Welcome to Level 5. You know the tournament rules, how a best-of-three runs, and how to choose a deck for the room. You can also play Lorcana for years without entering anything bigger than a weekly play night, and plenty of people do. But it helps to know what the rest of the ladder looks like, so you can decide how far to climb. This lesson covers the formats, the three levels of events, and the big stages at the top.
Formats: which cards are allowed
- Core Constructed is the main competitive format. You bring a deck of at least 60 cards and up to two inks, using only cards from sets in the current rotation. So far, each rotation has removed four older sets at once, and the Tournament Rules announce each one in advance. Since Attack of the Vine!, Core allows cards from Fabled onward, and Hyperia City joined the day its prerelease began.
- Infinity Constructed allows cards from every set ever printed, with its own small banned list. It is where older favorites still play.
- Limited formats use sealed product the organizer provides: Sealed, Draft, Pack Rush, and Preconstructed. The prerelease lesson covers Sealed and Pack Rush.
New sets are legal in sanctioned constructed events from the day of their prerelease in hobby stores.
The three levels
The official tournament rules sort every event into one of three levels.
Entry level. Relaxed rules, few prizes, fun and learning first. Prereleases are the example the rules give, and a relaxed weekly play night fits the same description. The organizer’s job includes making newer players welcome.
Competitive. More serious play, stricter rules, and real prizes. Players are expected to know the tournament rules. Set Championships are the example the rules give.
Premier Play. The top level, where significant prizes are on the line and players are expected to know the full rules and the play correction guidelines. The Disney Lorcana Challenge events and the World Championship live here.
Set Championships: the first step up
Each set gets a season of Set Championships at local stores. For Hyperia City, stores can hold them on the weekends of January 2 to 3, January 9 to 10, January 16 to 17, and January 23 to 24, 2027. The format is Core Constructed at the Competitive level, with best-of-three Swiss rounds of 60 minutes and a possible top cut. An event needs at least eight players, and stores run it through the Ravensburger Play Hub. Every participant gets a promo card while supplies last, the top eight get a foil version, and the champion takes home a playmat.
The Disney Lorcana Challenge page adds that playing Set Championships at stores in North America and Europe gives you a chance to enter a local qualifier, and winning a local qualifier earns a seat at an upcoming Championship event.
The Disney Lorcana Challenge and Worlds
The Disney Lorcana Challenge is a series of large competitive weekends. The current season lists upcoming North American stops in Tampa (December 18 to 20, 2026), Milwaukee (February 19 to 21, 2027), Las Vegas (April 9 to 11, 2027), Portland (June 18 to 20, 2027), and Toronto (July 16 to 18, 2027), plus stops in Europe and Asia.
The World Championship runs December 4 to 6, 2026. Stores can celebrate it with an Infinity event during that time.
Community qualifiers
Ravensburger also supports community-run Challenge Championship Qualifiers, or CCQs. Under the official term sheet, each one has a player cap of at least 128, plays Core or Infinity Constructed, runs on the Ravensburger Play Hub, and awards its winner a Championship invite. All CCQs for the 2026 to 2027 season must finish by July 24, 2027. The Challenge page lists upcoming CCQs in North America and Europe.
What changes at a bigger event
Level 4 covered this in detail: the tournament rules, best-of-three matches, and choosing a deck. In short: matches are best of three with the loser choosing play or draw, rounds run on a clock, plays cannot simply be undone, decks are registered, and notes are limited to lore totals.
Getting ready for your first Set Championship
- Pick one deck and stick with it. Knowing your deck beats having a slightly better one.
- Practice best-of-three. Play full, timed matches at home or at weekly play.
- Read the tournament rules once. The official resources page has them, with the Comprehensive Rules and the play correction guidelines.
- Check your deck is legal. Core sets only, two inks, 4 copies at most, nothing banned.
- Go for the games, not the prize. A good Set Championship is a long day of strong opponents who will teach you something every round.
Where to play next
The Ravensburger Play Hub lists weekly play, prereleases, and Set Championships near you. In Indianapolis, our guides to game nights and board game cafes show where Lorcana is played each week. For first word on local learn-to-play nights as The Ludarium grows, join the Indianapolis list.
How far to climb
Every rung is a fine place to stop. A weekly play night with friends is the heart of the game, and a Set Championship is a great day out even if you never go further. If you do want to climb, the last lesson gives you a plan to practice for your next event.
Next lesson
A Practice Plan for Competitive Disney Lorcana
Last, a practice plan: six weeks of matches, timed rounds, mulligan and lore-clock drills, and honest reviews, aimed at your next Set Championship or qualifier.
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Unofficial. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Ravensburger or Disney. Disney Lorcana is published by Ravensburger, an official licensee of Disney. Disney characters and names are trademarks of Disney.