Ink
More actions
| Ink | |
|---|---|
| Type | Resource system |
| Introduced | The First Chapter (Set 1) |
| Related mechanic | Inkwell, Inkable cards, Uninkable cards |
| Lore description | Magical substance that Illumineers use to create glimmers and power their abilities. |
Ink is the primary resource system in Disney Lorcana. Players use Ink to pay the cost of playing cards, including characters, items, actions, and locations. Each card has an Ink cost printed in the upper left corner, represented by a number inside a droplet icon.
Inkwell
Each player has an Inkwell – a designated area on the playmat where they place facedown cards as Ink. During their turn, a player may put one card from their hand into their Inkwell (a process called "inking"). That card is now considered an Ink resource and cannot be used for any other purpose. The Inkwell has no maximum size.
Inkable vs. Uninkable
Not all cards can be placed into the Inkwell. Each card has either:
- Inkable – The card may be put into the Inkwell as a resource.
- Uninkable – The card cannot be used as Ink and must be played or discarded.
The Inkwell icon (a droplet) is empty (hollow) for Inkable cards and filled (solid) for Uninkable cards.
Ink colors
There are six types of magical Ink in Lorcana, each associated with a distinct color and playstyle:
- Amber – Healing, support, and character recovery.
- Amethyst – Spell synergy, card draw, and control.
- Emerald – Disruption, theft, and agility.
- Ruby – Aggression, high strength, and direct damage.
- Sapphire – Ramping (extra Ink), item synergy, and card advantage.
- Steel – Defense, damage prevention, and resilient characters.
Decks may contain up to two different Ink colors.
Rules
- A player may ink exactly one card per turn, during their main phase.
- The card is placed facedown in the Inkwell zone.
- Ink cards remain facedown for the rest of the game and cannot be looked at or retrieved (unless an effect specifically allows it).
- Ink is not "spent" like mana in other games – once a card is inked, it stays in the Inkwell and does not get tapped or consumed to pay costs. The cost to play a card is simply "you must have at least X cards in your Inkwell".
Trivia
- The six Ink colors are named after precious stones and metals (Amber, Amethyst, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Steel).
- In early development, the Ink system was called "Mana" but was changed to avoid confusion with other games.