Editing Portal

{{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]]

==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.<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.

''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 [[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}}.

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'' [[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]].

[[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]]''.

===Flavor and storyline===
No specific storyline was developed for ''Portal'', but flavor is conveyed throughout the [[flavor text]]s 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 pair]]s and six [[matched pair]]s:

===Mirrored pairs===

{| 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.
|}

===Matched pairs===

{| 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.)
|}

==Reprinted cards==
The following cards have been reprinted from previous sets:

{| 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]]''
|}

==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 [[Shocklands]].

==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]]