The Lorcana Challenge Set 5 in Seattle, WA will take place on October 25 – 26, so players are busy practicing preparation for one of the top competitive tournaments. In the Las Vegas and Birmingham Lorcana Challenges, we saw a shift in the meta, where the powerhouse decks struggled to beat underdog decks like Emerald Steel, proving that the Set 5 meta is not yet solved.
I’ll highlight the top competitive decks that have been performing well in recent tournaments and are expected to be popular picks for the upcoming Lorcana Challenge in Seattle.
Emerald Steel
Emerald Steel
2 Anna - Diplomatic Queen
4 Beast - Tragic Hero
4 Diablo - Devoted Herald
4 Diablo - Maleficent's Spy
2 Hidden Cove - Tranquil Haven
4 Hypnotize
4 Let the Storm Rage On
4 Morph - Space Goo
4 Pete - Games Referee
4 Prince John - Greediest of All
4 Strength of a Raging Fire
4 Sudden Chill
2 The Muses - Proclaimers of Heroes
2 Tinker Bell - Giant Fairy
4 Ursula - Deceiver
4 Ursula - Deceiver of All
4 We Don't Talk About BrunoEmerald Steel is still alive and kicking despite the Bucky errata. Players took a couple of weeks to find the best list that first Set 5 meta and have proven in Las Vegas that the deck is still as strong as before, winning it all with this list. With the recent success for Emerald Steel, you should expect more players to pick it up again and will likely be one of the top 3 most-played decks.
Emerald Steel is heavily focused on outvaluing opponents, using the discard package with cards like Ursula – Deceiver, Sudden Chill, and Hypnotize to bleed opponents out of resources, forcing them to rely on their top decks. Additionally, the Emerald Steel deck relies on Diablo – Devoted Herald, Prince John – Greediest of All, and Beast – Tragic Hero to draw more cards, increasing the resource gap between players.
Once you’ve run your opponent out of resources, it can be difficult for them to keep up with your developments, especially with the multiple damage cards you have in your arsenal. This list is also using The Muses – Proclaimers of Heroes as a control character, allowing you to return a 2 Power Character to the opponent’s hand, weakening their presence on the board.
Some lists include Lyle Tiberius Rourke – Cunning Mercenary, shutting opponent down from Questing with a specific Character and forcing it to Challenge, works great if you’re trying to slow down the opponent’s Lore generation or want to Banish a pesky Character.
Ruby Sapphire
Ruby Sapphire
2 Be Prepared
3 Brawl
1 Fang Crossbow
4 Fishbone Quill
4 Gramma Tala - Keeper of Ancient Stories
1 Great Stone Dragon
2 Hide Away
4 Hiram Flaversham - Toymaker
2 How Far I'll Go
3 Ice Block
2 Lucky Dime
2 Madame Medusa - The Boss
3 Maleficent - Monstrous Dragon
4 Maui - Hero to All
1 Mufasa - Ruler of Pride Rock
2 One Jump Ahead
4 Pawpsicle
2 Sisu - Daring Visitor
4 Sisu - Empowered Sibling
4 Tamatoa - So Shiny!
4 Tipo - Growing Son
3 Vision of the FutureRuby Sapphire is one of the best decks in Set 5 meta and has seen the highest representation in the previous Lorcana Challenge. So going into a Lorcana Challenge, you have to pick a deck that can hold its own against Ruby Sapphire or you’ll have a tough time making the top cut.
The ramp Ruby Sapphire deck uses One Jump Ahead, Tipo – Growing Son, and Fishbone Quill to gain more Ink, allowing you to make bigger plays on the upcoming turns. This deck truly shines in the late game, but because of its ramp tools, it can go low on resources. The list has the draw engine, Hiram Flaversham – Toymaker, to ensure it has plays to make in the late game.
Ruby offers control cards like Sisu – Empowered Sibling, Madame Medusa – The Boss, and Be Prepared to banish key Characters on the opponent’s side of the board, slowing down their Lore generation and prolonging the game until your win condition is online.
The Lucky Dime creates a finisher play, especially when comboed with Tamatoa – So Shiny! or Mufasa – Ruler of Pride Rock for high Lore generation.
