First Impressions of Disney Lorcana's Hyperia City Expansion

Disney Lorcana is set to conclude the year with an exciting new booster set titled Hyperia City, marking its fourteenth release. Pre-release events kick off on October 16, with the full launch scheduled for October 23. This iteration emphasizes Pixar characters, particularly from the beloved film Coco, while also introducing fresh cards from Big Hero 6 and The Sword and the Stone. Additionally, players can expect new pre-constructed decks through a two-player starter set. A standout feature of this expansion is the introduction of floating mana, or ink drops, which promise to transform gameplay dynamics. The new starter set, Technically Terrific and Madcap Whimsy, prominently features characters from Big Hero 6 and The Sword and the Stone. The ink drops allow players to accumulate extra mana that can be utilized in conjunction with their standard mana generation, facilitating earlier plays of high-cost cards. After testing both decks, I found myself leaning towards The Sword and the Stone deck due to its consistency in drawing cards. This deck effectively maintained pressure through various options and benefited from the new ink drops. The amethyst color support in this deck enhances drawing capabilities, making it easier to gain an advantage early in lore points. While the Big Hero 6 deck offered draw options, they heavily depended on items, which did not appear as frequently as I had hoped. In my matches with The Sword and the Stone, I leveraged locations like Merlin's Shop and Smithy to draw more cards and accumulate lore. This strategic advantage made it challenging for the Big Hero 6 emerald/sapphire deck to keep pace while managing a favorable board state. Overall, the ink drops added a layer of strategy that players will need to adjust to as the competitive scene evolves. In addition to the starter set, new cards promise to shake up the gameplay. One notable card is Powerline Megastar, which carries the Singer 9 keyword and boasts abilities that synergize with other Singer characters. This powerful addition is perfect for singer-focused decks, allowing players to play songs costing 9 or less for free. Furthermore, each time Powerline sings, players can retrieve a Singer card from their discard pile back to their hand. With every additional Singer on the field, Powerline also gains +1 lore, enhancing the potential for significant lore accumulation. Utilizing a song like Remember Me enables players to continually bring Singer characters back, maintaining relentless pressure. Another intriguing card is Belle Exceptional Writer. Whenever she exerts, players can reduce the ink cost for their next action by 2. Additionally, her ability to generate 3 lore when the third action is played during a turn encourages a strategy reminiscent of storm decks, where the goal is to play multiple cards in a single turn for maximum benefit. This synergy with Powerline Megastar is notable, as songs are categorized as actions. With affordable action cards like Chemical Reaction and Strike a Good Match, Belle's abilities can trigger frequently, making her a formidable presence on the board. However, players should be cautious, as storm decks can be challenging to manage effectively. As the competitive season approaches, established meta decks are likely to see some adjustments following the release of Hyperia City. For instance, a recent tournament-winning emerald/amber deck that features numerous songs and singers could benefit from the inclusion of Powerline Megastar. There are also opportunities to enhance existing decks with new cards, such as Flash Efficient Clerk and Marie Caught in the Act, which offer strategic advantages in character-heavy builds. Flash provides a sturdy character with Resist +1, preventing opponents from executing hasty banishes. Meanwhile, Marie can generate ink drops when opposing characters take damage, facilitating faster gameplay and enabling the deployment of larger characters. Hyperia City not only introduces beloved characters from Pixar but also incorporates a groundbreaking mechanic in ink drops, enhancing resource management and strategy. The return of figures from Big Hero 6 and The Sword and the Stone adds nostalgic value, particularly after recent set rotations. With Coco's inclusion, this expansion is sure to capture the interest of both players and collectors alike. As the competitive scene progresses, it will be fascinating to observe how the meta evolves and how players adapt to the new deck-building possibilities.