Ink cost

Ink cost
File:Ink cost example.png
The number inside the droplet is the Ink cost (here, 5)
Type	Card attribute
Introduced	The First Chapter (Set 1)
Function	Determines how much ink is needed to play the card
Location on card	Top left corner, inside the droplet icon
Related mechanics	Ink, Inkwell, Shift

Ink cost is a numerical value printed on every card in Disney Lorcana that indicates how many cards must be in your Inkwell to play that card. It is located inside the droplet icon in the top left corner of the card, directly above the Inkable/Uninkable droplet.

How ink cost works

To play a card from your hand, you must have at least as many cards in your Inkwell as the card’s Ink cost. For example, a card with an Ink cost of 5 requires you to have 5 or more cards in your Inkwell. You do not “spend” or “tap” those ink cards – you simply need to meet the threshold.

This is different from many other trading card games (like Magic: The Gathering), where mana is consumed. In Lorcana, ink accumulates permanently, and your available ink only increases over time.

Ink cost vs. Shift cost

Some characters, particularly Floodborn characters, have a Shift ability that allows them to be played for an alternate, reduced cost. For example, Mickey Mouse – Wayward Sorcerer has an Ink cost of 5, but Shift (cost 3) – meaning you can play it on top of a matching character for only 3 ink instead of 5.

The Shift cost is displayed below the main Ink cost, usually with a curved arrow icon.

Ink cost distribution by set

While every set has cards of varying Ink costs, certain patterns exist:

• Most Common and Uncommon cards have low Ink costs (1–4).
• High Ink cost cards (6+) are typically Rare, Super Rare, or Legendary.
• The First Chapter had the highest average Ink cost of any set; later sets introduced more efficient low‑cost cards.

Notable cards by ink cost

Lowest ink costs (1)

• Stitch – New Dog (The First Chapter)
• Simba – Protective Cub (The First Chapter)
• Heihei – Boat Snack (The First Chapter)

Highest ink costs (9–10)

• Maleficent – Monstrous Dragon (9, The First Chapter)
• Elsa – Spirit of Winter (8, Rise of the Floodborn)
• A Whole New World (5 – not high, but notable for its effect)

Strategy

Ink cost is the primary balancing factor for cards. More powerful effects usually come with higher ink costs, requiring players to build up their Inkwell over several turns. Decks are often built around a “mana curve” – a distribution of low, medium, and high ink cost cards to ensure you have plays at every stage of the game.

Because ink is not consumed, Lorcana tends to reward playing expensive, high‑impact cards in the late game. However, fast decks (called “aggro”) use cheap cards to win before the opponent can deploy their expensive threats.

Trivia

• The Ink cost droplet was originally a simple number; the droplet shape was added to make the iconography consistent with the Inkable/Uninkable droplets.
• Some promotional cards (like D23 2022 Mickey Mouse – Brave Little Tailor) lack the droplet border around the Ink cost due to early printing templates.
• The highest Ink cost among all cards as of Wilds Unknown is 10 (e.g., Second Star to the Right from Ursula's Return).

See also

• Ink
• Inkwell
• Shift
• Inkable