Starter 1999

Starter, now known as Starter 1999, is a starter-level Magic set that came out in July 1999. It was legalized for Legacy and Vintage on October 20, 2005.

Set details
Starter was the next attempt, after the Portal series, to ease new players into the game. Rules text were also written in bold type and separated from the flavor text with a thick line. Unlike the previous starter-level sets, Starter didn't have its own set of rules. The terminology was now for the first time consistent throughout the range of Magic products. It was just simpler than advanced-level Magic because certain cards (such as artifacts, enchantments, most instants and cards with complicated abilities) weren't in the set.

Unlike the Portal sets, Starter did contain some instants (Counterspell, Extinguish and Remove Soul). On the other hand, Starter left out any creatures with a undefined ability.

The Starter set is slightly larger than a standard smaller expansion and most of its cards are reprints of cards already available. The Starter set does contain twenty-six new cards created just for this release.

Marketing
Starter was sold in 15-card booster packs (containing 1 rare, 3 uncommon, 9 common and 2 basic lands), five different 40 card theme decks and a 2 Player Starter Set. The booster pack featured the art from Denizen of the Deep. The 2-Player Starter Set came with two decks, two playmats, a step-by-step play guide, and a simplified version of the rulebook. It contained eight cards not available in boosters, two of which haven't been printed anywhere else (Royal Falcon and Willow Elf). The Starter set was accompanied by The Official Starter Game Strategy Guide and the Guru teaching program. Starter Demogame boosters contained 24 cards, a tip card, a rebate card, and an instruction sheet. Everything two players needed to play their first Magic game.

Storyline
No specific storyline was developed for Starter.

Cycles
Starter has one cycle and one vertical cycle:

Pairs
Starter has one mirrored pair:

New cards
• Angel of Light

• Champion Lancer

• Devout Monk</c>

• Eager Cadet</c> #

• Loyal Sentry</c>

• Royal Falcon</c> #

• Royal Trooper</c>

• Veteran Cavalier</c>

• Sea Eagle</c> #

• Tidings</c>

• Vizzerdrix</c>

• Dakmor Ghoul</c>

• Dakmor Lancer</c>

• Grim Tutor</c>

• Shrieking Specter</c>

• Stream of Acid</c>

• Cinder Storm</c>

• Goblin Chariot</c>

• <c>Goblin Commando</c>

• <c>Goblin Settler</c>

• <c>Thunder Dragon</c>

• <c>Trained Orgg</c>

• <c>Pride of Lions</c>

• <c>Silverback Ape</c>

• <c>Squall</c>

• <c>Willow Elf</c>


 * 1) Not available in regular boosters

Functional reprints
Starter has three functional reprints:


 * <c>Goblin Chariot</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Raging Cougar</c> from Portal and <c>Wild Colos</c> from Urza's Destiny.
 * <c>Loyal Sentry</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Alaborn Zealot</c> from Portal Second Age.
 * <c>Veteran Cavalier</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Alaborn Grenadier</c> from Portal Second Age.

Notable Cards

 * <c>Grim Tutor</c> one of the few notable cards this set has introduced, it is still one of the best black Tutors.

Theme decks

 * For the content of the decks in the 2 Player Starter Set, see Starter 1999 2 Player Starter Set.

The preconstructed theme decks are:

Misprints

 * <c>Goblin Hero</c> was printed with a gold expansion symbol, the card is common - not rare.
 * <c>Mons's Goblin Raiders</c> was printed with a gold expansion symbol, the card is common - not rare.
 * <c>Squall</c> had a mana cost of . When that card was reprinted later that year in the Mercadian Masques expert-level expansion, it had a mana cost of . The latter was ruled the correct one.