The world of Magic the Gathering is a very expensive one to live in. From the entry cost to attend tournaments to the price of buying individual cards, new players will find that they need a significant budget in order to continue playing. Unfortunately for those with limited funds, it’s also a world where price gouging and rarity manipulation are commonplace practices among card manufacturers. It’s not uncommon for some cards to be worth hundreds of dollars or even thousands if you’re lucky enough to own a copy of The Reserved List (if you do have any, you should probably keep it hidden from potential burglars).
While some may see this as a great way to make money, most people will agree that it sucks when you can only afford one or two small pet monsters from a specific expansion because they cost $200 each. In fact, many players don’t even bother with new expansions because of how expensive they are – especially on secondary markets like eBay and Craigslist. Luckily there are plenty of other ways for budding Magic players to get their hands on cool cards at an affordable price.
Card Proxies
A card proxy is a substitute for a real Magic card. They can range from paper printouts to 3D printed models, from scanned images of the cards you own to computer-generated images. You can use them for regular play, tournaments, online play, or even just casual games with friends. Proxies are widely accepted in the Magic community as long as they are not intended to deceive other players. You can also use proxies to build and test decks without spending money.
What Are Card Proxies?
The word “proxy” has a few different meanings in the Magic community. You might hear people referring to Magic card images or statistics as proxies. A proxy card is when you use a substitute, like a piece of paper or a different card, in place of a real Magic card. You can use proxies at any level of play, from casual games with friends to competitive tournaments.
The rules regarding proxy cards are different for each level of play. When you use proxies in tournaments, you need to make sure all your cards are identifiable as the correct card. That means you need to keep track of what paper or card you used as a proxy for each card you have in your deck.
Why Use Card Proxies?
There are plenty of reasons why you might want to use card proxies. Perhaps you’re just starting out with the game, and don’t have the money to invest in rare cards. Or maybe you just want to try out a new deck idea without spending $500 on card sleeves. Some people also use proxies because they want to keep their cards pristine.
Some cards, like foils, can be difficult to keep in mint condition if you are using them in regular games. Others might not want to use their favorite cards in tournament play because of how easily they can get damaged.
How to Make Your Own Card Proxies
There are two ways to make your own card proxies. The first is to take a picture of the card you own. This method only works if you have a digital camera, scanner, webcam, and Photoshop, or another image editing software. The second method is to use real cards as proxies. You can use a marker to create an MTG Proxy card with your name on it. Some people even go so far as to laminate their proxies so that they last longer. You can also use pieces of paper as proxies, but they don’t last as long. If you use paper, make sure you mark your card’s name on it so that other players know what it represents.
Conclusion
Using card proxies will save you money, and they’re completely legal to use at any level of play. They’re also easy to make by taking pictures of your cards, scanning paper cards, or using real cards as proxies. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when using proxies. First, make sure your opponent knows what the proxy represents. Second, keep track of what card you use as a proxy for each card in your deck.
Finally, make sure your opponent doesn’t have a malicious deck inspection result, as some card proxies will raise suspicion. If you use proxies, you don’t have to worry about being priced out of the game. You can use them at any level of play, from casual games with friends to competitive tournaments.
