Portal Three Kingdoms

Portal Three Kingdoms is a starter-level set released in May 1999.

Set details
Portal Three Kingdoms was specifically designed for the Asian market and was not sold in North America. It was mainly printed in Japanese, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese, but there was also an English printing, sold mostly in Australia and New Zealand. As a result, the English versions of the cards are amongst the rarest in the game. As with the previous two Portal sets, the cards in Portal Three Kingdoms were not tournament-legal at the time of printing, but were made legal in Vintage and Legacy on 20 October 2005. The expansion symbol for this set is the Chinese character for 3. Unlike its predecessors, the P3K-set is white-bordered.

Flavor and storyline
Portal Three Kingdoms was a flavor-based set that used the cards to retell the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. This tale is as important to Asia as the Homeric and Arthurian tales are to the west. This meant that it was the first expansion since Arabian Nights to be designed around an earth-based history, and the first set since Legends to reference real-world people, places and events in its card names. The artwork for the set was produced entirely by Chinese artists in order to give it an authentic feel. Unless otherwise noted, all quotations on Portal Three Kingdoms cards are from Guanzhong Luo, Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel (Beijing Foreign Language Press/Berkeley: University of California Press, 1991), Moss Roberts, trans.

The setting of Portal Three Kingdoms closely resembles historic Earth, but is retroactively considered to be a parallel plane.

Themes and mechanics
The set featured its own keyword ability, Horsemanship. This was functionally identical to Flying but was distributed differently across the Color Pie, appearing on a number of red cards. It also featured Legendary creatures, a rule that had not been included in the previous Portal sets. As Horsemanship replaced flying in the set, Borrowing the East Wind and Rolling Earthquake were included to mimic Hurricane and Earthquake, respectively.

Marketing
The cards were sold in 10-card booster packs (containing 1 rare, 2 uncommon, 5 common and 2 basic lands), three different 40 card theme decks and a 2-Player Starter Set. The boosters feature art from Riding Red Hare. The prerelease card was a nonfoil Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms. The set continued to use the simplified Portal rules. Like the previous sets, it had sword and shield symbols next to the power and toughness of creature cards to denote which number was which and used bold type for rules text and a thick line to separate it from flavor text. It also had no instants, artifacts or enchantments. However, Portal Three Kingdoms did have sorceries that could only be played during the combat phase, such as Heavy Fog and ones that could only be played in response to another spell, such as Preemptive Strike. All such cards have since received errata to make them actual instants.

Cycles

 * As their names imply, each of the twelve Zodiac creatures represent a different sign of the Chinese zodiac. Their flavor texts form a single piece, an extract from the epic Chinese poem at the end of Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel. The correct order to read them in is: Zodiac Snake</c>, Zodiac Horse</c>, Zodiac Goat</c>, Zodiac Monkey</c>, Zodiac Rooster</c>, Zodiac Dog</c>, Zodiac Pig</c>, Zodiac Rat</c>, Zodiac Ox</c>, Zodiac Tiger</c>, Zodiac Rabbit</c> and finally Zodiac Dragon</c>.

Notable cards

 * Imperial Recruiter</c> was used in some decks, as an effective way to tutor for creatures that are part of a combo (for example Painter's Servant</c>).
 * Imperial Seal</c> is a sorcery version of Vampiric Tutor</c>. Imperial Seal effectively allows a player in that format to run extra copies of Vampiric Tutor. As a result, Imperial Seal has been restricted in Vintage and banned in Legacy and is one of the most valuable cards in the set.
 * <c>Riding the Dilu Horse</c> is the only black-bordered Magic card that boosts a creature's power/toughness indefinitely without the use of counters. It is unique and also quite powerful as it also grants Horsemanship, which is unblockable in many formats played nowadays.
 * <c>Loyal Retainers</c> is one of the cheapest white reanimation spells. It is used to cheat cards like <c>Iona, Shield of Emeria</c> into play.

Reprints
The following cards were printed in other sets before being printed in Portal Three Kingdoms:
 * <c>Balance of Power</c> was last seen in Portal.
 * <c>Blaze</c> was last seen in 6th Edition.
 * <c>Coercion</c> was last seen in 6th Edition.
 * <c>Exhaustion</c> was last seen in Urza's Saga.
 * <c>Extinguish</c> was last seen in Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Lone Wolf</c> was last seen in Urza's Legacy.
 * <c>Mystic Denial</c> was last seen in Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Rally the Troops</c> was last seen in Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Relentless Assault</c> was last seen in 6th Edition.
 * <c>Stalking Tiger</c> was last seen in 6th Edition.
 * <c>Stone Rain</c> was last seen in 6th Edition.
 * <c>Vengeance</c> was last seen in Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Volunteer Militia</c> was last seen in Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Warrior's Stand</c> was last seen in Portal Second Age.

