Magic: The Gathering (MTG) is a fantastic game, but building decks, especially for formats like Commander, Legacy, or Vintage, can become incredibly expensive. This is where Mtg Proxies Print services come into play, offering an affordable way to access and enjoy the full spectrum of Magic cards without breaking the bank. Whether you’re playtesting a new deck, want to experience high-powered formats, or simply make budget-friendly Commander decks, proxy printing services are invaluable. This guide dives into the best MTG proxy printing services available, helping you make informed decisions to enhance your gameplay.
What Are MTG Proxy Printing Services?
Body Double (Jace vs. Vraska) – Illustration by Winona Nelson
Body Double | Illustration by Winona Nelson
MTG proxy printing services are businesses that specialize in creating and shipping physical proxy cards. These services bridge the gap between wanting to play with powerful and expensive cards and the financial realities of collecting them. Unlike services that only offer printable PDFs for DIY proxies at home, these services handle the entire printing and delivery process, providing a convenient solution for players looking for ready-to-use proxies.
These services generally fall into two categories:
- Deck List Upload Services: These allow you to upload entire decklists, simplifying the process of ordering a large number of proxies at once. They are perfect for players building entire proxy decks for Commander or other formats.
- Individual Proxy Storefronts: These function more like online stores where you can browse and select individual proxy cards. They are ideal if you only need proxies for a few specific, high-value cards to complete an existing deck.
Both types of services offer significant benefits to MTG players, increasing accessibility and allowing for more diverse and budget-conscious gameplay.
Top MTG Proxy Printing Services Ranked
Navigating the world of MTG proxy printing can be overwhelming. To simplify your search, here’s a ranked list of some of the best services, catering to different needs and preferences:
#5. Etsy: The Marketplace for Unique MTG Proxies
Etsy Magic: The Gathering Proxy products
Etsy stands out as a unique and varied marketplace for MTG proxies. Think of it as the “Thunder Junction” of proxy services – you’re bound to discover something unexpected and interesting. Etsy’s strength lies in its vast variety, offering everything from full proxy decks with themes like One Piece to stunning custom art for popular cards like mana rocks, lands, and even cat-themed alternate art.
Pros:
- Unique and Custom Art: Etsy is unparalleled for finding proxies with creative and personalized art, offering a departure from standard card designs.
- Variety of Sellers: A wide range of independent creators means diverse styles, qualities, and price points to choose from.
- Niche and Risqué Options: If you’re looking for proxies with a more adult or unconventional theme, Etsy is often the best place to find them.
Cons:
- Price Can Be Higher: Compared to dedicated proxy printing services, Etsy proxies can sometimes be more expensive due to the custom nature and individual seller pricing.
- Inconsistent Quality: As a marketplace, quality can vary significantly between sellers. It’s crucial to check reviews and product descriptions carefully.
- Not Ideal for Bulk Orders: Ordering entire decks might be less streamlined than services designed for bulk proxy orders.
Best For: Players seeking unique, custom art proxies and those interested in supporting independent creators.
#4. Proxy King: High-Quality Proxies for Premium Cards
ProxyKing.biz homepage
Proxy King focuses on delivering high-quality proxies that closely mimic authentic Magic cards, particularly targeting expensive and sought-after cards. While not ideal for proxying entire budget decks, Proxy King excels when you need stand-ins for a few key, high-value cards in formats like Legacy or Vintage.
Pros:
- Excellent Card Quality: Proxy King proxies are known for their high print quality, closely resembling real MTG cards in look and feel.
- Focus on High-Value Cards: They specialize in proxies of fetch lands, dual lands, Power Nine, Reserved List cards, and format staples, making them perfect for expensive additions to your decks.
- Good for Individual Proxies: If you need just a few high-impact proxies, Proxy King is a solid choice for quality and accuracy.
Cons:
- Not Cost-Effective for Full Decks: The pricing structure isn’t as competitive for ordering large quantities of proxies for entire decks.
- Lighter Card Back and Slick Finish: While high quality, subtle differences like a slightly lighter card back and slicker finish might be noticeable to discerning players.
- Less Variety in Customization: Focus is on replicating existing cards rather than offering extensive customization options.
Best For: Players needing proxies for a few specific, expensive cards where quality and close resemblance to real cards are paramount.
#3. MTG Proxy: Straightforward and Deck-Focused Proxy Printing
MTG Proxy homepage
MTG Proxy distinguishes itself with its clear focus and ease of use, especially for printing entire decks. The service is upfront about its purpose – providing MTG proxies – and offers a streamlined experience. Their pricing is volume-based, making it more affordable as your order size increases, and shipping is known for its speed.
Pros:
- Excellent for Full Deck Proxies: MTG Proxy is designed for printing entire Commander or format-specific decks efficiently.
- Volume-Based Pricing: The more proxies you order, the lower the per-card price becomes, making it economical for larger projects.
- Fast Shipping: Known for quick turnaround and delivery times.
- Clear and Simple UI: The website is user-friendly, making the ordering process straightforward and hassle-free.
- Custom Image Uploads: Offers the option to upload custom images for unique art or personalized card designs.
- Proxy Boosters: Uniquely offers “Proxy Boosters” – packs of 16 high-power proxy cards, adding a fun and different way to acquire proxies.
Cons:
- Quality Can Be Variable: While generally good, the print quality might not be as consistently high as some of the more premium services.
- Less Focus on Individual, High-End Proxies: While you can order individual cards, the service is optimized for larger deck orders.
- Standard Card Designs: Primarily focuses on replicating existing card designs with less emphasis on unique or custom art options compared to Etsy.
