TLDR
MTG proxies are stand-in cards used for casual games, Commander nights, cube drafts, and playtesting. They are useful when you want to test expensive cards, protect originals, or try a new deck before buying singles.
For the simplest version, print card images on paper, cut them out, and sleeve them in front of basic lands or bulk commons. For nicer results, use a proxy printing service like PrintMTG, ProxyKing, ProxyMTG, ProxyFoundry, or a cube-focused option like PrintACube or Hundred Dollar Cube.
The main rule is simple: use proxies only where they are allowed. Wizards of the Coast has said it does not aim to police personal, non-commercial playtest cards, but sanctioned Magic events require genuine authorized Magic cards, and player-made proxies are not legal there.
Start With the Right Proxy Mindset
MTG proxies are not complicated. At their best, they are just tools. They help you answer questions before spending money.
Is this Commander deck actually fun? Does this mana base work? Is Gaea’s Cradle worth testing here, or is it win-more? Does the new reanimator package help, or does it just look good on paper?
That is where proxies shine.
For casual play and playtesting, proxies let your group focus on games instead of card prices. They also protect expensive originals from wear. If you own a valuable card and do not want to shuffle it every week, a clearly understood proxy can keep the deck playable while the real card stays safe.
But there is an etiquette piece too. Proxies should not be used to trick people, pass as real cards, or enter events where they are not allowed. In sanctioned Magic play, the Magic Tournament Rules say authorized game cards must be genuine, regulation-sized Magic cards released by Wizards of the Coast. The same rules say players may not create their own tournament proxies; judge-issued proxies are only for narrow tournament situations, like damaged cards.
For kitchen-table Commander, cube, testing gauntlets, and unsanctioned events, ask first. Most proxy problems are really communication problems.
Decide What Kind of Proxies You Need
Before you make anything, decide what job the proxies need to do.
For quick deck testing, cheap paper proxies are usually enough. You only need the card name, mana cost, type line, and rules text to be readable. The art does not matter much. You are testing decisions, opening hands, mulligans, mana, and gameplay patterns.
For casual Commander, you may want better-looking cards. Commander pods tend to play the same decks many times, so nicer proxies feel better over repeated games. This is where a service like ProxyKing can make sense for individual staples, upgrades, and popular cards. ProxyKing describes its cards as printed and cut to normal Magic card dimensions, with a focus on realistic play feel.
For full decks, PrintMTG is worth considering because it is built around selecting cards, choosing art, ordering printed proxies, or downloading a PDF for do-it-yourself printing.
For custom card projects or other TCG-style print runs, ProxyFoundry is another option. It lists proxy printing for Magic, Netrunner, Lorcana, Pokémon, and more, which makes it a better fit when you are doing something outside a basic one-deck MTG order.
For cubes, use a cube-specific option. PrintACube focuses on print-on-demand proxy cubes, while Hundred Dollar Cube is built around a ready-to-draft 540-card proxy cube concept.
Method 1: Make Simple Paper MTG Proxies at Home
This is the easiest way to make MTG proxies for playtesting.
Start with your decklist. You can export a list from your deck builder, write it by hand, or copy it from a site you use for brewing. Then create print sheets with the cards you want to test.
Print the cards on normal printer paper or slightly heavier paper. Cut them close to card size. They do not need to be perfect if they are going into sleeves.
Then sleeve each paper proxy in front of a real Magic card, usually a basic land or bulk common. Use opaque sleeves so the back of every card looks the same. This matters because a proxy should not create marked-card issues, even in casual games.
This home method is best for:
- Testing a new Commander list before buying singles
- Trying different mana bases
- Testing cube changes before making a permanent update
- Building a gauntlet of Modern, Legacy, or Pioneer decks
- Letting newer players try stronger decks without buying expensive staples
The downside is feel. Paper proxies in sleeves can be slightly thicker or uneven if you use too much paper, low-quality sleeves, or messy cuts. That is fine for testing. It is less ideal for a deck you plan to use every week.
Method 2: Use Printed Proxy Cards for Casual Decks
Professionally printed proxies make more sense when the deck is going to see a lot of play. The cards shuffle better, look cleaner, and do not require you to cut dozens or hundreds of slips by hand.
This is the route I would choose for a long-term Commander deck, a casual cube, or a playtest gauntlet you expect to keep around. For example, if your group wants to test higher-power Commander without everyone buying original dual lands, printed proxies can make the experience smoother and more consistent.
Use ProxyMTG or PrintMTG when you want a deck-oriented workflow. Use ProxyKing when you want individual proxy staples or specific popular cards. Use ProxyFoundry when the project involves custom TCG printing or broader proxy printing needs.
