Whispers in the Well marks the 10th official set of Disney Lorcana. This set introduces two major additions to the game: a brand-new mechanic and a card type that shakes up how decks are built and how battles unfold.
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What to expect at prerelease for Whispers in the Well
If this is your first Disney Lorcana prerelease event, welcome! You’re in for a fun, laid-back way to explore the newest set, Whispers in the Well, before it officially hits store shelves. Prereleases are all about discovery: opening packs, experimenting with new mechanics like Boost, and seeing what kind of deck you can craft from what you pull.
At the event, you’ll receive six booster packs of Whispers in the Well and a promo card. From those packs, you’ll build a minimum 40-card deck, with no maximum deck size and no restriction on how many ink colors you include (though sticking to two or three is still best — more on that later). You’ll usually have around 30–40 minutes to build your deck before the first round begins.
Most prereleases run in a casual tournament format, often three to four rounds depending on attendance. You’ll play either best-of-one matches or best-of-three matches against other players, and every round is an opportunity to test new strategies and see how the Boost mechanic plays out in real games.
Don’t worry if you’re not a competitive player; prerelease events are designed for fun and community. Everyone’s learning the set together, discovering combos, and sharing those “oh wow” moments when a card completely changes the board. Whether you win or lose, you’ll walk away with new cards, more experience, and a better sense of how Whispers in the Well fits into Lorcana’s growing story.
Bring your sleeves, a deck box, some counters or tokens, and a good attitude. Prereleases are as much about meeting other fans as they are about the games themselves.
New Mechanic: Boost
The new Boost mechanic allows you to tuck a card beneath another card with Boost, granting that card additional effects or advantages. Depending on the pairing, this can mean buffs, control effects, or strategic benefits that reward thoughtful deckbuilding. Boost is strong — expect decks built around it to shine at prerelease.
New Unit Type: Whispers
The mysterious Whispers are half-formed versions of familiar characters, and many of them interact closely with the Boost mechanic. Expect to see some hauntingly familiar faces among these spectral cards.
What does each color do in Lorcana Whispers in the Well?
While there’s a general way to describe what each ink color does well in Lorcana, every set delivers a new twist to how it works its own respective magic. Here’s how each color works in Whispers in the Well:
Amber
Amber leans heavily into the Boost mechanic. Most cards either feed or benefit from boosted cards, making it the most synergy-driven ink in this set. It also features what might be the best card in the entire set: The Black Cauldron. Amber pairs naturally with Emerald, just like the starter deck.
Key Characters to Watch:
Gaston – Frightful Bully: Strong Boost synergy and benefits.
Ariel – Ethereal Voice: Great value if you’re running songs.
Mowgli – Man Cub: Excellent, cheap control option.
Scrooge McDuck – Cavern Prospector: Great Shift card that feeds Boost strategies.
Simba – King in the Making: Strong Boost card, potential for free plays.
Goofy – Ghost Hunter & Goofy – Galumphing Gumshoe: Solid debuff options.
Mickey Mouse – Amber Champion: Provides team-wide buffs for Amber decks.
Top Actions & Items:
The Horseman Strikes – Evasive removal.
Recovered Page – Character search and Boost enabler.
The Black Cauldron – Easily the best card in the set, lets you bring discarded characters back.
Amethyst
Amethyst focuses on card draw, big creatures, and discard return, with a few evasive units sprinkled in. Boost isn’t as central here, but there are some great synergy options if you blend it with Sapphire or Steel. Your chase card is The Horned King – Wicked Ruler.
Key Characters:
Minnie Mouse – Amethyst Champion: Card draw engine for Amethyst-heavy decks.
The Horned King – Wicked Ruler: Lets you pick and choose characters from discard.
Duckworth – Ghost Butler: Aggro support and Boost feeder.
The Horned King – Triumphant Ghoul: Excellent discard recursion.
Coldstone – Reincarnated Cyborg: Fast lore gain, great for Gargoyles decks.
