Lorcana · Sealed · Prerelease
Build your prerelease deck
Just opened your boosters? Here is a simple way to sort your cards, build a consistent deck and play your early turns without getting stuck.
Build your deck
1Sort, then choose
As you open your packs, make a character pile for each ink cost. Put actions, items and locations into three separate piles from the start. Once you know which characters you have, look there for tools that really help your deck.
Imagine opening a few Hyperia City packs: each card goes straight into its cost or type pile.
Characters, by ink cost
Set aside from the start
2Balance your costs
Use this distribution as a starting point so you can play cards in the early turns. Then adjust it to the strongest cards you opened.
These ranges are guidelines, not quotas to satisfy all at once. Pick your best cards, then fill out the deck to 40.
3Keep enough inkable cards
Aim for around five uninkable cards at most, spread across different costs. Too many expensive cards get stranded in hand and force you to ink good cards. At the same cost, consider playing the uninkable card and saving the other for ink, unless its effect is decisive.
4Find your useful cards
Strong characters
Solid stats often matter more than a combo that is hard to assemble.
Deal with opposing characters
Dealing damage, banishing, exerting or healing can help you gain control of the board.
Evasive, Rush, Bodyguard
These abilities can help you gain lore, act immediately or protect a character.
Draw cards
A card that replenishes your hand becomes valuable when resources run low.
Keep it simple
Prioritize characters. Add only a few actions or songs that truly help: drawing cards, dealing damage or answering opposing characters. A one-use card that neither replaces itself nor changes the game can empty your hand quickly. Avoid item or location combos that are hard to assemble.
5Gameplay tips
Before the game
Draw seven cards. Look for plays on turns one, two and three. Replace cards that are too expensive or redundant. If your first turns are covered, you can keep a strong card for turn four or five.
During the game
Add ink regularly, play characters and choose when to quest or challenge your opponent's characters. The first player to reach 20 lore wins.
When should you ink?
Ink each turn until you can play the best card you are holding. Prefer a duplicate at the same cost or a card that is less useful in this game. Every card you ink is one fewer card to play. At five ink, if nothing in your hand costs more, you need not ink automatically. Start again if you draw a strong six-cost card, for example.