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'''Portal''' was a starter-level expansion released in 1997. It was designed for teaching [[Magic]] to new players and so was made as easy to understand as possible. The set was not legal in any organised format at its release, but was made legal for [[Vintage]] and [[Legacy]] formats on 20th October 2005, along with its successors [[Portal Second Age]], [[Portal Three Kingdoms]], [[Starter 1999]] and [[Starter 2000]].
{{SubTabs
|sub1 = 2-Player Starter Set
|sub2 = Official Guide
}}
{{Infobox set
  |image = POR logo.png
  |symbol_description = A portal
  |design = [[Bill Rose]] (lead),<br/>[[Dan Cervelli]],<br/>[[Joel Mick]]<br/>With contributions from <br/>[[Mike Elliott]]<br/>and [[Mark Rosewater]].
  |development = Bill Rose (lead),<br/>Dan Cervelli,<br/>Joel Mick<br/>With contributions from<br/> Mike Elliott,<br/>[[William Jockusch]],<br/>Mark Rosewater<br/>[[Henry Stern]]<br/>and [[Jonathan Tweet]].
  |art = [[Sue-Ann Harkey]]|
  |release = May 1, 1997
  |plane = [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]]
  |size = 215 cards<br/>{{curmb|85|55|55||20}}
  |code_expansion = POR
  |code_expansion_ref= {{DailyRef|ask-wizards-august-2004-2004-08-02|Ask Wizards - August, 2004|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|August 02, 2004}}
  |code_development = Harvey
  |series = Portal trilogy
  |first = Portal
  |second = Portal Second Age
  |third = Portal Three Kingdoms
  |previous = Fifth Edition
  |next = Weatherlight
}}
{{about|the expansion|the app|Magic: The Gathering Portal|portals that allow travel between planes|Planar portal}}
'''''Portal''''' is a [[starter-level]] set released on May 1, 1997.<ref>[http://www.wizards.com/magic/generic/cardlists/Portal.txt ''Portal'' Spoiler Card List] {{-}} Wizards of the Coast</ref> It was [[Wizards of the Coast]]'s first major attempt at a set catering to prospective and newer players. It was designed to provide them a format with simpler rules than a [[core set]] or an [[expansion]] set.  
[[File:POR booster.jpg|thumb|right|''Portal'' booster]]


The set is infamous for its odd rules system, which was intended to make the game easy to understand but often led to much confusion when players went from Portal to an advanced or expert level set. It featured no [[artifacts]] or [[enchantments]], as they were deemed too complicated. It also had no cards with the term [[instant]] (or [[interrupt]], which was still in use at the time), although it did feature sorceries that could only be used at times that they could not normally be played, such as <c>Mystic Denial</c>. All such cards have since received errata to make them actual instants. The set also did not have any creatures with creature types, instead having every creature have a type line reading "summon creature". This has also been changed with errata.
==Set details==
''Portal'' contains 215 black-bordered cards (55 rare, 55 uncommon, 85 common, and 20 lands).  


The set also used different game terms, such as calling blocking "intercepting," calling the library the "deck" and calling the graveyard the "discard pile." These terms are again meant to simplify the game, but instead were the potentially the biggest source of confusion when a player started using more advanced cards that used the standard terms instead.
In an effort to facilitate learning ''Magic'', ''Portal'' was markedly aesthetically and mechanically different from previous non-starter-level sets. To simplify game play, ''Portal'' featured no [[instants]], [[enchantments]], or [[artifacts]] and, subsequently, had a simpler set of rules. Some [[sorceries]] could be played outside the normal timing rules for sorceries, and these cards received errata as appropriate.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/portal-instants-2004-04-15|Portal Instants|[[Magic Arcana]]|April 15, 2004}}</ref> Creature cards printed in ''Portal'' featured no creature types, and their type line read "Summon Creature". These cards also received errata.