Functional reprints
The set included a large number of cards that were functional reprints of previously printed cards, as well as several which became sorceries but were otherwise the same.


 * <c>Ambition's Cost</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Ancient Craving</c> from Portal Second Age. It was reprinted in 8th Edition with the flavor text from Ancient Craving instead.
 * <c>Barbarian Horde</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Hill Giant</c> from Portal, <c>Tor Giant</c> from Ice Age, and <c>Ogre Warrior</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Borrowing 100,000 Arrows</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Theft of Dreams</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Burning Fields</c>, with errata text, is a functional reprint of <c>Lava Axe</c> from Urza's Saga.
 * <c>Burning of Xinye</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Wildfire</c> from Urza's Saga.
 * <c>Capture of Jingzhou</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Temporal Manipulation</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Champion's Victory</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Remove</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Control of the Court</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Goblin Lore</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Corrupt Court Official</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Ravenous Rats</c> Urza's Destiny, save for creature type.
 * <c>Eightfold Maze</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Just Fate</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Eunuchs' Intrigues</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Goblin War Cry</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>False Defeat</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Breath of Life</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>False Mourning</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Salvage</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Famine</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Dakmor Plague</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Fire Ambush</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Volcanic Hammer</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Fire Bowman</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Goblin Firestarter</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Flanking Troops</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Seasoned Marshal</c> from Urza's Saga and <c>Alaborn Cavalier</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Forced Retreat</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Time Ebb</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Forest Bear</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Grizzly Bears</c> from 6th Edition, <c>Balduvian Bears</c> from Ice Age, <c>Bear Cub</c> from Portal Second Age and <c>Barbary Apes</c> from Legends, save for creature type.
 * <c>Ghostly Visit</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Hand of Death</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Heavy Fog</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Deep Wood</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Imperial Edict</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Cruel Edict</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Independent Troops</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Goblin Bully</c> from Portal and <c>Goblin Piker</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Meng Huo's Horde</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Blanchwood Treefolk</c> from Urza's Saga and <c>Plated Wurm</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Misfortune's Gain</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Path of Peace</c> from Urza's Saga.
 * <c>Mountain Bandit</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Raging Goblin</c> from 6th Edition, save for creature type.
 * <c>Peach Garden Oath</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Festival of Trokin</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Poison Arrow</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Dark Offering</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Preemptive Strike</c> is a functional reprint of <c>False Summoning</c> from Portal Second Age and <c>Remove Soul</c> from 6th Edition. The radically different wording between the two cards shows the difficulty the designers had fitting countermagic in with the Portal rules system.
 * <c>Ravages of War</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Armageddon</c> from 6th Edition.
 * <c>Red Cliffs Armada</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Armored Galleon</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Renegade Troops</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Ogre Berserker</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Return to Battle</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Raise Dead</c> from 6th Edition.
 * <c>Rockslide Ambush</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Spitting Earth</c> from 6th Edition.
 * <c>Sage's Knowledge</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Déjà Vu</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Shu Defender</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Town Sentry</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Shu Elite Infantry</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Trokin High Guard</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Shu Foot Soldiers</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Regal Unicorn</c> from 6th Edition and <c>Alaborn Trooper</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Shu Grain Caravan</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Venerable Monk</c> from 6th Edition, save for creature type.
 * <c>Slashing Tiger</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Razorclaw Bear</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Southern Elephant</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Rowan Treefolk</c> from Portal, save for creature type.
 * <c>Spoils of Victory</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Untamed Wilds</c> from 6th Edition.
 * <c>Straw Soldiers</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Talas Merchant</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Taunting Challenge</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Alluring Scent</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Three Visits</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Nature's Lore</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Trained Cheetah</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Norwood Warrior</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Trained Jackal</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Norwood Ranger</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Virtuous Charge</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Warrior's Charge</c> from Portal.
 * <c>Warrior's Oath</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Last Chance</c> from Portal.
 * <c>Wei Infantry</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Skeletal Snake</c> from Portal and <c>Dakmor Scorpion</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Wielding the Green Dragon</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Monstrous Growth</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Wu Infantry</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Coral Eel</c> from Portal and <c>Coral Merfolk</c> from Urza's Saga, save for creature type.
 * <c>Wu Longbowman</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Capricious Sorcerer</c> from Portal and <c>Apprentice Sorcerer</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Wu Warship</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Steam Frigate</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Yellow Scarves Troops</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Goblin Raider</c> from Urza's Saga and <c>Hulking Goblin</c> from Portal, save for creature type.
 * <c>Young Wei Recruits</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Craven Knight</c> from Portal, save for creature type.
 * <c>Zodiac Dog</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Goblin Spelunkers</c> from Urza's Saga, save for creature type.
 * <c>Zodiac Horse</c> is a functional reprint of <c>River Bear</c> from Portal Second Age and <c>Bull Hippo</c> from Urza's Saga, save for creature type.
 * <c>Zodiac Monkey</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Lynx</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Zodiac Ox</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Wild Ox</c> from Portal Second Age and <c>Anaconda</c> from Portal, save for creature type.
 * <c>Zodiac Pig</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Bog Wraith</c> from 6th Edition and <c>Moor Fiend</c> from Ice Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Zodiac Rabbit</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Shanodin Dryads</c> from 6th Edition, save for creature type.
 * <c>Zodiac Rat</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Plague Beetle</c> from Urza's Legacy, save for creature type.
 * <c>Zodiac Snake</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Bog Raiders</c> from Urza's Saga and <c>Raiding Nightstalker</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Zodiac Tiger</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Heartwood Treefolk</c> from Tempest, save for creature type.

