Disney Lorcana European Challenge how to become a trading card champLucy OrrLucy OrrPublished December 12, 2024 5:00pm The final battle was a real rags to richest tale (Lucy Orr)Lorcana has held its last big tournament of the year in Europe, as Disneys hit new trading card game brings in the crowds.After the excitement of the 2024 Pokmon World Championships in Hawaii, a cloudy weekend in France doesnt have quite the same level of allure, but there was still plenty of buzz around the inaugural Lorcana European Challenge at Disneyland Paris last week. The community showed up in force, with over 2,500 fans spectating and playing the hit new trading card game.This three-day cardboard extravaganza brought together 96 of Europes most skilled Illumineers, (the name for Lorcana players), each vying for glory with their meticulously constructed decks. Against the backdrop of Disneyland Paris, and with a slew of innovative decks on display, the championship redefined the current Lorcana meta, influencing the decks players are likely to play at the North American Challenge in January.The European Challenge included players who had fought tooth and nail to qualify through regional challenge events in Lille, Bochum, Bologna, and Birmingham earlier in the year. The competitive fire was stoked even further by the addition of 32 players from the Last Chance Qualifier, held on December 6 (also at Disneyland Paris), making for an intensely competitive field. All who participated received a foil Extended Artwork Lorcana card of Baymax and Armored Companion card sleeves.The last chance qualifier (LCQ) ended up being core to the narrative of this challenge, as it was how champion Domingo Martinez got his chance to compete and ultimately win. Players were free to draw upon cards from any current Lorcana set, including the newly released Azurite Sea. The last chance qualifier showdowns were single elimination, best-of-three matches, where players competed in 32-player pods, with each pods winner advancing to the main event.The diversity of decks on display was awe-inspiring, with strategies ranging from classic control archetypes to aggressive tempo builds, incorporating the latest card synergies, with each player participating in the last chance qualifier receiving a Dragon Fire promo card.I spoke to competitor Jan Kleinsteiber, 23, from Germany: I started playing in March this year and I went from Pokemon TCG to the Locana TCG, not because I like the characters more, but because of the community. Its a bit friendlier community than most TCGs, the people have been awesome since Ive been here. Im myself a very competitive player, I want to be at the very top, so I try to compete at every event where I can. So Ive been in Lille and Bologna. Paris was the place to be for Lorcana fans this month (Disney)Although I come from Germany Im in a competitive team called Team Inkognito, though its a German team. Im a red/blue deck player myself. Red/blue was a very good call for the last chance qualifier yesterday. But there has have been so many mirror matches that a lot of player didnt came through in the aggro decks.Also, I think the amount of non-male people in the room is much higher than in any other events, because the brand of Disney is huge and also the TCG is very easy to get into. But also, the deck building aspect and the preparation and stuff is so deep, and you can go so deep into the whole universe of the card game, which makes the easy game very competitive.The main event spanned two days, until the top 16 players entered a single-elimination bracket, facing off in best-of-three matches. The final, however, was a best-of-five duel which actually ran to the full five matches, a true test of endurance, skill, and deck optimisation and a thrilling final that showcased the strategic depth and evolving meta of Disney Lorcana.Domingo Martinez claimed victory and was rewarded with four sets of the Azurite Sea expansion, encompassing all foil and enchanted cards, and the European Challenge trophy. More importantly, they secured an invitation to the Disney Lorcana TCG World Challenge slated for 2025 at Walt Disney World in Florida. That is quite the trophy design (Disney)Martinezs victory was propelled by his adept use of the ruby/amethyst deck. This strategy is renowned for its rapid deployment of efficient characters and versatile control elements. Key cards in his deck included lots of foxes, goats, and rabbits as well as Sisu Emboldened Warrior with the ability Surge of Power, which gets +1 Strength for each card in opponents hands.He was also fond of Elsa The Fifth Spirit, which offers immediate impact with Rush and Evasive abilities, allowing swift challenges and evasion from non-evasive opponents. The decks synergy between aggressive questing and control allowed Martinez to adapt to various opponents, maintaining pressure while managing threats effectively.I spoke to Martinez shortly after his victory: I started playing on the regionals for the DLC only. I made top 32 there, but I wasnt able to qualify for the European Championship. I did try on Friday at the first LCQ and now here I am. The community were supportive throughout the weekend and throughout the challenge. I will need some time, to process all the things that happened this weekend and obviously Im extremely happy.The challenge revealed fascinating new trends in the Lorcana meta. The top-performing decks often utilised synergies from new expansion Azurite Sea, which introduced powerful cards that bolster previously underrepresented strategies. Most cards arent this big (Lucy Orr)The European Challenge wasnt just about the main event though. Attendees had plenty of opportunities to engage in side events, from Pack Rush and Core Constructed tournaments to the newly introduced Illumineers Quest: Deep Trouble a cooperative experience that took place in a spooky Ursula the Sea Witch themed room, with huge purple tentacles twisting around the play tables.Spectators also got their share of Disney magic, with meet and greets with Disney characters, sessions with Lorcana illustrators and developers, and casual multiplayer matches that ensured there was something for everyone. Around 2,500 attended and everyone got a goodie bag to take home, with a Disney Lorcana Promo Card (non-foil Mickey Mouse, which you could get Mickey to sign) and, most importantly, a voucher for 20% off at the Disney souvenir shop.More TrendingDuring the challenge, the next two expansions for 2025 were announced, starting with Archazias Island, fronted by good boi Bolt, which seems to focus on pets and boasted new tricks. The second is Reign Of Jafar, where Illumineers might be in for a big battle against this well-known Aladdin baddie.At the end of the event, I spoke to Lorcana co-creator and game developer Steve Warner: This Challenge in Paris is amazing, and hopefully well see a lot more events happen. But the hope for the game is that it lasts for years and years and years. One of our primary goals of the game was to just bring families together. It gives families something thats so generational, in being Disney, and gives them a great tie into at-the-table play and chat that they can all love and all interact with on different levels.Weve got the World Championship next year and a bunch of new franchises coming out, where were gonna have Pocahontas and Pixar. I think Worlds is our next big focus, along with the North American Continentals that happened before that. And then its just kind of getting people to really see and interact with the new stories in Lorcana. Weve got the Reign Of Jafar coming, which will be a fun and exciting story.The European Championship was not just a celebration of competitive play but a testament to the growing popularity of this relatively new card game. It certainly cast a spell over the crowds in attendance and made it clear that Lorcana has a long-term future ahead of it, as one of the biggest trading card games in the world. Domingo Martinez is the current European champion (Disney)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy