How to Talk to Your Playgroup About Proxies
You’ve built a proxy deck. Every card is a clean print — same cardstock, same feel, accurate colors. You’re ready for Commander night. But there’s one conversation you haven’t had yet: how do you tell your playgroup you’re running proxies?
This is the part of proxying that most guides skip. They tell you where to print, what cardstock to choose, how to sleeve — but they never talk about the human side. The moment you sit down at a table and pull out a deck with proxy cards in it, you’re asking your friends to trust you. Not about the card quality. About the intent.
This guide covers how to have that conversation — before someone asks, before it’s awkward, and in a way that builds trust rather than friction. We’ll cover scripts for different playgroup types, the most common objections and how to answer them, and the one thing you should never do when playing with proxies.
What This Article Covers
- The Rule Zero framework and why proxies fit naturally into Commander’s social contract
- Conversation scripts for casual, competitive, and mixed playgroups
- How to handle the 5 most common objections to proxies
- The one thing that will get your proxy deck banned faster than anything else
Quick Facts
The Rule Zero Framework
Rule Zero is Commander’s unofficial first rule: if everyone at the table agrees, you can do anything. It’s the rule that lets you play Un-cards, silver-bordered lands, custom commanders, and — yes — proxy cards. The official Commander rules (maintained by the Rules Committee) explicitly do not forbid proxies because Commander is a casual format where proxies are widely accepted.
The key word is agrees. Rule Zero isn’t permission to do whatever you want — it’s permission to have a conversation. And that’s exactly the right framing for bringing proxies to the table. You’re not hiding anything. You’re not springing it on anyone. You’re asking, and that act of asking is what makes it work.
Three Playgroup Types, Three Scripts
Type 1: The Casual Playgroup
This is your kitchen-table group. You’ve been playing together for months or years. Everyone has a few precons and maybe one upgraded deck. Nobody is keeping a spreadsheet of their collection value.
What to say: “Hey, I wanted to try a deck with some expensive staples to see how it plays, but I don’t have the budget for real copies right now. I printed high-quality proxies from MakeProxyCard — same cardstock, they shuffle just like real cards. Is it cool if I try it out next game night?”
Why it works: Casual groups want to know three things: you’re not trying to pubstomp, you’re being honest, and the proxies won’t feel weird at the table. Lead with the honest ask, and most groups will say yes instantly.
Type 2: The LGS Playgroup
Your local game store has a regular Commander night. You recognize faces but you don’t know everyone’s collection. Some players have fully pimped decks; others are on strict budgets.
What to say: Before the game starts, as everyone is pulling out decks: “Quick heads up — I’m running proxies in this deck. Quality prints from MakeProxyCard, but I want to be upfront about it. If anyone’s not okay with that, I’ve got another deck.”
Why it works: Public declaration removes all ambiguity. The offer to switch decks shows good faith. Most LGS Commander players have encountered proxies before — the Commander philosophy document explicitly supports playgroup-level rule modifications. The transparency is what matters.
Type 3: The cEDH Group
Competitive EDH groups often have an unspoken rule: proxies are expected. The whole point of cEDH is testing the format’s power ceiling, and that ceiling requires Reserved List staples that most players can’t justify spending $5,000 on.
What to say: “Running Ad Nauseam proxies today. MakeProxyCard prints — tournament quality, 1200 DPI, matching cardstock. Anyone need a Mox Diamond for testing?”
Why it works: cEDH groups actively want more players with competitive decks. If you bring high-quality proxies, the group gains a testing partner. In many cEDH discords, proxy players are the majority, not the exception.
Handling the Five Most Common Objections
Even with the right script, you’ll occasionally run into pushback. Here’s how to handle the five most common objections — calmly, respectfully, and without starting an argument.
1. “Proxies hurt the game’s economy.”
They don’t. The people printing proxy Gaea’s Cradles weren’t going to buy $2,000 real ones. Proxy players are not competing with collectors. In fact, many proxy players eventually buy real copies of cards they love after testing them — proxies are a try-before-you-buy mechanism.
2. “It’s not fair to players who bought real cards.”
This is the most emotionally charged objection. The key is not to argue but to acknowledge. Try: “I respect that you’ve invested in real cards. I’m not trying to bypass that — I genuinely can’t afford $1,000 for a Mox Diamond right now. For me, $80 for the whole deck is the difference between playing cEDH and not playing at all.”
3. “How do I know they’re not counterfeit fakes?”
Fair concern — and the answer matters. Quality proxies from reputable printers are clearly different from counterfeit cards meant to deceive. MakeProxyCard proxies use a slightly different cardstock composition than real MTG cards, and responsible proxy users never try to pass them off as authentic. You can show the card back, point out the absence of a Wizards hologram, or just offer a quick explanation: “These are proxies — they’re not trying to fool anyone. If you want, I can pull my deck out and you can compare them to your real cards.”
