Disney Lorcana TCG’s Hyperia City Expansion: First Hands-On Impressions

Disney's Lorcana Trading Card Game (TCG) is set to release its latest expansion, Hyperia City, marking the fourteenth set in the series. The expansion, featuring Pixar's Coco, rolls out on October 23 alongside pre-release events starting October 16. In addition to pre-constructed decks for two-player play, new cards will be introduced from Big Hero 6 and The Sword and the Stone franchises.

A noteworthy addition to Hyperia City is the introduction of floating mana or ink drops, which can be utilized once per game to reduce costs on high-cost cards. This mechanic adds a new layer of strategy to the game, providing a one-time advantage to players.

Based on my hands-on experience with the new two-player starter sets, Technically Terrific and Madcap Whimsy, the Sword and the Stone deck appears to be the most consistent. The deck utilizes the amethyst color support, known for draw effects, allowing for a more steady and pressure-inducing gameplay. The Big Hero 6 deck, while featuring draw options, relies more on item-based plays, which may not hold up as well against the Sword and the Stone deck.

The new ink drops mechanic offers players the ability to gain additional mana or ink at a cost, making it easier to play higher-cost cards earlier in the game. This mechanic proved to be particularly useful during my matches with the Sword and the Stone deck, as it allowed for more efficient deck filtering and kept the pressure on throughout the game.

Among the new cards is Powerline Megastar, a character from Big Hero 6 with abilities based on the Singer keyword. This card offers a unique way to gain lore and play free songs, making it a valuable addition to any singer deck.