Finally, the set tried to improve the layout of the cards to make them simpler to interpret. The power and toughness on creature cards featured sword and shield symbols next to them to make it clear which mumber was which. The cards also had bold type for rules text, while flavor text was non-bold and seperated from the rules text by a thick line in order to make it clear that the two were seperate and that the rules text was more important. Whilst these were not as controversial as the other changes, they gave the cards a simplistic look and clearly marked the cards as being for beginners in the eyes of more experienced players.
''Portal'' also featured different terminology from that established in previous sets. These terms included "intercepting" for [[blocking]], "deck" for [[library]], "discard pile" for [[graveyard]], "offense" for [[power]], and "defense" for [[toughness]]. Although these new terms were intended to simplify learning ''Magic'', particularly as a stepping stone for more complex sets, they were a source of distress for players when they moved up to using [[advanced-level]] and/or [[expert-level]] cards, which did not use this simpler terminology. Cards featuring these terms also received errata but are otherwise functionally the same.


==Notable Cards==
To facilitate interpreting cards, the established layout was changed such that the power/toughness parameters printed on creature cards were accompanied by sword and shield symbols to more readily clarify the meaning of these numbers. Furthermore, rules text was in bold type to distinguish it from flavor text, and a thick line was drawn between rules text and flavor text to reinforce the distinction.
Whilst Portal was full of [[vanilla]] creatures and simple spells, a few of its cards have had some impact on Magic as a whole and on the core sets in particular:


*<c>Blaze</c>, a core set staple, was first printed in Portal.
In the beginning, many on the design team were confused about the expectations behind the ''Portal'' concept. As a joke, they named it "Harvey", after the invisible rabbit in the [[Wikipedia:Harvey (play)|famous play and movie]]; at the time, just like the fictional Harvey, ''Portal'' was big, invisible, and no one knew what it was.<ref>[[Mark Rosewater]]. (March 1998). ''Insider Trading'', ''[[The Duelist]]'' #23</ref> ''Portal'' was not a legal set for official tournament play in any organized format until October 20, 2005, when it and other starter-level sets were made sanctioned for [[Legacy]] and [[Vintage]] formats.<ref>{{DailyRef|more-about-march-1st-2005-03-11|More About March 1st|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|March 11, 2005}}</ref>
===Marketing===
''Portal'' was advertised as a beginners version of the game. ''Portal'' was sold in [[boosters]] (1 rare, 3 uncommon, 2 basic lands, and 9 common cards), as well as the ''[[Portal 2 Player Starter Set]]''. 7 of the ''Portal'' cards included in the Starter Set feature additional rules text and are therefore different from their booster pack counterparts. ''Portal'' boosters feature artwork from {{card|Archangel||POR}}, {{card|Merfolk of the Pearl Trident||POR}}, {{card|Elvish Ranger||POR}} and {{card|Spined Wurm||POR}}.


*Although it is not a particularly powerful card, <c>Ebon Dragon</c>'s art has made it one of the most poular and valuable cards in the set.
Each ''Portal'' booster included one of ten different strategy cards with deck-building tips. There are 5 strategies described in all, one for each of the five friendly color pairs, with two different versions each:


*<c>Exhaustion</c> was first printed in the set, but has since seen reprint in [[Ninth Edition (set)|Ninth edition]] and in [[Urza's Saga (Set)|Urza's Saga]].
*{{W}}/{{U}} {{-}} ''Air Superiority''
*{{U}}/{{B}} {{-}} ''Card Domination''
*{{B}}/{{R}} {{-}} ''Fiery Doom''
*{{R}}/{{G}} {{-}} ''Gargantuans''
*{{G}}/{{W}} {{-}} ''The Horde''


*<c>Gift of Estates</c> has been reprinted in Ninth Edition.
''Portal'' [[Sampler|Demogame boosters]] were given away as a free product to advertise ''[[Magic]]''. Out of the 24 ''Portal'' cards they contain, 6 cards feature additional rules text and are therefore slightly different from their counterparts found in booster packs. ''Portal'' Demogame boosters were also offered in the [[Promotional card#Guru lands|Guru]] program. ''[[The Official Guide to Portal]]'' explained the rules, featured an overview of the set with reproductions of all the cards, and hints on successful strategies for play and [[Deck#Deck building|deck construction]].


