Starter (Magic: The Gathering)
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| Starter 1999 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Expansion symbol |  |
|
| Release date | August 27, 1999 | |
| Mechanics | none | |
| Keywords | none | |
| Cycles | {{{Cycles}}} | |
| Size | 173 | |
| Expansion code | None | |
| Development codename | None | |
| Sets in Starter Block | ||
| Starter | Starter 2000 | 7th Edition Starter |
| Magic: The Gathering Chronology |
||
| Portal Three Kingdoms | Starter | Mercadian Masques |
Starter is the name of the Magic: The Gathering beginners set which came out on August 27, 1999. The set contains 173 cards. The set became known as Starter 1999 after the release of Starter 2000.
Contents |
[edit] Set history
After three sets in the Portal Block, Starter was Wizards of the Coast's fourth major attempt at a "Starter Level" set that new players could come into the game and understand.
Most of its cards were reprints of cards already available (many of them from the Portal-sets). But it also contained 26 new cards, created just for the release. Starter cards were available in a fixed-deck game, randomized boosters and 5 preconstructed decks (one for each color).
The starter game came with two decks, two playmats, a step-by-step play guide, and a simplified version of the Magic: The Gathering rule-book. The starter-game contained eight cards which weren't available in the boosters.
Starter ended up caused confusion, because up until the set's release, Tournement decks were known as "Starters".
Starter had a short print run, and has become very difficult to find. It was replaced with Starter 2000 less then a year later.
[edit] Mechanics
No new mechanics were introduced with Starter. It left out elements unnecessary for basic gameplay, such as artifacts, instants, and complicated abilities.
[edit] Guru program
Wizards of the coast attemped to market Starter by providing a guru program to experienced players to help new players start the game, the guru program awarded players with redeemable coupons for booster packs and a special collectable set of "Guru Lands".
[edit] Notable cards
The only card of note that has not appeared anywhere but Starter is Grim Tutor. A slight downgrade from Demonic Tutor, the Grim version is still powerful enough in Vintage that it has become a sought after card. Given the shortage of copies in existence, Grim Tutor currently sells over $100.
