Disney Lorcana · Set 2 Starter Deck
Rise of the Floodborn Amethyst & Steel: Upgrade Guide
Merlin and Tiana lead a deck that returns its own characters to hand to replay their abilities, with Tiana shutting off actions.
At a glance
Amethyst & Steel · Bounce for value
How it plays out of the box
This deck plays characters with abilities on entry, then picks them back up to play again. Madam Mim returning Merlin - Goat is the classic loop: Merlin gains lore leaving and lore coming back. Merlin - Shapeshifter quests for more on the turns you do it.
It's the hardest of the early starters to play well. Every loop costs ink, so it's easy to spend a whole turn replaying characters and fall behind an opponent who just quests. Tiana's lock is strong, but emptying your hand on purpose takes planning.
The cards on the box
Merlin - Shapeshifter
Rise of the Floodborn #53
Gets +1 lore this turn whenever another of your characters returns to your hand.
Tiana - Celebrating Princess
Rise of the Floodborn #196
Resist +2. While she's exerted and your hand is empty, opponents can't play actions.
Other cards to know
Madam Mim - Snake
Rise of the Floodborn #49
When played, banish her or return another of your characters to your hand.
Merlin - Goat
Rise of the Floodborn #51
Gain 1 lore when he's played and when he leaves play.
Mouse Armor
Rise of the Floodborn #203
Exert to give a character Resist +1 until your next turn.
The rating: power 2, difficulty 4
Clever loops that cost a lot of ink to run, so it often falls behind simpler decks.
Both numbers are TurnZero HQ's own editorial read, not an official Ravensburger rating. Power compares the deck out of the box against the other starter decks, not against a tuned tournament list. Difficulty is how much the deck asks of the person playing it.
What to cut first
Cut the characters with no ability on entry, since they gain nothing from being replayed. Keep every Madam Mim and Merlin - Goat.
A Lorcana deck needs at least 60 cards, no more than 4 copies of a card with the same full name, and at most two inks, so every card you add means one you take out. The deck building rules →
Upgrade direction 1: Amethyst and Steel villains
The newer Amethyst and Steel cards reward a different plan: Villain characters that protect each other and draw cards. Diablo makes your Villains impossible to challenge while he's exerted.
Maleficent & Diablo - Evil Incarnate
Attack of the Vine! #63
A dual-ink Amethyst and Steel character that draws a card whenever it exerts on your turn.
Diablo - Stone Servant
Wilds Unknown #196
Bigger with a Villain in play, and protects your Villains from challenges while exerted.
Cheshire Cat - Inexplicable
Whispers in the Well #60
Moves damage onto opposing characters each time you Boost him.
Strength of a Raging Fire
Fabled #201
Removal that scales with the number of characters you have.
Upgrade direction 2: Evasive tempo
Pair Amethyst's Evasive characters with Steel's removal. Clear the characters that could block, then quest past the rest.
Sven - Leaping Reindeer
Winterspell #60
Rush, Evasive and Challenger +3: he can remove a character the turn he's played.
The Magic Feather
Fabled #64
Gives one of your characters Evasive while it stays in play.
Angela - Night Warrior
Winterspell #187
Challenger +2 and Resist +2 for a character when played.
Windstorm
Attack of the Vine! #203
Punishes opposing Evasive characters, the ones that can challenge yours.
Core or Infinity
As of October 2026, this deck is not legal in Core Constructed as sold, because Core uses sets 9 (Fabled) onward. A card counts as Core-legal when any printing with its full name is, so the cards from this box that were reprinted in Fabled or later can still be played there. The whole deck is legal in Infinity Constructed, which allows every set, and at any kitchen table.
Every upgrade pick on this page is from set 9 or later, so all of them are Core-legal. Core Constructed vs. Infinity →
Buying the sealed deck? Search TCGplayer for the Amethyst & Steel deck → The link goes through our TCGplayer affiliate link; see our affiliate disclosure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Merlin and Tiana starter deck hard to play?
It's one of the harder starters. The bounce loops are fun, but you have to count your ink each turn to avoid falling behind. Play a few games with it before judging it.
Does Tiana's ability stop songs?
Yes. Songs are actions, so while Tiana is exerted and you have no cards in hand, opponents can't play songs either.
Build the upgraded deck in TurnZero HQ.
Add the deck to the Deck Lab, make your swaps, and it checks the list against Core Constructed or Infinity as you go. Publish it to share the link. Free to start.
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