4. “Proxies let you run a $5,000 deck against my $50 precon.”
This isn’t a proxy problem — it’s a power-level mismatch. If you sit down with a cEDH Turbo Naus list against three unmodified precons, proxies aren’t the issue. The solution is Rule Zero: agree on power level before the game. Proxies don’t change the fact that the table should discuss what kind of game they want to play.
5. “Just buy the real cards.”
This objection often comes from players who don’t realize the financial barrier. A gentle response: “I wish I could. But I’m a [student / parent / budget-conscious player], and spending $2,000 on a Timetwister for a format I play once a week isn’t in my budget. 100 cards from MakeProxyCard costs about as much as dinner out.”
The One Thing You Should Never Do
Never show up with a proxy deck and not say anything.
This is the fastest way to damage trust. If someone discovers your proxy cards mid-game — through shuffling, or because a card bends differently, or because you accidentally leave a proxy face-up — the ambiguity is worse than the fact you’re using proxies. The other player’s brain fills the gap with the worst interpretation.
By contrast, if you announce proxies upfront, you control the narrative. You’re being transparent. You’re giving the table the chance to agree or suggest an alternative. If someone does say no (which is rare), you have the option to switch decks. But if you don’t say anything and get caught, you’ve created a trust problem that goes beyond this single game.
Building the Right Reputation
Once you’ve had the proxy conversation, your ongoing behavior determines how the group feels about it. Three rules for maintaining proxy goodwill:
- Match power level. If the table is playing precons, don’t pull out a fully proxied cEDH deck. Build a proxy deck that fits the group’s average power level. This is the single most important reputation-building habit.
- Be prepared to explain. When someone asks about your proxies, have a simple answer ready. “They’re from MakeProxyCard — I wanted to test this deck before committing to buying the real staples.” Most people are curious, not accusatory.
- Let others try them. One of the fastest ways to win a playgroup over to proxies is to let someone sleeve up your deck for a game. When they feel the card quality — the same weight, the same shuffle, the same finish — a lot of objections evaporate.
Quality Matters
This should go without saying, but the quality of your proxies directly affects how the table feels about them. A low-quality print — thin paper, washed-out colors, wrong dimensions — looks dishonest even if you announced it. A premium proxy from MakeProxyCard, printed at up to 1200 DPI on heavy blue-core cardstock with accurate MTG dimensions (63x88mm), looks like what it is: a player’s tool, not a counterfeiter’s product.
When you pull out a well-printed proxy, the response is usually curiosity, not suspicion. Players want to see how it compares to their real cards. And when they realize it shuffles identically and the art is as crisp as the original, the proxy conversation becomes a proxy opportunity.
Related Reading
Build a Deck Your Playgroup Will Respect
Premium proxies from MakeProxyCard — same cardstock, same feel, same dimensions as real MTG cards. Your playgroup won’t know the difference until you tell them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if someone at the table says no to proxies?
Respect it. Switch to a non-proxy deck. The worst thing you can do is argue — that confirms their suspicion that proxies are bad-faith. Bring a backup deck that’s all real cards (even if it’s less competitive). Over time, as they see other proxy players at the table, they may change their mind.
Should I tell people my proxies are from MakeProxyCard?
Yes. Being specific about where you got them builds trust. It signals that you didn’t print them at home on a inkjet — you deliberately chose a professional print service. Players who are skeptical of proxies change their minds when they see the quality of a professionally printed proxy.
Can I use proxies at a local game store?
It depends on the store. Many LGS Commander nights allow proxies because they want more players participating. Some stores restrict proxies because they sell singles. Ask the store’s policy before you arrive — if proxies aren’t allowed, respect the store’s business model and use a non-proxy deck.
Should I sleeve my proxy deck in different sleeves from my real cards?
No — use the same sleeves for everything. If your proxy deck has visibly different sleeves, it signals that you’re treating it as a “lesser” deck, which undermines the quality argument. Quality proxies deserve quality sleeves.
What if someone accuses me of counterfeiting?
This is rare if you announce your proxies upfront. If it happens, stay calm: “These are proxies from a print service — not counterfeits. Counterfeits try to pass as real; proxies are clearly marked and printed for personal use only. Happy to show you the card backs or compare them to real cards.”
How do I bring up proxies with a new playgroup I’ve never played with?
Before the first game, ask the group: “What’s the proxy policy here? I’ve got a proxy deck I’d like to try, but I want to make sure everyone’s comfortable first.” Letting the group set the expectation is always better than assuming. Most groups will appreciate the question.
Sources
- Commander Format Philosophy Document — Rules Committee
- Official Commander Rules — MTGCommander.net
- r/EDH Proxy Discussion Wiki
- Scryfall — Card Database
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