Disney Lorcana vs MTG: Which TCG Should You Play Next?
Magic the Gathering and Disney Lorcana are two of the most popular trading card games today, each packed with engaging gameplay and fantastic lore.
But between MTG vs Lorcana, which one should you choose first? And is Lorcana like MTG in terms of gameplay, or is it an entirely different experience?
Whether you’re a seasoned TCG veteran or you just appreciate high-quality art, you’ll understand what each game has to offer. Lorcana and Magic are similar games, but there are nuances to consider.
We’ll show you the differences and similarities between Disney Lorcana vs MTG in this guide. You’ll learn how the timeless classic of Magic paved the way for the new upstart in Disney Lorcana, along with our recommendation on which to choose first.
After you choose a game, you’ll need to pick up some cards to create your first deck! The best place to find both Disney Lorcana cards and MTG cards for sale is at Danireon. We’re the #1 card store in Canada, trusted by collectors across North America thanks to our extensive inventory, speedy shipping, and premier customer support. Shop now, or learn more below!
What is Lorcana TCG?
You need to know how each side of the Disney Lorcana vs MTG debate works if you want to make the right choice.
Lorcana is one of the newest magical products from Disney. The game pairs Disney’s captivating storylines and settings with exciting and easy gameplay.
Disney Lorcana was released in 2023 by Ravensburger, a notable board game company. The premise is simple–you play as an Illumineer, collecting Lore in a race against your opponent.
For many collectors, the characters, songs, and art of Disney are what sets apart Lorcana vs Magic and other trading card games. Lorcana has several card types, including Characters (Ariel - Spectacular Singer (2/204)), Items (The Sorcerer’s Hat (Enchanted) (210/204)), and even Songs (A Whole New World (195/204)).
Lorcana is an incredible entry point if you haven’t ever played a TCG before. Ravensburger crafted the game with simplicity in mind, so it’s an easy entry floor with strategic depth.
What is Magic the Gathering (MTG) TCG?
The other half of the Disney Lorcana vs MTG debate is a legendary game. Wizards of the Coast released Magic the Gathering in 1993, creating a worldwide hit that spawned an entire industry.
You take on the role of a Planeswalker in MTG (not to be confused with the card type, e.g., Nissa, Who Shakes the World (BLC-084)), summoning creatures, casting spells, and juggling mana against one or more opponents.
Your goal is to reduce your opponent’s health pool from 20 (or 40 in Commander) to 0, while keeping your own alive. You can also win the game by removing all of the cards in your opponent’s deck (called Library in MTG), which is achievable with strategies like Jace, the Mind Sculptor (BLC-075).
The near bottomless card pool distinguishes MTG vs Lorcana and other newer TCGs. There are over 3 decades of releases, with some cards selling for over $1 million in mint condition. Both collectors and players have plenty of reasons to pick up the game.
Is Lorcana Like MTG?
As we compare Disney Lorcana vs MTG, you might notice the games share features. Is Lorcana like MTG, or are the similarities just an illusion?
The games share the same DNA. Each side of the Lorcana vs Magic debate involves battling against one or more opponents, trying to reach a specific goal number first.
You cast characters, spells, locations, and items to outwit your opponent and win in either game. But you’ll see there are more differences in MTG vs Lorcana than it seems at first as you look closer.
First, there’s the nature of your win conditions. You and your opponent each collect Lore points in Lorcana. While you are trying to stop your opponent, there’s more emphasis on your strategy.
On the other hand, you’re directly trying to eliminate your opponent’s life points and creatures in Magic. Cards like Blasphemous Edict (FDN-382), which sacrifices 13 creatures, or Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls (DSC-006), which costs your own Life to cast, are common in Magic but rarely seen in Lorcana.
Many players are also surprised at the differences in how combat works in each game. Character cards in Lorcana can go questing for Lore without directly engaging in combat, like Peter Pan - Lost Boy Leader (82/204). You need to clear blocking creatures or use keywords like Flying or Trample before you can deal damage in Magic.
The mana system in each game has unique nuances as well. Every card in Lorcana is a source of mana, which creates interesting choices.
Conversely, Magic players only get mana from Land cards and some other effects on Artifacts and Sorceries. You won’t be able to play your cards if you fail to stack your deck with the appropriate amount of mana.
Lorcana vs MTG: Key Differences to Consider Among These TCGs
While these two games aren’t the same, there are still enough similarities to blur the lines. But the truth is, you really can’t go wrong either way. There’s a world of excitement and competition awaiting in both MTG and Lorcana. That’s why you need to dig deeper to figure out whether Disney Lorcana vs MTG better aligns with your preferences.
Win Conditions and Game Flow
Your end goal in each game is to reach a specific number. You want to hit 20 lore before your opponent does in Lorcana, while you’re aiming to reduce your opponent’s life from 20 (or 40) to 0 in MTG.
This subtle difference in Disney Lorcana vs MTG is indicative of how their gameplay loops work. Lorcana is all about the race to 20 lore–many games occur with little confrontation. While cards like A Pirate’s Life (128/204) exist, it’s usually tricky to directly interact with your opponent’s Lore points.
Practically every card in Magic has a direct impact on your opponent’s life, whether it’s a massive creature with double strike that can end the game in 3 turns or a damage spell that goes right past your defensive line of monsters.
While both games also let you win the game by exhausting or milling the opponent’s deck (lowering their cards to 0), Magic has other win conditions specific to cards. For example, Twenty-Toed Toad (BLC-051) wins the game if it attacks with 20 counters on it or 20 cards in your hand.
