Interview: Brazillian Players at the DLC!
Get to Know the Experience of Rômulo Rocha and Larissa Cunha!
Hello, everyone!
This week, we saw that the São Paulo Disney Lorcana Challenge, held on April 25 and 26, is still “giving us a lot” and bringing back many wonderful memories.
At the same time, we are already preparing for another event on July 4 and 5, once again in the city of São Paulo, at Esperia Club!
Thinking about this “bridge” between the two events, today we are going to talk to people who experienced firsthand the wonderful experience of playing in a Disney Lorcana Challenge - and more than that, the experience of playing in an international-level event representing their country!
In today’s article, we are going to interview two Brazilian representatives who stood out at the April Disney Lorcana Challenge: Rômulo Rocha and Larissa Cunha!
For our interview, we asked our illustrious guests and Brazilian Illumineers to answer ten little questions, and with that we hope to show you how both challenging and rewarding it is to participate in such an important event as the Disney Lorcana Challenge, while also bringing some tips for those of you thinking about participating in the next Brazilian Challenge in July!
To start, please introduce yourselves and tell us a little about the team you are part of!
Rômulo: Hello! My name is Rômulo, I’m 25 years old, and I’ve been playing Disney Lorcana since the end of 2024. Currently, I play on a team formed by a Hobby Store in São Paulo.
Larissa: Hi, everyone! I’m Lari Cunha, a Disney Lorcana player from a team at a Hobby Store in São Paulo. I’m an engineer, I work with technology projects, and nowadays Disney Lorcana has become my weekly hobby. I live in the city of São Paulo, I’m 34 years old, and I’m a pet mom!
2. How did you discover Disney Lorcana, and what caught your attention about the game and made you want to focus more competitively on it?
Rômulo: I discovered Disney Lorcana through a Hobby Store that is officially part of the Ravensburger Play Hub program. They taught me how to play there, and I bought a deck to try it out. After opening several booster packs, the desire to dive deeper into the game came naturally, and since we were still at the “beginning,” everyone who frequented the store grew together with the game and its competitive scene.
Lari: I discovered Disney Lorcana at my dining table at home! (laughs) My husband has always been a fan of games, both physical and digital, while I was always the “arts” person. I like watercolor painting and crafts, and I used to do handmade projects to relax. I was always terrible at video games and similar things, until one day Augusto introduced me to a “Disney card game,” and I loved it. I think I had a certain prejudice against Trading Card Games, but the Disney theme softened me up, and I absolutely loved it.
For a long time, it was just the two of us playing at home, but then my husband started inviting me to play with the people at a Hobby Store officially part of the Ravensburger Play Hub program. I was very hesitant for two reasons: 1. I’m an only child and I don’t like losing (laughs) 2. My English isn’t very good, and I was afraid I wouldn’t understand cards I didn’t know.
When I got there, I had an incredible surprise: the Disney Lorcana community is amazing! People are patient, and they taught me so much. I learned terms and strategies that I didn’t even know existed. Today we have a new group of friends, and it goes far beyond the game itself.
The store owners started putting together a team to play more competitively, and at first I felt like refusing because I didn’t think I was a good player, but one of them told me something that really stuck with me: “Lari, we are a group of people who like playing and spending time together, and that’s the purpose of the team.” With that encouragement, I accepted and started playing more frequently and participating in tournaments. Even today, whenever I start putting too much pressure on myself, I remember those words and go back to having fun.
3. Which deck did you play at the DLC and why did you choose it?
Rômulo: I played Steelsong (Amber/Steel), because I was pretty uncomfortable with the idea of facing several Emerald/Sapphire mirror matches at the DLC. The funny part is that I didn’t face a single one at the DLC.
Lari: I played an Amethyst/Steel Midrange deck. I had just started practicing with the deck when the DLC arrived, but I made that choice because I really like “middle-of-the-road” decks, and among the most prominent decks, this one is always on the list. I think it’s a fun list with a little bit of a “surprise factor” for the opponent, who never knows whether they should play around a Giant Cobra or a Doc.
