What are MTG proxies (and why people use them)?

MTG proxies are printed stand-ins for Magic cards.

Most people use proxies for three reasons:

• Testing a deck before buying it

• Cube drafting without needing to own a museum collection

• Commander upgrades without the “why is this land $60” moment

Proxies are about getting games on the table. Not flexing a binder.

Quick note: Our proxy cards are for casual play and personal use. They aren’t for sanctioned tournaments, and they shouldn’t be sold or passed off as real cards.

Why print MTG proxies with Nerdventure?

You can print something at home. Plenty of people do. But if you want proxies that don’t scream “printer paper,” you need the stuff home setups usually can’t do well: consistent color, durable finish, and clean edges.

Here’s what we focus on:

• Real card sizing: Standard trading card dimensions so they sleeve and shuffle normally

• Premium cardstock: Sturdy stock that doesn’t feel floppy or thin

• Protective coating: Helps resist scuffs, fingerprints, and table wear

• Clean cutting & corners: Because a rough edge makes a deck feel awful fast

• Consistency: A deck should feel like a deck, not 100 different paper experiments

If you’re building a Cube, consistency matters even more. Nothing kills a draft faster than “these five cards feel different.”

Finish matters: what “good” proxies feel like

A lot of proxy talk gets stuck on DPI and artwork. That’s fine, but finish is what your hands notice first.

We tune for three “in-hand” factors:

1) Surface feel

A good finish has grip without being sticky. It should shuffle smoothly, especially sleeved, and not feel like glossy packaging.

2) Durability

Cards rub against sleeves, playmats, and other cards all night. A protective coating helps reduce:

• corner whitening

• surface scuffs

• “burnished” shiny spots on dark art

3) Edge quality

Even perfect prints look bad if the cut is rough. Clean corners and crisp edges are the difference between “nice proxies” and “these feel legit.”

How ordering works

Keep it simple. That’s the goal.

• Send your list (or tell us what you’re building)

• Choose your style (classic look, custom art, tokens, basics)

• We print, finish, and cut everything to consistent specs

If you’re not sure what you need, start with the use case:

• Commander deck (100 cards)

• Cube (360 / 450 / 540 / 720)

• Tokens + basics (the most underrated upgrade)

What you can print at Nerdventure

MTG proxy decks

For people who want to test lists, upgrade a Commander build, or keep multiple decks ready without tying up your whole budget in staples.

Cube proxy packs

Cube is where proxies make the most sense. You get the gameplay and draft experience without needing to own every expensive card in paper.

Tokens, emblems, and basics

This is the “small upgrade” that makes a deck feel finished. Matching tokens and clean basics go a long way.

Custom designs (for your playgroup)

Want a themed set of basics? A token suite with consistent art? A commander centerpiece card? We can do that too.