With over 2000 Illumineers gathered under the bright lights of Bologna Fiere, Disney Lorcana Challenge Bologna felt like a story out of the Great Illuminary itself. Disney Lorcana Challenge Bologna 2025 wasn’t just a tournament, it was a celebration of ink, imagination, and the growing community itself.
For an entire weekend, we heard the halls echo with cards, cosplayers, and cheers that only Disney Lorcana could conjure.
Entering the event hall was like stepping into the Inklands itself. An endless sea of tables stretched the length of the venue, their surfaces covered with colourful playmats, towering deck-boxes, and even some plushies of the Illumineers’ favourite Disney characters. Everywhere you looked, something was happening.
The Main Event area saw clashes of might and willpower as competitors vied for the title of champion. Early in the days we saw trades, practice games, and team discussions over espresso.
It was really heartwarming to see the global communities gather together and celebrate the Disney Lorcana TCG. We saw a Ravensburger learn-to-play and activity zone for all those wanting to explore other activities, and the prize wall with troves of amazing promos and playmats.
No Disney Lorcana event would be complete without the people who give its cards life. Bologna hosted an impressive lineup of official illustrators, including João Moura, Stefano Spagnuolo, and Jeanne Plounevez.
Fans queued to see their favourite artists that illustrated so many iconic characters we see in the game. We also saw fans bring in their favourite cards, playmats, deckboxes, and prints to be doodled on, turning each autograph into a miniature piece of Disney Lorcana lore.
Near the main entrance for all to see was the Disney Lorcana Challenge Prize Wall, stacked high with everything from promo cards, flashy pins, and exclusive foil playmats. Players funneled their hard-earned prize tickets into rewards that best represented their favourite characters. We saw a huge step up from previous editions with a whole host of new prizes to be won, and one treasure towered above the rest.
Disney Lorcana Challenge Bologna was for many, the very first time you could get a full uncut sheet of Disney Lorcana cards straight off the prize-wall. When the first ever sheet of the event was claimed, we saw heads turn from across the hall. Cameras flashed, cheers echoed, and onlookers crowded for a glimpse of the pristine mosaic straight from the Ravensburger printing press.
The Challenge itself was massive, but Bologna offered plenty of adventures for those who weren’t chasing the Top 8.
Side Events ran in near-constant rotation: On demand Pack Rush events and scheduled Sealed events with fresh packs were great for those looking to crack booster packs and have some quick fun. We saw Infinity Constructed for creative deck builders, and even casual on demand Constructed pods where you could jump in for a few rounds and earn extra tickets.
Meanwhile, the demo area welcomed curious newcomers who were quickly introduced to the game. Families and first-timers rubbed shoulders with seasoned veterans, as they opened their first decks and learned the game for the first time.
Just by the activity zone was a great viewing area where the live-streamed games drew in crowds of spectators, cheering for their friends and favourite decks to win. This was a great front row view into the competitive side of Disney Lorcana.
Disney Lorcana Challenge Bologna brought together over 1800 Illumineers from around the world to one of the largest and most exciting events the game has seen so far. Seeing the various international teams, groups, and metagames clash in one space gave us a wonderful insight into what decks the best players in the world thought would give them an edge. Let’s break down just what powerhouses were brought to Bologna.
At the top of the standings stood Amethyst and Sapphire, with an incredible 683 players, representing about 36% of the field. Not all of the Amethyst Sapphire decks were running the same variation, however, as we see a distinct divide in strategies. While most players ran an inevitable engine of drawing cards and gaining lore, we saw many decks run the item packages that we had seen throughout previous seasons.
Watching Lükas Marcellin pilot the deck to become Disney Lorcana Challenge Bologna champion was a masterclass in deliberate surgical precision.
The second most popular ink combination we saw was Amber and Steel, a combination that has us reminiscing back to the very first Disney Lorcana Challenge in Lille. 361 players decided to represent one of the more aggressive decks in the metagame. Utilising songs like Strength of a Raging Fire and World’s Greatest Criminal Mind to remove threats on the board while still being able to play characters on curve. The efficiency and flexibility this affords players, and the play lines it offers is why this combination continues to be one of the most prevalent in the game. We have a beautiful deck here piloted by Yoann Techer who made it all the way into the top 8 of Disney Lorcana Challenge Bologna.
The third most common combination we saw was Emerald Sapphire with 288 players. In a sea of aggressive low to the ground decks, this Ink pairing saw to control the early game swarm and out perform the low cost decks with larger characters and greater value generation in the end game. Cleverly timed bouncing of characters, limiting questing capabilities, sending them to the inkwell, or even putting all the opposing characters on the bottom of their player’s decks, Emerald Sapphire used every trick in the book to keep the opponent’s board as clean as possible. Danielle Stella piloted a beautiful deck of this archetype into the top 16.
Rounding out the most played decks is Amethyst Steel with 276 players. This pairing thrives on clever sequencing and flexible removal, creating game states that shift rapidly in either direction. The full suite of evasive characters makes the board harder to clear, while the steel package provides some great interaction options. Vincent Desiderio had an amazing run, making it all the way to the finals with his Amethyst Steel deck.
The Bologna Challenge proved that the Disney Lorcana metagame is healthy, competitive, and constantly evolving. Amethyst and Sapphire may have led the pack, but we saw how the decklists and strategies are constantly evolving and shifting how Illumineers approach the game. From control specialists mapping out every turn to aggressive players singing their way to victory, Bologna was a showcase of everything that makes Disney Lorcana special.
We’re looking forward to seeing how the game continues to grow, and we look forward to seeing you at our next event in our home town, Disney Lorcana Challenge Ghent!
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