What to Look for When Ordering Magic Proxies
Magic proxies are supposed to do one thing: let you play more Magic—more decks, more reps, more “what if I tried…” without treating every swap like a small mortgage application.
But not all proxy prints are created equal. Some feel great in sleeves and read clean across the table. Others… feel like you printed them on optimism and office paper.
Here’s what actually matters when you’re ordering proxies online—and how to spot quality before you commit to a full 99.
TL;DR: The 8-point proxy quality checklist
If you only remember one thing, remember this: quality is a chain. If one link is weak (stock, cut, finish, file prep), your deck feels “off.”
Here is what to look for when ordering Magic proxies:
Correct size + consistent corner rounding
Real playing-card stock (ideally black core)
Crisp text + symbols (sharp at arm’s length)
Color consistency across the whole deck
Finish that shuffles well (and doesn’t glare you to death)
Clean, accurate cutting (centering matters)
Quality control + a clear reprint/issue policy
A workflow that won’t waste your time (decklist tools, reorders, version control)
Now let’s break those down.
1) Size and corners: “fits sleeves” is non-negotiable
Traditional Magic cards are roughly 2.5" x 3.5". If your proxies aren’t basically that size, you’ll feel it immediately—especially if you mix them with other cards or you’re picky about shuffle feel.
What you want:
Cards that fit standard sleeves cleanly
Consistent corner rounding (sharp corners catch sleeves; inconsistent corners make a deck feel weirdly “lumpy”)
Quick sanity test:
If a shop can’t clearly state card dimensions or show close-up photos of corners, that’s a yellow flag.
2) Stock: the difference between “proxy” and “plays like a deck”
This is where most bargain prints lose the plot.
A high-quality proxy should feel like a game piece, not a flyer. When you’re comparing printers, ask what cardstock they use. Specifically.
What you want:
Playing-card stock, not generic cover stock
Opaque core (often “black core”) so cards don’t look see-through under light
Consistent stiffness across the deck (no “why is this one flimsier?” moments)
Quick sanity test:
Ask: “Is it black-core playing card stock?”
If the answer is vague (“premium cardstock!”) with no specifics, assume it’s not great.
3) Print clarity: rules text should be boringly readable
If you’re squinting at rules text, the proxy failed.
Crisp proxies come from two things working together:
The source file has enough resolution and clean edges
The printing workflow doesn’t mush fine details
What you want:
Clean lines on mana symbols
Readable rules text
No “fuzzy” look on tiny type
Quick sanity test:
Look for zoomed product photos where you can read small text. If every photo is “mysteriously” far away, you already know why.
4) Color consistency: your deck shouldn’t look like 99 different print jobs
Even good printers can produce mismatched decks if the workflow doesn’t control for it.
Common issues:
Blacks printing too gray
Cards from different sources looking brighter/darker
Frames shifting warm/cool across a deck
What you want:
A shop that talks about consistency (not just “vibrant color!”)
Ideally: some form of image normalization or print prep on the backend
Quick sanity test:
Check review photos of full decks, not single cards.
5) Finish: shuffle feel
Finish is the “you’ll notice it in 30 seconds” category.
Gloss can pop, but it can also glare under overhead lights. Matte/satin tends to shuffle nicely and look cleaner in sleeves.
What you want:
A finish that feels smooth in sleeves
Something that resists scuffing from normal handling
No sticky/tacky feel
Quick sanity test:
If the site offers finish options, choose based on your play environment:
Lots of bright overhead lights? Matte/satin usually wins.
You want maximum color pop? Gloss can work—just accept more glare.
6) Cut accuracy: centering, edges, and “why does this feel homemade?”
You can have perfect print quality and still end up with a deck that feels off if cutting is sloppy.
What you want:
Consistent centering
Clean edges (no rough fibers, no weird nicks)
Uniform corner rounding
Red flags:
White slivers on one side of the card (bad trim alignment)
Corners that vary card-to-card
7) Quality control + reprints: mistakes happen—how do they handle them?
A trustworthy printer doesn’t pretend errors never occur. They tell you what they’ll do if something shows up miscut, damaged, or wrong.
What you want:
A clear policy for print defects
A simple support process (photos + order number, done)
Quick sanity test:
If you can’t find an “issues/reprints” policy anywhere, assume you’re on your own.
8) Workflow matters: ordering proxies shouldn’t be a second job
Proxy quality is the product. Ordering experience is the multiplier.
If you’re printing a full Commander deck, you want tools that reduce friction:
Decklist upload/import
Version selection that’s not painful
Easy reorders later (when you upgrade the deck again… because you will)
This is where serious proxy printers separate themselves from “we print images, good luck.”
A practical comparison table: what to check before you buy
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