Complexity and Learning Curve
As you can already see from the win conditions, there is a gap in complexity between Disney Lorcana vs MTG. Lorcana is the simpler game of the two. It streamlines many mechanics, such as mana curves and combat keywords, to make the game easier for new players.
Even Lorcana deck building rules are more straightforward–you are limited to 1 or 2 color types when creating your strategies. This enables both you and your opponents to understand better and know what to expect when they see initial cards.
Ask anyone about how to get into Magic the Gathering, and you’re likely to get several different answers. There is far more complexity in MTG vs Lorcana.
You need to know how many lands to place in your deck, what each keyword means, how Sagas and Planeswalkers work, how to play multi-color strategies, and so on.
Card Sizes, Artwork, and Thematic Appeal
Lorcana and Magic are both trading card games, so it’s essential to know how the playing cards themselves factor into the comparison.
So, what size are Magic the Gathering cards, and are Lorcana card sizes the same?
Magic the Gathering set the industry standard for trading cards, with dimensions of 2.5in x 3.25in x 3in. Most Lorcana cards follow this industry standard, though there are a few cards that break the rules, like Ursula - Ruler of Lorcana, a collector’s edition version of Ursula - Sea Witch Queen (208/204).
Each game has a theme, which can vary from set to set. Magic the Gathering is a dark fantasy setting, with intense monsters like Angels, Assassins, Zombies, and Eldritch Horrors.
Disney Lorcana’s theme is cutesy. Cards like 99 Puppies (24/204) are far more lighthearted than most MTG releases. That said, some MTG sets are less intense than others–the Bloomburrow set cards feature anthropomorphic animals.
As for their artwork, the two games are practically equal. Both games have incredible designs that collectors love.
Card Value and Collectibility
Magic the Gathering’s 30-year history has boosted the value of Mythic rare cards. Some cards have sold for millions of dollars at auction. Magic even has a Reserve List of cards that are rarely, if ever, reprinted, further crunching the supply.
Disney Lorcana is a newer game, so card values haven’t become astronomical yet. However, there are still plenty of cards priced far beyond their value in gameplay. Many Disney fans who are not otherwise interested in playing a TCG will collect cards featuring their favorite characters, which in turn grows the demand.
Make sure you learn about MTG and Lorcana rarity symbols before you start opening packs, as that Orange or Chromatic symbol is a sign you might be sitting on a gold mine.
Format Variety and Organized Play
Another key point of difference in Lorcana vs Magic is in their competitive scenes.
Lorcana is a newer game, so it doesn’t have a fully established tournament ecosystem. Disney Lorcana does have a relatively even playing field and just two core formats, Constructed and Limited, making the game easier to learn.
WOTC has thoroughly developed Magic the Gathering’s organized play. There are several official and unofficial formats to choose from, including Standard, Modern, Commander, Draft, Limited, Legacy, Pauper, and more. Each one has an appeal to different segments of the player base, where cards become more or less effective.
Cost Considerations
Both sides of the Lorcana vs Magic are accessible no matter your budget. Lorcana has a simple price point that balances collectability and gameplay. Collectors have a limited pool of cards to buy, so there aren’t many rare holdouts.
Magic’s massive card pool from over three decades also works in its favor. There are so many cards saturating the market that you can build a competitive deck for reasonably cheap. You can also choose a format like Pauper, which only uses Common cards to level the playing field.
So is Lorcana Better Than MTG, or is it the Other Way Around?
Alright, let’s help you finally choose between Disney Lorcana vs MTG.
Lorcana is preferred if:
- You are brand new to card games
- You love Disney and its lore
- You want a newer, less ‘solved’ competitive scene
- You don’t want to juggle mana curves or learn complex keywords
We recommend MTG if:
- Deep strategy appeals to you
- You love dark fantasy settings
- You want multiplayer (3+ players)
- You’re interested in long-term competitive play
Ultimately, both games are enjoyable. There’s an easy third option: you can choose to play both! Danireon can help you hit the ground running, regardless of which you want to start with.
Start Your Journey at Danireon, Whether You Want to Play Lorcana vs Magic the Gathering!
Both Lorcana and Magic can give you what you need in terms of exciting gameplay and limitless strategy. You really can’t go wrong either way.
The best way to experience each game is to buy some cards and try them out for yourself! You’ll find all of the products you need at Danireon. We sell pre-built MTG commander decks and Lorcana starter decks that let you pick up the game and play without worrying about deck construction or mana curves.
As you get further into each game, we have single cards, booster packs, and booster boxes to help you grow your collection. We offer them all at competitive prices, with an authenticity guarantee you won’t find at secondhand marketplaces like eBay or Amazon.
We pair this all with our premier shopping experience, including best-in-class customer support. Whether you need help with deck building or updates on our lightning-fast shipping, our team is here to help you. Take the next step today!
Wrapping Up Our Comparison of MTG vs Lorcana
Both MTG and Lorcana present a magical world inside of a card game where you battle against your opponent, cast spells, and manage a mana pool. But the differences in gameplay complexity, competitive scene, and theme are what truly set these two apart.
Collectors and players love both games. There’s nothing wrong with trying out each one to see how you feel about them!
Danireon is here to help you start your journey either way. We have single cards, pre-built decks, and sealed products to help you grow your collection. Talk to our team or visit our free Discord community to learn more about each game!
