Uninkable
More actions
| Uninkable | |
|---|---|
| File:Uninkable icon.png | |
| The solid droplet icon indicates an Uninkable card. | |
| Type | Card property |
| Introduced | The First Chapter (Set 1) |
| Opposite | Inkable |
| Visual indicator | Solid (filled) droplet icon |
| Rules significance | Card cannot be placed face down into the Inkwell. |
Uninkable is a property of cards in Disney Lorcana that prevents them from being used as an ink resource. Every card in the game is either Inkable or Uninkable. The Uninkable status is indicated by a solid (filled) droplet icon in the upper left corner of the card, next to the Ink cost. Uninkable cards must either be played (if you have enough available ink) or discarded – they can never be placed into your Inkwell.
Rules
During a player’s main phase, they may place one Inkable card from their hand face down into their Inkwell. Uninkable cards do not have this option.[1]
If an Uninkable card is in your hand and you cannot or choose not to play it, the only way to remove it from your hand is to discard it (e.g., at the end of your turn if you have more than 7 cards, or via a card effect). Uninkable cards cannot be inked even if a card effect would allow you to ink additional cards – the property is absolute.
Visual indicator
The Uninkable status is shown by the droplet icon next to the Ink cost:
- Solid (filled) droplet = Uninkable – may not be placed into the Inkwell.
- Hollow (empty) droplet = Inkable – may be placed into the Inkwell.
Some early promotional cards (such as the D23 2022 Mickey Mouse – Brave Little Tailor) do not have a droplet icon due to early printing templates. Those cards have been officially ruled as Inkable.[1]
Strategy
Uninkable status is a critical balancing factor in Lorcana:
- Powerful cards are often made Uninkable to force players to make meaningful choices. Including many Uninkable cards risks “ink screw” – not having enough ink to play your spells because you cannot convert those cards into resources.
- Competitive decks typically contain no more than 8–12 Uninkable cards to ensure a reliable ink curve.
- Some players build “all‑in” decks with many Uninkable cards, relying on cheap Inkable cards to fuel their expensive Uninkable threats.
Notable Uninkable cards
| Card name | Set | Rarity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ursula – Deceiver of All | The First Chapter | Legendary | Uninkable control card that looks at opponent’s hand. |
| Elsa – Spirit of Winter | Rise of the Floodborn | Legendary | Uninkable high‑impact character with a board freeze ability. |
| A Whole New World | The First Chapter | Legendary (Song) | Uninkable mass card draw for both players. |
| Be Prepared | The First Chapter | Super Rare (Action) | Uninkable board wipe that banishes all characters. |
| Maleficent – Monstrous Dragon | The First Chapter | Legendary | Uninkable large dragon with Evasive. |
| Mickey Mouse – Wayward Sorcerer | Rise of the Floodborn | Legendary | Uninkable Floodborn with Shift ability. |
Inkable vs. Uninkable by rarity
Higher rarity cards (Super Rare, Legendary, Enchanted) are more likely to be Uninkable than Common or Uncommon cards. However, there are many exceptions (e.g., Mickey Mouse – Brave Little Tailor is Legendary but Inkable). The decision is made on a per‑card basis for balance.
Trivia
- The solid droplet icon was designed to visually communicate “full” – the card cannot accept more ink because it is already “full” of its own power.[2]
- Some players refer to Uninkable cards as “bricks” because they can clog up your hand if you draw too many without enough ink to play them.
- The first Uninkable card revealed to the public was Ursula – Deceiver of All at Gen Con 2023.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Disney Lorcana Comprehensive Rules. Ravensburger.
- ↑ Designing Lorcana's Ink System. Ravensburger (August 2023).
- ↑ Gen Con 2023 Lorcana Reveals. ICv2 (August 4, 2023).