after their effects resolve.
Amber
One of the six ink types in Disney Lorcana, represented by a yellow sun symbol. Amber focuses on protection, healing, and efficient lore generation.
Amethyst
One of the six ink types in Disney Lorcana, represented by a purple crescent moon symbol. Amethyst specializes in powerful effects and game-changing abilities.
Abilities
Special powers or effects that characters, items, or locations have. Abilities are written in the text box of cards and may be activated or triggered under specific conditions.
B
Banish
To remove a card from play and place it in its owner's inkwell (discard pile). Characters are banished when they receive damage equal to or greater than their willpower.
Bodyguard
A keyword ability that allows a character to become the target of a challenge directed at another of your characters. The character with Bodyguard must shift to use this ability.
Brave
A keyword ability that allows a character to challenge characters with higher strength values, which is normally not permitted.
Booster Pack
A randomized package containing 12 Disney Lorcana cards, including at least one foil card and one rare, super rare, legendary, or enchanted card.
C
Challenge
An action where one character attacks another character. The challenging character shifts and both characters deal damage equal to their strength to each other simultaneously.
Challenger +X
A keyword ability that gives a character +X strength when it challenges another character.
Character
The primary card type in Disney Lorcana, representing Disney characters as glimmers. Characters can challenge other characters and quest for lore.
Common
The most frequently occurring rarity of cards, indicated by a circle symbol at the bottom of the card.
D
Damage
Counters placed on characters to track injury. When a character has damage equal to or greater than its willpower, it is banished.
Deck
A collection of 40-60 cards that a player uses to play Disney Lorcana. Each player brings their own deck to the game.
Deflect X
A keyword ability that causes a challenging character to take X damage before normal damage calculation when it challenges a character with this ability.
Draw
To take the top card of your deck and add it to your hand.
E
Emerald
One of the six ink types in Disney Lorcana, represented by a green leaf symbol. Emerald focuses on versatility, strategic planning, and adaptability.
Enchanted
The highest rarity of cards, indicated by a special foil treatment and a crown symbol at the bottom of the card.
Evasive
A keyword ability that prevents a character from being challenged by characters with 3 or more strength.
Exert
To shift a character, typically as a cost for using an ability. An exerted character cannot challenge, quest, or use abilities that require shifting until it is readied.
F
Foil
A premium version of a card with a special reflective finish. At least one foil card is included in each booster pack.
First Player
The player who takes the first turn of the game. The first player does not draw a card on their first turn.
G
Glimmer
The in-game representation of Disney characters brought to life through magical ink. Character cards represent glimmers in gameplay.
Glimmer Modifier
A term that appears on some cards, indicating that the card modifies or interacts with glimmers (characters) in a specific way.
H
Hand
The cards a player is holding, hidden from their opponent. Players start with seven cards in hand and draw one card at the beginning of each turn.
Hand Size
The number of cards in a player's hand. There is no maximum hand size in Disney Lorcana.
I
Illumineer
A lore seeker who uses magical ink to bring Disney characters to life as glimmers. Players take on the role of Illumineers in Disney Lorcana.
Illumineer's Trove
A Disney Lorcana product that contains two half-decks that can be combined in different ways, allowing for deck customization.
Ink
The primary resource in Disney Lorcana, created by placing a card from your hand face-down during your ink phase. Ink is used to pay for playing cards and activating abilities.
Ink Cost
The amount of ink required to play a card, shown in the upper left corner of the card.
Ink Phase
The second phase of a turn, during which a player places one card from their hand face-down as ink.
Ink Type
One of six magical approaches in Disney Lorcana: Amber, Amethyst, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, and Steel. Each card belongs to one ink type, indicated by the colored symbol in the upper right corner.
Inkwell
A player's discard pile, where banished characters, used actions, and discarded cards are placed face-up.
Item
A card type that provides ongoing effects while in play. Items may be played independently or attached to characters.
K
Keyword
A bolded ability word that represents a standardized game mechanic, such as Bodyguard, Rush, or Evasive.
L
Legendary
A high rarity of cards, indicated by a diamond symbol at the bottom of the card.
Location
A card type that provides ongoing effects while in play. Locations affect the game state in various ways and remain in play until removed.
Lore
The victory points in Disney Lorcana. The first player to reach 20 lore wins the game. Lore is primarily gained by questing with characters.
Lore Value
The number in the bottom right corner of a character card, indicating how much lore is gained when that character quests.
M
Mulligan
The option to shuffle your initial seven-card hand back into your deck and draw a new hand of seven cards at the beginning of the game. Each player may mulligan once.
P
Persistent X
A keyword ability that allows a character to return to its owner's hand instead of being banished by paying X ink when it would be banished.
Play Phase
The third phase of a turn, during which a player may play cards, challenge, quest, and use abilities.
