Disney Lorcana Should 'Steal' One Key Magic: The Gathering Format
As Disney Lorcana expands in 2025 with new cards and mechanics, introducing a Commander-style format from Magic: The Gathering could enhance its appeal and replayability.
Disney Lorcana is already shaping up for an exciting 2025, with its first major expansion of the year, Archazia's Island, set to launch in March. This expansion will introduce dual-Ink cards, which require players to use two specific colors in their decks, adding a new layer of strategy. Later in the year, Reign of Jafar is expected to continue the Year 2 storyline, bringing fresh challenges and mechanics. Despite these developments, Disney Lorcana still lacks one of Magic: The Gathering’s most beloved formats—Commander.
Having been around for over three decades, Magic: The Gathering boasts a vast library of cards and multiple gameplay formats. Currently, Disney Lorcana primarily focuses on 1v1 matches, often structured as best-of-two or best-of-three rounds in official tournaments. However, introducing a format akin to Magic: The Gathering’s Commander mode could provide an exciting new way to play.
A Commander-Style Format Would Be Perfect for Disney Lorcana
Commander has become one of Magic: The Gathering’s most popular formats, offering a unique deck-building experience and multiplayer gameplay. In this format, players construct a 100-card deck centered around a single Legendary Creature, known as the Commander, which determines the deck’s color identity. Unlike most Magic formats, which are 1v1, Commander is usually played with four participants, fostering a more interactive and dynamic experience.
Disney Lorcana already possesses several mechanics that could serve as the foundation for a similar format. The game includes numerous cards that impact multiple opponents, making multiplayer battles a natural evolution. Some of these existing cards include:
Daisy Duck – Donald's Date
You Have Forgotten Me
Diablo – Devoted Herald
Cursed Merfolk – Ursula's Handiwork
A Pirate's Life
Lady Tremaine – Imperious Queen
Ariel – Treasure Collector
Currently, there are 58 Disney Lorcana cards that use the phrase “each opponent,” indicating that multiplayer gameplay has already been considered. Expanding this concept with a dedicated Commander-like format could unlock even more strategic possibilities.
Why Disney Lorcana Should Introduce a Commander-Inspired Format
A Commander-style mode in Disney Lorcana would offer nearly limitless opportunities for innovation. Much like Magic: The Gathering’s pre-constructed Commander decks, Disney Lorcana could release specialized decks with designated “Commanders.” These could be unique characters that dictate the Ink colors of a deck or influence the types of characters it can include—such as Heroes, Villains, Dreamborn, or Floodborn.
Unlike Magic: The Gathering’s strict rule limiting decks to one copy of each card, Disney Lorcana’s version could take a different approach. It might allow multiple copies of non-Commander cards while restricting the deck’s Commanders to one copy each. Alternatively, it could lift the restriction on deck color limits, enabling players to blend their favorite cards without Ink-based constraints.
Beyond the strategic implications, this format would make Disney Lorcana more appealing to a broader audience. Multiplayer experiences encourage social gameplay, making the game more accessible to families and casual groups of friends. This shift could significantly enhance Disney Lorcana’s longevity and replayability, offering an engaging alternative to traditional 1v1 matches.
As Disney Lorcana continues to grow, borrowing a page from Magic: The Gathering’s playbook and implementing a Commander-style format could be a game-changing decision—one that keeps players engaged and excited for years to come.