1997 228 cards

Portal

228 cards · starter set · released May 1, 1997

por
Difficulty
3/5 to complete
Avg Card Value
$49.14
Market average
Top Card
Wrath of God
$71.41
Rarity Tier
Rare

Overview

Portal is a Magic: The Gathering starter set in the Portal block, released May 1, 1997 with 228 cards. Use the checklist below to track which cards you own, and scan any Portal card with Tappr to read a Scryfall market estimate synced about every 24 hours.

Best for

  • collectors who already know edition premiums
  • people completing or pricing Portal (228 cards, code por)
  • singles buyers focused on Portal / Wrath

Skip if

  • you will not check edition/treatment and still want “NM mythic” prices
  • you expect every rare in the set to hold similar resale

Common mistakes

On Portal, the usual miss is pricing by card name alone without edition (Alpha/Beta/Unlimited/Revised). Money still clusters around Portal / Wrath; treating the whole list like one price tier is how people overpay bulk. Also: Portal (1997, early Magic) gets mixed into lots that are not the same product — match set code por before the art.

What to check first

First: edition line, authenticity, then condition. On Portal / Wrath, do condition under light before grade talk. Then use the Portal checklist for gaps — sealed is not a plan for the expensive row.

Top of the chart

Most valuable cards

The most valuable card in Portal in the latest synced snapshot is Wrath of God, with a Scryfall market estimate around $71.41. Other standout cards include Sylvan Tutor and Cruel Tutor.

  1. 1 #39
    Wrath of God

    Wrath of God

    rare

  2. 2 #188
    Sylvan Tutor

    Sylvan Tutor

    rare

  3. 3 #87
    Cruel Tutor

    Cruel Tutor

    rare

  4. 4 #5
    Armageddon

    Armageddon

    rare

  5. 5 #175
    Natural Order

    Natural Order

    rare

  6. 6 #195
    Wood Elves

    Wood Elves

    rare

Tips to finish the set

To complete Portal you'll need all 228 cards. Start with the commons and uncommons — they're cheap and fill most of the checklist — then chase the rares and mythics. Scanning as you sort lets Tappr flag the Portal cards still missing from your collection.

Step by step

How to Complete This Set

  1. 01

    Scan your Portal cards with Tappr to identify every printing

  2. 02

    Read the 24-hour market estimate for each card, including foils

  3. 03

    Prioritize chase cards like Wrath of God

  4. 04

    Save scanned cards to your Portal checklist to see what's missing

Scan with the app

Point Tappr at any Portal card and it identifies the exact printing and collector number, then shows a Scryfall market estimate synced about every 24 hours — not a live listing, and not a price guide you have to type into. Every scan can be saved straight into your digital Portal binder.

FAQ

Common questions

01 How many cards are in Portal?

Portal contains 228 cards in the main set (257 including variants and special printings). It was released May 1, 1997.

02 What is the most valuable card in Portal?

Wrath of God is currently the most valuable Portal card, trading around $71.41 in near-mint condition. Prices move constantly — scan your copy with Tappr for a Scryfall market estimate synced about every 24 hours.

03 When was Portal released?

Portal was released May 1, 1997 (1997) as a Magic: The Gathering starter set.

04 How do I check Portal card prices?

Open Tappr, scan the card, and it recognizes the exact Portal printing and shows a Scryfall market estimate synced about every 24 hours. You can also browse this page's card list for a full Portal price overview.

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