For full cubes, I would start with PrintACube if you want a print-on-demand cube product, or Hundred Dollar Cube if you want a budget-minded ready-to-draft cube package. Not every cube needs to be a giant spreadsheet project. Sometimes you just want to draft.
Method 3: Make Text-Only Playtest Cards
Text-only proxies are underrated. They are ugly, sure, but they are fast and clear.
For each proxy, write:
- Card name
- Mana cost
- Type line
- Power and toughness, if relevant
- Key rules text
- Any important reminder text
You can write this on a basic land, a blank insert, or a piece of paper placed in a sleeve. This works well when you are testing a few cards and do not want to print anything.
Text-only proxies are best when the group already knows the cards or when the card text is simple. They are worse for cards with long rules text, modal options, double-faced cards, or cards that newer players may not recognize.
For a one-night test, they are completely fine. For repeated play, print something cleaner.
How to Keep Proxies Fair and Easy to Play Against
A good proxy should be readable at a glance. That matters more than looking flashy.
Use clear card names. Make the mana cost visible. Keep rules text legible. Do not use art or layouts that make the card hard to identify. And avoid joke designs during serious testing, unless your whole table is into that.
It is also smart to keep a proxy list with the deck. This is especially helpful for Commander. A simple note in your deck box can say, “This deck uses proxies for Underground Sea, Mox Diamond, Mana Crypt, and The One Ring.” That gives the table a quick power-level signal before the game starts.
For casual groups, I like the “say it before you shuffle” rule. Tell the table you are using proxies, explain the rough power level, and ask if anyone has an issue. That 20-second conversation prevents most problems.
What Not to Do With MTG Proxies
Do not sell or trade proxies as real cards. Do not use them in sanctioned events. Do not hide them from your group. Do not make the table guess what a card is supposed to be.
Also avoid using proxies as an excuse to overpower a casual pod. A deck full of fast mana, original duals, free interaction, and Reserved List staples may be fine in a high-power group. It may be miserable in a precon-level pod. The issue is not the proxy itself. The issue is bringing the wrong deck to the wrong game.
For playtesting, be honest about what you are testing. If the goal is to see whether a $90 card is worth buying, proxy that card. If the goal is to build “no-budget cEDH” against upgraded precons, that is probably not the same conversation.
A Simple Proxy Workflow for Playtesting
Here is a clean process that works for most players.
Build the deck digitally first. Goldfish a few hands. Mark the expensive cards, uncertain cards, and flex slots. Those are your first proxy targets.
Print or order only what you need for the first round of testing. Do not proxy 100 cards if you are really testing 12.
Play three to five games. Take notes. Watch for mana issues, dead cards, win conditions that do not close, and cards that are only good when you are already ahead.
Then update the list. Keep the cards that worked. Replace the ones that did not. After a few rounds, you will know which cards are worth buying, which ones should stay proxied for casual use, and which ones were just theorycraft bait.
For cubes, do the same thing in batches. Proxy the new section, draft it a few times, then decide if it earns a permanent slot.
FAQs
Are MTG Proxies Legal?
MTG proxies are fine for many casual and unsanctioned games if your playgroup or event organizer allows them. They are not legal as player-made substitutes in sanctioned Magic tournaments. Official tournament rules require authorized cards to be genuine Magic cards, and tournament proxies can only be created by the Head Judge in specific situations.
What Is the Cheapest Way to Make MTG Proxies?
The cheapest way is to print paper proxies at home and sleeve them in front of basic lands or bulk commons. It will not feel like a real card, but it works well for testing.
Should I Print Proxies or Buy Printed Proxies?
Print at home when you are testing ideas quickly. Buy printed proxies when the deck, cube, or gauntlet will be used repeatedly and you want cleaner handling.
Can I Use Proxies in Commander?
You can use proxies in Commander if your group allows them. Commander is usually a social format, so the best practice is to ask before the game starts and be clear about your deck’s power level.
What Cards Should I Proxy First?
Start with expensive cards you are not sure about buying, cards you already own but want to protect, and mana base pieces that affect how the whole deck plays. Lands, fast mana, tutors, and format staples are common first proxy targets.
Final Thoughts
The best way to make MTG proxies depends on your goal. For fast testing, paper inserts in sleeves are enough. For regular casual play, printed proxies feel better and save time. For cubes, a dedicated cube printing service can remove a lot of setup work.
Just keep the social contract clear. Proxies are best when they help people play more games, test better decks, and avoid wasting money on cards that do not fit. They are at their worst when they surprise the table or pretend to be something they are not.
Make the cards readable. Use them where they are allowed. Tell your group what you are doing. That is most of the battle.