Cheshire Cat – Inexplicable: Powerful Boost card — arguably Amethyst’s best.
Top Actions & Items:
Can’t Hold It Back Anymore – Dual-purpose removal and healing song.
Grimorum Arcanorum – Solid control item.
Emerald
Emerald brings evasion, trickiness, and ward effects, along with strong Boost cards. It partners perfectly with Amber. The standout chase card here is Goofy – Emerald Champion.
Key Characters:
Vladimir – Ceramic Unicorn Fan: Reliable item removal.
Bellwether – Master Manipulator: Quick, dangerous board damage.
Baloo – Carefree Bear: Mix of draw and control.
Megara – Secret Keeper: Forces discards and draws fire away from allies.
Shere Khan – Fearsome Tiger: Devastating when paired with Bellwether.
Scrooge McDuck – S.H.U.S.H. Agent: Evasive 2-lore gainer.
Goofy – Emerald Champion: Grants Ward and punishes attackers.
Little John – Impermanent Outlaw: Hard-to-challenge 3-lore engine.
Top Actions & Items:
So Be It! – Buff and item removal; great sideboard option.
Chomp! – Quick, effective damage.
Malicious, Mean, and Scary – Song-based board damage; perfect with Shere Khan.
Potion of Malice – Solid damage item that pressures opponents.
Ruby
Ruby is the aggressive color of this set (surprise, surprise), all about rush, reckless, and challenge-focused abilities. These cards punish opponents for leaving characters exerted. One thing to be mindful of is Stone By Day (on Gargoyle cards), which prevents readying if you have three or more cards in hand — this keeps Ruby decks honest. The chase card here is Lady Tremaine – Sinister Socialite.
Key Characters:
Beast – Aggressive Lord: Gains lore when challenging.
Tinker Bell – Temperamental Fairy: Best as a sideboard card against low-strength decks.
David Xanatos – Charismatic Leader: Rewards you when your characters fall.
Hans – Brazen Manipulator: Punishes conservative opponents.
Hercules – Mighty Leader: Protection from actions and items.
Donald Duck – Ruby Champion: Team-wide buffs for Ruby decks.
Elisa Maza – Intrepid Investigator: Great payoff for high-Strength teams.
Lady Tremaine – Sinister Socialite: Free actions from discard when boosted.
The Headless Horseman – Terror of Sleepy Hollow: Instant banish and team buffs.
Mulan – Standing Her Ground: Excellent with boosted allies.
Brom Bones – Burly Bully: Sideboard card versus weaker characters.
Top Actions & Items:
Next Stop, Olympus – Ready and re-challenge for more lore; excellent tempo card.
Time to Go! – Good card draw with a cost.
Ghostly Tale – Exert those protected enemies so you can strike back.
Sapphire
Sapphire is your support and strategy color. Focusing on deck manipulation, resist, and control. It slows your opponent’s tempo and rewards careful play. The chase card is Fairy Godmother’s Wand, which gives Princesses Ward (and it’s excellent if you’re running a Princess-heavy deck).
Key Characters:
Judy Hopps – On the Case: Solid, uncommon item removal.
Jasmine – Soothing Princess: Boost-based healing.
Judy Hopps – Lead Detective: Shiftable card with detective synergy.
Ichabod Crane – Scared Out of His Mind: Fantasti,c uncommon quester; turns into ink when banished. Since you’re not limited in colors for Sealed, this should be added to all decks.
Scar – Eerily Prepared: Great debuff Boost ability.
Daisy Duck – Paranormal Investigator: Slows opponents while providing support.
Cinderella – Dream Come True: Lets you ink dead draws.
Pluto – Clever Cluefinder: Recovers items.
Daisy Duck – Sapphire Champion: Excellent resist and deck manipulation.
Top Actions & Items:
Hen Wen’s Visions – Cheap deck sifting.
Might Solve a Mystery – Song for top-deck control.
Sudden Scare – Removal and disruption.