Protect
To prevent damage or effects that would affect a character. Various abilities and effects can protect characters in different ways.
Q
Quest
An action where a character shifts to gain lore equal to its lore value. Questing is the primary way to gain lore and win the game.
R
Ready
The upright position of a card, indicating that it can be used to challenge, quest, or activate abilities that require shifting.
Rare
A card rarity above uncommon, indicated by a star symbol at the bottom of the card.
Reckless
A keyword ability that forces a character to challenge if able.
Resist +X
A keyword ability that reduces all damage taken by a character by X.
Ruby
One of the six ink types in Disney Lorcana, represented by a red flame symbol. Ruby focuses on aggression, direct damage, and board control through challenging.
Rush
A keyword ability that allows a character to challenge or quest the turn it is played, rather than waiting a turn.
S
Sapphire
One of the six ink types in Disney Lorcana, represented by a blue water drop symbol. Sapphire focuses on card draw, filtering, and resource management.
Set
A collection of Disney Lorcana cards released together, such as "The First Chapter" or "Rise of the Floodborn." Each set has its own symbol and numbering.
Shift (Position)
To turn a card sideways, indicating it has been used to challenge, quest, or activate an ability. Shifted cards cannot be used again until they are readied.
Shift X (Keyword)
A keyword ability that allows a player to pay X ink to ready a character, allowing it to be used again in the same turn.
Singer X
A keyword ability that grants X additional lore when a character quests.
Starter Deck
A pre-constructed 60-card deck ready to play out of the box. Starter Decks are designed for new players and include cards of two ink types.
Steel
One of the six ink types in Disney Lorcana, represented by a gray shield symbol. Steel focuses on defense, resilience, and board control through attrition.
Strength
The number on the left side of a character card, indicating how much damage it deals when challenging.
Super Rare
A card rarity above rare, indicated by a double star symbol at the bottom of the card.
Support
A keyword ability that allows a character to shift and add its strength to another character that is challenging.
T
Title
The descriptive text after a character's name (e.g., "Mickey Mouse - Brave Little Tailor"), which distinguishes different versions of the same character.
Token
A game element that is not a card but is created by card effects, such as damage counters or special markers.
Turn
A sequence of play consisting of four phases: Draw Phase, Ink Phase, Play Phase, and End Phase.
U
Uncommon
A card rarity above common, indicated by a diamond symbol at the bottom of the card.
W
Ward
A keyword ability that prevents a character from being chosen by opponents' abilities.
Willpower
The number on the right side of a character card, indicating how much damage it can receive before being banished.
Game Phases and Turn Structure
Draw Phase
The first phase of a turn, during which the active player draws one card from their deck. The first player skips the Draw Phase on their first turn.
Ink Phase
The second phase of a turn, during which the active player places one card from their hand face-down as ink.
Play Phase
The third phase of a turn, during which the active player may play cards, challenge, quest, and use abilities.
End Phase
The final phase of a turn, during which all shifted cards are readied and end-of-turn effects are resolved. The active player also checks if they have 20 or more lore to win the game.
Card Types
Character
The primary card type in Disney Lorcana, representing Disney characters as glimmers. Characters can challenge other characters and quest for lore.
Action
A card type that provides a one-time effect when played. Action cards go to your inkwell (discard pile) after their effects resolve.
Item
A card type that provides ongoing effects while in play. Items may be played independently or attached to characters.
Location
A card type that provides ongoing effects while in play. Locations affect the game state in various ways and remain in play until removed.
Card Rarities
Common
The most frequently occurring rarity, indicated by a circle symbol at the bottom of the card.
Uncommon
A rarity above common, indicated by a diamond symbol at the bottom of the card.
Rare
A rarity above uncommon, indicated by a star symbol at the bottom of the card.
Super Rare
A rarity above rare, indicated by a double star symbol at the bottom of the card.
Legendary
A high rarity, indicated by a diamond symbol at the bottom of the card.
Enchanted
The highest rarity, indicated by a special foil treatment and a crown symbol at the bottom of the card.
Common Gameplay Terms
Banish
To remove a card from play and place it in its owner's inkwell (discard pile).
Challenge
An action where one character attacks another character.
Exert
To shift a character, typically as a cost for using an ability.
Quest
An action where a character shifts to gain lore equal to its lore value.
Ready
To return a card to its upright position, allowing it to be used again.
Shift
To turn a card sideways, indicating it has been used.
This glossary covers the essential terminology you'll encounter in Disney Lorcana. As the game evolves with new expansions, additional terms may be introduced. Keep this reference handy during your games to quickly clarify any unfamiliar terms or mechanics.
Remember that understanding the language of the game is the first step toward mastery. With this glossary as your guide, you'll be able to communicate clearly with other players, understand card effects precisely, and navigate the magical world of Disney Lorcana with confidence.
May your ink flow true, and your glimmers shine bright!