Spoiler season is a bittersweet moment for me. Granted, I do enjoy seeing the latest reveals from Disney Lorcana's newest set, but I can't help but to reflect on what Ursula's Return brought us. In this article, we'll take a look back on what kind of lasting impressions Ursula's Return leaves as we set sail to the Shimmering Skies.

New Mechanics: Sing-Together and Alternate Shift Costs

Ursula's Return introduced us to new mechanics that drastically changed the playing field for some decks. Sing-Together was one of the most exciting ones to consider on paper. However, towards the end of the meta, we only really saw two of them in high-level play. Second Star to the Right was a song that was part of a combo in Emerald/Amethyst decks looking to use Jafar - Striking Illusionist and Ursula - Deceiver of All to draw a total of 10 cards and gain 10 lore. This power play alone could close out games or net you enough cards to follow up with some strong plays afterward. The other song, Under the Sea, has become more popular recently since it gives Emerald/X decks a way to deal with Bucky and friends. We've seen this card made popular locally by Jack "Ghosty.zip" Morales and even in the recent Disney Lorcana Challenge in Fort Worth by Zach Bivens with their spicy take on discard using Amber and Emerald. This may very well be the way into the upcoming Disney Lorcana Challenge in Toronto since it's still Ursula's Return legal with the Bucky errata in place.

Alternate shift costs, especially for a specific bird, were insanely powerful and was most likely one of the facets causing a drastic errata for Bucky. We'll start off with Diablo - Devoted Herald. With the ability to drop as soon as turn one with the right cards in hand, Diablo causes a lot of problems for the opponent. Being evasive makes him harder to challenge, and drawing on your opponent's turn can also be extremely oppressive. Without a doubt, we will continue to see Diablo in competitive play for Emerald decks. I wouldn't put away your Brawls and Ba-Booms away just yet.

Another one that saw some play locally was Ursula - Eric's Bride. Shifting her on a following turn that she was played allowed for some strategic built-in Bare Necessities style plays in the event you couldn't find an effective play when singing the card instead. While not common, it's an easy way to remove a pesky Location, Action, or Item from someone's hand at the right time. Perhaps Ursula will shine in future sets if her earlier shift targets remain staple in competitive play.

Our First Errata

Bans, while not uncommon, are utilized when identifying problematic decks that tend to break the intended dynamics for other decks in an oppressive manner. Erratas, however, have seen more utilization in digital versions of card games based on their ease of implementation. To see a paper errata supported by newly printed cards was not on my bingo card for this set. This goes to show how committed Ravensburger is committed to making Disney Lorcana a stable, fun experience for all to enjoy. Bucky, while being menacingly cute, received the first official errata of the game. Being an Emerald/Steel player, I cannot say I am surprised. However, this does allow for some cards in Ursula's Return to shine beyond the shadows of our furry little friend. RIP Bucky, you will be missed.

Ursula's Return Championships

We saw a shift in how Set Championships operated this set with making them exclusive to weekends only. This was an interesting approach to say the least. I see the arguments for and against having them only on the weekends. While I did enjoy the rush of the first set championships for Stitch - Rockstar, leaving game stores at 3-4AM was brutal during the work week. In this Set Championships, I've been leaving stores at more appropriate times. However, we do have a large amount of store density in the area. So, it was important and strategic to choose which places to play.

A New Cooperative Mode: Illumineer's Quest

Ravensburger introduced the first ever Illumineer's Quest: Deep Trouble. This was a fun and story-rich way of working towards defeating Ursula in her attempt at defeating the Illumineers in gaining more lore over them through overpowered character and abilities that was a well-received experience from the player base. With optional scaling difficulties, this is clearly a game with a ton of replayability and I look forward to reviewing it soon.

Where To Go From Here?

It's safe to say that we are smooth sailing toward the release of Shimmering Skies, a celebration for all protecting Lorcana and The Great Illuminary. However, the party seems to stop short as new challenges await us. Overall, our first year of Lorcana has been such an enjoyable experience, and even though we've had some bumps in the road, I am thoroughly excited to see what comes next for us in Disney Lorcana.

Join Me

What were some of your most enjoyable moments during the release of Ursula's Return? What were some of your favorite cards and interactions? Let me know on Twitter @_EmeraldWeapon_, and let's continue the conversation!

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