DLC MILWAUKEE RECAP

If there’s one word most attendees of a Disney Lorcana Challenge would use to describe the experience, it’s likely: MAGICAL!

And Disney Lorcana Challenge Milwaukee was full of magical experiences! From 2,000 Illumineers coming together in North America to our first two-time DLC Champion to a young player who captured our hearts.

With plenty of side events and experiences, the community was buzzing with excitement the moment the doors opened for registration on Friday afternoon. Let’s look at all the excitement from the event!

Rebekah Quests: You made history in season 1 becoming the first DLC Champion in Lille. How does it feel to make history again at DLC Milwaukee?

Frank Karsten: It feels incredible, honestly. Winning the first Disney Lorcana Challenge already felt special, but becoming the first two-time champion and qualifying for back-to-back World Championships feels surreal. I’m grateful for the friends I’ve tested with and the community that makes these events so enjoyable, as celebrating my victory together made it all the more special.

At the same time, I know how strong the competition is and how much talent there is in this game. So, while I’m proud to have made history (and to have activated Dumbo – Ninth Wonder of the Universe’s “Making History” ability in the process), I also see it as motivation to keep learning and improving.

RQ: The Fabled meta is quite diverse with a handful of strong deck choices. Why did you decide to bring Amethyst Steel?

FK: In my testing and tournament preparation, my build of Amethyst-Steel had virtually no bad matchups. Beyond that, I really enjoyed the deck’s gameplay style. It rewards precision: knowing when to quest, when to challenge, what to ink, and whether to lean into an aggressive or controlling role depending on the matchup and who’s on the play.

RQ: You also played at the Bologna DLC - can you share what you learned from that event and what impact it made on your deck choice for Milwaukee.

FK: I played Amber-Emerald Dogs at DLC Bologna, which I felt was a good choice for that metagame, but I failed to make Day 2. Looking ahead to Milwaukee, I expected Amber-Emerald Dogs to become more popular after its strong showing in Bologna, but also to be worse positioned because of its loss of surprise value and because opponents would adjust their lists to beat it.

Meanwhile, I believed Amethyst-Steel would match up well against the top Dogs decks from Bologna, which generally didn’t run the otherwise problematic Tramp – Dapper Rascal. I already had my own Amethyst-Steel build with me as a secondary choice for Bologna, played it in a large Core Constructed side event on Sunday, went undefeated, and left feeling confident to bring it to Milwaukee.

RQ: You have a lot of tech cards in your deck with just 1 or 2 copies. Can you talk about some of your favorite tech cards and why they are in your deck?

FK: When I look at my list, I don’t see a jumble of random one-ofs—I see a finely tuned curve. The one-drops and two-drops drops ensure I can spend my ink efficiently in the opening turns, while the high number of three-drops lets me aggressively alter them away to help secure a one-drop, a two-drop, and my best cards: Genie – Wish Fulfilled and Strength of a Raging Fire.

Naturally, I run four copies of those best cards for consistency. But for curve fillers that are equally strong on average yet excel in different matchups or board states, splitting the copies offers flexibility. Lorcana’s forgiving mulligan rule and inking system enable a toolbox approach where you can essentially rebuild your deck at the start of every game. With my list, it often feels like I’m playing two decks at once: I frequently hold multiple three-drops on turn three, allowing me to choose the best one for the situation while inking the others. That kind of flexibility is invaluable.

Moreover, as top cut matches use open decklists, even a single Tinker Bell – Giant Fairy forces opponents to respect the potential for a shift line, making my deck harder to play against. And running one Scar – Finally King instead of a fourth Doc – Bold Knight reduces the risk of being stuck with duplicate Docs in hand while maintaining the same amount of card-draw characters.

Ultimately, my favorite one-of is Timothy Q. Mouse – Flight Instructor. It’s only truly great against Amethyst-Sapphire on the play, but my probability calculations showed that a single copy was optimal, balancing the conditional chance of drawing another two-drop with the relative value of each option across matchups. In Game 5 of the finals, Timothy Q. Mouse helped me quest for the win—another feather in my cap.

