Disney Lorcana prepares to enter its next set rotation with Wilds Unknown, a set that adds new deck synergies based around popular Pixar characters. Due for a wide release on May 15, it won’t likely radically shift the metagame as much as July’s planned rotation, which drops several older sets from active use. However, it does feature big changes to the types of products released for individual Lorcana sets as well as a novel new design feature (one that most Magic fans should be familiar with) that could gradually become a bigger part of Lorcana over time.
The selling point of Wilds Unknown is the introduction of three new Disney properties, all of which were produced and animated by Pixar. Characters from Toy Story appear in the new set, along with characters from Brave and The Incredibles. While the Brave characters don’t bring any new mechanics or specific theming to the table, characters from The Incredibles and Toy Story synergize with their respective franchises thanks to two new classifications—Super and Toy. Many of the major characters from the set have abilities that specifically interact with one of these characterizations. Woody – Jungle Guide, for instance, grants all other Toy cards +1 defense, while Mr Incredible – Super Strong allows a player to draw a card whenever a Super challenges another character.
One of my first takeaways when looking through Wilds Unknown is that this set seems to use classifications (Lorcana’s equivalent to typal decks) a lot more aggressively compared to earlier Lorcana sets. Lorcana has always had space for certain themed decks (Princesses, of course, were a part of Lorcana since the beginning). But these decks didn’t really start to synergize with each other until several sets were released. However, players can build a semi-decent Toy deck right out of the gate, or a Super deck pretty easily. We haven’t seen this much intra-set synergy since Lorcana introduced the Madrigal family from Encanto in Ursula’s Return. Perhaps coincidentally, Wilds Unknown also introduces a ton of new Madrigal cards, allowing for some fresh new card combos in those decks.
What I really like about the new Toys and Supers classifications is that players have options when building decks. Players can opt for an Amber/Sapphire combo if they want to team up Woody with Sid, who can banish Toy cards in exchange for lore. Or, players can opt for an Amber/Emerald deck combination to pair Woody up with his best friend Buzz Lightyear. Likewise, the Incredibles feature heavily in Steel, Ruby, and Amethyst, giving players multiple options from which to build decks themed around a single franchise.
While Brave doesn’t haven’t the same level of synergies as its fellow Pixar franchises, it features one of the most potent card combos in the game. The legendary Merida card Merida – Formidable Archer, automatically deals 2 extra damage whenever an action card damages an opposing character. To guarantee at least one interaction, Merida can pull the Three Arrows card from the discard when she enters play. Three Arrows deals 2 damage to an opposing character, and then 1 damage to either the same character or a different one. When coupled with Merida’s ability, Three Arrows super-charges into a seven damage action, which can wipe out most cards very quickly.
The other novel new design feature in Wilds Unknown is the introduction of a cycle of cards across all six colors. Card cycles are very common in Magic: The Gathering and feature cards of a similar theme or mechanic. In Wilds Unknown, there are a total of 12 Traveler cards, two of each color. Each Traveler card (which includes a Sensational Six member, along with three princesses and three villains) has an ability that only activates when the card quests after another character card has been played. Although the design of these cards don’t seem particularly special, cycle cards are a rich design space in Magic: The Gathering and other card games and I’m excited to see how they’re incorporated more within Lorcana.
Publisher Ravensburger has also beefed up the product releases for Wilds Unknown, adding several new products to their release slate. In addition to the standard Illumineer’s Trove and booster packs (both of which were provided for review by the publisher) Ravensburger is also now publishing Prerelease Packs and two-player starter deck sets. The Prerelease set comes with six booster packs, plus one of six promo cards and a set of dice. While I personally would have liked to see a Build and Battle box-style set similar to Pokemon, the Prerelease Packs are long overdue and provide an easy way for fans to get hyped for the new set’s release. Pre-release parties may also help bolster player count numbers in stores and potentially set players up to attend local weekly events at stores as well. This product is good for the overall health of the game.
The other new product release are two-player starter decks, which replace the single deck starter decks that have been a standby of every other deck of the franchise. I’m a big believer in pre-constructed decks as a must-have for starter decks and I think that two-person starter decks are far better than a single deck. After all, players can easily bring a friend aboard with an extra deck (Lorcana needs two players to play under almost every circumstance) and there’s no need to try to find the “perfect deck” to match a player’s playstyle when there’s only a single product. We weren’t provided with the new decks to review, but I’m confident that the new decks are an easy entry point for Lorcana. The player decks, by and large, have always hit well in my household.
I think Wilds Unknown is one of the more focused Lorcana sets we’ve had in quite some time. The new franchises are given all the shine in the deck, but there are still a couple of other franchises mixed in for good measure. What’s more – those franchises are supported immediately with some unique decks that could be impactful (or at least fun to play) right out of the gate. While I can’t speak to whether Wilds Unknown will be super impactful for the metagame, especially as Lorcana is about to rotate sets, the shift to sets that more heavily rely on a few set themes is good for the health of the game.
Not only does it provide more than aesthetic differences between sets, it also ensures that each set has several easy starting places for players looking to build their own decks. Players won’t have to go outside of Wilds Unknown to build a Toy deck, or a Supers deck, or even decks built around the Seven Dwarves. Hopefully, these decks can be supplemented in future sets, quickly allowing them to make an impact in competitive play.
Wilds Unknown is a strong set that marks a big shift for Lorcana. By focusing on new decks instead of continuously building up a handful of competitive decks, it makes it easier for new players to break into the game. Although there’s a potential handoff should these new typal decks ever become too powerful, I like the idea of good decks that can be built from a single set. What will be interesting is whether Lorcana’s designer continue to grow typal decks in sets, or if Wilds Unknown is a unique flash in the pan meant to kickstart the Pixar era of Disney Lorcana.