How to Harvest Lore with Jafar – Striking Illusionist in Lorcana TCG

Jafar – Striking Illusionist emerges as one of the most explosive lore-burst finishers in the game. A powerful Floodborn character with the Shift 5 keyword, he can enter play early by being played on top of another Jafar for just 5 ink. With 4 Strength, 5 Willpower, and the Evasive keyword, he’s difficult to challenge and even harder to remove. His standout ability, Power Beyond Measure, triggers whenever you draw a card while he’s exerted—rewarding each draw with 1 lore.

In this article, we’ll break down how to effectively utilize Jafar – Striking Illusionist in your deck, explain the key strategies to make the most of his ability, and offer recommendations on supporting cards, ideal deck types, and other characters that help bring out his full potential. Whether you’re building a combo-heavy draw engine or looking for a strong finisher in a control shell, this guide will show you how to turn Jafar into a powerful win condition.

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Jafar – Striking Illusionist

• Ink Cost: 7
• Stats: 4 Strength / 5 Willpower / 1 Lore
• Traits: Floodborn · Villain · Sorcerer
• Keywords:
  • Shift 5 – Can be played on top of another Jafar for just 5 ink.
  • Evasive – Only Evasive characters can challenge him.
• Ability – Power Beyond Measure: “During your turn, while this character is exerted, whenever you draw a card, gain 1 lore.”

Jafar – Striking Illusionist + A Whole New World

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• Lore Generator Supreme: Jafar can turn a card like “A Whole New World” (draw 7) into an instant +7 lore surge.
• First Floodborn Multi-Version: Jafar builds on top of himself—start with Royal Vizier, shift into Dreadnought, then Striking Illusionist, maximizing board presence and readiness.
• Built-in Evasion: Survives most challengers, enabling uninterrupted lore engines.

Key Strategy

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1. Establish Setup: Use cheaper Jafar versions (Royal Vizier, Dreadnought) to set up your board.
2. Shift into Striking Illusionist: Play him via Shift to enter play ready and exertable that same turn.
3. Exert: Exert immediately during your turn to activate his draw-to-lore benefit.
4. Fuel the Engine:
   • Use draw spells and song cards like Friends on the Other Side, Genie – Wish Fulfilled, and The Lamp.
   • Aim to play “A Whole New World” while Jafar is exerted. Drawing 7 cards = +7 lore in one move.
5. Explode to Victory: Keep drawing cards while Jafar is exerted until you hit 20 lore.

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Sample Turn Sequence

• Turn 1–3: Deploy early Jafar characters and draw engines.
• Turn 4–5: Shift into Jafar – Striking Illusionist and exert him.
• Turn 6 and beyond:
  1. Make sure Jafar is exerted.
  2. Play your draw spells or sing songs.
  3. Cast A Whole New World: draw 7, gain 7 lore.
  4. If another copy is in hand, repeat and potentially end the game that turn.

Crucial Tips & Rulings

• Timing is everything: Exert Jafar before drawing to trigger lore gain.
• If Jafar is readied after a draw begins, lore is still gained based on how the effect resolves.
• If you would lose the game due to decking out, be sure to order your effects correctly.
• Protect Jafar from removal—his ability is the core of your strategy.

Jafar – Striking Illusionist redefines what a lore-burst combo deck can achieve. With early board setup, efficient shifting, and calculated draw timing, he can generate enough lore to close out a game in one explosive turn. For players who love flashy combos, draw synergy, and elegant finishes, this deck is a must-try.

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