Emerald Amethyst
4 Banzai - Gluttonous Predator
1 Belle - Accomplished Mystic
3 Clarabelle - Clumsy Guest
3 Clarabelle - Light on Her Hooves
1 Cogsworth - Illuminary Watchman
1 Cursed Merfolk - Ursula's Handiwork
4 Elsa - The Fifth Spirit
4 Friends On The Other Side
2 Kit Cloudkicker - Tough Guy
3 Lyle Tiberius Rourke - Cunning Mercenary
4 Madam Mim - Fox
4 Madam Mim - Snake
4 Merlin - Crab
4 Merlin - Goat
4 Merlin - Rabbit
2 Mother Gothel - Conceited Manipulator
2 Mother Gothel - Unwavering Schemer
2 Rafiki - Mystical Fighter
4 Ursula - Deceiver
2 Ursula - Sea Witch Queen
2 You're WelcomeEmerald Amethyst is another deck that has had success in the Lorcana Challenge, using the shift mechanic to play Ursula – Sea Witch Queen, Mother Gothel – Unwavering Schemer, and Clarabelle – Light on Her Hooves on earlier turns.
Madam Mim – Fox and Madam Mim – Snake can return Characters like Merlin – Goat and Merlin – Rabbit for additional value. You’re not tied to those two Characters, but can also return Ursula – Deceiver for another discard activation. Kit Cloudkicker – Tough Guy can return one of the opponent’s Characters, slowing down their Lore generation.
Elsa – The Fifth Spirit can help control the board in the mid-game, exerting one of the opponent’s Characters and with the Rush keyword, you can banish it, removing one of the opponent’s key Characters.
Ruby Amethyst
2 Be King Undisputed
4 Be Prepared
1 Brawl
4 Chernabog's Followers - Creatures of Evil
4 Elsa - The Fifth Spirit
4 Flynn Rider - Frenemy
4 Friends On The Other Side
2 Kuzco - Wanted Llama
1 Lady Tremaine - Imperious Queen
4 Madam Mim - Fox
4 Madam Mim - Snake
3 Madame Medusa - The Boss
4 Magic Broom - Illuminary Keeper
2 Maui - Hero to All
4 Merlin - Crab
4 Merlin - Goat
4 Merlin - Rabbit
2 Sisu - Emboldened Warrior
4 The Queen's Castle - Mirror ChamberRuby Amethyst is one of the top popular decks in the Lorcana Challenges and has proven it’s a powerful bring for these tournaments. It has adopted a more aggressive approach with Flynn Rider – Frenemy to beat the popular Ruby Sapphire.
It also uses the bounce mechanic with Madam Mim – Fox and Madam Mim – Snake to return Characters like Merlin – Goat and Merlin – Rabbit for additional value.
Lady Tremaine – Imperious Queen, Madame Medusa – The Boss, Elsa – The Fifth Spirit, and Be Prepared are control tools to keep the opponent’s board in check and slowly generate Lore with The Queen’s Castle – Mirror Chamber.
Amber Steel
4 A Whole New World
3 And Then Along Came Zeus
4 Ariel - Spectacular Singer
4 Cinderella - Ballroom Sensation
2 Cinderella - Stouthearted
2 Daisy Duck - Donald's Date
2 Grab Your Sword
2 Lawrence - Jealous Manservant
4 Let the Storm Rage On
4 Mr. Smee - Bumbling Mate
3 Pete - Games Referee
3 Piglet - Pooh Pirate Captain
3 Prince Naveen - Ukulele Player
4 Rapunzel - Gifted with Healing
4 Robin Hood - Beloved Outlaw
4 Robin Hood - Champion of Sherwood
4 Strength of a Raging Fire
2 The Bare Necessities
2 Ursula - VanessaAlthough Amber Steel was the second most popular deck in the Las Vegas and Birmingham Lorcana Challenges, the deck did not perform as expected and none of the lists made it into the top 8. However, it remains a popular deck in Set 5 meta and players will likely still bring it to Seattle.
Singing is a key part of this deck’s game plan, using Ursula – Vanessa and Ariel – Spectacular Singer to Sing high-cost Songs without having to use up your Ink. You can focus on building up your board while still playing your Songs for either board control or resource value. A Whole New World is this deck’s strongest play, refilling your hand with cards and ruining your opponent’s hand at the same time.
You rely on Robin Hood – Champion of Sherwood and Cinderella – Stouthearted to pick off exerted Characters and maintain board control.
