LORCANA
A quick-reference guide to the terms that bring the game—and its magic—to life.
Card Types
Character
Playable glimmers* that can go on quests, enter challenges, and activate abilities.
Song
A special kind of Action that can be played without paying ink if you exert a character of equal or higher cost.
Item
Cards that stay in play after being played and provide ongoing effects.
Location
Cards that stay on the board* and generate lore* each turn. Some interact with other cards. Introduced in Into the Inklands.
Action
Single-use cards with immediate effects. Discarded after resolution.
Game Phases
Beginning Phase
Ready cards, apply any effects, and draw (except on first player’s first turn).
Main Phase
Play cards, exert for questing or challenges, activate effects, sing songs, and build your board.
Core Mechanics & Stats
Ink
The main resource. Cards with an inkwell icon can be placed face-down in your inkwell and used to pay card costs.
Strength
How much damage a character deals during a challenge.
Exert
Turning a card sideways to show it's used.
Cost
Amount of ink needed to play a card.
Willpower
How much damage a character or location can withstand before being banished.
Ready
Turning it upright to use again.
Inkwell
Your resource zone where ink cards are stored face-down.
Lore
How much lore a card gains you when questing or passively each turn (e.g. locations).
Gameplay Actions
Questing
Exert a character to gain lore equal to their lore value. Can't quest the turn they're played.
Damage Counters
Tokens used to track damage on characters and locations.
Challenging
Exert a character to engage an opponent’s exerted character. Both deal damage to each other.
Moving Damage
Some effects allow damage to be transferred between cards. Not the same as dealing damage.
Banish
A card is banished (discarded) when it takes damage equal to or more than its willpower.
Card Abilities & Keywords
Ward
This character can’t be chosen by your opponents’ actions or abilities. A form of protection.
Evasive
Can only be challenged by other characters with Evasive. Think of it as “flying” in other TCGs.
Bodyguard
Opponents must choose this character when challenging, if able. Works like a "taunt" mechanic.
Rush
This character can challenge the same turn it's played. Normally, characters must wait a turn before challenging.
Challenger +X
This character gets +X Strength when challenging another character (not when being challenged).
Shift
You can play this version of a character on top of a matching character by paying its Shift cost instead of full cost.
Reckless
This character must challenge each turn if able. You can't just leave it idle.
Support
When this character quests, you can add its Strength to another character's Strength that turn.
Resist +X
When this character is dealt damage, reduce it by X. Like a built-in shield.
Other Terms*
Glimmer
The name for any card representing a character, item, action, song, or location in the world of Lorcana.
Board/Field
Where cards are played and interact.
Deck
Your 60-card pile built from one or two Ink types.
Lore
The win condition. Gain 20 lore to win the game.
Hand
Cards you currently hold and can play on your turn.
Exert Cost
A cost paid by exerting a character (e.g., to play a song instead of paying ink).
Ink Types
Ruby
-
aggressive
-
daring
-
fast-paced
Amber
-
supportive
-
healing
-
protective
Amethyst
-
magic-heavy
-
high ability with power effects
Emerald
-
tricky
-
evasive
-
fast-paced
Steel
-
tought
-
defensive
-
combat-strong
Sapphire
-
strategic
-
resourceful
-
tool-focused
Rarity Icons
Common
Uncommon
Rare
Super Rare
Legendary
Enchanted
Promo
Quick Reference, Anytime You Need It
New to Lorcana or just need a quick refresher? Bookmark this page — it’s your fast-track reference when you need it most.
Want the full breakdown on how to actually play? Head to our Patch Notes IRL blog for a full tutorial, tips, and gameplay walkthroughs.
We’ll keep this Term Dex updated as the game evolves — because the ink never stops flowing.