Inkwell

Inkwell
File:Inkwell diagram.png
A player's Inkwell area on the playmat
Type	Game zone
Introduced	The First Chapter (Set 1)
Function	Resource pool for playing cards
Related mechanics	Ink, Inkable, Ink cost
Maximum size	Unlimited

The Inkwell is a designated zone on the playmat in Disney Lorcana where players place cards they have converted into ink resources. It is the primary method of generating the ink needed to play characters, items, actions, and locations.

How the Inkwell works

During a player's main phase, they may take one Inkable card from their hand and place it face down into their Inkwell. This is called “inking.” The card is now considered an ink resource and remains face down for the rest of the game; it cannot be looked at, retrieved, or used for any other purpose unless a card effect specifically allows it.

The Inkwell has no maximum size. Players may continue to add one card per turn indefinitely. The number of cards in your Inkwell determines how much ink you have available to spend each turn – but ink is not “consumed” when you play a card. You simply need to have at least as many cards in your Inkwell as the Ink cost of the card you wish to play.

Rules

• You may ink exactly once per turn, during your main phase.
• Only Inkable cards may be placed into the Inkwell. Uninkable cards cannot be inked.
• Ink cards are placed face down and are not considered to have any properties (color, type, etc.) once inked.
• You may look at your own face‑down ink cards at any time; opponents may not.
• Ink cards are not “tapped” or “spent” – they simply remain in the Inkwell as a permanent count.

Strategy

Deciding which cards to ink is one of the most important decisions in Lorcana. Players must balance:

• **Short‑term needs** – Do you need to play a card next turn? Then you might ink a less useful card now.
• **Long‑term value** – Powerful cards should rarely be inked; weaker or situational cards are often better sacrificed as ink.
• **Color requirements** – Since inked cards lose their identity, you do not need to match ink colors. Any Inkable card can become ink, regardless of its color.

Visual representation

Most Lorcana playmats have a designated “Inkwell” area, often a circular or droplet‑shaped zone. Players typically place their facedown ink cards in a stack or spread out for easy counting. Tournament players often use dice to track the number of cards in their Inkwell to avoid disturbing the stack.

Trivia

• In early design, the Inkwell was called the “Mana Pool” (similar to Magic: The Gathering), but the name was changed to fit the Disney theme.
• The Inkwell is sometimes humorously referred to as the “ink pile” by players.
• Some promotional playmats feature unique Inkwell artwork, such as the Great Illuminary or character‑specific designs.

See also

• Ink
• Inkable
• Uninkable
• Ink cost