Sapphire Steel
4 A Whole New World
3 Arges - The Cyclops
3 Ariel - Treasure Collector
1 Ba-Boom!
2 Chien-Po - Imperial Soldier
4 Cogsworth - Grandfather Clock
1 Fire The Cannons!
4 Fishbone Quill
3 Fortisphere
3 Grab Your Sword
4 Hiram Flaversham - Toymaker
3 Let It Go
2 Lucky Dime
1 Merlin's Cottage - The Wizard's Home
3 Mickey Mouse - Detective
4 Mr. Smee - Bumbling Mate
4 Pawpsicle
3 Pete - Games Referee
3 Tamatoa - So Shiny!
4 Tinker Bell - Giant Fairy
1 Tipo - Growing Son
1 Vision of the FutureSapphire Steel isn’t as popular as the other decks but there will be players that bring this deck, especially since it made the top 8 in Las Vegas.
This is a ramp deck that heavily relies on A Whole New World to replenish its hand after it uses Fishbone Quill to ramp up. The list is heavy on the board control cards, using Ba-Boom!, Fire The Cannons!, Grab Your Sword, and Let It Go to make sure opponents don’t take over the game.
Similar to the Ruby Sapphire deck, Sapphire Steel uses Lucky Dime as a Lore generation win con, comboing it with cards like Tamatoa – So Shiny! or Ariel – Treasure Collector.
Amber Emerald
1 Anna - Diplomatic Queen
4 Ariel - Spectacular Singer
1 Be Our Guest
2 Cri-Kee - Lucky Cricket
4 Diablo - Devoted Herald
4 Diablo - Maleficent's Spy
1 Hidden Cove - Tranquil Haven
4 Kida - Protector of Atlantis
2 Mother Gothel - Conceited Manipulator
3 Painting the Roses Red
4 Prince John - Greediest of All
1 Prince Naveen - Ukulele Player
2 Sir Hiss - Aggravating Asp
4 Sudden Chill
4 The Bare Necessities
3 The Muses - Proclaimers of Heroes
3 Under the Sea
4 Ursula - Deceiver
4 We Don't Talk About Bruno
3 You Have Forgotten Me
2 You're WelcomeAlthough Amber Emerald isn’t a popular option among players, it remains a strong consideration to bring and is a deck to watch out for. Amber Emerald is a different version of a discard deck, focusing way more on board control than the Emerald Steel version. This deck uses Sudden Chill, The Bare Necessities, and Ursula – Deceiver to bleed opponents out of resources.
The strategy also involves banishing opponents’ Characters with cards like The Muses – Proclaimers of Heroes and Under the Sea slows their Lore generation and weakens their board presence. Combined with the discard mechanic, it can be difficult for them to make a comeback on the board and keep up with the Amber Emerald player.
Amber Amethyst
4 Amethyst Chromicon
4 Baloo - von Bruinwald XIII
4 Befuddle
3 Chernabog's Followers - Creatures of Evil
4 Daisy Duck - Donald's Date
4 Donald Duck - Musketeer Soldier
4 Gathering Knowledge and Wisdom
4 Lilo - Making a Wish
3 Madam Mim - Elephant
3 Madam Mim - Fox
3 Magic Broom - Illuminary Keeper
4 Maleficent - Biding Her Time
1 Merlin - Crab
4 Merlin - Goat
2 Pascal - Rapunzel's Companion
4 Piglet - Pooh Pirate Captain
3 Rapunzel - Gifted with Healing
2 The Library - A Gift for BelleThere will always be players that bring Amber Amethyst aggro deck to the Lorcana challenge, it’s a cheap deck that plays a fast-paced game plan, so it can be perfect for new players.
When playing Amber Amethyst, you’re not concerned about what your opponent’s strategy is, you’ll mainly focus on gaining as much Quest as possible and close out the game quickly. This forces the opposing player to change up their strategy, trying their best to control your side of the board and slow you down from winning the game.
Cards like Lilo – Making a Wish, Daisy Duck – Donald’s Date, and Maleficent – Biding Her Time cost only 1 Ink and are Questing for 2 Lore. Obviously, they have low stats, but that’s irrelevant to us, we’re prioritizing Lore generation over board presence. Madam Mim – Fox can be a nice play to return one of your low-cost exerted Characters and replay them in ready state.