MTG Proxies for cEDH: Norms, Expectations, and Event Reality
TLDR
- Most cEDH pods are proxy-friendly because they want to play the matchup, not your rent payment.
- Sanctioned events require authentic cards. The “proxy” exception is basically “a judge replaces a card that got wrecked during the event,” not “I don’t want to shuffle my duals.”
- Many independent cEDH tournaments allow full proxy decks, but they usually enforce readability, consistent thickness, and “don’t be weird with the art.”
- Ask before you show up. Bring a backup plan (swap binder, second deck, or at least a decent excuse).
cEDH is the part of Commander where people will debate a single sequencing choice for five minutes, then calmly present a deck that costs more than a used Honda. That’s why MTG proxies for cEDH are not a fringe thing. They’re a practical tool for making “competitive” mean “skill and prep” instead of “who already owned a Timetwister in 2009.”
But “proxy-friendly” does not mean “proxy-legal everywhere,” and this is where the vibes and the rules stop being friends.
The terms everyone uses incorrectly (including me, sometimes)
Before we talk norms, we need to talk vocabulary, because Wizards, tournament docs, stores, and players all use these words differently.
Proxy (community usage)
A stand-in card used for casual play or testing. This can be anything from a sharpied basic land to a nice printed play piece. In cEDH circles, “proxy” usually means “I am playing the card’s game function without owning the official copy.”
Proxy card (tournament rules usage)
In sanctioned competition, a “proxy card” has a very specific meaning: a judge-issued replacement for a card that becomes damaged or unplayable during that event. Players do not make these themselves, and they are only valid for that tournament.
Playtest card
This is the “sharpie on a basic land” style. The point is testing, not replicating. If your card could fool someone at a glance, it has wandered into a different category.
Counterfeit
An unauthorized reproduction intended to pass as authentic (or close enough that it creates confusion). This is where the hard “no” lives. Even if you personally “would never sell it,” if it looks like the real thing and acts like the real thing, you’re creating all the problems tournaments and stores are trying to avoid.
Sanctioned event
An event run under official tournament rules and reported through Wizards systems. In practice: if the event is sanctioned, your deck must be authentic (with the limited judge-issued proxy exception).
Now that we have the dictionary, let’s talk about what actually happens in the wild.
MTG proxies for cEDH: what your pod usually expects
Most cEDH groups are trying to maximize the quality of competition. Proxies help with that in a few obvious ways:
- Accessibility: cEDH staples are expensive, and some are absurdly expensive.
- Testing: people iterate lists constantly. Proxies let you test before committing money.
- Metagame parity: if a pod wants “best decks, best lines,” proxies keep the match about decisions.
That said, proxy-friendly does not mean proxy-chaos. Here are the expectations that show up again and again in cEDH pods:
1) Readability is non-negotiable
If your proxy is hard to read, you are not “being creative,” you are adding friction to a format that already has enough mental load. At a minimum, your proxy should have:
- The correct card name
- The correct mana cost
- The correct type line
- Legible rules text
- Power/toughness if relevant
2) Consistent thickness and sleeves matter
cEDH players care about marked cards because competitive play cares about marked cards. If your proxies are noticeably thicker, thinner, or differently textured, you’re inviting awkwardness.
3) Disclose early, then move on
A proxy conversation should be 10 seconds, not a thesis defense.
- “This deck is fully proxied but everything is readable and consistent. Cool?”
- If yes: shuffle.
- If no: you pivot to your backup plan.
4) Nobody wants your “surprise” custom art
Lots of events and pods are fine with custom art. Many are not fine with:
- NSFW art
- Offensive imagery
- Anything that makes the card unclear at a glance
If you want to avoid trouble, keep it boring. “Boring” is underrated. “Boring” wins tournaments.
https://www.reddit.com/r/CompetitiveEDH
The event reality check: where proxies go to die (or thrive)
Here’s the cleanest way to think about it:
Sanctioned events
Sanctioned events require Authorized Game Cards (genuine Magic cards publicly released by Wizards). Cards that are not authorized are prohibited in sanctioned events. A proxy in sanctioned play is only allowed in the narrow judge-issued sense, under specific conditions, and only for that event.
If you’re thinking: “But my store runs Commander, and Commander is casual,” yes, Commander is casual. Your store event might not be.
