Introduction to MTG Proxies
Cards obviously play a crucial role in Magic: The Gathering, as it is a trading card game. They are printed and distributed by Wizards of the Coast (WotC), although they may be outsourced to printing presses. However, there are also third-party printed cards known as proxies.
Proxies can be controversial, but they also serve a purpose, such as being a more affordable option for rare, expensive cards from Magic’s past. This article will discuss proxies, including what they are and where to find them.
Magic: The Gathering is a beloved game with a vast and dedicated community. However, playing the game can be quite expensive, especially when acquiring rare and powerful cards. This is where MTG proxies come in – they allow players to use copies of expensive cards in their decks without breaking the bank.
What are MTG Proxies?
MTG proxies are copies of Magic: The Gathering cards used instead of the original, expensive cards. These proxies can be made from various materials, such as paper or plastic, and are used for various purposes. Some players use proxies for casual play, while others use them for tournament play.
Where to Find the Best MTG Proxies
There are a few things to consider when finding the best MTG proxies. First, you’ll want to find a supplier that offers high-quality proxies that closely resemble the original cards. Additionally, you’ll want to find someone that offers a wide selection of cards to find the proxies you need for your deck.
ProxyKing.biz – The Best Quality Proxy Cards
An excellent option for MTG proxies is ProxyKing.biz.
They are known for their high-quality proxies that closely resemble the original cards and offer a wide selection of cards. They also offer competitive prices and fast shipping, making them a great choice for purchasing proxies.
PrintMTG.com – Best for Printing Proxies on Demand
PrintMTG is great for printing proxies on demand
PrintMTG.com takes a different approach than Proxy King or Proxy MTG. Rather than striving for ultra realistic proxies, they offer a service focused on offering any card at a great price. You can simply upload a deck list of Magic cards that you want to print, and choose the set art for each card. They’ll print the cards onto high quality cardstock that mirrors the size and weight of original Magic cards.
Rather than actual holo stamps, like Proxy King, PrintMTG simply prints the holo stamp on. The texture of the cards is also slightly different from real cards. That said, the print and color quality is crisp, and they look very convincing when sleeved. Most people won’t notice they are proxies when playing, unless they look closely. However, unsleeved, you can definitely tell.
The big benefit of this service, aside from having every card available, is the pricing. You can print proxies for as low as $0.30 each, and it’s easy to print a hold deck.
ProxyMTG.com – A Great Alternative
Another excellent option – ProxyMTG.com
While ProxyMTG.com may not offer an extensive selection comparable to ProxyKing.biz, they have earned a reputation as a reliable and trustworthy producer of high-quality MTG proxies.
One of the key factors that sets ProxyMTG.com apart is their commitment to delivering top-notch quality and service to their customers. The proxies offered by ProxyMTG.com are known for their exceptional print quality, attention to detail, and durability.
This ensures that players can enjoy proxies that closely resemble the original cards, both in appearance and functionality. With ProxyMTG.com, players can have confidence in the proxies they acquire, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the game without compromising on the overall experience.
Why People Love MTG Proxies
There are several reasons why people love using MTG proxy cards:
- Cost-effective: MTG proxy cards are a cost-effective way for players to acquire expensive cards without breaking the bank. This allows players to build powerful decks without having to spend a lot of money.
- Access to rare cards: MTG proxy cards allow players to access rare and powerful cards that may be difficult or impossible to find otherwise. This allows players to experiment with different deck builds and strategies that may not be possible with only readily available cards.
- Casual play: MTG proxy cards are commonly used in casual play, allowing players to enjoy the game without having to worry about the cost or availability of certain cards.
- Collection completion: Some players use MTG proxy cards to complete their Magic: The Gathering cards collection.
- Vintage and Legacy play: MTG proxy cards are also used in Vintage and Legacy formats, where original cards can be prohibitively expensive. This allows players to participate in these formats without having to invest a significant amount of money.
How to Use MTG Proxies
Using MTG proxies is a simple process. First, you must acquire the proxies you want to use. This can be done by purchasing them from a proxy supplier or by making them yourself. Once you have your proxies, you can use them in place of the original cards in your deck.
It’s important to note that while proxies can be used in casual play, they are not allowed in tournament play. Always check the rules of the event you plan to attend before using proxies.
Legality and Ethics
When it comes to proxies, things can get a bit murky. While there is a technical difference between proxy and counterfeit cards, many people use the terms interchangeably or confuse one for the other. It’s easy to see why the lines get blurred. However, before we delve deeper into the topic, let’s clear up any confusion.
If you have proxies that are indistinguishable from real cards, you should not be trying to pass them off as real. That is where a proxy becomes a counterfeit, and it’s a huge no-no. You also shouldn’t try to sell them.
But it’s not as simple as creating MTG cards to sell or distribute. Wizards of the Coast (WotC) owns the artwork rights to every card through first printing or full purchased rights. As a result, making look-alike Magic cards is a gray area, and it can be hard to find printers that will make them for you.
However, before you start panicking, Wizards won’t knock on your door just because you printed a realistic-looking set of Power 9 cards for your kitchen table games. Nonetheless, they may intervene if you try to use these proxies at a DCI-sanctioned event or your local game store. At the end of the day, people using proxies for personal use isn’t worth their time or money.
What About Ethically?
Using proxies in casual Magic games with your friends is perfectly fine, in my opinion. However, it’s important to consider the potential snowball effect that can occur when proxies become the norm. Others in your playgroup will likely follow suit once you start proxying expensive and powerful cards. This can lead to a slippery slope where you eventually end up proxying all or most Magic cards. This type of behavior could harm your local game store.