*<c>Jungle Lion</c> is considered one of the stronger cards in the set, its power and toughness being on a par with <c>Savannah Lions</c> and <c>Jackal Pup</c>.However, it has seen little play since Portal was made tournament-legal.
[[File:Portal binoculars.jpg|thumb|Cardboard folding binoculars given out during ''Portal'' promotions.]]
[[File:Portal binoculars back.jpg|thumb|Binoculars backside.]]
[[WotC]] launched a major advertising campaign, including commercials on [[MTV]] and popular TV shows, to introduce ''Magic'' to a major audience. They expected some players to stick with ''Portal'' but most to learn with it and the move on to standard ''Magic''. As it turned out, most people learning ''Portal'' were taught by experienced ''Magic'' players, and when those players used standard rules and terms rather than the ''Portal'' ones, the differences caused confusion. This would be rectified in ''[[Portal Second Age]]''.


*<c>Lava Axe</c> was first printed in the set and has been reprinted multiple times.
===Flavor and storyline===
No specific storyline was developed for ''Portal'', but flavor is conveyed throughout the [[flavor text]]s of cards.


*<c>Personal Tutor</c> was preemptively restricted when Portal was legalised in Vintage due to the power of tutor effects in the format. However, the other tutors in the set (<c>Cruel Tutor</c> and <c>Sylvan Tutor</c>) were not.
==Themes and mechanics==
''Portal'' introduces no new themes or mechanics to ''Magic'', and was essentially the same game introduced in ''[[Limited Edition]]'', with exception to the absence of instants, enchantments, and artifacts.


*<c>Phantom Warrior</c> was also first printed in Portal and has gone on to become a core set staple.
==Pairs==
''Portal'' has six [[mirrored pair]]s and six [[matched pair]]s:


*<c>Raging Goblin</c>, another iconic [[red]] card and core set staple, was first printed in the set.
===Mirrored pairs===


*<c>Scorching Spear</c> is arguably one of the worst burn spells ever printed.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2"|Mirrored Pairs
!
|-
|{{card|Arrogant Vampire||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|{{card|Starlit Angel||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|These are both uncommon creatures costing {{3}}MM that fly.  Their power and toughness are also mirrored: 4/3 and 3/4.
|-
|{{card|Charging Bandits||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|{{card|Charging Paladin||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|These are both uncommon creatures that gain a bonus (to their power or toughness respectively) when they attack.
|-
|{{card|Earthquake||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|{{card|Hurricane||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|These are both rare sorcery spells costing {{X}}M and deal X damage to each creature with/without flying and each player.
|-
|{{card|Mercenary Knight||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|{{card|Thundering Wurm||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|These are both rare creatures costing {{2}}M that have power and toughness 4/4 and require you to discard a card when they enter the battlefield (a creature and a land respectively.)
|-
|{{card|Personal Tutor||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|{{card|Sylvan Tutor||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|These are both rare sorcery spells costing M that search for a card of a particular type and put it on top of your library.
|-
|{{card|Rain of Tears||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|{{card|Winter's Grasp||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|These are both uncommon sorcery spells costing {{1}}MM that destroy a land.
|}


*<c>Snapping Drake</c> was reprinted in [[Ravnica: City of Guilds (set)|Ravnica]], where it is often a good pick in Limited.
===Matched pairs===


*<c>Volcanic Hammer</c> was first printed in the set, but has gone on to be reprinted in three core sets and has appeared in high-tier [[Standard UR Magnivore Deck|'Vore decks]].
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2"|Matched Pairs
!
|-
|{{card|Anaconda||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|{{card|Bull Hippo||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|These are both uncommon creatures costing {{3}}{{G}} with a landwalk ability associated with basic lands of an enemy color.
|-
|{{card|Armageddon||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Wrath of God||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|These are both rare white sorceries with a [[CMC]] of 4 that destroy all permanents of a specific card type.
|-
|{{card|Baleful Stare||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|{{card|Withering Gaze||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|These are both uncommon sorceries costing {{2}}{{U}} and allow their controllers to draw cards equal to the number of cards of a specific enemy color and land cards of a specific basic land type associated with an enemy color.
|-
|{{card|Boiling Seas||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|{{card|Flashfires||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|These are both uncommon sorceries costing {{3}}{{R}} and destroy all lands of a specific basic land type associated with an enemy color.
|-
|{{card|Nature's Ruin||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|{{card|Virtue's Ruin||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|These are both uncommon sorceries costing {{2}}{{B}} and destroy all creatures of a specific enemy color.
|-
|{{card|Starlight||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Renewing Dawn||POR}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|These are both uncommon sorceries costing {{1}}{{W}} that gain life depending on the amount of enemy color associated permanents the opponent has in play (black creatures and mountains respectively.)
|}