RQ: What advice do you have for players out there looking to follow in your footsteps to become a Disney Lorcana Challenge Champion?

FK: My biggest advice is to practice with purpose. Don’t just jam games—focus on improving your decision-making. After each match, ask yourself: Did I quest at the right time? Did I ink the right cards? Was there a better play on that key turn? The goal isn’t simply to win, but to understand why you won or lost. 

Second, strengthen your fundamentals through Limited. Sealed Deck forces you to evaluate cards, adapt on the fly, and make the most of constrained resources. It sharpens core skills like sequencing, inking, combat math, and role assessment—skills that carry over directly to Core Constructed.

Finally, approach tournaments with the right mindset. Control what you can: your preparation, your focus, and your in-game decisions. Don’t get caught up in your record, bad luck, or what’s at stake. Sleep well, bring snacks, stay hydrated, and take each turn as it comes. Above all, enjoy the games. The rest will follow naturally.

The Young Illumineer who captured the heart of the community

While Frank’s win was an exciting moment - there was another Illumineer in the room who stole the spotlight with an incredible run. Aiden, at just 10 years old, has become the youngest Illumineer to win a Golden Mickey Mickey Mouse!

But it wasn’t easy - Aiden had to face the reigning World Champion, Dinh Khang Pham, to get there.

The moment Aiden beat DKP the entire room erupted with applause and shouts unlike any other moment I’ve witnessed at a Disney Lorcana Challenge.

I had the opportunity to talk to Aiden and when asked how he felt about facing the World Champion in his Top 16 match, he said he didn’t feel nervous at all! On the other side of the table, you might wonder how DKP felt facing this young player. "Aiden played so well, fast, and precise," DKP said. "In my entire TCG career I was never this impressed... You can‘t even fathom how good he was."

Aiden’s history with TCGs began not long ago. “I’ve not played any other trading card games… this is my first TCG. I’ve been playing [Disney Lorcana] since set four, which is about a year ago.”

Aiden plays Disney Lorcana with his whole family, who were all there at the DLC. It was heartwarming seeing his older brother (who went 6-1 in the Infinity event on Sunday!) jumping up and down and cheering him on from the sidelines along with mom and dad.

Going into his Top 8 match I asked him how he felt. “I feel amazing.” Unfortunately, Aiden’s run ended there in his match against Dan Arnold. But Dan will admit his opponent was quite a challenge. Dan remarked, “...he earned every win this weekend. [Aiden] was fearless. And I look forward to seeing him again.”

After what was surely one of the most memorable weekends of his life, I had to know what advice Aiden would have for other young Illumineers.

A Thriving Community

Besides the main tournament happening at the focal point of Disney Lorcana Challenge, there were plenty of other events and experiences happening in the room.

Illumineers were lined up all weekend to meet three fantastic Disney Lorcana Illustrators - Aubrey Archer, Mariana Moreno, and Cristian Romero. There were also some Disney Lorcana Game Developers playing Pack Rush with Illumineers.

One of my favorite things to see was all the Illumineers who came in Cosplay or Disneybound outfits. 

The Side Events were busy all day with events including Infinity, Constructed, and Pack Rush. Families enjoyed the new Young Illumineers area, and Illumineers were giddy to pick up some fabulous promos, pins, and playmats from the Prize Wall!

All in all, it was incredible to see the Disney Lorcana community thriving - and I know we all can’t wait to be together again!

A diverse Fabled meta 

The Fabled meta has been quite diverse, and we saw many decks represented in Milwaukee. Who better to give us a breakdown of the metagame than the Champion himself. I’ll hand it over to Frank Karsten - who also writes for the Disney Lorcana website on a freelance contract basis - for a look at what Illumineers brought to DLC Milwaukee.

