Ruby Sapphire vs Emerald Steel: Which Lorcana Starter Deck?
By Super Anime Store | Published: 2026-10-29
Category: Comparisons
Compare Disney Lorcana's Into the Inklands Ruby & Sapphire deck with Shimmering Skies Emerald & Steel. Find out which prebuilt 60-card deck suits your playstyle and budget.
Quick answer
Choose the Into the Inklands Ruby & Sapphire starter deck if you want a lower price and a different ink-based theme; pick the Shimmering Skies Emerald & Steel deck if you prefer the Shimmering Skies card pool and don't mind spending a bit more.
What these starter decks have in common
Both are ready-to-play 60-card decks from Team Lorcana, designed for new players or anyone who wants a tested decklist without building from scratch. Each includes two foil cards and follows the same basic structure.
Where they differ
The Ruby & Sapphire deck (Into the Inklands) released in February 2024 and currently costs about USD 10.70, while the Emerald & Steel deck (Shimmering Skies) launched in August 2024 and is priced around USD 11.38. The card pool and ink colors differ between sets, so the play experience will vary.
Trade-offs at a glance
- Price: The Into the Inklands deck is about USD 0.68 cheaper than the Shimmering Skies deck.
- Card pool: Each deck draws from its own set; the Shimmering Skies deck includes cards from a later release, which may offer different strategies. Check the specific card lists if you are building a collection around a particular set.
- Release date: The Shimmering Skies deck is newer (August 2024 vs February 2024), so it may align with more recent tournament metas.
Product facts
- Into the Inklands - Starter Deck (Ruby & Sapphire): Into the Inklands starter deck uses Ruby & Sapphire inks and released on 2024-02-23. If you want a deck from the earlier Inklands set at a lower price point, this is the one to grab.
Into the Inklands - Starter Deck (Ruby & Sapphire) - Disney Lorcana: Shimmering Skies - Starter Deck (Emerald & Steel): Shimmering Skies starter deck uses Emerald & Steel inks and released on 2024-08-23. Choosing this deck gives you access to the Shimmering Skies card pool, which may offer different strategies and card synergies.
Disney Lorcana: Shimmering Skies - Starter Deck (Emerald & Steel)
Which one should you pick?
Best for
- Budget-conscious players who want a tested deck at the lowest price
- Players who prefer the Into the Inklands theme or want to start with an earlier set
Not ideal for
- Players who specifically want the latest Shimmering Skies card pool or don't mind paying a small premium for a newer release
