Table of Contents
Introduction
Welcome to Lorcana.gg's weekly meta report! Each week we analyze the state of the meta using data from the previous week of online and tournament play. Our tier list is updated with the latest data, while this meta report will go over what it all means, as well as highlighting some particularly strong and interesting decks in each archetype.
The tier list is separated into three tiers. Tier 1 has the strongest decks that boast a high meta share (percentage of games played) and multiple top 8 performances in major tournaments. Tier 2 and Tier 3 decks are a notch below the top tier, with these decks usually having one or two weaknesses keeping them from dominating the meta.
Meta Overview
The tier list has clearly separated into two distinct tiers. In tier 1 we have the top 5 decks, all with more than double the meta share of the second tier and most with multiple top 8s to their name. In tier 2, we have the rest of the decks, with much lower meta shares across the board. With the way the meta shares have stacked up, it's not really accurate to say there is a third tier, so we'll just list the two for now.
Amber/Steel Steelsongs maintains its top spot in the meta for the week with a tiny lead in meta share. It also managed the most top 8s for the week. Amethyst/Ruby Bounce Control is holding onto the number two spot but its top 8 number keeps falling week-over-week. To be honest, this is not really an indictment on the deck itself though, as it is still very good. To me, it seems to signal that players are getting more comfortable taking something OTHER than Amethyst/Ruby into major tournaments.
Elsewhere in tier 1, Emerald/Steel Control continues to pull away from the Emerald/Steel Bucky Discard deck. As we noted last week, part of this may be due to how Pixelborn is tracking the decks but the main takeaway here is that Emerald/Steel is a very flexible pairing that can be built in multiple different ways. Ruby/Sapphire Pawpsicle and Sapphire/Steel Ramp round out the top tier, with Pawpsicle surprisingly getting a goose egg in top 8s for the week.
In tier 2, each deck may have lower meta share but the majority of the decks managed at least 1 top 8 on the week. The only exceptions being the Amethyst/Steel Tempo and Amber/Amethyst Hyper Aggro decks. It's looking like a pretty wide open meta and that can only be a good thing as we head into the Set Championships.
Onto the tier list!
Tier List
| Tier | Deck Name | Meta Share | Win Rate | Top 8s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 |   Amber/Steel Steelsongs | 12.1% | 50.0% | 4 |
  Amethyst/Ruby Bounce Control | 12.0% | 49.7% | 3 | |
 Emerald/Steel Control | 10.3% | 50.1% | 1 | |
 Ruby/Sapphire Pawpsicle Control | 9.1% | 49.4% | 0 | |
| Sapphire/Steel Ramp Wheel | 8.4% | 50.5% | 2 | |
| Tier 2 | Amber/Ruby Red Mufasa | 4.2% | 50.8% | 2 |
| Amethyst/Emerald Tempo | 4.1% | 50.1% | 3 | |
| Amethyst/Steel Tempo | 3.9% | 50.0% | 0 | |
| Amethyst/Steel Jafar Wheel | 3.1% | 50.4% | 1 | |
| Emerald/Steel Bucky Discard | 3.0% | 49.8% | 1 | |
| Amber/Amethyst Hyper Aggro | 2.7% | 49.9% | 0 |
top 8s are from tournaments with 40+ players between Apr 02 - 08
Tier 1
Amber/Steel Steelsongs
Amber/Steel Steelsongs is number one on the tier list for the second week running. It's got the highest meta share and also the most top 8s for the week. As we noted in our deck guide, it's a very flexible midrange deck that has no real weak matchups and can go fast against slow decks and slow against fast decks. As such, I expect it to remain quite strong and popular for the rest of the Inklands meta.
One of the top 8s for Steelsongs this week was this deck from Arthur Chambin, which landed a top 4 spot in the largest offline Lorcana tournament to date. This list is very interesting in that it cuts the ubiquitous Beast - Tragic Hero and instead runs two little-seen Simbas: Simba - Fighting Prince and Simba - Rightful King.
Guide:
Amethyst/Ruby Bounce Control
Amethyst/Ruby Bounce Control holds onto its number two ranking on the tier list, although it is pushing for the top spot again. Recently, we've seen a version of the deck that brings back the Jim Hawkins - Space Traveler and Location package to some success.
This list from Geoffry Aubry shows off the new version of the deck, which is sort of an old version too, since it was popular at the start of the Inklands meta. This list managed a top 8 at the large French tournament. Surprisingly, the deck only runs two copies of The Queen's Castle - Mirror Chamber while going with a full playset of Agrabah - Marketplace.
Guide:
Emerald/Steel Control
The Emerald/Steel lists continue to see a lot of experimentation and changes. There is aggro discard, Bucky control discard, non-Bucky control discard and just straight-up control. The color combo has a lot of flexibility. The aggro list has seen a spike in popularity of late, with the Bucky lists falling down, but that may all change by next week.
