Starter 1999 set symbol
Identify Starter 1999 by the unique set mark shown here (S99). Older frames may place related marks differently, but the information line still carries the modern set code when present.
Set code
s99
Released
Jul 1999
Cards
173
Type
Starter
Lookalikes & traps
Remasters, Special Guests, and Commander decks reprint Starter / Grim Tutor under other codes — matching art is not proof of S99. Also watch foil vs nonfoil: sheen does not change which set Starter 1999 is.
Confirm after the icon
Bottom information line should show collector number + set code S99 (and usually a C/U/R/M rarity letter). On Starter / Grim Tutor, mismatch between listing title and S99 is the usual bait-and-switch.
How to identify Starter 1999 cards
- 1
Find the expansion symbol on the type line and match it to the Starter 1999 icon on this page (S99).
- 2
Apply Exodus-era color rules only: no mythic orange on S99 cards from 1999.
- 3
Cross-check S99 + collector number so Starter / Grim Tutor is not priced under the wrong product line.
- 4
Still torn between lookalike products? Scan with Tappr to lock the exact Starter 1999 printing before you buy, sell, or grade.
Rarity by symbol color
Exodus-through-pre-mythic rules: black common, silver uncommon, gold rare on the Starter 1999 symbol. Mythic orange does not apply yet (Shards of Alara, 2008). Purple timeshifted is a Time Spiral-family exception, not a generic S99 rule.
Legend shows the modern post-Exodus palette. Pre-Exodus sets and special rarities (for example Time Spiral purple timeshifted) follow the rarity reading above — not this swatch row alone.
FAQ
What does the Starter 1999 set symbol look like?
Identify Starter 1999 by the unique set mark shown here (S99). Older frames may place related marks differently, but the information line still carries the modern set code when present. Reprints of Starter / Grim Tutor under other codes keep different glyphs — match the icon, then S99.
What is the Starter 1999 set code?
The set code is S99. It appears with the collector number on modern cards. If you see a different code, you are not holding the Starter 1999 printing even when the name matches.
How do I read rarity on a Starter 1999 card?
Exodus-through-pre-mythic rules: black common, silver uncommon, gold rare on the Starter 1999 symbol. Mythic orange does not apply yet (Shards of Alara, 2008). Purple timeshifted is a Time Spiral-family exception, not a generic S99 rule.
How do I confirm a Starter 1999 card quickly?
Icon match → rarity reading for this era → S99 + collector number. Remasters, Special Guests, and Commander decks reprint Starter / Grim Tutor under other codes — matching art is not proof of S99.. Tappr can finish the printing match when the listing is ambiguous.
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