ProxyKing quality is built around sharp printing, consistent cuts, and a premium feel in sleeves. Some minor variation between print runs is normal for any printed product, but major blur, banding, miscuts, wrong/missing cards, or shipping damage are not—and those are covered by our Quality Guarantee. If something looks off, sleeve a few cards and compare under normal light, then contact us with your order number and photos so we can make it right.
When you’re buying MTG proxy / playtest cards, “quality” can mean a lot of different things: sharp printing, consistent alignment, durable handling in sleeves, and a finish that looks clean on the table.
This guide explains what you can realistically expect from ProxyKing quality, what normal variation looks like, and how to get the best experience (especially when sleeving). It also explains what we consider a true defect—and what we’ll do to make it right.
What “quality” means at ProxyKing
ProxyKing focuses on three practical quality outcomes that matter when you actually play:
1) Print clarity (resolution + readability)
Your proxies should be easy to read at normal table distance:
- clean text
- clear borders and frame elements
- no obvious blur or fuzziness
2) Alignment and cut consistency
Cards should be cut cleanly and feel consistent in sleeves:
- no extreme off-centering
- no weird trimming
- no mismatched sizes within a set
3) Feel in sleeves (the real-world test)
The honest truth: most proxies are judged in sleeves during play. Our goal is a smooth “shuffles like a card” feel in a sleeved deck.
Finish: what you should expect
Card “finish” is the surface look and feel (how glossy or matte it is, and how it reflects light).
ProxyKing aims for a premium, clean finish that looks good on the table and feels good in hand. But different print runs and lighting conditions can make finish appear slightly different from batch to batch.
What this means in real life:
- Under bright overhead light, finishes can look more reflective.
- Under warm indoor light, finishes can look slightly softer/more muted.
Our team QA checks every card that goes out to ensure it meets our standards.
Color variation: normal vs not normal
Printed products always have some natural variation. Even official products can vary across print runs.
Normal variation (expected)
This is considered normal:
- small shifts in brightness/saturation between batches
- slight differences between cards printed in different runs
- minor differences that largely disappear once sleeved
Not normal (a true issue)
This is not normal and may qualify for a reprint:
- severe color cast (everything looks “washed” or strangely tinted)
- obvious banding or striping
- significantly blurry print that impacts readability
If you’re not sure which bucket your order falls into, the easiest way to tell is:
Sleeve a few cards and compare them under normal room light.
If it still looks clearly wrong, it’s worth contacting us.
This is our facility where we ship and fulfill all of our orders.
Why sleeving matters (and what we recommend)
Sleeves do three useful things:
- They standardize feel across decks
- They reduce the perception of minor print variance
- They protect corners and surface finish during shuffling
Recommendation: If you’re going to play with proxies regularly, sleeve the entire deck. Mixing sleeved/unsleeved cards can create feel differences that distract from gameplay.
What counts as a defect (and what doesn’t)
We built our Quality Guarantee & Reprints policy to make this simple.
Covered by our Quality Guarantee
Examples of issues we’ll help fix:
- major print defects (blur/banding)
- extreme miscuts or severe alignment problems
- wrong cards / missing cards
- significant damage in transit
Read the full policy here:
https://proxyking.biz/quality-guarantee/
Not covered (not defects)
These generally don’t qualify as defects:
- small color differences between batches
- minor edge/corner wear from transit that doesn’t materially affect play
- expected print variance visible only under close inspection
- damage after delivery from handling or storage
How to get help if something looks off
If you believe there’s a real issue, please contact us with:
- your order number
- a short description of what you’re seeing
- clear photos:
- a few affected cards (front)
- a wider shot showing multiple cards
- packaging photos if it’s shipping damage
Contact us here:
https://proxyking.biz/contact/
We maintain inventory of thousands of unique cards.
Want to see comparisons and real-world examples?
Our Reviews page collects third-party coverage and comparisons so you can see what quality looks like in practice: