Portal is the first starter level set of Magic and preview decks were sent to Magic Ambassadors on May 1st, 1997. Portal was fully released on June 9th 1997. The FAQ was released at the same time as the preview to answer any rules questions. It consists of 200 technically different cards and exists in English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. For no obvious reason, no Italian, Korean, and Portuguese cards were printed. For some reasons, only one illustration exists for the Simplified Chinese booster: Charging Paladin. For Traditional Chinese only four: Archangel, Elvish Ranger, Merfolk of the Pearl Trident and Spined Wurm. Portal was created to introduce new players to the game of Magic. The cards were designed very simply, and many concepts of Magic were left out completely. Due to the low power level of the set and the inability to use the cards in tournaments, Portal never received much interest. Nevertheless, many cards from Portal were reprinted in newer editions of the Core Set, and a few of them even became popular. Aside from Portal boosters, there is a Portal 2 Player Starter Set in existance. 7 of the Portal cards included there feature additional rules text and are therefore different from their booster pack counterparts. Different versions of the Portal Starter exist, one containing The Duelist Advertisement Card and the Anaconda booster version. For unknown reasons, in the Simplified Chinese version of the Portal 2 Player Starter Set, the Raging Goblin card is not different. The English version exists also with Dutch rules inserted inside (WOC30910) with two variants: Version 1 * Gold pull strip in the wrapper. * Sticker is on the right of the top of the wrapper (Not underneath). * There's "No Free Booster Pack Inside" Sticker on the left. * The height is different from the no pull strip version. * Info under the Starter are upside down compared to the other one. Version 2 * No gold pull strip. * Sticker is underneath on the right of the top of the wrapper. * There's a "No Free Booster Pack Inside" Sticker on the left. * Starter is smaller than the gold pull strip version. * Info under the Starter are straight compared to the other one. The Portal 2 Player Starter Set contains: * 70 Portal cards divided into 2 decks (2 x 35) * 1 Portal booster (Not in Simplified Chinese Starter) * 2 Portal boosters (Gift Box edition only) * 1 rule book with Portal rules * 1 instruction sheet on how to use the contents of this box (Gift Box edition only) * 1 Official Guide to Portal book (Gift Box edition only) * 1 player guides which covers 1 demo game * 2 playmats to explain the different game zones * 2 glass beads for tracking life points (Gift Box edition only) * 2 set list cards which enlist all Portal cards * 1 Ultra-Pro advertisement leaflet in a card sleeve (Gift Box edition only) Content Deck A 1 Card list 1 of 2 1 Devoted Hero 1 Hulking Goblin 1 Volcanic Hammer *1 Warrior's Charge 1 Mountain Version 4 1 Plains Version 1 1 Forest Version 1 1 Mountain Version 4 1 Armored Pegasus 1 Grizzly Bears 1 Regal Unicorn 1 Plains Version 1 1 Lava Axe 1 Spotted Griffin 1 Mountain Version 4 *1 Anaconda (The booster version could be found in the Starter with the Duelist card) *1 Raging Goblin 1 Plains Version 1 1 Hill Giant 1 Forest Version 1 *1 Blaze 1 Mountain Version 4 1 Sacred Nectar 1 Plains Version 1 1 Lizard Warrior 1 Mountain Version 4 1 Venerable Monk 1 Plains Version 1 1 Gorilla Warrior 1 Forest Version 1 1 Defiant Stand 1 Plains Version 1 1 Untamed Wilds 1 Fire Imp 1 Mountain Version 4 Content Deck B 1 Card list 2 of 2 1 Storm Crow 1 Rowan Treefolk 1 Gravedigger 1 Time Ebb 1 Island Version 3 1 Swamp Version 2 1 Forest Version 1 1 Island Version 3 1 Muck Rats 1 Panther Warriors 1 Feral Shadow 1 Snapping Drake 1 Swamp Version 2 *1 Hand of Death 1 Craven Knight 1 Island Version 3 *1 Elite Cat Warrior 1 Coral Eel 1 Forest Version 1 1 Touch of Brilliance 1 Swamp Version 2 1 Vampiric Touch 1 Island Version 3 1 Cloak of Feathers 1 Island Version 3 1 Skeletal Crocodile 1 Swamp Version 2 1 Forest Version 1 *1 Monstrous Growth 1 Swamp Version 2 1 Ingenious Thief 1 Mind Rot 1 Island Version 3 1 Swamp Version 2 1 Command of Unsummoning The Portal 2 Player Starter Set was also produced in an enhanced version called Portal Gift Box which exists exclusively in English. Portal Demogame boosters were given away as a free product to advertise Magic: The Gathering. 