4. How were your matches at the DLC? Was there any match that was especially exciting or memorable for you?
Rômulo: My matches at the DLC were really interesting, and for the most part I managed to face good matchups. I faced some “Dogs” and Amethyst/Steel decks in the early rounds of the tournament, which allowed me to get off to a good start. The most memorable matches were in the seventh round, against Sky (Note: Schuyler Duntz, North American player), where I beat the guy who created the list I brought to the DLC! And in the eleventh round, where I faced Renan on stream and managed to perform well even in an unfavorable matchup.
Lari: I started the DLC playing against a control deck and thought: “Am I really going to lose in the very first round?” It was a good match and I managed to turn the game around! Then came 3 matches in a row where I won 2-0. It was unbelievable when I found myself at table 1, sitting between two professional players, one of them being the current world champion. I think that was the moment I realized I was actually doing well. But without a doubt, the most memorable match was the one I played on stream. I was very nervous and made some mistakes, but even so, I was proud of my result because I played well against a player who already had a strong history in other DLCs. He needed a true miracle to win the second game, and as we know, luck is also an important factor in the game. It was incredible and unforgettable.
5. What was your result at the São Paulo DLC? How do you evaluate that result?
Rômulo: I finished in 24th place. I believe it was a very good result considering it was my first DLC, and I managed to play on equal footing with several of the best players in the world.
Lari: I finished the tournament with 5 wins and 3 losses, in 66th place. I was the highest-ranked woman in the tournament and, by a very small margin, I didn’t make it to day two. I evaluate this result as something very, very meaningful and special. It showed me that it’s never too late to learn something new!
6. We know that the São Paulo Challenge had not only members of the Brazilian community, but also representatives from several countries around the world. What was it like playing against people from other countries? Was communication smooth?
Rômulo: It was great to see how more experienced players view the game. During the tournament we joked that it was “Disney Lorcana 2,” because they have a very different approach. As for communication, it was super smooth. My English isn’t perfect, but everyone was always attentive and made an effort to make communication happen.
Lari: Playing against foreigners was much easier than I imagined. In the game itself, not that much communication is necessary, and in any case, everyone was super nice to me - with some of them we even talked after the matches and became friends. The players from Peru are very friendly and similar to Brazilians. The North American players are a little more reserved, but equally kind and patient.
7. What would you change in your deck if you could “go back in time”? Or would you choose another deck?
Rômulo: I would have included one Lilo - Best Explorer Ever. During the week, I thought a lot about adding her, but I had already submitted my list, and if I started changing it, I’m sure I wouldn’t have stopped. In the end, I missed having her.
Lari: I think I would include 4 Pete - Games Referee (prevents the opponent from using actions on the following turn). I think it could catch opponents off guard, since it’s not very common in my list and would force opponents to rethink their strategy. However, the list I used is very consistent, almost never bricks, and provides many answers for different situations. Now that the new set is arriving, maybe there will be room to fit in new cards to test.
8. How is your preparation going for the next São Paulo DLC, on July 4-5?
Rômulo: Right now, I’ve been testing some decks with cards from Wilds Unknown, but I’m still not sure what I’m bringing to the next DLC.
Lari: Oh my gooood! It’s already coming up! I need to choose my new list and start practicing. I want to do just as well as I did in the first edition, but above all, I want to have fun. The atmosphere of the DLC is very unique, and I’m excited to play.
9. What advice would you give to someone who wants to practice and become more competitive in Disney Lorcana?
Rômulo: I would say the most important thing is to learn to enjoy the game. Play some weekly leagues, some sealed events, and let your interest in the game grow naturally.
Lari: Now that the game is becoming more popular, there is plenty of online content teaching people how to play, as well as a large Illumineer community on social media. All of that helps a lot. But I think the biggest tip I can give is: have an in-person community - whether at stores or with your friends. Real interaction helps a lot when training for something more competitive and gives you more confidence. If you live close to a store, don’t forget to support it! Oh, and don’t get discouraged if the results aren’t what you expected at first - losing can be frustrating, but it’s also part of the journey.