*<c>Wind Drake</c>, yet another core set staple, was also first printed in Portal.
==Reprinted cards==
The following cards have been reprinted from previous sets:


*<c>Wood Elves</c> were also first printed in Portal. They have seen [[Standard]] constructed play due to their ability to fetch [[Shocklands]].
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!''Portal''
!''First Seen''
!''Last Seen''
|-
|{{card|Alabaster Dragon||POR}}
|''[[Weatherlight]]''
|''[[Weatherlight]]''
|-
|{{card|Ancestral Memories||POR}}
|''[[Mirage]]''
|''[[Mirage]]''
|-
|{{card|Archangel||POR}}
|''[[Visions]]''
|''[[Visions]]''
|-
|{{card|Ardent Militia||POR}}
|''[[Weatherlight]]''
|''[[Weatherlight]]''
|-
|{{card|Armageddon||POR}}
|''[[Alpha]]''
|''[[Fifth Edition]]''
|-
|{{card|Blinding Light||POR}}
|''[[Mirage]]''
|''[[Mirage]]''
|-
|{{card|Bog Imp||POR}}
|''[[The Dark]]''
|''[[Fifth Edition]]''
|-
|{{card|Bog Wraith||POR}}
|''[[Alpha]]''
|''[[Fifth Edition]]''
|-
|{{card|Dry Spell||POR}}
|''[[Homelands]]''
|''[[Homelands]]''
|-
|{{card|Earthquake||POR}}
|''[[Alpha]]''
|''[[Fifth Edition]]''
|-
|{{card|Elven Cache||POR}}
|''[[Visions]]''
|''[[Visions]]''
|-
|{{card|Elvish Ranger||POR}}
|''[[Alliances]]''
|''[[Alliances]]''
|-
|{{card|Feral Shadow||POR}}
|''[[Mirage]]''
|''[[Mirage]]''
|-
|{{card|Flashfires||POR}}
|''[[Alpha]]''
|''[[Fifth Edition]]''
|-
|{{card|Flux||POR}}
|''[[Weatherlight]]''
|''[[Weatherlight]]''
|-
|{{card|Giant Spider||POR}}
|''[[Alpha]]''
|''[[Fifth Edition]]''
|-
|{{card|Grizzly Bears||POR}}
|''[[Alpha]]''
|''[[Fifth Edition]]''
|-
|{{card|Hill Giant||POR}}
|''[[Alpha]]''
|''[[Fifth Edition]]''
|-
|{{card|Hulking Cyclops||POR}}
|''[[Visions]]''
|''[[Visions]]''
|-
|{{card|Hurricane||POR}}
|''[[Alpha]]''
|''[[Fifth Edition]]''
|-
|{{card|Man-o'-War||POR}}
|''[[Visions]]''
|''[[Visions]]''
|-
|{{card|Merfolk of the Pearl Trident||POR}}
|''[[Alpha]]''
|''[[Fifth Edition]]''
|-
|{{card|Mountain Goat||POR}}
|''[[Ice Age]]''
|''[[Fifth Edition]]''
|-
|{{card|Natural Order||POR}}
|''[[Visions]]''
|''[[Visions]]''
|-
|{{card|Nature's Lore||POR}}
|''[[Ice Age]]''
|''[[Fifth Edition]]''
|-
|{{card|Panther Warriors||POR}}
|''[[Visions]]''
|''[[Visions]]''
|-
|{{card|Phantom Warrior||POR}}
|''[[Weatherlight]]''
|''[[Weatherlight]]''
|-
|{{card|Prosperity||POR}}
|''[[Visions]]''
|''[[Visions]]''
|-
|{{card|Pyroclasm||POR}}
|''[[Ice Age]]''
|''[[Ice Age]]''
|-
|{{card|Python||POR}}
|''[[Visions]]''
|''[[Visions]]''
|-
|{{card|Raise Dead||POR}}
|''[[Alpha]]''
|''[[Fifth Edition]]''
|-
|{{card|Redwood Treefolk||POR}}
|''[[Weatherlight]]''
|''[[Weatherlight]]''
|-
|{{card|Spitting Earth||POR}}
|''[[Mirage]]''
|''[[Mirage]]''
|-
|{{card|Stalking Tiger||POR}}
|''[[Mirage]]''
|''[[Mirage]]''
|-
|{{card|Stone Rain||POR}}
|''[[Alpha]]''
|''[[Fifth Edition]]''
|-
|{{card|Storm Crow||POR}}
|''[[Alliances]]''
|''[[Alliances]]''
|-
|{{card|Summer Bloom||POR}}
|''[[Visions]]''
|''[[Visions]]''
|-
|{{card|Thundermare||POR}}
|''[[Weatherlight]]''
|''[[Weatherlight]]''
|-
|{{card|Untamed Wilds||POR}}
|''[[Legends]]''
|''[[Fifth Edition]]''
|-
|{{card|Untamed Wilds||POR}}
|''[[Legends]]''
|''[[Fifth Edition]]''
|-
|{{card|Volcanic Dragon||POR}}
|''[[Mirage]]''
|''[[Mirage]]''
|-
|{{card|Wall of Swords||POR}}
|''[[Alpha]]''
|''[[Fifth Edition]]''
|-
|{{card|Winds of Change||POR}}
|''[[Legends]]''
|''[[Fifth Edition]]''
|-
|{{card|Wrath of God||POR}}
|''[[Alpha]]''
|''[[Fifth Edition]]''
|}