From an ethical standpoint, it’s reasonable to start with the cards on the reserved list when it comes to proxies.
These cards are nearly impossible to find or prohibitively expensive when available. However, when it comes to any singles that you can afford, and which are available at your LGS, it becomes unethical (again, just my opinion). Game stores already have enough challenges competing with online alternatives and discounts, so adding proxies to the mix only exacerbates the problem.
If you feel the need to hide your use of proxies, then that’s already an indication that you shouldn’t be using them.
Tokens
Tokens are probably the least controversial and ethically-questionable type of proxy in Magic. They offer an excellent way to customize your deck and create unique playing experiences, with the added benefit of using whatever art you desire. If this is something that interests you, make sure you check out our article on AI generated art, you can create some incredible designs using Midjourney. Here are a couple by our friends at MTGApp.com using Midjourney:
MTGcardsmith is one of the most popular sites for creating custom MTG cards, and it’s an incredible tool for making tokens. Not only can you make your own, but you can also browse through other people’s creations and see what they’ve come up with.
And if you want to make any last-minute tweaks, you can use card editing software to perfect your design. With endless possibilities, creating your own tokens can be a fun and creative way to add personality to your Magic games.
Basic Lands
Basic land proxies are another non-controversial proxy option in Magic. Unlike other types of proxies, creating basic land proxies won’t harm local game stores since they aren’t losing out on sales.
One of the most appealing aspects of basic land proxies is the ability to create unique art for the most common cards in your deck. With so many talented artists in the Magic community, there are endless possibilities for creating stunning art to showcase on your basic lands. This adds a personal touch to your deck and allows you to support independent artists by commissioning custom art.
Here are a few examples of basic lands we created using Midjourney art:
In summary, basic land proxies are a low-risk proxy option allowing creativity and personalization without hurting the Magic community or local game stores. So, if you’re looking for a way to add flair to your deck, consider creating your own basic land proxies with unique art.
Are Proxies Fair?
Some players argue that using proxy cards is unethical, as it allows players to use rare and powerful cards without owning them. They also argue that it devalues the game and the collecting aspect of it.
On the other hand, many players see proxy cards as a way to make the game more accessible and affordable. They argue that not everyone can afford to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on cards, and that using proxies allows more players to participate in tournaments and enjoy the game.
A rigid opposition or hard-line stance against using proxy cards feels like promoting a “pay-to-win” mentality.
Additionally, using proxy cards can also help test out different deck ideas and strategies without having to spend a lot of money on buying multiple copies of the same card. Personally, I think proxies are completely fine in casual play, as long as your play group is ok with it. It’s more fun to be able to craft your deck just how you envision it, and often the only realistic way to do that is through proxies.
A rigid opposition or hard-line stance against using proxy cards feels like promoting a “pay-to-win” mentality.
Our Take on Proxies
Our take is the proxies are generally fine for personal use, especially with play testing and kitchen table play with friends.
The potential harm comes into play if people start using proxies for everything such that our LGSs begin to suffer. For that reason, I feel that proxies are totally fine for the high-end and low-end of Magic: the Gathering cards. For example, consider what cards you would buy if you never knew proxies existed. Continue to purchase those from your local game store.
On the other hand, cards like Dual Lands, or Power 9 are out of reach for nearly everyone. I think it’s totally fine to proxy those.
On the low end, you have things like Basic Lands and Tokens. Cards that game stores don’t really make money on anyway, but they are common in play. These are great options to proxy for fun.
Celebrating MTG Proxy Artists and Their Creative Contributions
Within the expansive realms and captivating stories of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a vibrant community of fan artists thrives, showcasing their immense talent through captivating artwork.
These artists bring the rich tapestry of MTG to life in their own unique styles, and their creativity extends beyond mere fan art. Many of them channel their skills into crafting MTG proxy cards, offering players an opportunity to enjoy their own artwork in the context of the game.
For these MTG fan artists, it’s a truly gratifying experience to see their own creations adorning cards that they can use in their own Magic games. The ability to merge their artistic expression with their love for the game creates a deeply satisfying synergy.
Throughout the MTG community, numerous proxy artists exhibit their creative prowess, producing imaginative and visually stunning proxies that capture the essence of the game. One example is the captivating piece above by Reddit user Agent Sunday, highlighting the impressive talent within the community.
Interestingly, Wizards of the Coast, the creator of MTG, has shown a keen interest in the diverse and captivating art styles employed by proxy artists. This is evidenced by the fact that in 2022, the company commissioned a proxy artist to contribute to a Secret Lair release.
Ben Schnuck, a talented proxy artist, was enlisted by Wizards of the Coast to illustrate synthwave lands for the Shades Not Included Secret Lair, which was part of the February Secret Lair Superdrop. This acknowledgment from the company reflects the value they place on the imaginative work of proxy artists within the MTG community.
While both proxies and alters are popular ways for fans to express their artistic abilities using MTG cards, it’s important to distinguish between the two. Alters involve modifying an existing MTG card as a base, where the original card remains intact underneath the altered artwork. MTG proxies, in contrast, are brand-new creations that artists have created from scratch.
Conclusion
MTG proxies are an excellent option for anyone saving money on Magic: The Gathering cards. They allow players to use copies of expensive cards in their decks without breaking the bank.
By understanding what proxies are, how to use them, and where to find the best ones, you can enjoy them in your Magic: The Gathering games without breaking the bank.