Amethyst-Sapphire was the most-played deck again, although its 30.0% share of the starting field was slightly lower than at DLC Bologna. Meanwhile, Amethyst-Steel had soared in popularity over the past few weeks, with almost a quarter of the Day 1 field in Milwaukee opting for the ink pairing. Ruby players still had trouble finding a sufficiently strong strategy in the current metagame, though the upcoming release of Whispers in the Well may unlock brand new possibilities.

In terms of performance, Emerald-Sapphire disappointed. It made up 10.5% of the Day 1 field, but dropped steadily to 9.1% on Day 2, 3.1% in the Top 13, and 0% in the Top 8. The deck faltered largely due to a weak matchup against the increasingly popular Amethyst-Steel archetype.

Amber-Emerald continued the streak of success that it started in Bologna. It was merely 6.4% of the starting field in Milwaukee but improved to 8.7% on Day 2, 15.6% in the Top 32, and an impressive 37.5% in the Top 8. That steady increase shows that Lady – Miss Park Avenue and Tramp – Street-Smart Dog remain well positioned to crush all the Amethyst-Sapphire decks.

The Top 32 finishers from the Disney Lorcana Challenge in Milwaukee used a diversity of decks: 9 Amber-Steel, 8 Amethyst-Sapphire, 7 Amethyst-Steel, 5 Amber-Emerald, 1 Emerald-Steel, 1 Emerald-Sapphire, and 1 Sapphire-Steel. All Top 32 players earned an invitation to the 2026 North American Championship, set for September 2026, and their decklists were published on Instagram.

 

