How to Make Magic Card Proxies: A Comprehensive Guide | Easy Magic Tricks To Do With A Deck Of Cards

If you're an avid Magic: The Gathering player, you know how expensive it can be to collect rare and powerful cards. Sometimes, the only way to get your hands on these cards is through trading or buying them from other players. However, there is another option: proxy cards.

What are Magic Card Proxies?

Magic card proxies are replica cards that are used to simulate the effects of real cards. These cards are often used by players who want to play with rare or banned cards that they do not own. Proxies are also used in casual play where players can create custom cards for their own enjoyment.

Why Create Magic Card Proxies?

There are many reasons why players might choose to create Magic card proxies. One of the most common reasons is to save money. As mentioned earlier, rare and powerful cards can be very expensive, and not everyone can afford them. By creating proxies, players can still play with these powerful cards without breaking the bank.

Another reason why players might choose to create proxies is for testing purposes. When building a new deck, it can be helpful to test it out before investing in the real cards. Proxies allow players to test their decks without having to spend a lot of money on cards that they might not end up using.

How to Create Magic Card Proxies

Creating Magic card proxies is a fairly simple process. However, there are some things that you need to keep in mind to ensure that your proxies are playable and tournament legal.

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

To create Magic card proxies, you will need a few basic materials:

Blank cards
Card sleeves
Printer
Scissors

Blank cards can be purchased online or at your local game store. Card sleeves should be the same size as your blank cards to ensure a good fit. You will also need a printer that can print high-quality images.

Step 2: Find Images

The next step is to find high-quality images of the cards that you want to proxy. These images should be at least 300 DPI to ensure that the printed image is clear and legible. There are many websites where you can find high-quality Magic card images, such as scryfall.com.

Step 3: Print Your Proxies

Once you have your images, you can start printing your proxies. It's important to print your proxies at the correct size to ensure that they fit in your card sleeves. The size of a Magic card is 63mm x 88mm, so you will need to adjust your printer settings accordingly.

It's also important to print your proxies on high-quality cardstock to ensure that they are durable and can withstand regular play.

Step 4: Cut Your Proxies

Once you have printed your proxies, you can cut them out using a pair of scissors. It's important to cut your proxies carefully to ensure that they fit in your card sleeves and are not easily recognizable as proxies.

Step 5: Sleeve Your Proxies

The final step is to sleeve your proxies. This will help protect them from wear and tear and make them look more like real cards. It's important to use the same type of card sleeve for all of your proxies to ensure that they are uniform in appearance.

Tips for Creating Playable Proxies

When creating Magic card proxies, there are a few things that you should keep in mind to ensure that your proxies are playable and tournament legal.

Proxies should be easy to read and distinguishable from other cards in your deck.
Proxies should be the same size and thickness as real Magic cards.
Proxies should be indistinguishable from real cards when sleeved.
Proxies should not have any markings or alterations that could be considered cheating.

Conclusion

Creating Magic card proxies is a great way to save money and play with powerful cards that you might not otherwise have access to. By following these simple steps, you can create high-quality proxies that are playable and tournament legal.