10. To finish, what is your favorite ink and favorite card?
Rômulo: Honestly, choosing a favorite ink is difficult because I really like both Amber and Sapphire… but I think I’ll go with Amber. As for my favorite card, that’s very easy: Aurora - Dreaming Guardian from The First Chapter. I simply love the protection she offers.
Lari: Without a doubt, Amethyst! I love the green/purple combination, and every set I hope it becomes a competitive deck again, but even when I switch, I always end up going back to purple at the end of the day. I like the card interactions, the draw mechanics, and the damage-moving abilities.
As for my favorite card, it’s really hard to choose because I love several of them, but maybe the one that brings me the most memories from the game is Madam Mim - Fox from Rise of the Floodborn. I started playing with a deck that used that card, and I didn’t understand why people said it was strong since I had to remove one of my own cards from the board when I played her. But once I understood it, I never wanted to play without her again. I really miss that set and hope it gets reprinted someday.
Everyone, thank you so much for participating in this interview and sharing so many cool things with us! We hope that very soon, in July, we’ll have many more stories to tell and celebrate about our beloved Disney Lorcana!
Rômulo: I really want to thank you for the opportunity to do this interview, and I’d like to encourage everyone who has the chance to participate in events at their local store. The community that has been created there is certainly what I love most about this game!
Lari: Everyone, thank you so much for the space. I hope this interview brings readers closer to the game, or for those who have never played, that it inspires the desire to try something new. Play with friends, play with your partners, create new habits that help relieve the stress of everyday life.
Lastly, I want to leave a special thank you here for Ana Cariane, who is one of the people strengthening the women’s community in the game. It was very much thanks to Ana’s example and support that I played in my first DLC!
Once again, thank you so very much to our Illumineers for sharing so much with us here! And to you, thank you very much for following along and enjoying our interview!
Very soon we’ll return with a complete metagame analysis of our first São Paulo Disney Lorcana Challenge! Hugs, and see you then!
This week, we saw that the São Paulo Disney Lorcana Challenge, held on April 25 and 26, is still “giving us a lot” and bringing back many wonderful memories.
At the same time, we are already preparing for another event on July 4 and 5, once again in the city of São Paulo, at Esperia Club!
Thinking about this “bridge” between the two events, today we are going to talk to people who experienced firsthand the wonderful experience of playing in a Disney Lorcana Challenge - and more than that, the experience of playing in an international-level event representing their country!
In today’s article, we are going to interview two Brazilian representatives who stood out at the April Disney Lorcana Challenge: Rômulo Rocha and Larissa Cunha!
GIVING A VOICE TO THE ILLUMINEERS!!
For our interview, we asked our illustrious guests and Brazilian Illumineers to answer ten little questions, and with that we hope to show you how both challenging and rewarding it is to participate in such an important event as the Disney Lorcana Challenge, while also bringing some tips for those of you thinking about participating in the next Brazilian Challenge in July!
To start, please introduce yourselves and tell us a little about the team you are part of!
Rômulo: Hello! My name is Rômulo, I’m 25 years old, and I’ve been playing Disney Lorcana since the end of 2024. Currently, I play on a team formed by a Hobby Store in São Paulo.
Larissa: Hi, everyone! I’m Lari Cunha, a Disney Lorcana player from a team at a Hobby Store in São Paulo. I’m an engineer, I work with technology projects, and nowadays Disney Lorcana has become my weekly hobby. I live in the city of São Paulo, I’m 34 years old, and I’m a pet mom!
2. How did you discover Disney Lorcana, and what caught your attention about the game and made you want to focus more competitively on it?
Rômulo: I discovered Disney Lorcana through a Hobby Store that is officially part of the Ravensburger Play Hub program. They taught me how to play there, and I bought a deck to try it out. After opening several booster packs, the desire to dive deeper into the game came naturally, and since we were still at the “beginning,” everyone who frequented the store grew together with the game and its competitive scene.
