Azurite Sea, Lorcana’s sixth release, sets sail in late November and it’s looking like another fine set for the game as it continues to steam through its second year. Of course we are getting another 200+ cards to play with and some new goodies, but the big news is that Big Hero 6 and Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers are the marquee additions to the wide-ranging Disney properties in the game. Last week we talked about the very decent Starter Deck options this time out (which are actually called “Single Player Decks” per Ravensburger), but what other treasures untold are headed our way?
The ever-popular Illumineer’s Trove (which I still call a “fat pack”, I can’t help it) returns and although some of the clamor over them has subsided, they remain a fun way to pick up eight boosters, some semi-useless accessories, and a decent little storage box. The Gift Set has a little change that makes it slightly more attractive to me than previous editions in that it comes with a small binder, similar to those released back in The First Chapter. You also get four boosters and an exclusive Stitch – Alien Buccaneer foil that likely won’t set TCGPlayer aflame in aftermarket value, but should be a fun card for Stitch maniacs. Card sleeves and boxes feature the beloved Pooh – Hunny Wizard art and one of Disney’s biggest assholes, Scar. The sought-after playmats, already sold out on most preorder sites, will display the ever-popular Elsa in her Fifth Spirit form and that great Donald Duck – Buccaneer illustration from Ursula’s Return.
Sadly, there is nothing like the Illumineer’s Quest box, which I find disappointing as I still feel that format has a lot of untapped potential, especially for those more interested in co-op or solitaire gaming. There is also no analogue to the beginner-focused Gateway set but I get a sense that may be a product more appropriately updated on a longer schedule than the usual set turnaround. It’s a pretty cut-and-tried, tried-and-tested release this time out without anything too disruptive or, quite frankly, compelling in terms of the SKUs on offer.
But of course what is exciting is all those new cards and here are a couple of choice picks from each ink to wet your boatswain’s whistle!
All card images Ravensburger
Lilo – Escape Artist feels like a response to all of those Lilo – Making A Wish cards that have died over the past year. With her ability to resurrect more or less indefinitely unless she’s removed from discard, you can just keep playing her over and over. She’s 1 ink more, but I think playing 2 ink for a version of this classic 2 lore quester (with an extra pip of Willpower and inkable) is well worth the cost. With accelerants and discounts, she becomes even cheaper and there’s not any “remove card from game” abilities to date so expect her to be a nuisance for those playing against Amber aggro in particular.
Judy Hopps – Resourceful Rabbit is pricey, but she offers strong support on a 2 lore quest and a 6 Willpower body. But “Need Some Help” is the carrot here, as she allows you to ready a chosen character at the end of turn. Since this is a mid to late game card, that ready action can protect a quester against Maui or or tough challengers. At 6 ink, she’s susceptible to the Be Prepared turn 7 reset, but I think there’s real value in using this card as a defensive option. She can even ready Lilo – Escape Artist after she comes back from the dead.
Yzma – Conniving Chemist adds to the range of card draw options for Amethyst in a big way. Feel the Power offers an Exert action whereby if you have less than 3 cards in hand, you draw up to 3. This is priced just right at 4 ink (inkable) and offers some versatility with 2 Lore and a baseline 3/3 format. This is a great option for decks that are currently still relying on Friends On The Other Side for mid-game draw power, and if you can keep Yzma going, she can keep you in cards for the rest of the game. She’s definitely not a 4-of pick, but I think 1 or 2 in an Amethyst deck that’s using a lot of low-cost aggro characters could work wonders.
Maleficent’s Staff I like because it is an absolutely outrageous hard counter versus bounce decks. Go on with your Madam Mim/Merlin Goat play- I’ll take a Lore every time you do it. This is a good example of a very specific tech card that really would work best in a sideboard situation so that you could deploy as needed, and in some cases this card may actually be completely useless if the trigger effect for Back, Fools never happens. Of course, you could also play your own cards that bounce things back to hand, such as…
Jasmine – Royal Commodore. The Shift discount isn’t great, but Ruler of the Seas could be a pretty brutal play against an opponent with a broad field questing on turn 5. When she drops into play, everything exerted on the opponent’s board goes back to hand potentially making a nice combo with Mal’s staff. This is yet another great 5 ink option in a color that is particularly rife with them, and this mass bounce could be something worthwhile- especially as a lead-in to a classic Emerald discard play like Sudden Chill or Hypnotize.
Owl Island – Seculded Entrance is one of the more interesting locations in the set. It features two great abilities: Team Work is a 1 ink discount for the first action you play if you have a character posted up here, A Lot To Learn gives you 3 Lore for playing a second action. This is another diabolical (so to speak) play in a discard deck. A couple of Sudden Chills to strip two cards away and then you get 3 Lore for your trouble. I’ll take that, hell yeah.
Vanellope Von Schweetz – Gutsy Go-Getter demonstrates how important Locations are to this set. I feel like Locations, as good as they’ve been, are really going to become ever more powerful with Azurite Sea. Her As Ready As I’ll Ever Be power finds her giving you a card and a Lore if she’s at a Location at the beginning of your turn. This is a terrific uncommon that Location-focused decks could greatly benefit from.
Maui – Half-Shark is great Legendary that packs a lot of firepower and value even at 6 ink. He hits hard with 7 strength, he’s Evasive, he gets an action card back from discard when he challenges, and then he gives you a Lore when you play an action card. It’s a veritable one-demigod combo. Ruby Maui and Hei-Hei deck may be one of my next casual builds.
Oswald – The Lucky Rabbit is a key pick for me because, well, it’s Oswald and that’s enough for me to call it a favorite. Favorable Chance ain’t half bad, allowing you to play a top decked item for free on turn 2. Imagine pulling a Lucky Dime, Half Hexwell Crown, or another 4+ cost item that might otherwise be somewhat too expensive to be viable in your build. It’s a fun card and I love the illustration so it’s definitely one of the Legendaries I’ll be looking for.
Baymax – Armored Companion could be big as he is basically Rapunzel – Gifted With Healing except you get Lore instead of cards. He’s big, burly, and quests for two but with a damaged character in the field that’s a 4 lore quest. I think this could be one of the money cards in the set if it fires in the meta. It’s also an uncommon healer in Sapphire.
Kakamora – Pirate Chief is likely a card that most folks wouldn’t touch, especially not the meta players. But I love it. It has a crazy ability that plays off the pirates keyword that is prevalent throughout this set- when you quest, you can discard a card to do a point of damage but it it’s a pirate, you can deal 3 damage. So Billy Bones and Scroop now have some additional value, or you can just sacrifice other Kakamoras to it. I already love pirate decks as it is, but this may make them even more fun.
Mr. Smee – Captain of the Jolly Roger makes me smile because I love the original Lorcana Mr. Smee – Bumbling Mate. That card is already a fairly common pick for Steel decks, but let’s face it- he’s gotta have some supervision or else he just dies. But with this Floodborn iteration, the Great Man is promoted all the way over Hook himself and has taken over the ship. His bumbling days have ended, and he has a potentially huge direct damage effect if you have a lot of pirates in play. Which, if you are playing a pirate deck, you should.
Next time: Location, location, location!
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