The Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game is set to release its thirteenth booster set, "Attack of the Vine!," with pre-release events beginning July 17th and a wide release on July 24th. This new set delves deeper into the Pixar library, introducing characters from "Monsters, Inc.," "Turning Red," and "Up," while also reintroducing dual-color cards in a significant way. Rather than focusing on new keywords, "Attack of the Vine!" aims to bolster existing classifications and diversify character abilities.
New Team-Up Mechanics and Classification Support
A key innovation in this set is the introduction of the "Team" classification, which allows for the combination of two separate characters into a powerful duo. Examples include Sulley & Boo and the Incredibles siblings Dash & Violet Parr. These "Combo Shift" abilities enable cards to be played on either of the individual characters or both simultaneously. The strength of these team cards is directly tied to the number of characters under their Combo Shift, influencing effects such as drawing cards when questing or challenging, as seen with Dash & Violet. The strategy involves balancing the value of a powerful combined card against a wider board presence. The dual-ink nature of many of these new team-ups adds another layer of deck-building complexity, potentially limiting their inclusion to specific deck archetypes.
The "Hunny" classification also receives substantial support. While Winnie the Pooh characters have appeared before, "Attack of the Vine!" introduces cards like Christopher Robin Hunny Sage and the Magical Hunny Staff that build around this classification. Christopher Robin's ability notably allows players to circumvent the typical two-ink color limit per deck, enabling the inclusion of characters like Tigger Hunny Barbarian or Gopher Hunny Cook alongside dual-ink Amethyst/Sapphire cards. The Magical Hunny Staff offers the flexibility to assign the Hunny classification to any character, allowing players to integrate Hunny-themed strategies with staple cards from other colors.
Despite the set's theme revolving around "The Vine" and the new "Vineling" classification, the "Floodborn" classification receives a significant boost. Cards like Vineling Scar and Vineling Mrs. Incredible offer new tactical options. Vineling Scar can grant Floodborn characters extra lore when challenging, while also providing a card draw when a Floodborn character is banished on the opponent's turn, presenting a risk-reward calculation for opponents. Vineling Mrs. Incredible can reduce shift costs based on the number of Floodborn characters that quested that turn, potentially offering discounts for high-cost Floodborn cards like Elsa, Spirit of Winter, or the new team-up Peter Pan & Tinkerbell.
Meta Shifts and Deck Building Implications
The release of "Attack of the Vine!" coincides with a new core constructed rotation, poised to significantly alter the established meta. Top-performing decks from recent tournaments are expected to be impacted, with the new dual-ink team cards potentially making older strategies obsolete. The set also offers further support for classifications like "Toys" and "Supers" through cards such as Woody & Buzz Lighteryear Best Buddies and Darkwing Duck & Launchpad St. Canard's Finest. Item decks, which have recently performed well in Ruby/Sapphire combinations, might see a shift towards Sapphire/Steel with the rotation. The Horned King Merciless Master introduces the ability to play characters directly from the discard pile, offering a unique advantage akin to increasing hand size and enabling the reuse of characters with abilities like Bodyguard.
"Attack of the Vine!" presents a substantial update for both competitive players and collectors. The interplay between dual-color team-ups and the renewed support for classifications like Hunny and Floodborn will likely lead to a period of extensive deck experimentation. The set's inclusion of popular Pixar characters and visually appealing full art cards further enhances its appeal to the broader Disney fanbase. As players explore new deck brews, the competitive landscape is expected to evolve significantly in the coming months.