Lari: I discovered Disney Lorcana at my dining table at home! (laughs) My husband has always been a fan of games, both physical and digital, while I was always the “arts” person. I like watercolor painting and crafts, and I used to do handmade projects to relax. I was always terrible at video games and similar things, until one day Augusto introduced me to a “Disney card game,” and I loved it. I think I had a certain prejudice against Trading Card Games, but the Disney theme softened me up, and I absolutely loved it.
For a long time, it was just the two of us playing at home, but then my husband started inviting me to play with the people at a Hobby Store officially part of the Ravensburger Play Hub program. I was very hesitant for two reasons: 1. I’m an only child and I don’t like losing (laughs) 2. My English isn’t very good, and I was afraid I wouldn’t understand cards I didn’t know.
When I got there, I had an incredible surprise: the Disney Lorcana community is amazing! People are patient, and they taught me so much. I learned terms and strategies that I didn’t even know existed. Today we have a new group of friends, and it goes far beyond the game itself.
The store owners started putting together a team to play more competitively, and at first I felt like refusing because I didn’t think I was a good player, but one of them told me something that really stuck with me: “Lari, we are a group of people who like playing and spending time together, and that’s the purpose of the team.” With that encouragement, I accepted and started playing more frequently and participating in tournaments. Even today, whenever I start putting too much pressure on myself, I remember those words and go back to having fun.
3. Which deck did you play at the DLC and why did you choose it?
Rômulo: I played Steelsong (Amber/Steel), because I was pretty uncomfortable with the idea of facing several Emerald/Sapphire mirror matches at the DLC. The funny part is that I didn’t face a single one at the DLC.
Lari: I played an Amethyst/Steel Midrange deck. I had just started practicing with the deck when the DLC arrived, but I made that choice because I really like “middle-of-the-road” decks, and among the most prominent decks, this one is always on the list. I think it’s a fun list with a little bit of a “surprise factor” for the opponent, who never knows whether they should play around a Giant Cobra or a Doc.
4. How were your matches at the DLC? Was there any match that was especially exciting or memorable for you?
Rômulo: My matches at the DLC were really interesting, and for the most part I managed to face good matchups. I faced some “Dogs” and Amethyst/Steel decks in the early rounds of the tournament, which allowed me to get off to a good start. The most memorable matches were in the seventh round, against Sky (Note: Schuyler Duntz, North American player), where I beat the guy who created the list I brought to the DLC! And in the eleventh round, where I faced Renan on stream and managed to perform well even in an unfavorable matchup.
Lari: I started the DLC playing against a control deck and thought: “Am I really going to lose in the very first round?” It was a good match and I managed to turn the game around! Then came 3 matches in a row where I won 2-0. It was unbelievable when I found myself at table 1, sitting between two professional players, one of them being the current world champion. I think that was the moment I realized I was actually doing well. But without a doubt, the most memorable match was the one I played on stream. I was very nervous and made some mistakes, but even so, I was proud of my result because I played well against a player who already had a strong history in other DLCs. He needed a true miracle to win the second game, and as we know, luck is also an important factor in the game. It was incredible and unforgettable.
5. What was your result at the São Paulo DLC? How do you evaluate that result?
Rômulo: I finished in 24th place. I believe it was a very good result considering it was my first DLC, and I managed to play on equal footing with several of the best players in the world.
Lari: I finished the tournament with 5 wins and 3 losses, in 66th place. I was the highest-ranked woman in the tournament and, by a very small margin, I didn’t make it to day two. I evaluate this result as something very, very meaningful and special. It showed me that it’s never too late to learn something new!
6. We know that the São Paulo Challenge had not only members of the Brazilian community, but also representatives from several countries around the world. What was it like playing against people from other countries? Was communication smooth?
Rômulo: It was great to see how more experienced players view the game. During the tournament we joked that it was “Disney Lorcana 2,” because they have a very different approach. As for communication, it was super smooth. My English isn’t perfect, but everyone was always attentive and made an effort to make communication happen.
