The Reign of Jafar in Disney Lorcana is fast upon us, but the biggest news remains that set rotation is coming and with it the first four sets will fade into memory and no longer be legal for organized or competitive play outside of a legacy-like “Infinity” format. So the time has come for you to burn all your cards from The First Chapter, Rise of the Floodborn, Into the Inklands, and Ursula’s Return. Wait- hold on, not exactly. Select cards will be reprinted in the upcoming tenth set, Fabled, and you can still use the old printings of cards that are matriculated up into the current cycle. As Mickey would say, “well hot dog”.
But which cards should you hold on to and which should throw into the fires of irrelevance? Which cards are going to make the cut and which are being disavowed by the game’s creators, developers, and players? I think we can safely assume that Plasma Blaster, The Wardrobe, He’s Got a Sword, and White Rabbit’s Pocket Watch aren’t going to make it. And we’ve already seen a couple of looming reprints- including some well-chosen ones, which suggests that Fabled will almost be a curated “reboot” that forms the basis for the game’s next stage of evolution.
Fabled has been talked about as being a “very large” set, with over half the cards being reprints so it almost seems like a compendium or one of those greatest hits collection with a couple of new tracks on it. Whether “very large” means more than the 204-ish cards that are usual remains to be seen, but I’m very excited to see what shakes down. I’ve got my own ideas of what cards need to get Fabled, as it were. I went through several passes and what I’ve arrived at is that this is such a Big Deal, the best way to do it is by set so let’s kick off this Mikey Mouse Club series with The First Chapter!
Lilo – Wishing on a Star
This is such a simple but effective card – a quality rare that doesn’t seem like much, but it can be an absolute monster in aggro decks and it is a key card for such decks with an Amber component. I have a special fondness for this card because it is the bludgeon by which my daughter beat me time after time in the game’s early days. With the new live action Lilo & Stitch film coming up, there really can’t be too much of this wholesome Hawaiian duo and this is a great one to stay in the game.
Rapunzel- Gifted with Healing
This is such an excellent, versatile card that really leans into Amber’s ink identity with how it interacts with healing effects. But more importantly, it brings card draw (really more of an Amethyst flavor) to Amber and I think that’s why in the early days we saw this card very widely played and really quite valuable. It’s definitely one I’d like to see remain in circulation as it’s such a well-designed, well-considered card that many regard as a staple.
Friends on the Other Side
A stone cold classic and not just because it’s one of my favorite Disney songs by one of my favorite Disney villains. This is another foundational, staple card that is useful (and used) in virtually any Amethyst decks. Other cards have come along that have dulled its impact, but early in the game this was absolutely essential to maintain card draw. It’s funny, because Amethyst identity for many has become “bounce” but that’s really just part of what this ink does. There’s really quite a lot of scry and draw, and I think it’s important to bring those things forward into the game’s next cycle and to do so with a classic card is something I can get behind.
Maui – Hero to All
The bomb. The cleaner. The late card -game wrecking ball. And still a very viable, very useful removal tool that also leaves a solid body on the table. Who knows how the meta will evolve with the sets to come, but I can tell you that there won’t likely be a time you wouldn’t want this turn 5 upsetter in your hand. It definitely fits into the core Ruby idea of beefy characters that do things, and this will remain a solid pick.
Belle – Strange but Special
I’m still reeling from spending almost $50 a piece for these Legendaries back when The First Chapter was rumored by many to not actually exist. It’s always been an interesting but somewhat difficult card to play, but with recent sets ramping has become more fully-formed as a deck strategy. I’d like to have another go at building a super fast ramp deck that relies on Belle S&S to bring the game to quick conclusion.
Fishbone Quill
Speaking of ramp, Fishbone Quill remains one of the best ramping cards in the game. It has one of the best qualities of ramp cards in that it is a way to put uninkable cards into the inkwell, albeit you don’t get to pick what goes in. Unless, of course, you use that Amethyst scry or another effect to fix it how you like it. Item decks have seen a big boost lately (and a big nerf with the recent bans), and this is a great card to move forward into the future for sure.
Captain Hook, Forceful Duelist
This reprint has already been announced and shown with new artwork, and it is the very first card that came to my mind when the reprints were announced. Sure, they could easily cook up a new 1-drop with the same statline but why, when this card was absolutely foundational to pretty much every Steel deck worth its steel from day one. This was also the first card where I was like “OK, that is a great card”. It’s a solid pick for sure, and since I’m kind of tired of seeing the original illustration, I welcome a new look for sure.
Sudden Chill
Discard is certainly spoilt for choice right now, but who knows how that will shake down when the new cycle kicks off. Sudden Chill would be probably my top pick for a discard card to make its way into Fabled. It’s, again, a simple staple that has a lot of built-in value. It’s only two ink to play, but it can be sung on turn 2 by a 1-drop character. It doesn’t read like a whole lot, affecting a single opponent-chosen discard, but dropping a card turn 2 is always a disadvantage. I really like the art on this card so I hope if it does come to pass, they do it justice!
Kuzco – Temperamental Emperor
One of the earliest 5-drop terrors, this was such a challenging card to play against in the early days. It’s a still a solid card; perhaps its shine has worn off thanks to their being lots of other possibly more desirable cards in its cost band. But it’s a lot of card, with Ward and the deadly No Touchy effect. Plus a three lore quester with a decent Willpower. It’s a good board threat for Emerald with timeless appeal.
Grab Your Sword
“Cards that everybody used to play a lot but don’t play so much anymore” is clearly a theme here, and this is another one. This was such a pivotal card in many games that I’ve played, and that it’s a shotgun blast in song form has always been of value for clearing out accumulated aggro-vators or nuisance 1 or 2 Willpower effect-bearing characters that the opponent never wants to exert. It’s another one as well where I hope they manage to outdo the original illustration.
So there are my picks for The First Chapter. It’ll be interesting to see if the development team sees it my way or if they do something else with the reprints. In the coming weeks we’ll have a look at the other sunsetting sets to see what bubbles to the top. And after that, I’ll let you know which cards I think need to die horrible, painful deaths!
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