EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ROTATION AS A NEW PLAYER

It’s that time of year . . . Some of your favorite cards are about to be unplayable in Core Constructed play. Let’s talk about what rotation means for the Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game and all those decks you love to play.

 

What is rotation and why does it happen?

In lots of physical trading card games, rotation is seen as a way to keep competitive play healthy and fresh for players. For most games, it’s a yearly process; for some, it happens every time a new set is released.

One way to think of this is like an update for apps and video games. In an online game, you can just update content to automatically change the text of cards or completely eliminate them from the game. Rotation is like the physical equivalent of this for trading card games, in that you have to manually remove unplayable cards from your decks before playing competitively.

There’s also an impact on collectors when rotation happens. Since many competitive players no longer need or want every card that has rotated out, it can sometimes be easier for collectors to find and trade for cards from older sets to complete their collection.

I am a collector who dreams of owning one of every card from every set (except Enchanted and Iconic cards). I’ve had an easier time finding single cards and/or booster packs once a set has rotated. It’s a great idea to keep an eye on your local game store’s stock of singles and older packs if you’re looking to complete your own collection post-rotation.

 

What’s rotating this time?

Once per year, Disney Lorcana TCG rotates the four oldest sets and those cards are no longer playable in Core Constructed tournaments.

From Attack of the Vine! on, whenever you play in a Core Constructed format, you will only be able to use cards from Fabled and onward. There are a handful of exceptions, however.

 

OK, well I have the Strike a Good Match song card from Into the Inklands and it has the same name as a card from Winterspell, but it looks totally different. How do I know which one is legal?

 

Great news! Both versions are legal to play in all formats. Some cards have been reprinted with new illustrations, but they are treated as fundamentally the same card when it comes to playability.

However, if you have a card from any set released up to and including Reign of Jafar, and if that card was reprinted in Fabled or later, you may still play that card in Core Constructed play. Here are some more examples of reprinted cards still finding their way into competitive decks as year two sets rotate out:

You will need to make sure the full name of cards (especially characters and which version they are) matches. Despite having the same color and ink cost, Belle – Apprentice Inventor is not the same as Belle – Inventive Engineer. They are not interchangeable in Core Constructed decks, and only one is playable post-rotation.

How do I (re)build a favorite deck if important cards are rotating?

Sometimes key cards in a competitive deck may be reprinted, or sometimes they will have similar cards produced that mirror their Strength, Willpower, and abilities.

For example, Basil – Practiced Detective will rotate out once Attack of The Vine! releases. But in Wilds Unknown, a new card was introduced that can be added to decks and provide many of the same stat lines, including Fauna – Good-Natured Fairy.

There are, however, some cards that won’t be reprinted and will be missed. Replacing an important card like Tipo – Growing Son, can’t be easily replicated. Players will have to look at different types of cards, like the One Jump Ahead song card, in place of that glimmer.

 

Wait, can I ever play with any rotated cards again?

There are many ways to play with cards that have rotated out, including an official format. In Infinity Constructed tournaments, you can build a competitive deck with (almost*) any card ever printed. (*There does exist an official banned list of cards you cannot play in this format, just like Core has banned cards.)

And while there are just two officially supported competitive constructed formats to play at Disney Lorcana events, there are soooo many fan-created (and very fun!) ways to play with all your cards. Many local game stores host movie nights, classification theme nights (Princes and Princesses, Inventors, Toys, etc.), and more.

If you have space, I’d suggest you hold on to your cards. Just find new ways to use them (and then please send me any new game formats to build because I’d love to learn more).