The Top 8 decklists

Frank Karsten - 1st - Amethyst/Steel

2 Belle - Accomplished Mystic

3 Calhoun - Marine Sergeant

4 Captain Hook - Forceful Duelist

3 Diablo - Obedient Raven

3 Doc - Bold Knight

4 Dumbo - Ninth Wonder of the Universe

4 Elsa - The Fifth Spirit

4 Genie - Satisfied Dragon

4 Genie - Wish Fulfilled

4 Giant Cobra - Ghostly Serpent

2 Happy - Lively Knight

1 Hypnotic Strength

1 Jafar - Aspiring Ruler

1 Madam Mim - Tiny Adversary

3 Mr. Smee - Steadfast Mate

1 Palace Guard - Spectral Sentry

2 Rajah - Ghostly Tiger

1 Scar - Finally King

4 Strength of a Raging Fire

2 The White Rose - Jewel of the Garden

1 Timothy Q. Mouse - Flight Instructor

2 Tinker Bell - Fast Flier

1 Tinker Bell - Giant Fairy

3 Yzma - Conniving Chemist

Junior Franco - 2nd - Amethyst/Sapphire

4 Basil - Practiced Detective

4 Belle - Accomplished Mystic

4 Dumbo - Ninth Wonder of the Universe

1 Elsa - Spirit of Winter

4 Elsa - The Fifth Spirit

2 Finders Keepers

4 Genie - Wish Fulfilled

4 Hades - Infernal Schemer

3 Hypnotic Strength

3 Iago - Giant Spectral Parrot

4 Into the Unknown

3 Madam Mim - Elephant

2 Magical Maneuvers

2 Monstro - Infamous Whale

1 One Jump Ahead

2 Rafiki - Mystical Fighter

4 Sail the Azurite Sea

2 Second Star to the Right

2 Tick-Tock - Ever-Present Pursuer

4 Tipo - Growing Son

1 Ursula - Voice Stealer

Daniel Arnold - 3rd - Amber/Emerald

4 Bobby Zimuruski - Spray Cheese Kid

2 Cursed Merfolk - Ursula's Handiwork

4 Daisy Duck - Donald's Date

4 Go Go Tomago - Darting Dynamo

3 Heffalumps and Woozles

4 Lady - Decisive Dog

4 Lady - Elegant Spaniel

4 Lady - Family Dog

4 Lady - Miss Park Avenue

4 Lilo - Escape Artist

2 Louis - Endearing Alligator

2 Merryweather - Good Fairy

4 Pluto - Friendly Pooch

4 Tramp - Enterprising Dog

4 Tramp - Street-Smart Dog

3 Under the Sea

4 Ursula - Deceiver

Jonathan Williams - 4th - Amethyst/Steel

2 Belle - Accomplished Mystic

3 Calhoun - Marine Sergeant

4 Captain Hook - Forceful Duelist

2 Diablo - Obedient Raven

4 Doc - Bold Knight

4 Dumbo - Ninth Wonder of the Universe

4 Elsa - The Fifth Spirit

2 Fire the Cannons!

4 Genie - Satisfied Dragon

4 Genie - Wish Fulfilled

4 Giant Cobra - Ghostly Serpent

2 Happy - Lively Knight

2 Jafar - Aspiring Ruler

2 Madam Mim - Tiny Adversary

3 Mr. Smee - Steadfast Mate

2 Palace Guard - Spectral Sentry

4 Strength of a Raging Fire

4 The White Rose - Jewel of the Garden

4 Yzma - Conniving Chemist

Diego Saz - 5th - Amber/Emerald

4 Bobby Zimuruski - Spray Cheese Kid

4 Clarabelle - Contented Wallflower

3 Cursed Merfolk - Ursula's Handiwork

4 Daisy Duck - Donald's Date

3 Emerald Chromicon

4 Go Go Tomago - Darting Dynamo

4 Heffalumps and Woozles

4 Lady - Decisive Dog

2 Lady - Elegant Spaniel

2 Lady - Family Dog

4 Lady - Miss Park Avenue

4 Lilo - Escape Artist

2 Merryweather - Good Fairy

2 Prince Phillip - Royal Explorer

4 Tramp - Enterprising Dog

4 Tramp - Street-Smart Dog

2 Under the Sea

4 Ursula - Deceiver

Dylan Brown - 6th - Amber/Emerald

4 Aurora - Holding Court

4 Bobby Zimuruski - Spray Cheese Kid

4 Daisy Duck - Donald's Date

2 Emerald Chromicon

4 Go Go Tomago - Darting Dynamo

4 Improvise

4 Lady - Decisive Dog

4 Lady - Elegant Spaniel

4 Lady - Miss Park Avenue

4 Lilo - Escape Artist

4 Merryweather - Good Fairy

4 Tiana - Restaurant Owner

4 Tramp - Enterprising Dog

4 Tramp - Street-Smart Dog

2 Under the Sea

4 Ursula - Deceiver

Chris Oyola - 7th - Amethyst/Steel

4 Belle - Accomplished Mystic

4 Calhoun - Marine Sergeant

4 Captain Hook - Forceful Duelist

3 Doc - Bold Knight

4 Dumbo - Ninth Wonder of the Universe

4 Elsa - The Fifth Spirit

3 Finders Keepers

2 Fire the Cannons!

4 Genie - Satisfied Dragon

4 Genie - Wish Fulfilled

4 Giant Cobra - Ghostly Serpent

3 Happy - Lively Knight

3 Jafar - Royal Vizier

1 Jasmine - Fearless Princess

3 Madam Mim - Tiny Adversary

2 Pluto - Guard Dog

3 Rafiki - Mystical Fighter

4 Strength of a Raging Fire

1 Yzma - Conniving Chemist

Aiden - 8th - Amber/Steel

4 Aurora - Holding Court

4 Daisy Duck - Donald's Date

4 Doc - Bold Knight

3 Fire the Cannons!

4 Lady - Family Dog

1 Lilo - Best Explorer Ever

2 Lilo - Escape Artist

4 Mulan - Disguised Soldier

4 Nala - Undaunted Lioness

3 Penny - Bolt's Person

3 Pete - Games Referee

4 Pluto - Guard Dog

4 Rhino - One-Sixteenth Wolf

4 Rhino - Power Hamster

4 Strength of a Raging Fire

4 The Troubadour - Musical Narrator

4 Tiana - Restaurant Owner