Early trends shaping Whispers in the Well as players explore the season.
Whispers in the Well has now settled into its place in the Disney Lorcana landscape, and players across the community are exploring its themes, mechanics and new characters. Our previous article looked at the early meta impact and how the first ideas were beginning to form. Community deckbuilding, casual play and local events have since created a clearer sense of the strategies that players enjoy and the card combinations that appear repeatedly.
This article highlights those emerging trends. Rather than relying heavily on tournament rankings, it blends observations from competitive play with insights from community lists and popular conversation. The aim is to offer a balanced snapshot of how players are using cards from Whispers in the Well and how different inks and archetypes are taking shape. The format continues to evolve, so these trends reflect what is visible at this moment.
Decks Gaining Attention Across the Community
Several ink combinations have remained popular in both organised play and community deckbuilding. They appear frequently in shared lists, gameplay discussions and local testing. Each offers a different experience and draws on distinct strengths from Whispers in the Well.
Amethyst & Steel
Sapphire and Amethyst remain popular among players who enjoy planning ahead and developing long term advantage. These decks often feature Dumbo, Ninth Wonder of the Universe, alongside characters such as Belle, Accomplished Mystic and Ursula, Whisper of Vanessa.
These cards form value engines, which are repeated sources of card draw or filtering that help players maintain a full hand. Dumbo converts this resource advantage into board presence, making it an appealing centrepiece for lists that want a balance of patience and pressure. Community lists show many versions of this approach, suggesting players are still discovering how these tools fit together.
Sapphire & Amethyst value engines
Value focused lists built around Sapphire and Amethyst remain popular among players who enjoy careful planning and longer games. These decks often feature Dumbo, Ninth Wonder of the Universe alongside characters such as Belle, Accomplished Mystic and Ursula, Whisper of Vanessa.
These cards form value engines, which are repeated sources of card draw or filtering that keep options open throughout the game. Dumbo converts this resource advantage into board presence, making it an appealing centrepiece for players who want a balanced mix of patience and pressure. Community lists show many variations of this style, which suggests that players are still discovering how these tools fit together.
Ruby & Amethyst Evasive builds
Evasive strategies have become a noticeable part of community deckbuilding. Evasive characters can only be challenged by other Evasive characters, which can make them difficult to remove. Ruby and Amethyst Evasive decks use this mechanic to apply steady pressure from the early turns.
Cards such as Giant Cobra, Ghostly Serpent, Iago, Stompin Mad and Olaf, Helping Hand often form the early foundation. Ruby actions help maintain tempo, which refers to the pace at which a deck develops and forces opponents to respond. These decks appeal to players who prefer proactive strategies and enjoy the interplay between pressure and card advantage.
Emerald & Sapphire control
Control strategies remain part of the wider environment. Emerald and Sapphire lists rely on efficient interaction, steady draw and planned late game wins. Although they may not dominate discussions, they continue to appear across community platforms and offer a slower, more reactive approach for players who enjoy shaping the flow of the game.
Control players are also adjusting their tools to respond to Whisper glimmers, Boost and recurring threats. These adaptations keep the archetype relevant and show how the new set has encouraged rethinking of long established patterns.
Amber based tempo and aggro
Amber remains a natural home for tempo and aggressive strategies. These decks often use Tipo, Growing Son to establish early presence and keep opponents responding. Amber and Steel versions lean on direct interaction, while Amber and Emerald lists prefer clear and efficient combat.
Although not always the most visible archetype, aggro maintains a role in the environment and continues to appear in community lists where players enjoy a faster and more assertive playstyle.
Emerging Card Combinations and Synergies
As players test more games, several combinations from Whispers in the Well are becoming familiar reference points. These synergies help explain why certain cards attract continued interest.
Dumbo with draw and filtering
Dumbo, Ninth Wonder of the Universe is one of the most recognisable cards in the set. When paired with draw or filtering effects such as Belle or Ursula, Dumbo becomes an effective way to turn hand advantage into board pressure. This combination appears across many Sapphire and Amethyst lists and forms the backbone of popular engines.
Recurring threats supported by recursion
The Headless Horseman works naturally with Amethyst recursion tools. Decks that enjoy slower games benefit from threats that return from the discard pile and continue to influence the board. This synergy is noted in both competitive and casual settings and provides late game pressure without relying on a single turn.
Whisper glimmers and search effects
Whisper glimmers become stronger through Boost, which places cards beneath them for added strength. Support cards such as Belle or Ursula help players find these glimmers more consistently, making Whisper based strategies smoother and more reliable. As more players learn the rhythm of the mechanic, its value becomes clearer.
Evasive pressure supported by Ruby actions
In Evasive lists, Giant Cobra and Iago create early pressure, while Olaf helps maintain options. Ruby actions allow these decks to influence key combats and keep tempo in their favour. This combination is increasingly recognised as a simple and effective structure for fast paced play.
Tipo as a tempo anchor
Tipo has reappeared in a variety of tempo lists. Its efficient presence and ease of use make it suitable for strategies that rely on early initiative. Players who enjoy direct lines of play often include Tipo in their lists.
Subtle Shifts Since Fabled
The transition from Fabled into Whispers in the Well has brought several shifts in card usage. Some cards that were previously central now appear less often. Tiana’s Restaurant, once a key value card for Amber decks, is seen less frequently as players explore engines that provide quicker or more flexible benefits. Archazia’s Island cards also appear less often as item centred engines give way to Boost and Whisper strategies.
Meanwhile, cards such as Tipo and other early tempo tools have gained interest again. These shifts illustrate how rotation and new mechanics can reshape the environment and highlight different forms of strength.
Ongoing Exploration and Creativity
Despite visible patterns, the environment remains open. Community lists show experimentation with off meta ink pairs, hybrid approaches and unusual combinations. Many players continue to explore how Whisper glimmers fit into different strategies and how Boost can support ideas beyond the most common engines.
Whispers in the Well appears to encourage this type of creativity. The set provides a wide range of flexible tools, and players are actively learning how to combine them in ways that suit their preferred style of play.
Closing Thoughts
Whispers in the Well has established a varied and engaging environment. Popular strategies span value engines, Evasive pressure, midrange resilience, control and tempo. Impact cards such as Dumbo, Belle, The Headless Horseman, Giant Cobra and Tipo continue to guide deckbuilding, while the community explores the many directions made possible by the set’s mechanics.
This is an evolving moment rather than a fixed picture. As players continue to discover new synergies and refine their lists, the environment will shift further. Our next article will look back at Whispers in the Well as a whole and consider how it prepares the way for the next chapter in Disney Lorcana.
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