*The classic cards <c>Armageddon</c>, <c>Earthquake</c>, <c>Hurricane</c>, <c>Man-o'-war</c> and <c>Wrath of God</c> were all reprinted in Portal.
==Functional reprints==
''Portal'' has seven [[functional reprint]]s:
 
*<c>Bee Sting</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Unyaro Bee Sting</c> from ''[[Mirage]]''.
*<c>Border Guard</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Femeref Scouts</c> from ''Mirage''.
*<c>Cruel Bargain</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Infernal Contract</c> from ''Mirage''.
*<c>Lizard Warrior</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Viashino Warrior</c> from ''Mirage''.
*<c>Pillaging Horde</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Balduvian Horde</c> from ''[[Alliances]]''.
*<c>Raging Minotaur</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Talruum Minotaur</c> from ''Mirage''.
*<c>Willow Dryad</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Shanodin Dryads</c> from ''[[Fifth Edition]]''.
 
Since there are no [[instant]]s in ''Portal'' some cards were reprinted as [[sorcery|sorceries]]:
 
*<c>Boiling Seas</c> is a sorcery version of <c>Boil</c> from ''[[Tempest]]''.
*<c>Fire Tempest</c> is a sorcery version of <c>Inferno</c> from ''[[Fifth Edition]]''.
*<c>Last Chance</c> is a sorcery version of <c>Final Fortune</c> from ''[[Mirage]]''.
*<c>Mobilize</c> is a sorcery version of <c>Vitalize</c> from ''[[Weatherlight]]'' (which was released at the same time).
*<c>Sylvan Tutor</c> is a sorcery version of <c>Worldly Tutor</c> from ''Mirage''.
*<c>Temporary Truce</c> is a sorcery version of <c>Truce</c> from ''Fifth Edition''.
*<c>Touch of Brilliance</c> is a sorcery version of <c>Inspiration</c> from ''[[Visions]]''.
*<c>Warrior's Charge</c> is a sorcery version of <c>Warrior's Honor</c> from ''Visions''.
 
==Preconstructed decks==
For the content of the decks, see ''[[Portal 2 Player Starter Set]]''.
 