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. These cards seem to exist in English only. Portal Demogame boosters were also offered in the Guru program. Some Simplified Chinese Portal cards feature alternate art. ERRORS, MISPRINTS AND TYPOS: Anaconda French: It should have been "marais" instead of "forêt" in the Starter Version Anaconda German: Part of the reminder text is missing Monstrous Growth German: Reminder text is missing Anaconda Simplified Chinese: Swampwalk reminder text refering to Forests instead of Swamps Monstrous Growth Simplified Chinese: + 4S / + 4D instead of + 4 (Shield symbol) / + 4 (Dagger symbol) Anaconda Traditional Chinese: Swampwalk reminder text refering to Forests instead of Swamps English (WOC17000): Made in USA. English Demo Version (WOC17000): Made in USA. English Blister Version (WOC17007): Made in USA. French (WOC20910): Made in Belgium. French Blister Version (No WOC): Made in Belgium. German (WOC21910): Made in Belgium. Japanese (WOC22910): Made in Belgium. Simplified Chinese (WOC28007): Made in USA. Spanish (WOC 24910): Made in Belgium. Traditional Chinese (WOC27910): Made in USA. English Portal 2 Player Starter Set with Dutch rules (WOC30910) Version 1 and Version 2 sealed. Made in USA. English Portal 2 Player Starter Set with Polish/Hungarian/Czech rules (WOC32910). Made in USA. Portal 2 Player Starter Set Deck A and B front illustrated by Terese Nielsen. English Portal Gift Box front and back (WOC17014). Made in USA. English Portal Demogame booster (WOC17000). Made in the USA. Portal Deck A and Deck B Uncut Sheets 10 x 11 (3 Portal Lists and 7 Alternate Text cards as well as 2 Black/Black Border fillers are on those sheets). Portal "God Book" from WotC. Front cover with Moon Sprite by Terese Nielsen. ADVERTISEMENT Portal advertisement page 18 of the Duelist issue #18 magazine (August 1997). ART STARTER (2/7) MISSING: Anaconda Original Art by Andrew Robinson. MISSING: Blaze Original Art by Gerry Grace. MISSING: Elite Cat Warrior Original Art by Eric Peterson. MISSING: Hand of Death Original Art by John Coulthart. MISSING: Monstrous Growth Original Art by Dan Frazier. Raging Goblin Original Art by Pete Venters. Warrior's Charge Full Art by Ted Naifeh. ART DEMO GAME (1/6) MISSING: Armored Pegasus Full Art by Andrew Robinson. MISSING: Bull Hippo Full Art by Roger Raupp. MISSING: Cloud Pirates Full Art by Phil Foglio. MISSING: Feral Shadow Full Art by Colin Mac Neil. MISSING: Snapping Drake Full Art by Christopher Rush. Storm Crow Full Art by Una Fricker. EXTERNAL LINKS - ALL FIXED More About March 1st, Daily MTG Broken Link More About March 1st, Daily MTG - March 11, 2005 - Wayback Machine Portal Commercial 1997 INTERNAL LINKS Portal Support Cards The Duelist Advertisement Cards Magic Demo Game Boosters and Samplers |
SET | NUM | CARDNAME | ARTIST | SOURCE | DATE | INFO | ||
001 | Anaconda | Andrew Robinson | English Portal 2 Player Starter Set English Portal 2 Player Starter Set with Dutch Rules English Portal 2 Player Starter Set with Polish / Hungarian / Czech Rules English Portal Gift Box | 1997-05 1997-05 1997-05 1997-05 | YES | |||
002 | Blaze | Gerry Grace | English Portal 2 Player Starter Set English Portal 2 Player Starter Set with Dutch Rules English Portal 2 Player Starter Set with Polish / Hungarian / Czech Rules English Portal Gift Box | 1997-05 1997-05 1997-05 1997-05 | YES | |||
003 | Elite Cat Warrior | Eric Peterson | English Portal 2 Player Starter Set English Portal 2 Player Starter Set with Dutch Rules English Portal 2 Player Starter Set with Polish / Hungarian / Czech Rules English Portal Gift Box | 1997-05 1997-05 1997-05 1997-05 | YES | |||
004 | Hand of Death | John Coulthart | English Portal 2 Player Starter Set English Portal 2 Player Starter Set with Dutch Rules English Portal 2 Player Starter Set with Polish / Hungarian / Czech Rules English Portal Gift Box | 1997-05 1997-05 1997-05 1997-05 | YES | |||
005 | Monstrous Growth | Dan Frazier | English Portal 2 Player Starter Set English Portal 2 Player Starter Set with Dutch Rules English Portal 2 Player Starter Set with Polish / Hungarian / Czech Rules English Portal Gift Box | 1997-05 1997-05 1997-05 1997-05 | YES | |||
006 | Raging Goblin | Pete Venters | English Portal 2 Player Starter Set English Portal 2 Player Starter Set with Dutch Rules English Portal 2 Player Starter Set with Polish / Hungarian / Czech Rules English Portal Gift Box | 1997-05 1997-05 1997-05 1997-05 | YES | |||
007 | Warrior's Charge | Ted Naifeh | English Portal 2 Player Starter Set English Portal 2 Player Starter Set with Dutch Rules English Portal 2 Player Starter Set with Polish / Hungarian / Czech Rules English Portal Gift Box | 1997-05 1997-05 1997-05 1997-05 | YES | |||
SET | NUM | CARDNAME | ARTIST | SOURCE | DATE | INFO | ||
001 | Anaconda Anaconda | Andrew Robinson | French Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
002 | Brasier Blaze | Gerry Grace | French Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
003 | Guerrier chat d'élite Elite Cat Warrior | Eric Peterson | French Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
004 | Main de mort Hand of Death | John Coulthart | French Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
005 | Croissance démesurée Monstrous Growth | Dan Frazier | French Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
006 | Gobelin enragé Raging Goblin | Pete Venters | French Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