Best For: Players looking for a reliable and cost-effective service for printing entire MTG proxy decks quickly and easily.
#2. Printing Proxies: Versatility Beyond MTG
Printing Proxies homepage
Printing Proxies offers a broad service spectrum, extending beyond just Magic: The Gathering. Alongside quick delivery and quality MTG proxies, they also provide proxy printing for other popular trading card games like Lorcana, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Pokémon. This makes it a versatile choice for players interested in exploring multiple TCGs.
Pros:
- Multi-TCG Support: Ideal if you play or are interested in proxies for various trading card games, offering a one-stop solution.
- Quick Delivery: Known for efficient processing and fast shipping times.
- Good Quality Proxies: Provides high-quality MTG proxies suitable for casual play and testing.
- Exploration of Other Games: Encourages exploration of different TCGs by making proxies accessible.
Cons:
- Quality Focus May Be Slightly Less MTG Specific: While quality is good, the MTG proxy quality might be marginally less specialized compared to services solely dedicated to Magic.
- Potentially Less Customization Than Dedicated MTG Services: May offer fewer MTG-specific customization options compared to services exclusively focused on MTG proxies.
- Jack-of-All-Trades Approach: While versatile, the focus being spread across multiple games might mean it doesn’t excel in MTG proxy printing as much as dedicated services.
Best For: Players who want a reliable service for MTG proxies and also need or are interested in proxies for other trading card games.
#1. Make Playing Cards (MPC): The Budget-Friendly Champion with Customization Power
Make Playing Cards homepage
MPC Autofill Tool
Make Playing Cards (MPC) is often considered the gold standard for budget-conscious MTG proxy enthusiasts. While it comes with a steeper learning curve and stricter copyright policies, the payoff is significantly lower prices per proxy. To simplify the process, many users utilize MPCFill, a community-built application that streamlines art selection and order processing with MPC.
Pros:
- Unbeatable Pricing: MPC offers the most affordable proxies, especially when ordering in bulk, making it ideal for budget players.
- High Customization: MPC allows for extensive customization, letting you create proxies with unique art, card backs, and finishes.
- Excellent Print Quality for the Price: Despite the low cost, the print quality is surprisingly good, often exceeding expectations for the price point.
- MPCFill Integration: Tools like MPCFill significantly simplify the ordering process, making MPC more accessible despite its initial complexity.
Cons:
- Steeper Learning Curve: The MPC website can be dense and less user-friendly than dedicated proxy services, requiring more effort to navigate initially.
- Copyright Restrictions: MPC has stricter copyright policies, requiring users to ensure their uploaded art doesn’t infringe on copyrights. Using MPCFill helps manage this.
- Less Convenient Than Other Services: The added steps and reliance on external tools like MPCFill make it less convenient than more streamlined proxy printing services.
- Longer Turnaround Times Potentially: Depending on order volume and shipping, turnaround times might be slightly longer compared to services with faster, dedicated MTG proxy production.
Best For: Budget-conscious players who prioritize low cost and customization options, and are willing to invest a bit more time in the ordering process to achieve the best value.
Buyer’s Guide to MTG Proxy Printing
Armasaur Guide – Foundations art by Loic Canavaggia
Armasaur Guide | Illustration by Loïc Canavaggia
Choosing the right MTG proxy printing service involves considering several key factors to ensure you get the best value and proxies that meet your needs:
Price
Price is often a primary concern for proxy users. When ordering in bulk, especially for entire decks, aim for services that bring the per-card cost down to around $1 or less once you exceed 50 or more proxies. Consider the overall cost of proxying a deck versus buying budget-friendly alternatives if you’re building on a tight budget.
For custom proxies or alters, expect to pay more, potentially approaching the cost of a real MTG card, reflecting the added value of unique art and personalization. Decide what balance of price and customization best suits your needs.
Dimensions
Dimensions are critical, particularly if you plan to mix proxies with genuine MTG cards in sleeves. Proxies with different sizes or thicknesses, even by millimeters, can be easily distinguished within sleeves, effectively marking them. Ensure the chosen service produces proxies with dimensions virtually identical to standard MTG cards to avoid any issues during gameplay.
Legibility
Legibility is paramount. While custom art can be appealing, prioritize proxies where the card name, text, and mana cost are clearly readable by all players. Using official card art ensures instant recognition and avoids any confusion about card identity or function during games. While Secret Lairs sometimes push legibility boundaries, for proxies, clarity should be the guiding principle.
Is It Illegal to Print MTG Proxies?
Printing MTG proxies for personal use is legal and falls under Wizards of the Coast’s fan content policy. Proxies are intended as stand-in game pieces for casual play and testing, not replacements for official cards in sanctioned events.
It is crucial to distinguish proxies from counterfeits. Selling proxies as genuine MTG cards is illegal and unethical. Proxies should never be passed off as real cards. Using alternate art or distinct card backs is highly recommended (and sometimes required by printing services) to clearly differentiate proxies from authentic cards and prevent any accidental or intentional misrepresentation as counterfeits.
Wrap Up
Holographic Double – Illustration by Tyler Walpole
Holographic Double | Illustration by Tyler Walpole
MTG proxy printing services are powerful tools that democratize access to Magic: The Gathering, allowing players to enjoy formats like Legacy and Vintage and build budget-friendly Commander decks. By making high-cost cards accessible, these services strengthen the MTG community, enabling more players to participate and explore the game’s rich diversity.
Do you use proxies in your Commander decks or other formats? What’s your preferred proxy printing service? Share your experiences and recommendations in the comments below or join the discussion on the Draftsim Discord!
Thank you for reading, and may your proxy games be epic!
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