==Notable cards==
While ''Portal'' was full of [[vanilla]] creatures and simple spells, a few of its cards have had some impact on Magic as a whole and on the [[Core Set]]s in particular:
*<c>Blaze</c> {{-}} a [[Core Set]] staple, was first printed in ''Portal''.
*<c>Ebon Dragon</c> {{-}} Although it is not a particularly powerful card, its art has made it one of the most popular and valuable cards in the set.
*<c>Exhaustion</c> {{-}} was first printed in the set and has since been reprinted in ''[[Urza's Saga]]'' and ''[[9th Edition]]''.
*<c>Jungle Lion</c> {{-}} is considered one of the stronger cards in the set, its power and mana cost being on a par with <c>Savannah Lions</c>, <c>Elite Vanguard</c> and <c>Jackal Pup</c>. However, it has seen little play since ''Portal'' was made tournament-legal.
*<c>Lava Axe</c> {{-}} has been reprinted multiple times.
*<c>Personal Tutor</c> {{-}} was pre-emptively restricted when ''Portal'' was legalised in [[Vintage]] due to the power of [[tutor]] effects in the format. However, the other tutors in the set (<c>Cruel Tutor</c> and <c>Sylvan Tutor</c>) were not.
*<c>Phantom Warrior</c> {{-}} has gone on to become a core set staple.
*<c>Raging Goblin</c> {{-}} is another iconic [[red]] card and core set staple.
*<c>Snapping Drake</c> {{-}} was reprinted in ''[[Ravnica]]'', where it was often a good pick in Limited.
*<c>Volcanic Hammer</c> {{-}} has gone on to be reprinted in three core sets and has appeared in high-tier [[Standard UR Magnivore deck|'Vore decks]].
*<c>Wind Drake</c> {{-}} is another core set staple.
*<c>Wood Elves</c> {{-}} has seen constructed play due to their ability to fetch [[shock land]]s.
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
 
==External links==
*[http://www.wizards.com/magic/starter/portal/welcome.asp Portal Product Page] (old)
*{{Prodpage|node=115073|Portal}} (new)
*{{DailyRef|arcana/portal-goodness-2002-09-16|Portal Goodness|Wizards of the Coast|September 16, 2002}}
 
{{Sets|special}}
[[Category:Starter-level Magic sets]]

Latest revision as of 17:05, 5 January 2021

Portal
 
2-Player Starter Set
 
Official Guide
 
Portal
[[File:{{#setmainimage:POR logo.png}}|250px]]
Set Information
Set symbol
Symbol description A portal
Design Bill Rose (lead),
Dan Cervelli,
Joel Mick
With contributions from
Mike Elliott
and Mark Rosewater.
Development Bill Rose (lead),
Dan Cervelli,
Joel Mick
With contributions from
Mike Elliott,
William Jockusch,
Mark Rosewater
Henry Stern
and Jonathan Tweet.
Art direction Sue-Ann Harkey
Release date May 1, 1997
Plane Dominaria
Set size 215 cards
(85 commons, 55 uncommons, 55 rares, 20 basic lands)
Expansion code POR[1]
Development codename Harvey
Portal trilogy
Portal Portal Second Age Portal Three Kingdoms
Magic: The Gathering Chronology
Fifth Edition Portal Weatherlight
This page is about the expansion. For the app, see Magic: The Gathering Portal. For portals that allow travel between planes, see Planar portal.

Portal is a starter-level set released on May 1, 1997.[2] It was Wizards of the Coast's first major attempt at a set catering to prospective and newer players. It was designed to provide them a format with simpler rules than a core set or an expansion set.

Portal booster

Set details

Portal contains 215 black-bordered cards (55 rare, 55 uncommon, 85 common, and 20 lands).

In an effort to facilitate learning Magic, Portal was markedly aesthetically and mechanically different from previous non-starter-level sets. To simplify game play, Portal featured no instants, enchantments, or artifacts and, subsequently, had a simpler set of rules. Some sorceries could be played outside the normal timing rules for sorceries, and these cards received errata as appropriate.[3] Creature cards printed in Portal featured no creature types, and their type line read "Summon Creature". These cards also received errata.

