In the worlds of strategy games, there’s often more than meets the eye. Just as any good mystery leaves tantalizing clues, so too does Disney and Ravensburger’s upcoming offering in their Lorcana series. “Whispers in the Well,” the tantalizingly named tenth set, is promised to mingle mystery with the mastery of deck-building prowess. With its release imminent, dedicated players are keen, clutching their magnifying glasses, ready to uncover whatever secrets await.
The rollout strategy demands equal parts restraint and relish from its fans. Local game stores (LGS) will be among the first to hold the new set, bagging the bounty on Friday, November 7. Here, eager players can indulge in early events and capitalize on promo opportunities, savoring their brief stint in the spotlight before the broader market is served on November 14. This staggered release provides a unique twist of enthusiasm, as the community buzz grows within this interim week’s confines.
At the heart of “Whispers in the Well” is a novel card type that creators have dubbed a “Whisper.” It’s an evocative name that perfectly captures the card’s essence: a partial Glimmer, a tantalizing fragment hinting at what could be. These Whispers invite players to creatively piece them into a complete character, the idea mirrored in the cards’ exquisite design, which resembles pages torn straight from the annals of a mythical lorebook.
Ursula emerges as the “Whisper of Vanessa,” showcasing the theme beautifully when combined with Gaston, deemed the “Frightful Bully,” or Megara, the “Secret Keeper.” Even Simba—destined as the “King in the Making”—can manifest, poised to become something much grander. All of these Whispers dance around a luminous new mechanic dubbed “Boost.” Eerily similar to the earlier “Shift” concept, Boost commands players to slide a seen card beneath the Whisper. This not only fuels the Whisper but also introduces an exciting gamble: will a player peek at further cards to safeguard a weak one? If the top card remains a mystery, what invaluable draw might be lost forever?
Adding solid weight to the set are new franchises making their Lorcana debut. The Gargoyles, stalwarts of many a childhood afternoon, rise again. Demona, true to form, is both “Scourge of the Wyvern Clan” and Betrayer in kind. Coldstone takes the mantle of the “Reanimated Cyborg,” Bronx lets loose as the “Ferocious Beast,” while Goliath stands as both “Guardian of Castle Wyvern” and “Clan Leader.” And then there’s Brooklyn, ever the “Second in Command.”
Meanwhile, the dark allure of “The Black Cauldron” franchise casts a different kind of spell. This chapter introduces gameplay that could change deck-building strategies forever. The Black Cauldron itself, a modest three Ink cost, holds tremendous potential. By tucking a character beneath it, players can later reintroduce them—effectively pioneering a reanimation strategy in Lorcana. Cards such as “The Horned King,” whether he be a “Heartless Devil” or “Wicked Ruler,” alongside “Hen Wen,” the “Prophetic Pig,” share this cauldron-driven spotlight, linking wonderfully back to the tale as old as time—or at least film from 1985.
As for the stats: collectors are set to encounter 242 cards gracing this release, with 204 in the base set, followed by classy additions with 18 Enchanted, 18 Epic, and a pair of Iconic cards. Among the Iconic, Hades seeks a “Deal,” poised to put adversaries in tough spots concerning discards, while Ariel, the “Ethereal Voice,” awaits strings of song to propel card draw, symbiotically flowing from previous plays.
The narrative artistry of “Whispers in the Well” embarks upon an investigative journey. Each card hints at a broader story, with the set’s tagline, “Light Your Path,” encouraging each player to follow these soft-spoken beckons. It begs for sharp eyes and inquisitive mindsets, promising hours not only spent playing cards but absorbed in a world reverberating with secrets still yet to be told.
The whimsical illustrations sprinkle universal hints towards detective stories, with Judy Hopps, bereft of her Zootopian precinct’s mundanity, diving into the heart of the mystery. The Well is both a literal and figurative treasure trove, tugging on players’ curiosity and creativity as they unravel its secrets card by card. Players entering “Whispers in the Well” do so with a singular goal: to bring clarity to the profound, mysterious echoes that draw them ever forward. Grab your deck, don your detective hat, and prepare—November promises a whirl of revelations just waiting to be dealt.