This version of the deck from Gaël Paris, which came top 8 in the French tourney, sort of straddles the line between control and aggro discard. It has a pretty fast early game but cards like Pete - Bad Guy and Tinker Bell - Giant Fairy let it compete well into the mid and late game.
Ruby/Sapphire Pawpsicle Control
After topping the board in top 8s last week, Pawpsicle Control has none to its name this week. We are still waiting on some results to matriculate online from this weekend though, so that may change. Despite all that, the deck is certainly tournament viable and will continue to be so as long as Lucky Dime is around.
This deck from ooangelinaoo is the best performing Pawpsicle deck of this week, as it came in the top 16 of a 159-player tournament in Poland. With 4 Tamatoa - So Shiny!, 3 Gaston - Intellectual Powerhouse, and 2 Belle - Strange but Special, the deck has plenty of Dime targets.
Sapphire/Steel Ramp Wheel
The other Lucky Dime powered deck, Sapphire/Steel Ramp Wheel rounds out the first tier. This deck might not be as popular as the top couple decks but it still consistently manages to land a handful of top 8s each week. It's a strong option.
This list from Mollerz landed in the top 8 of the Lorcana Quest Tour #1 tournament in Poland. With Benja - Guardian of the Dragon Gem, Beast - Hardheaded and Rise of the Titans this deck is well-positioned to beat the Lucky Dime mirrors.
Tier 2
Amber/Ruby Red Mufasa
The Red Mufasa deck is once again at the top of tier 2 and while it didn't see much of a change in meta share this week, it did land a couple top 8 spots. It's a deck that is a bit linear to play, and that may be why we aren't seeing high-level players flocking to it, but it is still quite solid.
Our deck highlight for the week is this one from Pendżi, which was another top 8 finisher from Poland. This Mufasa deck goes all-in with lots of great roulette wheel results for Mufasa to land on, although it also has a tiny chance to brick completely thanks to Teeth and Ambitions.
Amethyst/Emerald Tempo
Amethyst/Emerald Tempo may be down in tier 2 but the deck is clearly no slouch as it managed three top 8 spots this week. That includes an undefeated run and a first place finish for this deck in the largest in-person Lorcana tournament to date.
This list from Kevin Chiche went 10-0-2 in its first place showing at Tournoi Ludotrotter Aulnay in France. There aren't many decks that can keep up with the early game pace of this deck and then cards like The Queen's Castle - Mirror Chamber and Merlin - Goat help to close things out in the late game.
Report:
Amethyst/Steel Tempo
The other tempo deck on our tier list is the Amethyst/Steel Tempo deck. This one has had some surprise tournament finishes of late, but nothing to speak of this week.
The nice thing about this deck archetype is that it can be built pretty cheaply. Here is a competitive but affordable list from QuantumMercury. And the most expensive card in this list, Madam Mim - Purple Dragon, is probably cuttable and you could run an additional copy each of Yzma - Scary Beyond All Reason and Simba - Fighting Prince instead to make it even cheaper.
Amethyst/Steel Jafar Wheel
We are over a month into the Inklands meta and it's safe to say that the predictions of Jafar - Striking Illusionist being completely broken were off-the-mark. He's a very powerful card, for sure, but to truly break him requires a not-always-consistent combination of Shifting and then singing A Whole New World with him. He is actually surprisingly balanced.
The deck, despite not being too consistent, is one that can always surprise at a tournament and land in the top 8. This list from Vixcious managed a top 4 in a 42-player tournament in France. This is the first Jafar list I've seen that runs Elsa - Spirit of Winter and honestly, it's not a bad fallback option for when you haven't managed to get the combo off and you are in a control battle.
Emerald/Steel Bucky Discard
Once the top choice of Emerald/Steel players, Bucky - Squirrel Squeak Tutor has fallen out of favor. The deck archetype built around this little guy has lost its luster and now languishes at the bottom of the tier list.
That being said, the deck did manage to get a top 8 this week. In fact, it came in 2nd place in the huge French tournament. Maybe this can be the start of a resurgence for our squirrel friend? Here is the deck list, from Olivier "Rofellos" Arnold.
Amber/Amethyst Hyper Aggro
Amber/Amethyst Aggro keeps clinging to the bottom of the tier list. As we've harped on week after week now, the deck isn't really a viable tournament option. But I guess if you just want to grind a lot of games on ladder, the deck does go super fast and can get you in and out of matches quickly. The deck also seems viable at a small tournament level, so it might be something you can take to locals.
Much like Amethyst/Steel Tempo, the deck can also be built quite cheaply. So if you are searching for a budget option, this could be one to look at. Here is an example list that is under $75 total.
Conclusion
And that's the meta report for the week. We can see a clear delineation between the top decks and everything else. But even still, the rest of the pack is still capable of performing, both online and in tournaments. The Lorcana meta feels like it is in a good place as we head into the Set Championships.
Until next week, good luck and have fun!