Portal also featured different terminology from that established in previous sets. These terms included "intercepting" for blocking, "deck" for library, "discard pile" for graveyard, "offense" for power, and "defense" for toughness. Although these new terms were intended to simplify learning Magic, particularly as a stepping stone for more complex sets, they were a source of distress for players when they moved up to using advanced-level and/or expert-level cards, which did not use this simpler terminology. Cards featuring these terms also received errata but are otherwise functionally the same.

To facilitate interpreting cards, the established layout was changed such that the power/toughness parameters printed on creature cards were accompanied by sword and shield symbols to more readily clarify the meaning of these numbers. Furthermore, rules text was in bold type to distinguish it from flavor text, and a thick line was drawn between rules text and flavor text to reinforce the distinction.

In the beginning, many on the design team were confused about the expectations behind the Portal concept. As a joke, they named it "Harvey", after the invisible rabbit in the famous play and movie; at the time, just like the fictional Harvey, Portal was big, invisible, and no one knew what it was.[4] Portal was not a legal set for official tournament play in any organized format until October 20, 2005, when it and other starter-level sets were made sanctioned for Legacy and Vintage formats.[5]

Marketing

Portal was advertised as a beginners version of the game. Portal was sold in boosters (1 rare, 3 uncommon, 2 basic lands, and 9 common cards), as well as the Portal 2 Player Starter Set. 7 of the Portal cards included in the Starter Set feature additional rules text and are therefore different from their booster pack counterparts. Portal boosters feature artwork from Archangel, Merfolk of the Pearl Trident, Elvish Ranger and Spined Wurm.

Each Portal booster included one of ten different strategy cards with deck-building tips. There are 5 strategies described in all, one for each of the five friendly color pairs, with two different versions each:

  • {W}/{U} — Air Superiority
  • {U}/{B} — Card Domination
  • {B}/{R} — Fiery Doom
  • {R}/{G} — Gargantuans
  • {G}/{W} — The Horde

Portal Demogame boosters were given away as a free product to advertise Magic. Out of the 24 Portal cards they contain, 6 cards feature additional rules text and are therefore slightly different from their counterparts found in booster packs. Portal Demogame boosters were also offered in the Guru program. The Official Guide to Portal explained the rules, featured an overview of the set with reproductions of all the cards, and hints on successful strategies for play and deck construction.

Cardboard folding binoculars given out during Portal promotions.
Binoculars backside.

WotC launched a major advertising campaign, including commercials on MTV and popular TV shows, to introduce Magic to a major audience. They expected some players to stick with Portal but most to learn with it and the move on to standard Magic. As it turned out, most people learning Portal were taught by experienced Magic players, and when those players used standard rules and terms rather than the Portal ones, the differences caused confusion. This would be rectified in Portal Second Age.

Flavor and storyline

No specific storyline was developed for Portal, but flavor is conveyed throughout the flavor texts of cards.

Themes and mechanics

Portal introduces no new themes or mechanics to Magic, and was essentially the same game introduced in Limited Edition, with exception to the absence of instants, enchantments, and artifacts.

Pairs

Portal has six mirrored pairs and six matched pairs:

Mirrored pairs

Mirrored Pairs
Arrogant Vampire
({B}) 		Starlit Angel
({W}) 		These are both uncommon creatures costing {3}MM that fly. Their power and toughness are also mirrored: 4/3 and 3/4.
Charging Bandits
({B}) 		Charging Paladin
({W}) 		These are both uncommon creatures that gain a bonus (to their power or toughness respectively) when they attack.
Earthquake
({R}) 		Hurricane
({G}) 		These are both rare sorcery spells costing {X}M and deal X damage to each creature with/without flying and each player.
Mercenary Knight
({B}) 		Thundering Wurm
({G}) 		These are both rare creatures costing {2}M that have power and toughness 4/4 and require you to discard a card when they enter the battlefield (a creature and a land respectively.)
Personal Tutor
({U}) 		Sylvan Tutor
({G}) 		These are both rare sorcery spells costing M that search for a card of a particular type and put it on top of your library.
Rain of Tears
({B}) 		Winter's Grasp
({G}) 		These are both uncommon sorcery spells costing {1}MM that destroy a land.

