Rivals Quick Start Set
The Rivals Quick Start Set was released in July 1996. Being the first box set in the history of Magic which featured preconstructed decks and extensive game guides, it was aimed to better explain the rules of Magic than any standard rule book could.
The Rivals Quick Start Set contains:
- 112 standard 4th Edition cards divided into 4 decks (2 x 30 and 2 x 26)
- 8 decklists and instruction support cards
- 2 player guides which cover 2 demo games
- 1 enhanced rule book with 4th Edition rules
- 1 mini–issue of the Duelist magazine which introduces the Magic world
- 1 consumer response card to provide feedback
The Rivals Quick Start Set was supposed to be the first on a series of Quick Start Sets. The next box, called Conquest Quick Start Set, was already announced, but the production was cancelled shortly afterwards.
A similar box set called Introductory Two-Player Set was released a year later for the European and Japanese market.