Wilds Unknown went live on May 8, 2026 as Disney Lorcana's twelfth expansion. Four weeks into the new format, Amethyst/Sapphire Evasive sits on top with roughly 23% meta share, while Amber/Emerald aggressive shells continue to define tier 1. The standard rotation spans 8 sets right now, and that count drops back to 4 when Autumn 2026 hits.
- Wilds Unknown (Set 12) released May 8, 2026, the most recent Lorcana expansion
- Amethyst/Sapphire Evasive holds the top deck slot at roughly 23% meta share
- Standard format currently includes 8 sets, from Reign of Jafar through Wilds Unknown
- Autumn 2026 rotation will drop 4 sets (Shimmering Skies, Azurite Sea, Archazia's Island, Reign of Jafar) when Attack of the Vines releases
- Winterspell (Feb 2026, Set 11) introduced the Boost mechanic that still shapes evasive and control strategies
- Hyperia City (Set 14) is slated for Q4 2026, closing out the year
Sources: lorcana.gg tier list and rotation guides, cardchill Lorcana meta coverage, official Disney Lorcana announcements.
Tier list: where each ink pair sits
| Tier | Archetype | Meta share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Amethyst/Sapphire Evasive | ~23% | Leverages evasive characters and powerful locations; reigning post-rotation top deck |
| S | Amber/Emerald Aggro | tier 1 | Fast lore race with disruption package, established carryover from prior format |
| A | Amethyst/Steel Challengers | tier 1-2 | Action-heavy, quest completion focus, board control via Challenger keyword |
| A | Amber/Emerald Dogs | tier 1-2 | Tribal package with fast pressure and disruption tools |
| A | Sapphire/Steel Ramp | tier 2 | Inkwell acceleration into late-game finishers; slow start, heavy payoff |
| B | Emerald/Steel Tempo | tier 2 | Mid-cost defensive shell, flexible matchups, post-rotation lower tier |
| B | Ruby/Amethyst Control | carryover | Classic control archetype, less dominant post-Wilds Unknown |
| B | Amber/Amethyst Aggro-Lore | carryover | Lore race with protected questers, viable but contested |
Meta share percentages are approximate, drawn from community tournament aggregation across April and May 2026. Exact win rates per archetype shift weekly as new lists publish, so treat the percentages as directional rather than precise.
What Wilds Unknown changed
Wilds Unknown is Set 12, the second set of 2026, and its impact on the meta is still consolidating. Early lists from the first month favor the Amethyst/Sapphire pairing, which leverages the new evasive support alongside locations that anchor the late game. The Boost mechanic introduced in Winterspell (February 2026) continues to define the format's tempo, and Wilds Unknown didn't reset that dynamic.
On the aggressive side, Amber/Emerald continues to be the second pillar of the format. The ink pair pressures opponents on lore early and packs disruption to keep slower decks honest. Amber/Emerald Dogs, a tribal sub-archetype, has held tier 1-2 status across multiple recent meta reports.
Amethyst/Steel Challengers represents the third major shell: action-heavy lists that close games by forcing favorable combat through the Challenger keyword. It's slightly behind Evasive in popularity but has performed in regional top cuts.
The standard format right now
Lorcana's rotation cycle removes the four oldest sets each Autumn when the third set of the calendar year drops. As of June 2026, eight sets are legal:
| Set | Code | Released | Rotation status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reign of Jafar | Set 8 | May 30, 2025 | Rotates Autumn 2026 |
| Fabled | Set 9 | Aug 29, 2025 | First Autumn rotation entry |
| Whispers in the Well | Set 10 | Nov 7, 2025 | Introduced Boost mechanic |
| Winterspell | Set 11 | Feb 13, 2026 | Shaped current evasive/control meta |
| Wilds Unknown | Set 12 | May 8, 2026 | Current latest expansion |
| Shimmering Skies | Set 6 | Nov 2024 | Rotates Autumn 2026 |
| Azurite Sea | Set 5 | Aug 2024 | Rotates Autumn 2026 |
| Archazia's Island | Set 7 | Mar 7, 2025 | Dual-ink and Vanish mechanics, rotates Autumn 2026 |
The Autumn 2026 rotation drops these four sets when Attack of the Vines (Set 13) releases:
- Shimmering Skies
- Azurite Sea
- Archazia's Island
- Reign of Jafar
After that rotation, standard returns to roughly 5 sets: Fabled, Whispers in the Well, Winterspell, Wilds Unknown, and Attack of the Vines. Hyperia City (Set 14) is on the Q4 2026 release schedule and will become the 6th legal set when it arrives.
What to watch through summer 2026
Three open questions will define the next two months before Attack of the Vines forces another reshuffle.
- Whether Amethyst/Sapphire Evasive holds its 23% share or whether a fresh Wilds Unknown shell finds traction in the regional cycle
- How much equity Ruby-based control decks have left now that the post-rotation meta favors evasive tempo lines and tribal aggression
- Whether the Boost mechanic from Winterspell continues to be the format's dominant text or gets crowded out by Wilds Unknown's still-unfolding tools
Real tournament data from May and June 2026 store championships will refine the tier table above. Until those results aggregate, the rankings here reflect the consensus from community meta reports and the most recent regional finishes.
Attack of the Vines drops in Autumn 2026 and the cycle resets. Until then, Wilds Unknown is the set defining play.