So you've been summoned to the magical realm of Lorcana as an Ilumineer. Significant to your quest as an Ilumineer is your inkcaster, a magical device meant to help you save Lorcana. It pulses with ink creating magical versions of Disney characters you know and love. It's time for you to play Disney Lorcana.
Each Lorcana inkcaster summons a different version of a classic Disney song, character, item, and more. Each of these comes in a specific ink color. What are those colors? What do they mean or represent, and how do they affect your gameplay in Lorcana? Amber, Amythest, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, or Steel, which ink color will you wield?
Amber Ink
Amber ink is a color most notable for its community aspects. This ink is all about patience, dedication, and a sense of belonging and responsibility in your community. You'll find attachments to cards that can be bodyguards, healers, or cards that directly affect their own community.
These cards are essential for protecting and healing other Amber ink cards in your deck. Bodyguard allows you to enter a card into play already exerted (ready), and any opposing character who challenges you is forced to challenge the exerted card with Bodyguard. Maximus, Palace Horse is a perfect example of an Amber ink card dedicated to protection and community. It not only has Bodyguard to protect your other character cards, but it also has the Support ability, allowing it to add its strength to another card on its turn.
 | Maximus, Palace Horse | Bodyguard (This character may enter play exerted. An opposing character who challenges one of your characters must choose one with Bodyguard if able.) Support (Whenever this character quests, you may add their Strength to chosen character's Strength this turn.) |
Hades, King of Olympus allows you to get +1 lore for each other Villain character you have in play. Cinderella, Gentle and Kind can remove up to three damage from a chosen Princess character.
 | Cinderella, Gentle and Kind | A Wonderful Dream: Exert – Remove up to 3 damage from chosen Princess character. |
Each of these cards has abilities that allow them to support their community. Whether through healing, protecting, or supporting, Amber ink is essential for this play style. It's easy to see what it means for Amber ink to be community oriented and play a support role.
Amethyst Ink
For spellcasters, animated objects, and Disney characters who have magical abilities, the Amethyst ink is where you'll find them. Heroes and villains share their powerful abilities with you, and you'll be at an advantage using their abilities to manipulate your hand.
 | Elsa, Spirit of Winter | Deep Freeze: When you play this character, exert up to 2 chosen characters. They can't ready at the start of the next turn. |
Amethyst is great for stopping your opponent in their tracks, either by exerting them or preventing them from being able to ready. You'll also have options for drawing cards to replenish your hand and multiple options for returning banished cards to your hand.
 | Dr. Facilier, Agent Provocateur | Into the Shadows: Whenever one of your other characters is banished in a challenge, you may return that card to your hand. |
Emerald Ink
Constantly changing and adjusting to the gameplay, Emerald ink is all about being flexible. Emerald uses its flexibility to change the status of your opponent and move cards back and forth. If you're looking for an ink color to exert some control over the table, Emerald is the color for you.
 | Cheshire Cat, Not All There | Lose Something?: When this character is challenged and banished, banish the challenging character. |
Emerald ink is great for returning characters to your opponent's hand when they challenge you. Banish the challenger to keep some control over the board.
You can also return characters to your opponent's hand or force them to discard a card. Genie, On the Job, is perfect because it allows you to return a chosen character to a player's hand, making sure you have the upper hand and control of the table.
 | Flynn Rider, Charming Rogue | Here Comes The Smolder: Whenever this character is challenged, the challenging player chooses and discards a card. |
Ruby Ink
If you're an aggressive player, Red ink perfectly complements your play style. Reckless and ready to rush into battle, you'll find speedy and brave characters ready to rush your opponent and win the game.
 | Peter Pan, Fearless Fighter | Rush (This character can challenge the turn they're played.) |
Be prepared to Ready and Rush characters with this ink color, with several evasive characters that'll rush in, do damage, and be difficult to deal with if you aren't prepared.
You'll need to be careful when dealing with Ruby ink, as they're also very good at dealing direct damage and also good at surviving. If you're playing Ruby, you'll be collecting lore in no time from an opponent who can only sit and watch you do it.
 | Mickey Mouse, Brave Little Tailor | Evasive (Only characters with Evasive can challenge this character.) |
Sapphire Ink
With Sapphire ink, you'll be using your inventions and knowledge to get a lead-up on your opponent. This color is all about intelligent and creative characters utilizing their skills to solve the problems they're faced with. Sapphire characters set up a strategy in the same way you'll need to if you choose to use this ink color.
 | Maurice, World-Famous Inventor | Give It A Try: When this character quests, you pay 2 ink less for the next item you play this turn. It Works!: Whenever you play an item, you may draw a card. |
The best part about Sapphire is that while it has a number of cards that empower your items, it also has quite a few resourceful options. You can scan your deck, quest for lore, and support your team through the items and inventions available in this ink color.
 | Tamatoa, So Shiny! | What Have We Here?: When you play this character and whenever he quests, you may return an item card from your discard to your hand. Glam: This character gets +1 lore value for each item you have in play. |
Steel Ink
The strongest and most defensive of all the ink colors, Steel ink is represented by strong and imposing characters. You'll see plenty of Disney characters known for their strength and intimidation. Using this ink color, you can brute force your way through opponents and have opportunities to protect your allies.
 | Tinker Bell, Giant Fairy | Rock The Boat: When you play this character, deal 1 damage to each opposing character. Puny Pirate!: During your turn, whenever this character banishes another character in a challenge, you may deal 2 damage to chosen opposing character. |
Not only is this ink color set for dealing damage in multiple ways, but it also excels at the Bodyguard ability. Even your action cards are good for dealing damage here. You have cards that'll help you gain lore through banishing your opponent, making it easy to focus on high damage, high reward play style.
 | Te Kā, Heartless | Seek The Heart: During your turn, whenever this character banishes another character in a challenge, you gain 2 lore. |