Lari: Playing against foreigners was much easier than I imagined. In the game itself, not that much communication is necessary, and in any case, everyone was super nice to me - with some of them we even talked after the matches and became friends. The players from Peru are very friendly and similar to Brazilians. The North American players are a little more reserved, but equally kind and patient.
7. What would you change in your deck if you could “go back in time”? Or would you choose another deck?
Rômulo: I would have included one Lilo - Best Explorer Ever. During the week, I thought a lot about adding her, but I had already submitted my list, and if I started changing it, I’m sure I wouldn’t have stopped. In the end, I missed having her.
Lari: I think I would include 4 Pete - Games Referee (prevents the opponent from using actions on the following turn). I think it could catch opponents off guard, since it’s not very common in my list and would force opponents to rethink their strategy. However, the list I used is very consistent, almost never bricks, and provides many answers for different situations. Now that the new set is arriving, maybe there will be room to fit in new cards to test.
8. How is your preparation going for the next São Paulo DLC, on July 4-5?
Rômulo: Right now, I’ve been testing some decks with cards from Wilds Unknown, but I’m still not sure what I’m bringing to the next DLC.
Lari: Oh my gooood! It’s already coming up! I need to choose my new list and start practicing. I want to do just as well as I did in the first edition, but above all, I want to have fun. The atmosphere of the DLC is very unique, and I’m excited to play.
9. What advice would you give to someone who wants to practice and become more competitive in Disney Lorcana?
Rômulo: I would say the most important thing is to learn to enjoy the game. Play some weekly leagues, some sealed events, and let your interest in the game grow naturally.
Lari: Now that the game is becoming more popular, there is plenty of online content teaching people how to play, as well as a large Illumineer community on social media. All of that helps a lot. But I think the biggest tip I can give is: have an in-person community - whether at stores or with your friends. Real interaction helps a lot when training for something more competitive and gives you more confidence. If you live close to a store, don’t forget to support it! Oh, and don’t get discouraged if the results aren’t what you expected at first - losing can be frustrating, but it’s also part of the journey.
10. To finish, what is your favorite ink and favorite card?
Rômulo: Honestly, choosing a favorite ink is difficult because I really like both Amber and Sapphire… but I think I’ll go with Amber. As for my favorite card, that’s very easy: Aurora - Dreaming Guardian from The First Chapter. I simply love the protection she offers.
Lari: Without a doubt, Amethyst! I love the green/purple combination, and every set I hope it becomes a competitive deck again, but even when I switch, I always end up going back to purple at the end of the day. I like the card interactions, the draw mechanics, and the damage-moving abilities.
As for my favorite card, it’s really hard to choose because I love several of them, but maybe the one that brings me the most memories from the game is Madam Mim - Fox from Rise of the Floodborn. I started playing with a deck that used that card, and I didn’t understand why people said it was strong since I had to remove one of my own cards from the board when I played her. But once I understood it, I never wanted to play without her again. I really miss that set and hope it gets reprinted someday.
FAREWELL? NO! “SEE YOU SOON…”
Everyone, thank you so much for participating in this interview and sharing so many cool things with us! We hope that very soon, in July, we’ll have many more stories to tell and celebrate about our beloved Disney Lorcana!
Rômulo: I really want to thank you for the opportunity to do this interview, and I’d like to encourage everyone who has the chance to participate in events at their local store. The community that has been created there is certainly what I love most about this game!
Lari: Everyone, thank you so much for the space. I hope this interview brings readers closer to the game, or for those who have never played, that it inspires the desire to try something new. Play with friends, play with your partners, create new habits that help relieve the stress of everyday life.
Lastly, I want to leave a special thank you here for Ana Cariane, who is one of the people strengthening the women’s community in the game. It was very much thanks to Ana’s example and support that I played in my first DLC!
Once again, thank you so very much to our Illumineers for sharing so much with us here! And to you, thank you very much for following along and enjoying our interview!
Very soon we’ll return with a complete metagame analysis of our first São Paulo Disney Lorcana Challenge! Hugs, and see you then!
