TLDR
- Build MTG proxy decks from one clean, dated decklist rather than from several open deckbuilding tabs.
- Separate the commander, companion, sideboard, tokens, emblems, and other game pieces from the main deck before importing anything.
- Reconcile quantities, inspect double-faced cards, remove maybeboard entries, and review every imported result before ordering.
- Use readable card versions and opaque sleeves. Save the exact submitted list so later revisions do not get mixed into the original deck.
MTG proxy decks create a different organizational problem from printing three cards to test over the weekend. A complete deck has quantities, zones, tokens, double-faced cards, version choices, and inevitable last-minute edits. One missed land is annoying. One accidentally imported maybeboard can leave you trying to remember which version of the deck you meant to build.
The reliable approach is decklist-first: freeze one clean list, account for every game piece, choose presentation only after the counts are correct, and save the submitted snapshot. That process works for Commander decks, conventional constructed decks, and other full-deck tests. LetsProxy describes its workflows as supporting full Commander decks, test decks, cubes, singles, and custom cards for casual use and playtesting.
A complete proxy deck is not a stack of test cards
One-off testing is forgiving. You can put a printed substitute over a basic land, write the card name on the back, and replace it next week. A complete proxy deck needs to function as a single, understandable object. Every required card must be present, repeated cards must have the correct quantities, and auxiliary pieces need somewhere sensible to live.
Start by defining the scope. Are you reproducing the entire finalized list, proxying only cards you do not own, or building a temporary test version before buying anything? A fully proxied deck is usually easier to inventory because every card comes from the same snapshot. A mixed deck can also work, but you need to mark which entries are already covered by physical cards so they are not ordered twice.
If you are still changing ten cards after every goldfish session, the deck may not be ready for a full print run. A reusable proxy playtest binder for Commander can be less wasteful during early experimentation. Move to a complete deck when you want to test shuffling, opening hands, card ratios, and normal games without rebuilding a pile before each session.
Create one clean, dated decklist snapshot
Your working deckbuilder page is not automatically a clean production list. It may contain considering sections, alternate packages, old sideboard plans, or multiple copies of a card split between categories. Export or copy the finalized list into a plain document, then give it a clear name such as “Muldrotha-test-v3-2025-06-18.” The date and revision number are boring right up until they prevent an argument with your past self.
LetsProxy’s ordering guidance accepts common quantity-and-card-name formats, including entries such as “2x Card Name” and Arena-style lines containing set information. Use a consistent format throughout the file. A simple list is easier to audit than a document containing deck notes, pricing fields, category labels the importer may not recognize, and a small novel about why you cut your eighth board wipe.
Before import, remove anything that is not meant to become a card. That includes maybeboard entries, considering sections, previous revisions, headings copied as card names, and shopping-list notes. LetsProxy identifies review as the stage for catching name mismatches, duplicate lists, typos, accidental maybeboard entries, and missed cards. Review is a safety net, not a replacement for cleaning the source list.
Separate every part of the deck
Do not flatten every game piece into one unexplained list. Keep the main deck distinct from anything that starts outside it or merely supports gameplay. The exact categories depend on the format and deck, but a useful structure is:
- Main deck: the cards that belong in the shuffled deck.
- Commander or commanders: identified separately so they are not lost in the main-deck count.
- Companion: listed in its own section when applicable.
- Sideboard: separated from the main deck and reconciled against the finalized plan.
- Tokens and emblems: listed as game aids rather than shuffled deck cards.
- Other helper pieces: reminders, predefined dungeon cards, or similar components the deck actually uses.
LetsProxy specifically advises clearly labeling sideboard and token sections, then using review to resolve token matching or import problems. Clear labels also make your saved snapshot useful even if you later move it between tools.
Reconcile quantities instead of trusting the total
A plausible total can still conceal two errors that cancel each other out. You might have one missing land and one duplicate spell while the final number looks correct. Audit both the overall count and each repeated entry.
Sort the cleaned list alphabetically or by card name for one pass. This makes duplicate lines easier to spot. Then compare the section totals with the requirements of your chosen format and your finalized deck plan. Finally, search for cards you edited recently. The newest changes are the most likely places to find an old quantity or a card that appears in both the main deck and maybeboard.
Choose token quantities based on board state
There is no universal correct number of each token. Include enough for a realistic board state, not necessarily the theoretical maximum your deck could create after an improbable sequence. A deck that makes one legendary token needs a different token package from a deck that repeatedly creates armies.
For modest quantities, individual token cards are easy to read. For explosive token decks, a few representative tokens plus dice may be cleaner. Include different token names, power and toughness values, colors, keywords, or card types when those differences affect play. Also check whether copy effects require blank or clearly labeled copy tokens. Tokens should reduce memory load, not create a second deck that needs its own deck box and emotional support.
Review double-faced cards and sleeve behavior
Double-faced cards need deliberate review because the list may show one card name while the physical game piece needs information on both faces. LetsProxy states that its set workflow automatically handles double-faced cards. Even so, confirm the result during review rather than assuming every name, printing, and face was interpreted as intended.