Misprints

 * In the set's FAQ, it states that <c>Riding the Dilu Horse</c> was misprinted without the "until end of turn" clause and should be treated as though it had it, but when the set was given errata prior to being made tournament-legal, the card was instead given reminder text stating that the effect is permanent.
 * <c>Trained Cheetah</c> lists collector number #155, should be #154.
 * <c>Trip Wire</c> lists collector number #154, should be #156.
 * <c>Swamp</c> (Japanese version) lists collector number #166, should be #174.

Theme decks
Portal Three Kingdoms is based on the famous Chinese epic of the Three Kingdoms, thus there are three theme decks. The preconstructed theme decks are:

Creature types
The following creature types are introduced in this expansion: Farmer (later changed to Human), Horse, Mystic, Pig (later changed to Boar), Rabbit, Rooster (later changed to Bird).

The following creature types are used in this expansion but also appear in previous sets: Advisor, Bear, Cheetah (later changed to Cat), Dog (later changed to Hound), Dragon, Elephant, Goat, Jackal (later changed to Hound), Monkey (later changed to Ape), Ox, Rat, Ship (later changed to Soldier), Snake, Soldier, Tiger (later changed to Cat), Wolf.

Trivia

 * At its release, Portal Three Kingdoms had the single longest set name in the game. It held this record until 2004, when it was met by Champions of Kamigawa and then again by Betrayers of Kamigawa in 2005. All three were then beaten by Ravnica: City of Guilds in 2005 as all four sets are equal in the number of letters in their names (19), but Ravnica is slightly longer due to its colon and third space. Note that although Portal Three Kingdoms is often incorrectly spelled Portal: Three Kingdoms, it would mean that Ravnica is still the longest by a single space.


 * <c>Borrowing 100,000 Arrows</c> holds the record for the largest number in a card title.


 * <c>Zodiac Dragon</c> is one of only five non-Changeling Dragons that has neither flying nor the ability to gain flying. The other Dragons without it are <c>Mistform Ultimus</c>, <c>Shichifukujin Dragon</c>, <c>Henge Guardian</c> and <c>Elder Land Wurm</c>, as although <c>Dragon Engine</c> also cannot fly, it currently does not have the Dragon creature type. Zodiac Dragon was hugely overvalued initially as people were unaware of its errata, believing it could be discarded repeatedly in one turn using a card like <c>Wild Mongrel</c>. It is currently one of the only cards with a power-level errata.


 * <c>Zodiac Rooster</c> is the second of only four creatures printed with Plainswalk, the other three being <c>Righteous Avengers</c>, <c>Graceful Antelope</c> and <c>Boggart Arsonists</c>.