A major upheaval is hitting the Lorcana community: Ravensburger has just made official its first card ban since the game's launch in August 2023. This major decision, already a source of controversy, comes as a matter of urgency to maintain a healthy gaming environment for TCG competitions. What does this mean for players and collectors? This measure came into effect on the same day as the announcement (April 8, 2025) and bans “Flaversham – Toymaker” cards until further notice. and the "Sphere of Endurance" from official Lorcana tournaments.
Ending One-Sided Play
The dominance of blue/red and blue/grey decks is coming to an end. Ravensburger has finally addressed the concerns of regular players, who were overwhelmed by the lack of diversity in the Lorcana meta. "No card is ever designed with the intention of not being playable in competition," Ravensburger said. Elaine Chase, Marketing Director for the publisher. “But in order to maintain a healthy and stimulating metagame, without feeling like we are facing the same strategies over and over again, the development team made this difficult decision for the good of the game. We know that bans should remain an exception and we will only resort to them when necessary to keep competitive play healthy and enjoyable for players.“
Steve Warner, co-designer of the game, also shared a message to the community to explain the reasons behind this decision. This one evokes the frustrating gameplay situations generated by “Flaversham”’s draw ability, which, when combined with items like “Endurance Sphere,” provided a nearly unstoppable advantage for opponents. The card “Ice Water” almost made it onto the ban list, but was deemed less powerful in the absence of “Flaversham” and thus escaped the narrow verdict.
Cards Banned But Not Removed
Collectors can rest assured, “Flaversham” and the “Sphere of Endurance” are not entirely removed from the game. They will continue to be printed, but can no longer be included in legal decks for official tournaments. Only competitive participants are preparing to experience major changes in the pace and balance of the games. “We encourage players who wish to do so to continue to play them in games with friends or family,” Ravensburger nevertheless declares.
But this ban is not without effect for collectors either. Disney Lorcana is a TCG where the most powerful cards sell for a fortune, and the prices of “Flaversham” have already plummeted. On the Cardmarket platform, this card, previously sold for around 4 euros, is now worth only 90 cents.
0 Comments