MTG Proxy Cost Savings: Why Players Save $2,000+ Per Commander Deck

A typical competitive Commander deck costs between $2,000 and $4,000 in original cards. That’s not a typo — and it’s not just for cEDH players. We pulled current market prices for 20 of the most-played Commander staples to show exactly where the money goes. The math is brutal — but proxy cards change the equation entirely. Most players who switch to proxies realize significant MTG proxy cost savings of $2,000+ per deck and still get the same play experience.

What This Article Covers

The 20 Most-Expensive Commander Staples (July 2026)

These aren’t niche cards. Each one appears in thousands of Commander decks on EDHREC. Prices are current market rates from Scryfall’s aggregated data.

Tier 1: The $50+ Club

Tier 1 subtotal: $465.16 — for 8 cards.

Tier 2: The $15–$40 Range

Tier 2 subtotal: $309.61 — for 6 cards.

Tier 3: The $10–$15 Range

Tier 3 subtotal: $475.15 — for 4 cards.

The Bottom Line on Card Prices

20 staples = $1,249.92 — and that’s before you’ve built a single deck. A typical Commander deck runs 30–40 staples, meaning the average competitive deck costs $2,000–$4,000 in original cards alone.

The Hidden Costs Most Players Forget

The sticker price is just the beginning. Here’s what most cost calculators miss:

A $3,000 Commander deck with hidden costs can easily run $3,500–$4,000 over its lifetime.

What Proxies Actually Cost (Our Data)

Here’s where the math changes. MakeProxyCard offers premium proxies at prices that make the original card costs look like a typo.

Cost to proxy those same 20 staples: ~$32 (at US$1.60/card).

That’s a 97.4% savings — from $1,249.92 to $32.00.

The Bottom Line: Original vs Proxy

And that’s just 20 cards. Scale that to a full 100-card deck with 30–40 staples, and the savings climb to $2,000–$3,000 per deck. For a playgroup of 4 players each running a proxied deck, the total savings exceed $8,000–$12,000.

Our proxies deliver the look, weight, and card feel of the originals — at a price where you can actually play the deck you want instead of the deck you can afford.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are proxies legal in Commander? | Yes. Commander is a casual format, and the official rules (maintained by the Rules Committee) do not prohibit proxies. Most playgroups allow them, especially for expensive staples. Always check with your local playgroup first. Do proxies shuffle and feel like real cards? | Premium proxies from MakeProxyCard use French-cut blue core card stock that shuffles, bends, and feels like genuine Magic cards. They’re designed for tabletop play — not display pieces. What about tournament play? | Proxies are not allowed in sanctioned tournaments (FNM, RCQ, Pro Tour). They’re designed for casual play — Commander nights, kitchen table games, and cube drafts where the group agrees to allow them.

Shop MTG Proxies Starting at US$1.60

Pick your cards, print the deck you actually want to play. Build Your Deck, grab a Booster Pack, or go custom with Card Artwork — fast, premium, and ready for the table.

Build Your Own Deck

From US$1.60 / card

Start as low as US$1.60 per card. Build the 100-card Commander deck you actually want to play — staples and all — for 90%+ less than original prices.

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Booster Pack (3 Packs)

US$69 (3 Packs)

Skip the chooser. Get three themed booster packs of curated proxies — perfect for testing high-cost decks without the $2,000+ commitment.

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Card Artwork

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Print premium cards with your own art, or upgrade to a high-res scan of any print we stock. Perfect for cube drafts and proxy tournaments.

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