Can You Use MTG Proxies at FNM or Tournaments? Here’s the Actual Rule
TLDR
- If the event is Wizards sanctioned, you must use authentic Magic cards. Your own proxies are not legal.
- The only “proxy” allowed in sanctioned play is a judge-issued proxy, and it’s for narrow situations (like a card getting damaged during the event).
- “But it’s just FNM” is not a loophole. If it’s being run as an official event, it follows tournament rules.
- If it’s unsanctioned casual play (even at a store, even on Friday), it’s up to the organizer. Ask first.
You can absolutely bring MTG proxies at FNM… right up until the moment FNM is actually being run as a sanctioned event and the tournament rules show up to do their job. Which is, inconveniently, most FNMs.
Let’s be painfully clear about what the rules say, what people think the rules say, and how to avoid becoming the main character in a judge call.
The actual rule (in plain English)
In DCI/Wizards-sanctioned events, cards used must be authentic Magic cards. Wizards’ own policy statement says it directly, with one narrow exception: if a card becomes damaged during that specific event, a judge may issue a proxy for the remainder of that event.
Tournament policy backs this up in the Magic Tournament Rules (MTR). MTR 3.4 defines “proxy cards” as something a Head Judge creates, not something you bring from home. It also states: players may not create their own proxies.
So if your plan is “I’ll just print it nicely,” the rules’ plan is “no.”
The word “proxy” is doing too much work
People use “proxy” to mean at least three different things:
1) Playtest cards (casual testing)
This is the “basic land with Sharpie” vibe. Playtest cards are fine outside sanctioned events, and the key is they are not trying to be reproductions of real cards.
2) Judge-issued proxies (tournament policy definition)
This is the official meaning in the MTR. A judge-issued proxy is a replacement created by the Head Judge when an otherwise legal card can’t be used without marking the deck, under specific criteria.
3) Counterfeits (don’t do this)
If something is made to pass as a real Magic card, that’s counterfeiting. Wizards is extremely explicit that they are committed to stopping counterfeits, especially in organized play.
This article is about play pieces for casual play and testing. Not cosplay as a real Tundra.
https://magic.wizards.com/en/play-events/friday-night-magic
So what about FNM specifically?
Friday Night Magic is a local game store program promoted by Wizards. Stores commonly run FNM using Wizards EventLink, which is designed to run and report events.
Here’s the practical rule that won’t betray you:
- If you are signing up in the Companion app / getting paired / standings / prizes / reported event, treat it as sanctioned and assume no proxies.
- If you are just playing casual Commander at tables while the store happens to also be running FNM pairings nearby, that casual game is up to the store and the pod.
If you’re not sure which situation you’re in, congratulations, you are in the “ask the organizer” bracket.
What’s allowed in sanctioned events: the judge-issued proxy exception
The MTR is very specific about when a Head Judge may issue a proxy and what it looks like.
A proxy can be issued when the card it replaces meets at least one of these criteria:
- The card was accidentally damaged or excessively worn in the current tournament (including damaged or misprinted Limited product). Proxies are not allowed if the card was damaged intentionally or through negligence.
- The card is a foil card for which no non-foil printing exists.
Additional constraints:
- Players may not create their own proxies. Only the Head Judge can create them.
- The proxy must be clearly marked as a proxy.
- The original card is kept nearby and used in public zones when possible.
- The proxy is valid only for the duration of that tournament.
Translation: you don’t get to print your deck at home and call it “judge-issued in spirit.”
“But I own the card” and other myths that won’t help you
Myth: “I own the real card, so a proxy is fine.”
Not in sanctioned play. Authentic cards only, unless the judge issues a proxy for one of the narrow reasons above.
Myth: “It’s casual REL, so it’s flexible.”
Regular Rules Enforcement Level is about how rules are enforced, not whether card authenticity suddenly becomes optional. Sanctioned is sanctioned.
Myth: “The store said it’s chill.”
If the store is running a sanctioned event, it’s still supposed to follow tournament rules for authorized cards and proxies. If they want to be proxy-friendly, the clean way is to run an unsanctioned event.
Myth: “Everyone does it.”
Correct. Also, everyone speeds on the highway. The existence of a behavior does not create a rules change.
How to tell if your event is sanctioned (a quick checklist)
If you see any of these, assume sanctioned:
- You are registered in an official event with pairings and round timers
- Standings are posted
- Entry fee plus prize support tied to results
- The event is being run through Wizards EventLink / Companion
- A judge is actively staffing the event
If it’s just “Commander night, no reporting, no prizes, just vibes,” it may be unsanctioned. Still ask.
The correct way to ask your LGS (copy-paste script)
“Hey, quick question. Is tonight’s event being run as a Wizards-sanctioned event in EventLink, or is it an unsanctioned casual night? If it’s sanctioned, I’ll bring only real cards. If it’s casual, are clearly marked playtest proxies okay?”
No essay. No moral philosophy. Just information.
What to do if you want to play the deck anyway
If the answer is “no proxies” (and in sanctioned events it usually is), you still have options:
- Borrow cards
- Bring a budget version
- Swap decks
- Play in casual pods after the event
- Ask if the store runs or would consider running a separate unsanctioned proxy-friendly night
You can also playtest at home or with friends, which Wizards explicitly considers fine for playtest cards.
FAQs
Can I use MTG proxies at FNM if it’s Commander?
If it’s a sanctioned FNM event, the proxy rules don’t change just because the format is Commander. If it’s casual unsanctioned Commander play, it’s up to the store and the pod.
Are “gold-bordered” or “not for constructed play” cards allowed?
Tournament rules define what is authorized, and they restrict cards labeled “Not for constructed play” and “Playtest” in Constructed events.
Can I bring my own printed proxy and ask the judge to approve it?
Judges can issue proxies in limited situations, but the policy is that players do not create their own proxies.
What if my real card gets damaged mid-event?
That is one of the main reasons a Head Judge may issue a proxy for the remainder of the event.