Spooky Sight – Potential board wipe.
Fairy Godmother’s Wand – Princess synergy must-have.
Inkrunner – Great counter to Evasive decks.
Steel
Steel is your ping damage and control ink. It focuses on Detectives, Bodyguards, and slowing down aggro decks. It’s great for players who like methodical play and board dominance. The chase card here is Goliath – Clan Leader, which gives easy access to Gargoyles that usually suffer from Stone By Day.
Key Characters:
Robin Good – Ephemeral Archer: Deals ping damage when questing.
Donald Duck – Ghost Hunter: Great in detective decks.
Goliath – Clan Leader: Enables Gargoyle synergy.
The Headless Horseman – Cursed Rider: Punishes opponents who hoard characters.
Minnie Mouse – Ghost Hunter: Another strong detective inclusion.
David Xanatos – Steel Clan Leader: Consistent ping damage.
Chief Bogo – Calling the Shots: Top-tier Steel card; turns everyone into a Detective for massive synergy.
Prince Charming – Protector of the Realm: Slows aggro to a crawl. Bad if you’re trying to play Aggro yourself.
Pluto – Steel Champion: Item removal and card draw.
Top Actions & Items:
But I’m Much Faster – Great cheap buff song.
Putting It All Together – Tempo control and draw.
The Sword of Hercules – Strong sideboard option vs. Deity decks.
Ingenious Device – Extra card draw and damage.
Castle Wyvern – Location card worth using for +1 Challenger and +1 Resist.
What are the best color pairings in Whispers in the Well?
While there’s no hard rule limiting how many ink colors you can use in a sealed deck, that doesn’t mean you should toss in every card that catches your eye. Certain color pairings naturally work better together, and Whispers in the Well is no exception.
In this set, two main color pairings stand out, while the remaining inks tend to shine more as splash colors. Amber is arguably the most synergistic ink this time around. It pairs well with nearly any of the other five colors, but it truly excels alongside Emerald. Emerald brings solid Boost support and includes several cards that function as reliable Boost feeders. If your sealed pool doesn’t quite support a full Amber/Emerald build, consider splashing in Ruby. That trio gives you a mix of Boost synergy, Evasiveness, and Aggression - a combination that can make your deck seriously dangerous if balanced well.
Much like the starter deck, it’s no secret that Sapphire and Steel continue to be one of the strongest pairs. It’s not just because they’re both defensive; these colors are packed with Detectives and Princesses, giving you clear direction if your pool leans that way. If you find yourself with a solid Sapphire/Steel core, consider Amethyst as a splash. Sapphire already provides excellent deck manipulation, and Amethyst complements it perfectly with discard retrieval options.
As for pairings to avoid, Amber/Amethyst can feel clunky in this set. Amber’s game plan relies heavily on Boost, while Amethyst only has one standout Boost card; the rest fall short. Similarly, Ruby/Steel can work against itself. Ruby wants to challenge aggressively, while Steel prefers to protect and stall. Mixing the two can slow down your tempo and weaken an otherwise strong aggro approach.
Sealed deck building tips for Whispers in the Well
At your local prerelease, you’ll receive six booster packs to build a 40-card minimum deck with no maximum size and no restrictions on ink colors. Once you crack your packs, start by sorting your cards by color, rarity, and whether they’re inkable or non-inkable. This helps you quickly identify your strongest options and potential synergies.
From there, look for the color pairing (or trio) that stands out from your pool — most sealed decks end up running two colors, but splashing a third can work if it enhances your strategy. Once you’ve settled on your colors, focus on keeping a balanced curve.
Because Whispers in the Well introduces the Boost mechanic, deck construction works a bit differently this time. Since Boost requires you to exert or “spend” other characters to empower your key cards, you can safely run a few extra cards in your deck without sacrificing consistency. Cards that let you peek at or reorder the top of your deck are especially valuable — they help you control what you’re losing when you Boost and avoid tossing away crucial plays.