007 | Charge du guerrier Warrior's Charge | Ted Naifeh | French Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
SET | NUM | CARDNAME | ARTIST | SOURCE | DATE | INFO | ||
001 | Anakonda Anaconda | Andrew Robinson | German Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
002 | Heiße Glut Blaze | Gerry Grace | German Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
003 | Katzenkriegerelite Elite Cat Warrior | Eric Peterson | German Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
004 | Todbringende Hand Hand of Death | John Coulthart | German Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
005 | Unheimliches Wachstum Monstrous Growth | Dan Frazier | German Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
006 | Wütender Goblin Raging Goblin | Pete Venters | German Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
007 | Attacke der Krieger Warrior's Charge | Ted Naifeh | German Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
SET | NUM | CARDNAME | ARTIST | SOURCE | DATE | INFO | ||
001 | アナコンダ Anaconda | Andrew Robinson | Japanese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
002 | 猛火 Blaze | Gerry Grace | Japanese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
003 | 猫族の精銳戦士 Elite Cat Warrior | Eric Peterson | Japanese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
004 | 死神の魔手 Hand of Death | John Coulthart | Japanese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
005 | 超巨大化 Monstrous Growth | Dan Frazier | Japanese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
006 | 怒り狂うゴプリン Raging Goblin | Pete Venters | Japanese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
007 | 戦士の突撃 Warrior's Charge | Ted Naifeh | Japanese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
SET | NUM | CARDNAME | ARTIST | SOURCE | DATE | INFO | ||
001 | 大水蛇 Anaconda | Andrew Robinson | Simplified Chinese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1998-11-14 | YES | |||
002 | 焰球 Blaze | David Cherry | Simplified Chinese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1998-11-14 | YES | |||
003 | 精锐猫战士 Elite Cat Warrior | Eric Peterson | Simplified Chinese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1998-11-14 | YES | |||
004 | 死之手 Hand of Death | John Coulthart | Simplified Chinese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1998-11-14 | YES | |||
005 | 巨兽术 Monstrous Growth | Dan Frazier | Simplified Chinese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1998-11-14 | YES | |||
006 | 全员冲锋 Warrior's Charge | Ted Naifeh | Simplified Chinese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1998-11-14 | YES | |||
SET | NUM | CARDNAME | ARTIST | SOURCE | DATE | INFO | ||
001 | Anaconda Anaconda | Andrew Robinson | Spanish Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
002 | Llamarada Blaze | Gerry Grace | Spanish Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
003 | Guerrero felino de élite Elite Cat Warrior | Eric Peterson | Spanish Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
004 | Mano de muerte Hand of Death | John Coulthart | Spanish Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
005 | Crecimiento monstruoso Monstrous Growth | Dan Frazier | Spanish Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
006 | Trasgo furioso Raging Goblin | Pete Venters | Spanish Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
007 | Carga de guerreros Warrior's Charge | Ted Naifeh | Spanish Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-05 | YES | |||
SET | NUM | CARDNAME | ARTIST | SOURCE | DATE | INFO | ||
001 | 大水蛇 Anaconda | Andrew Robinson | Traditional Chinese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-? | YES | |||
002 | 焰球 Blaze | Gerry Grace | Traditional Chinese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-? | YES | |||
003 | 精銳貓戰士 Elite Cat Warrior | Eric Peterson | Traditional Chinese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-? | YES | |||
004 | 死之手 Hand of Death | John Coulthart | Traditional Chinese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-? | YES | |||
005 | 巨獸術 Monstrous Growth | Dan Frazier | Traditional Chinese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-? | YES | |||
006 | 憤怒鬼怪 Raging Goblin | Pete Venters | Traditional Chinese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-? | YES | |||
007 | 全員衝鋒 Warrior's Charge | Ted Naifeh | Traditional Chinese Portal 2 Player Starter Set | 1997-? | YES | |||
SET | NUM | CARDNAME | ARTIST | SOURCE | DATE | INFO | ||
001 | Armored Pegasus | Andrew Robinson | English Portal Demogame boosters. | 1997-05 | ||||
002 | Bull Hippo | Roger Raupp | English Portal Demogame boosters. | 1997-05 | ||||
003 | Cloud Pirates | Phil Foglio | English Portal Demogame boosters. | 1997-05 | ||||
004 | Feral Shadow | Colin Mac Neil | English Portal Demogame boosters. | 1997-05 | ||||
005 | Snapping Drake | Christopher Rush | English Portal Demogame boosters. | 1997-05 | ||||
006 | Storm Crow | Una Fricker | English Portal Demogame boosters. | 1997-05 | ||||