For each double-faced card, verify that the front and back correspond to the same printing and that both faces are readable. Also decide how the deck will conceal card identity while shuffled. Matching opaque sleeves are the straightforward choice when cards have varied backs or need to be removed and reversed during play. If a sleeve is even slightly transparent, a distinctive back can reveal information.
Keep a small side area for cards that transform frequently so they can be handled without scattering tokens and counters. In some playgroups, a clearly identified substitute card can remain in the deck while the double-faced card stays nearby. Agree on that method before the game rather than introducing an improvised procedure after drawing the card.
Choose versions for readability, then consistency
Every proxy in a deck does not need the same frame or expansion symbol. Different printings of the same card can still communicate the same game object, and LetsProxy’s set-browsing guidance presents sets as a way to coordinate frames and treatments while recognizing that varied printings can remain suitable for gameplay.
Visual consistency is still useful. A unified frame treatment makes a deck feel intentional and can make scanning easier. But readability should win when an ornate treatment obscures the name, mana cost, type line, or rules text. This matters especially for cards with long text boxes, unfamiliar art, or several visually similar versions.
A practical hierarchy is:
- Correct card and correct face.
- Readable name, mana cost, type line, and rules text.
- Artwork that lets players recognize the card across the table.
- Consistent frame or treatment where it does not compromise clarity.
- Decorative preferences after the functional checks are complete.
Custom treatments can work well for commanders or themed decks, but the design still needs to communicate the card quickly. The guidance on personalizing proxy cards without hurting readability is useful before turning an entire deck into borderless full-art variants.
Use a final review checklist before submitting
Do not perform the final review in the same frantic session in which you rebuilt the list. Save the file, step away, and inspect it later as if someone else created it. Review the rendered or selected cards, not only the text you originally pasted.
- Confirm that the deck name and revision match the snapshot you intended to submit.
- Check every section total and every repeated-card quantity.
- Verify the commander, companion, and sideboard are present but not duplicated in the main deck.
- Remove maybeboard cards, category headings, notes, and abandoned packages.
- Inspect card-name mismatches and any substitutions produced during import.
- Confirm every double-faced card has the intended faces and version.
- Check token names, characteristics, and practical quantities.
- Scan for unreadable showcase treatments, language changes, or unexpected printings.
- Confirm that the cards you already own were excluded if you are building a mixed deck.
- Save a copy of the exact submitted list and, if available, the final reviewed selection.
For broader production decisions beyond list cleanup, see the guide to printing MTG cards for Commander, cube, and deck testing. If you are comparing ordering approaches rather than preparing the list itself, what to check before using an MTG proxy service provides a separate decision framework.
Keep revisions from contaminating the original deck
Once the deck is submitted, treat that file as read-only. Do not reopen “v3-submitted” and quietly replace six cards. Copy it to “v4-working” first. This gives you a reliable record of what the physical deck contains and a separate place for experiments.
Maintain a short change log with three fields: card removed, card added, and reason. The reason can be brief, such as “needed cheaper interaction” or “token package too cumbersome.” When enough changes accumulate to justify another print batch, compare the working list directly with the submitted snapshot. You will get a precise replacement list instead of reconstructing changes from memory.
Store spare proxies, replacement cards, and unused tokens separately from the active deck. Label them with the deck name and revision. Otherwise, an older copy can drift back into the deck and make the saved list inaccurate.
Set expectations before playing
Proxy decks are most straightforward in casual games and organized testing where everyone understands what is being used. Tell the table that the deck contains proxies, make the cards readable, and avoid designs that could be confused with authentic cards outside the game. The point is to test or play clearly, not to create uncertainty about what a card is.
Sanctioned events are a separate issue. Wizards’ published policy distinguishes noncommercial playtest cards from counterfeits and says cards used in DCI-sanctioned events must be authentic, apart from the narrow case of a judge issuing a proxy for a card damaged during that event. Because tournament documents can change, consult the current Wizards Play Network rules and documentation and speak with the event organizer before attending.
Common questions about full proxy decks
Can I paste a deckbuilder export without editing it?
You can use an exported list as a starting point, but inspect it first. Remove maybeboard entries, notes, duplicate sections, and anything that should not become a printed card. Then verify the imported result line by line.
Should tokens be included in the deck count?
Keep tokens in a separate section. They are game aids rather than cards shuffled into the main deck. Choose quantities according to the deck’s realistic board states and use dice when producing many identical tokens.
Do all card versions need to match?
No. Matching treatments can improve visual consistency, but correct identity and readability matter more. A mixed-frame deck that everyone can read is better than a perfectly coordinated deck full of tiny or obscured text.
What is the most important file to save?
Save the exact decklist snapshot used for the final reviewed submission. Give it a date and revision number, and never overwrite it with later changes. That file is the bridge between the physical deck and your future edits.
Build from the list, not from memory
The cleanest MTG proxy decks begin with one authoritative snapshot. Separate the zones, reconcile every quantity, inspect tokens and double-faced cards, choose readable versions, and save exactly what was submitted. When the deck changes, branch into a new revision instead of rewriting history. That small amount of list discipline prevents most full-deck mistakes and leaves you free to test the part that actually matters: whether the deck works.