What Are MTG Proxies?
In the Magic: The Gathering community, a proxy card is a substitute card used to represent a game card that you do not physically own. These are typically used for:
1. Playtesting: Evaluating a $100 card like *Mana Drain* before purchasing it. 2. Casual Play: Powering up a Commander deck without spending $2,000 on a single deck. 3. Protection: Keeping expensive "dual lands" or "reserve list" cards safe in a binder while playing with proxies.
- Legal Distinction: Creating a proxy for personal use is generally overlooked in casual circles. However, counterfeiting (selling proxies as real or selling them at all) is illegal and results in immediate bans from tournament play and potential legal action.
- Glue Stick: Use a repositionable or acid-free glue stick (like 3M) to avoid damaging the card.
- Basic Lands: Use bulk basic lands as the donor card.
- Full Art Prints: Printed on normal printer paper.
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Method 1: The Modern Way (Google Docs / Word)
For players who lack advanced design software, standard office tools are surprisingly effective for creating "playtest" quality proxies.
Step-by-Step Guide using Google Slides/Docs:
1. Set Page Dimensions: MTG cards are 2.5" x 3.5". In Google Slides, go to File > Page Setup and select Custom. Set dimensions to 2.5 x 3.5 inches. 2. Acquire Art: Search for "MTG [Card Name] High Res." Ensure the resolution is at least 300 DPI to avoid pixelation when printed. 3. Formatting: Insert the image into the slide. Resize the image to fill the entire canvas. Ensure the aspect ratio is locked (63mm x 88mm) to prevent the art from looking stretched. 4. Batching: Create multiple slides for multiple cards. 5. Printing: * Crucial Setting: Go to Print Settings. Select "Handout - 2 slides per page" or similar layout that maximizes page real estate. * Paper: Use Cardstock (110 lb to 65 lb). Standard printer paper is too transparent and flimsy.
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Method 2: The "Sticky Note" Technique (High Quality)
This is the industry standard for DIY "sharpie" proxies that feel closer to real cards. This method turns a basic land into a proxy.
Required Materials:
Technical Execution:
1. The Cut: Cut your printed proxy image out, leaving a tiny white border (approx 1mm) around the black border of the art. 2. The Adhesive: Apply glue generously to the *back* of the paper print. Do not glue the basic land yet. 3. The Alignment: Place the glued paper onto the basic land. Pro Tip: Use a ruler to center it perfectly before pressing down. 4. The Sleeving: Place the finished card into a perfect-fit sleeve followed by a regular opaque sleeve. The friction and opacity of the sleeve will hide the fact that the card is a paper cutout glued to cardboard.
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Digital Proxies: Coding Your Own Generator
As a web scraping expert, I recommend automating the card retrieval process. Why manually download images when you can scrape them?
Python Script: Fetching Card Data
Using the scryfall API is the most ethical and reliable way to get card data, as it respects the official data feeds.
import requests
import json from PIL import Image from io import BytesIO
def get_proxy_image(card_name): """Fetches high-res card image URI from Scryfall.""" url = f"https://api.scryfall.com/cards/named?fuzzy={card_name}" response = requests.get(url)
if response.status_code == 200: data = response.json() # Prioritize the 'border_crop' image for full proxy feel if "image_uris" in data: return data["image_uris"]["border_crop"] elif "card_faces" in data: # Handle dual-sided cards return data["card_faces"][0]["image_uris"]["border_crop"] return None
def download_image(url, filename): response = requests.get(url) img = Image.open(BytesIO(response.content)) img.save(filename) print(f"Downloaded {filename}")
Usage
download_image(get_proxy_image("Black Lotus"), "black_lotus.jpg")
*Note: This Python snippet is for educational purposes. Always verify the copyright status of images you mass-download and print.*
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Comparison Table: Proxy Types & Quality
| Method | Durability | Cost | Difficulty | Authenticity Feel | Best Use Case | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Paper Slip-in | Low | $ | Easy | Poor (Floppy) | Quick playtesting (CMD) | | Glued Cardstock | Medium | $$ | Medium | Good (Thick) | Kitchen table magic | | Sticky Note Method | High | $ | Hard | Excellent | High-end cube / Commander | | Professional Chinese | Very High | $$$ | N/A | Perfect (Illegal) | Strictly Forbidden |
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Advanced Techniques: Thickness and Foiling
A common question from the search data is regarding thickness.
If you are gluing paper onto a basic land, the added layer of glue and paper adds roughly 0.1mm. This makes the proxy slightly thicker than a real card. To mitigate this:
1. Sanding: Lightly sand the back of the basic land with fine-grain sandpaper (2000+ grit) to remove a layer of cardboard before gluing your proxy face. 2. Foiling: You can purchase "foil sheets" online. These are essentially shiny stickers you place over the card before sleeving. They do not look like real foil holo-foil stamps but provide a shiny aesthetic for casual play.
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The Ethics and Rules of Proxies
It is vital to understand where the line is drawn.
The Golden Rule of Proxies
> "Don't be a jerk."
Detection Methods (For Sellers/Buyers)
If you suspect a card is a proxy: 1. The Light Test: Real cards have a blue core layer visible when held to a bright light. High-quality fakes try to mimic this, but the opacity often differs. 2. Rosette Pattern: Look at the center dot under a jeweler's loupe. Real cards have a specific, perfect dot-matrix rosette pattern. Printers struggle to replicate this perfectly.
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Conclusion: How to Proxy Responsibly
Proxying MTG cards is an essential skill for the budget-conscious brewer. The process ranges from a simple Google Slides document to advanced Python scraping scripts. However, the ultimate responsibility lies with the player.
For 2025, the best practice is to use high-quality prints (Glue/Note method) for personal playtesting, but always support the game by purchasing the real cards for your finalized decks. This keeps the secondary market healthy and ensures Wizards of the Coast continues to produce the game we love.