The Ink Table Podcast Episode 18: "On the Case"
Honorary Detectives
A cold chill races down your spine, sending goosebumps cascading up your arm. These tunnels are dark and damp, and your footsteps echo with each step you take. Your eyes play tricks as shadows twist and form into apparitions of spooky-scary…skeletons. All the while distant, Whispers, pull you along. There is a mystery to be solved, but do not fear, for there are some Illumineers…On the Case.
Welcome to The Ink Table, where we have gathered in hopes of putting the pieces together that may awnser the question of what Whispers in the Well has in store, and how it may affect the future of Lorcana.
Preston is Missing???
For the first time ever, there was an empty seat at The Ink Table during a podcast, as one host was missing. The first North American DLC of the Disney Lorcana competitive circuit took place the weekend of October 24-26th in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. And Preston got to attend! You can check out the official Disney Lorcana website to get a recap, learn more about the winner, see a meta breakdown, and get a look at some of the top decklists. Preston will also be back to share more about his overall experience in the next podcast episode. But until then, you can check out the clip below where Preston joins John and Dylan on the most recent episode live from the DLC.
Q3 2026
While there is very little information at the moment, it has been announced that the Disney/Pixar IP Turning Red will be coming to the world of Lorcana in unnamed 13th set next Summer. This set will release between July and September. Our best educated guess has it coming out in August…but more on that later.
Wilds Unknown
But Turning Red will not be the only Pixar franchise to make its way to Disney Lorcana. As first announced during the Disney Lorcana 2nd Anniversary Panel back at Gen Con, Toy Story will be making its way to the realm of Lorcana next Spring during Q2 of 2026.
In the photo above we get a good look at both a Buzz Lightyear and Woody glimmer, as they navigate an overgrown jungle that has wildly sprung to life and taken over the realm of Lorcana. These glimmers seem to be Dreamborn variations, as their outfits and appearance are different than that we are used to seeing in their respective films that their Storyborn versions would have. Buzz looks like a Jungle Commando decked out in painted tiger stripes and tactical vest. Woody has leaned into the toy element by resourcefully fashioning a makeshift machete out of a broken pair of safety scissors and rope or lasso out of a broken AUX cable.
Not just showing off the introduction of Toy Story, this poster art also does a great job showing off the overall theming and possible story elements for Wilds Unknown. This set will tell a story about overcoming odds and returning home. “Brave glimmers of all shapes and plastics must traverse together through treacherous terrains to get back home.” The biggest questions that remain, what has caused this unnatural overgrowth of nature and why does a serpent like vine that entangles the world have a vice grip on The Great Illuminary?
Winterspell
Another set originally shown off at the Disney Lorcana 2nd Anniversary Panel is Winterspell. The 11th set of Disney Lorcana will have its pre-release on February 13, 2026 at local game stores and Disney locations before releasing everywhere else 1 week later on February 20, 2026. At the time of recording this podcast episode we were aware that this set would introduce glimmers from Darkwing Duck, Lilo and Stitch the Series, and Pocahontas.
There are currently no answers as to what has caused a seemingly magical winter storm that has blanketed Lorcana in snow. But we have gotten our first look at some of the cards and products we have to look forward to. Below you can get a look at these cards yourself and learn more about those products.
New Cards
Products
Booster Box - will contain 24 individual Booster Packs, with 12 cards per pack
Packs contain art Darkwing Duck - Dashing Gadgateer, Angel, and Tinker Bell (with attire resembling what she wears in Secret of the Wings)
Illumineer’s Trove - while unlisted these products typically contain 8 Booster Packs, a Lore Counter, a special set of dice, and dividers to help organize cards
Great for Collectors but also players just starting their collection
Whispers in the Well
Right around the corner is the release Disney Lorcana’s 10th set, Whispers in the Well. It will have prereleases on November 7, 2026 before its main release on November 14, 2016. In some ways it is weird that this set will not be releasing in October, in time for Halloween. Whispers in the Well sees some of the darkest themes, art, and characters the game has ever seen. Absolutely perfect for Spooky Season!
Below you can see some glimmers from those “spooky” franchises and some neat mechanics being introduced.
Ink Champions
The Black Cauldron
Gargoyles
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
The Story Going Forward
This section could probably live as its own standalone article, but I’ll try to keep it brief. Many know that there is an overarching story being told in Disney Lorcana; few known how to find it. Hidden in plain sight through art, flavor text, and names this story is born. The story so far has followed the journey of three Illuminners (people like the player who were summoned to Lorcana and The Great Illuminary thinks to our strong imaginations) Martin, Shanzay, and Venturo. We have followed this troop of heroes from The First Chapter, as we were introduced to the world alongside them, to the most recent battle in Reign of Jafar, in which they saved Archazia’s Island.
Fabled was the first set to add NOTHING to this overarching story. Sets 1-4 acted as the first arch, 5-8 the second, and the next arch (skipping over Fabled) beginning now in set 11. While it may seem Whispers in the Well has a lot going on, it is actually pretty slow. This is the page of the next chapter and, while it may tell its own short story, it is used to set the foundation for bigger things to come.
Hana
As it turns out, while we were following the story of the three “main” Ilumineers, another Illumineer has been exploring Lorcana and the Inklands on her own. All of this is information shared by the Disney Lorcana Narrative Team and gathered from cards appearing in Whispers in the Well.
Hana found herself in Lorcana shortly after the main protagonists. Ever since arriving, she has found a fascination in the local flora. This is very ironic as the Japanese word for Hana means flower. We’ll have to wait to see if her ethnicity has any coorelation to this, as we have yet to see the new Illuminner. She takes the role of resident herbologist and records all of her findings in a book: Hana’s Herborium. This work, according to the flavor text in certain cards, is known by some glimmers.
Wild Vines
The Black Caudron, introduced to Lorcana in Whispers in the Well, contains an interesting character. This is Hen Wen, a magical pig that can see prophecies of the future. In the card Hen Wen’s Visions we can see both snowflakes (likely referring to Winterspell) and the same impending vine seen in the Wilds Unknown key art. Maybe this crazy overgrowth in flora will somehow involve Lorcana’s newest Illumineer.
The next big bad
Each “chapter” of Lorcana’s story has thus far culminated into a large battle with certain Disney villains, who threaten the realm for their own unique gain. The first was a battle with Ursula in Ursula’s Return. The next was the aforementioned battle with Jafar in Reign of Jafar. It is inevitable that another villain will threaten Lorcana in the future. But who will it be?
One fan theory has the next “big bad” being Hades. This popular villain has been in the background plotting and making plans for some time. And his newest card, Hades- Looking for a Deal, could hold secrets in its flavor text. Although it contains a direct quote spoken by the character, “I’m kind of on a schedule here - I got plans for August.”, this could hint at his plans taking place withing a set physically released in the month of August. Potentially the unnamed 13th set, planned for Q3 2026. Who is it this Hades glimmer is looking to make a deal with?
Another possible “big bad” is Magica de Spell. While not as popular as Hades, there is an argument to be made for her to have a larger impact on Lorcana. Firstly, is the “coincidence” of 30+ DuckTales cards coming in Whispers in the Well. One of which is Magica de Spell - Shadowy and Sinister whose flavor text reads, “My power is still not enough. I need something more. Something…shadowy.”. For some time now, Magica has been collecting magical objects to increase her power. One such object was Triton’s Trident after the defeat of Ursula. And now she is consulting a book in a library to find her next target. Could this book be the one that Emily Quackfaster - Level-Headed Librarian believes has been checked out of the library (Hana’s Herborium)?