If you’re building Sapphire/Steel, keep in mind that these inks often include more non-inkable cards. Thankfully, many of those cards provide effects that ink directly from your hand or deck, helping you stay on curve. Meanwhile, Emerald and Amethyst can help refill your hand through draw and recursion effects, which can offset the card drain from Boost-heavy strategies.
Here’s a strong ink curve to aim for in sealed play:
1-drops: 3–6
2-drops: 6–9
3-drops: 6–9
4-drops: 5–7
5-drops: 5–7
6+ drops: 3–6
Non-inkable cards (Actions, Items, Locations): 4–8 total
For Sapphire/Steel, it’s fine to push that non-inkable count a little higher since those decks often generate or manipulate ink in other ways.
Finally, don’t overlook your vanilla characters. While they don’t offer abilities, they make excellent Boost fodder, helping you power up your stronger cards when it matters most.
Gameplay tips and match strategy for Whispers in the Well prerelease
Once your deck is sleeved up and ready to go, it’s time to focus on how to play smart. Whispers in the Well sealed play is all about timing and resource management. Knowing when to commit to a Boost and when to hold back can be the difference between victory and overextending.
Manage your Boost wisely
Boost is a powerful mechanic, but it comes at a cost; you’re essentially “feeding” one card to empower another. Don’t rush into it just because you can. Make sure you’re getting real value out of your Boost effects, especially if they lead to board control or lore advantage. If you have cards that let you peek at the top of your deck before boosting, use them to make smarter sacrifices.
Know when to Quest and when to Challenge
Because so many cards in this set encourage aggressive plays or quick lore gain, board tempo matters more than ever. If you’re ahead on lore, it’s usually better to protect your characters and quest safely. If you’re behind, look for opportunities to challenge and reset the board, even if it means trading off some of your smaller characters.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ink Early
In sealed formats, you’re playing for consistency, not perfection. Even if you have a few flashy cards, it’s often better to ink something early to keep your turns active. Most games are decided by who keeps pressure on the board, not who hoards cards in hand waiting for a perfect play.
Read Your Opponent’s Board
Because Boost cards need other characters to feed them, watch what your opponent’s doing with their board. If they’re building up multiple low-cost characters, they might be setting up for a big Boost turn. Likewise, if they’re holding back ink or cards, expect some trick or removal.
Play Around Stone By Day and Resist
Some decks, especially Ruby or Steel builds, will slow down with Stone By Day effects or rely on Resist to grind you out. Against these, you’ll want to stay proactive — keep your board full, and don’t let them get comfortable behind defensive units.
Save Songs for Key Moments
There are a few impactful Songs in this set, and while they can be great tempo swings, timing is everything. Holding a Song until you can remove two or more characters (or trigger a big lore gain) often wins games outright.
Expect Slower Matches
With defensive cards, deck manipulation, and Boost-based builds, Whispers in the Well sealed games can go longer than usual. Don’t panic if your early turns feel slow — this set rewards players who can think a few turns ahead and pace their resources.
Final Thoughts
Whispers in the Well feels like a turning point for Disney Lorcana, not just because of its eerie atmosphere and characters, but because of how much depth the Boost mechanic adds to sealed play. This set rewards players who plan ahead, make smart sacrifices, and look for creative ways to get value out of every card — even the ones that end up “feeding” your stronger characters.
If you take anything away from this prerelease, it’s that adaptability wins games. The Boost mechanic changes how you think about your hand, your board, and your deck’s pacing. Whether you’re piloting an aggressive Amber/Emerald deck, a defensive Sapphire/Steel build, or testing a wild splash combination, focus on synergy and consistency over flash.
Most importantly, have fun. Prerelease events are about discovery — seeing new cards for the first time, testing interactions, and sharing excitement with other players. Even if your deck isn’t perfect, every match you play helps you learn the flow of the set and find what makes Whispers in the Well special.
Good luck at your prerelease, and may your Boosts always hit the right card! For more TCG content, check out our Riftbound review!