Matched pairs

Matched Pairs
Anaconda
({G}) 		Bull Hippo
({G}) 		These are both uncommon creatures costing {3}{G} with a landwalk ability associated with basic lands of an enemy color.
Armageddon
({W}) 		Wrath of God
({W}) 		These are both rare white sorceries with a CMC of 4 that destroy all permanents of a specific card type.
Baleful Stare
({U}) 		Withering Gaze
({U}) 		These are both uncommon sorceries costing {2}{U} and allow their controllers to draw cards equal to the number of cards of a specific enemy color and land cards of a specific basic land type associated with an enemy color.
Boiling Seas
({R}) 		Flashfires
({R}) 		These are both uncommon sorceries costing {3}{R} and destroy all lands of a specific basic land type associated with an enemy color.
Nature's Ruin
({B}) 		Virtue's Ruin
({B}) 		These are both uncommon sorceries costing {2}{B} and destroy all creatures of a specific enemy color.
Starlight
({W}) 		Renewing Dawn
({W}) 		These are both uncommon sorceries costing {1}{W} that gain life depending on the amount of enemy color associated permanents the opponent has in play (black creatures and mountains respectively.)

Reprinted cards

The following cards have been reprinted from previous sets:

Portal First Seen Last Seen
Alabaster Dragon Weatherlight Weatherlight
Ancestral Memories Mirage Mirage
Archangel Visions Visions
Ardent Militia Weatherlight Weatherlight
Armageddon Alpha Fifth Edition
Blinding Light Mirage Mirage
Bog Imp The Dark Fifth Edition
Bog Wraith Alpha Fifth Edition
Dry Spell Homelands Homelands
Earthquake Alpha Fifth Edition
Elven Cache Visions Visions
Elvish Ranger Alliances Alliances
Feral Shadow Mirage Mirage
Flashfires Alpha Fifth Edition
Flux Weatherlight Weatherlight
Giant Spider Alpha Fifth Edition
Grizzly Bears Alpha Fifth Edition
Hill Giant Alpha Fifth Edition
Hulking Cyclops Visions Visions
Hurricane Alpha Fifth Edition
Man-o'-War Visions Visions
Merfolk of the Pearl Trident Alpha Fifth Edition
Mountain Goat Ice Age Fifth Edition
Natural Order Visions Visions
Nature's Lore Ice Age Fifth Edition
Panther Warriors Visions Visions
Phantom Warrior Weatherlight Weatherlight
Prosperity Visions Visions
Pyroclasm Ice Age Ice Age
Python Visions Visions
Raise Dead Alpha Fifth Edition
Redwood Treefolk Weatherlight Weatherlight
Spitting Earth Mirage Mirage
Stalking Tiger Mirage Mirage
Stone Rain Alpha Fifth Edition
Storm Crow Alliances Alliances
Summer Bloom Visions Visions
Thundermare Weatherlight Weatherlight
Untamed Wilds Legends Fifth Edition
Untamed Wilds Legends Fifth Edition
Volcanic Dragon Mirage Mirage
Wall of Swords Alpha Fifth Edition
Winds of Change Legends Fifth Edition
Wrath of God Alpha Fifth Edition

Functional reprints

Portal has seven functional reprints:

Since there are no instants in Portal some cards were reprinted as sorceries:

Preconstructed decks

For the content of the decks, see Portal 2 Player Starter Set.

Notable cards

While Portal was full of vanilla creatures and simple spells, a few of its cards have had some impact on Magic as a whole and on the Core Sets in particular:

References

  1. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (August 02, 2004). "Ask Wizards - August, 2004". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ Portal Spoiler Card List — Wizards of the Coast
  3. ↑ Magic Arcana (April 15, 2004). "Portal Instants". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ Mark Rosewater. (March 1998). Insider Trading, The Duelist #23
  5. ↑ Aaron Forsythe (March 11, 2005). "More About March 1st". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

External links

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M15 frame sets
Welcome & Core sets
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Special sets
Special series
Supplemental sets
Non-English Reprint sets
Other Box sets
Un sets
Commemorative sets
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