You’ve brewed a deck, goldfished it, tweaked three cards, tweaked them back, and now you just want the pieces in your hands. This is the moment MTG proxy services exist for: turning a decklist into something you can shuffle without taking out a small loan for cardboard.
Also, this is the moment your printer pretends it has never heard of “actual size.” Ask me how I know.
What counts as an MTG proxy service (and why it matters)
When people say “proxy service,” they usually mean “somewhere that turns my list into physical cards.” In practice, you’ve got a few very different routes:
- DIY print-at-home: Generate a PDF or sheet, print it, cut it, sleeve it (often in front of a basic land).
- Local print shop: Bring a print-ready file, pay for better stock and cutting. Sometimes they can corner-round too.
- Online custom card printers: Big platforms that print custom playing cards. MTG players use these for bulk, consistent playtest cards.
- Dedicated MTG proxy printers: Services built around decklist import and MTG-specific workflow (editions, double-faced cards, tokens, etc.).
They all “work,” but they fail differently. DIY fails when scaling is off or cutting is sloppy. Print shops fail when someone auto-scales your file because “helpful.” Online printers fail when your files are not set up to their specs. MTG-focused services can fail when the print is fine but the vendor is sketchy about counterfeits.
Let’s pick the right kind, not just the first kind.
The decision tree: choose your proxy path in 60 seconds
If you only read one section, read this one.
A) “I need cards tonight.”
Go DIY, paper-in-sleeve.
- Best for: last-minute Commander night, testing 5 to 15 cards, swapping a few pricey staples.
- What you give up: time with scissors and the fact that it will look very proxied.
B) “I need a full deck this week, and I don’t want a new hobby.”
Use a local print shop or a print-and-ship service.
- Best for: 100-card Commander decks, precon upgrade lists, small cube refreshes.
- What you give up: you pay more than DIY, but you get your evening back.
C) “I want a cube or multiple decks that feel consistent in sleeves.”
Use an online custom card printer or a dedicated proxy printer.
- Best for: cube nights, multiple Commander decks, playgroups sharing a card pool.
- What you give up: lead time and (sometimes) file prep anxiety.
D) “I want them to pass as real.”
Don’t.
That crosses the line from proxying into counterfeiting behavior, and it’s exactly what Wizards and most of the community are trying to stop. If a vendor markets “1:1” or “passes authenticity tests,” that is a bright red flag, not a feature.
Wizards has said they’re not trying to police personal, non-commercial playtest cards, even if you use them in a store. But sanctioned events are a different world. The Magic Tournament Rules are explicit that players can’t make their own proxies for sanctioned play. Only the Head Judge can issue a proxy, and only in narrow situations (like a card becoming damaged during the tournament).
Practical takeaway:
- Kitchen table, casual Commander, private leagues: ask the group, then you’re good.
- FNM, RCQs, any sanctioned event: assume proxies are not allowed unless the Head Judge issues one.
What to ask your store or organizer (copy-paste script)
“Hey, quick check: is tonight’s event sanctioned? If it is, I’ll swap to real cards. If it’s casual, are playtest proxies okay if they’re clearly marked and sleeved?”
That one sentence saves you from the classic awkward shuffle-and-sweat.
Comparison: the big proxy options (with real tradeoffs)
| Option | Cost | Speed | Effort | Sleeve feel | Best for | Watchouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-in-sleeve DIY | $ | Fastest | Medium | Fine | Testing a few cards, last-minute night | Scaling errors, messy cuts, glare on cheap paper |
| Local print shop | $$ | Fast | Low | Good | One deck, small batch | Auto-scaling, inconsistent cutting |
| Online custom card printer | $$ to $$$ | Medium | Medium to high | Very good | Multiple decks, cube | File specs, longer shipping |
| Dedicated MTG proxy printer | $$ to $$$ | Medium | Low to medium | Very good | Decklist import, “done for you” | Vendor ethics, too-real marketing |
If you’re new, start with paper-in-sleeve. If you’re building a cube, skip straight to something that can do bulk consistently.
The quality checklist: 10 things that matter more than “fancy cardstock”
This is the stuff that actually changes gameplay.
- Correct size
Traditional Magic cards are approximately 2.5″ by 3.5″. If your proxies are even a little off, you’ll feel it when you shuffle and your deck will stack weird in a box. - Printed at 100% (no scaling)
Your printer driver loves “fit to page.” It is lying to you. Print at actual size. - Readable rules text
If you can’t read the card at arm’s length, your group will hate your proxies even if they support proxying. - Consistent backs (or fully opaque sleeves)
Mixed backs can become marked cards fast. Either use opaque sleeves or keep backs consistent across the deck. - Clean cuts and rounded corners
Square corners catch sleeves. If you DIY a lot, a corner rounder is one of the most boring purchases that makes you weirdly happy. - No glossy glare if you play on SpellTable
Gloss looks nice in person and awful on camera. Matte finishes usually read better. - Double-faced cards handled correctly
Have a plan for DFCs: checklist cards, a second copy, or a clear marker system. Sloppy DFC proxies are a top-tier way to slow down games. - Tokens included
If your deck makes a pile of tokens, print them too. Your future self will thank you. - Contrast that reads in sleeves
Perfect color matching is not the goal. Clear board state is. - Clearly marked as proxies
This is both etiquette and safety. A small “PROXY” label or a non-official back is enough.
A quick “file sanity” checklist (especially for print shops)
Before you upload or email anything:
- Print one test page first.
- Confirm the PDF is the right size and not scaled.
- If there’s a border, make it thick enough to survive cutting.
- Keep important text away from the edge.
Printers can sense confidence and punish it. Print the test page.
Red flags when shopping for MTG proxy services
A proxy service can be “high quality” and still be a bad idea. Watch for:
- “Passes the light test” or “indistinguishable from real”
That’s counterfeit marketing language. - Official card backs
Hard no. That’s the clearest signal the cards are meant to be mistaken for real ones. - “Tournament legal” claims
Unless they’re talking about judge-issued proxies for damaged cards during that event (they usually aren’t), this is misleading at best. - No refund or reprint policy, no support contact
If you can’t get help, you’re not buying a service. You’re buying a gamble.
Rule 0 scripts for proxy decks (steal these)
You don’t need to defend your life choices. You just need to set expectations.
Script 1: Casual Commander pod
“Just a heads-up, I’m running some playtest proxies in this deck. All clearly marked and sleeved. Power level wise, it’s about a 7, not cEDH.”
Script 2: New group, unknown vibes
“I’ve got a few proxies in here because I’m testing changes. If anyone prefers no proxies, I can grab a different deck.”
Script 3: Store night
“Are proxies cool for tonight’s Commander tables? If not, no worries, I’ll swap decks.”
Friendly, quick, and it gives people an exit without turning it into a debate club meeting.