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Proxy Printing Policy

Leyline Card Lab prints unofficial Magic: The Gathering proxy cards for personal playtesting and casual table use. This page explains what we print, how we expect our products to be used, and how proxies fit into the wider MTG community — including where they are and are not appropriate.

Legality & official policy

Magic: The Gathering is © Wizards of the Coast. Leyline Card Lab is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Wizards. Nothing on this page is legal advice; when in doubt, check with your event organizer or local game store.

Wizards' public stance (most clearly stated in their 2016 "On Proxies, Policy, and Communication" announcement) draws an important line:

  • DCI-sanctioned events — Competitive, officially sanctioned tournaments require authentic Magic cards. The only exception is a temporary judge-issued proxy when a card is damaged during that event so play can continue.
  • Playtest / proxy use outside sanctioned play — Wizards has said they do not wish to police personal, non-commercial playtest cards, including use at a store, as long as those cards are not counterfeits meant to deceive anyone into believing they are genuine Wizards product.
  • Counterfeits — Cards made to pass as real tournament-legal copies for fraud or resale are not what we sell and are not supported by Wizards or Leyline.

Where proxies are commonly accepted

In practice, most local game stores and community events that are not DCI-sanctionedallow proxies for casual formats — especially Commander nights, cube drafts, playtest sessions, and kitchen-table games. Many shops run weekly events with a "proxies OK" or "playtest friendly" culture so players can try decks before buying expensive singles.

That said, policy is always up to the organizer. A store owner, judge, or event runner can restrict or ban proxies for any non-sanctioned event. Before you bring a Leyline deck to Friday Night Magic, Commander night, or a friend's league, confirm the rules for that specific event.

  • Usually proxy-friendly: casual Commander, playtesting new lists, cube drafts, private home games, many store-run casual nights (when the store says so).
  • Usually not proxy-friendly: DCI-sanctioned Standard, Modern, Pioneer, Legacy, Vintage, and other competitive sanctioned events; any event that explicitly requires official cards; selling or trading proxies as if they were authentic Wizards cards.

What Leyline proxies are (and are not)

Our proxies are printed playtest substitutes — high-quality reproductions meant to represent a card at the table, not to counterfeit sealed product or defraud buyers. They are intended for players who want to:

  • Playtest a deck before committing to a full purchase
  • Run casual or cube formats without owning every staple
  • Use alternate art or custom layouts in permitted settings

Leyline proxies are not Wizards of the Coast products and should not be represented as such in trade, sale, or tournament registration.

Print quality

We aim for sharp text, accurate colors, and durable card stock. Foil options include a visible shimmer upcharge per card. Final appearance may vary slightly by art source, set, and print batch. Proxies may be visually distinct from factory Magic cards upon close inspection — which is appropriate for playtest use.

Pricing tiers

Proxy pricing is based on deck size tiers shown in the builder and cart. Foil upcharges, deck boxes, counters, and accessories are listed separately before checkout. Totals are confirmed on Shopify before payment.

Art, copyright & your responsibility

Card names, mechanics, and Wizards-owned imagery remain the property of Wizards of the Coast and respective artists. Leyline prints on your order for personal playtest use in line with community norms described above.

If you supply custom art or other content, you are responsible for having the right to use it. We reserve the right to refuse or cancel orders that appear to involve counterfeiting, illegal content, harassment, or other violations of law or our guidelines.

Questions?

For event legality, ask your store or tournament organizer first. For order-specific questions, contact us through your Shopify order confirmation or account support channel. For Wizards' official tournament rules, see the current Wizards proxy policy announcement and the Magic Tournament Rules (MTR) for sanctioned play.