WPN stores complicate things (because contracts exist)
WPN stores have specific terms around proxy cards, counterfeits, and playtest cards. The short version:
- “Proxy cards” are treated as judge-issued replacements under tournament rules.
- Counterfeits are strictly prohibited.
- Playtest cards can be allowed in-store only for non-commercial use in unsanctioned events.
That last line is the reason you should stop assuming and start asking. Stores can be proxy-friendly for casual, unsanctioned play, but still shut it down for anything official, reported, or prize-driven.
Unsanctioned cEDH tournaments
This is where you’ll see the widest range of proxy policies. Many independent events explicitly allow full proxy decks, often with strict standards like:
- printed in color
- readable text
- consistent thickness
- no lewd or offensive art
- sometimes “official art only” rules
And yes, plenty of these events still run with Competitive-style enforcement, deck checks, and tight rules. “Unsanctioned” does not mean “messy.” It just means the organizer sets the proxy policy.
A simple decision tree for not embarrassing yourself at registration
Use this every time. It saves you from the classic “I drove 40 minutes for a DQ speedrun” experience.
- Is the event sanctioned or reported?
If yes: assume authentic-only. - If it’s unsanctioned, does the event page have a proxy policy?
If yes: follow it exactly. This is not the moment to freestyle. - If there’s no written policy, ask the organizer before you arrive
A one-line message beats an argument at check-in. - Always bring a backup plan
- A second deck with fewer proxies
- A swap binder with real staples
- A borrow plan (friends, lending pool)
- Or the radical option: play casual pods instead of the event
Proxy etiquette checklist for cEDH (the “don’t be that person” list)
If you want proxies to stay normal and accepted, your goal is to be forgettable about it.
- Be transparent: disclose proxies before the game starts.
- Be consistent: same sleeves, same thickness, no obvious tells.
- Be readable: no tiny text, no “you know what it does.”
- Be accurate: correct oracle text matters in competitive games.
- Be respectful: avoid NSFW or inflammatory art, especially at public events.
- Do not represent proxies as authentic, ever: not in trades, not in sales, not in casual conversation.
Copy-paste scripts you can actually use
Message the organizer
“Hey, quick question: is this event sanctioned/reported? Also what’s the proxy policy (how many, what kinds are allowed)? Just want to show up with the right deck.”
Ask the pod
“Before we start: this deck has proxies (or is fully proxied). Everything is readable and consistent. You all good with that?”
If someone says no, do not argue like you’re in court. Swap decks, find another pod, or play a different night.
My take: cEDH is better with proxies, but events need standards
In my opinion, cEDH without proxies becomes a paywall format in practice, even if nobody wants to admit it out loud. Proxies let people compete on preparation, sequencing, and meta calls. That is the whole point.
But tournaments and stores need clear boundaries because:
- Prizes create incentives to cheat
- Marked cards are a real issue
- Confusing “almost real” reproductions create legal and community problems
So the compromise that seems to work best is the one many events already use: proxies allowed, but they must be readable, consistent, and clearly not counterfeits. Everyone gets to play the game, and nobody has to pretend a printer is a loophole.
FAQs
Are MTG proxies allowed at cEDH tournaments?
Sometimes. Many independent cEDH tournaments are proxy-friendly, including some that allow fully proxied decks. But sanctioned events require authentic cards, with only limited judge-issued proxy exceptions for damage during the event.
If my cEDH event has prizes, does that mean it’s sanctioned?
Not automatically. Prize support does not equal sanctioning. Some events are community-run, unsanctioned tournaments with strong rules enforcement. The only safe move is to ask the organizer whether it’s sanctioned or reported.
Can a judge give me proxies so I don’t have to shuffle expensive cards?
Generally, no. Judge-issued proxies are for cards that become damaged or unplayable during the tournament under specific conditions. They are not there to protect your Reserved List staples from the horrors of shuffling.
Do I need to own the real card to proxy it in cEDH?
Depends on the group or event. Many cEDH pods do not care about ownership because the goal is competitive play. Some groups prefer “own at least one copy” norms. If you’re not sure, ask before game one.
What’s the safest way to avoid proxy drama?
Use clear, readable play pieces. Disclose up front. Follow the event policy. Have a backup deck. And do not bring anything that could be mistaken for an authentic card outside of sleeves.