TLDR
If the event is Wizards-sanctioned, you cannot use Elden Ring MTG proxies in tournaments. Sanctioned play requires Authorized (genuine) Magic cards.
The only “proxy” that’s allowed in sanctioned play is a judge-issued proxy, and it’s for narrow situations like a card getting damaged during the event.
If the event is unsanctioned, proxies can be allowed, but it’s house rules. Ask the organizer before you show up with a deck full of Tarnished flavor.
The “legal issues” are mostly intellectual property (using Elden Ring art/branding without permission). Tournament rules are enforced by judges and organizers, not a courtroom.
https://printmtg.com/mtg-card-maker/
You built the sickest Elden Ring themed deck. The vibes are immaculate. Your Lightning Bolt is now a red-hot incantation and your Commander looks like they have strong opinions about rolling in heavy armor.
And now you want to bring it to a tournament.
Here’s the blunt truth: Elden Ring MTG proxies in tournaments are either fine or dead on arrival, and the difference is one question that too many players forget to ask.
Elden Ring MTG proxies in tournaments: the one-question decision tree
Ask this first:
Is the tournament sanctioned (reported to Wizards / run under Magic Tournament Rules)?
Yes (sanctioned): Your Elden Ring proxies are not allowed, period, except for a judge-issued proxy created on site for specific reasons.
No (unsanctioned): Proxies may be allowed if the organizer says yes. Your problem becomes “table policy,” not “tournament policy.”
That’s it. That’s the fork in the road. Everything else is just flavor text.
1) Sanctioned events: why your Elden Ring proxies aren’t legal for play
In sanctioned Magic events, the baseline requirement is simple: you must use Authorized Game Cards. That means genuine, regulation-sized Magic cards released by Wizards of the Coast. If it’s not an Authorized Game Card, it’s not legal in sanctioned events.
So even if your proxies are:
perfectly readable
the correct Oracle text
sleeved the same as everything else
blessed by the Greater Will itself
They’re still not Authorized cards.
What happens if you try anyway?
Most of the time, judges treat this as a deck legality problem that needs to be corrected. The exact consequences depend on the Rules Enforcement Level and the specifics of what happened.
The key point is this: don’t gamble your entry fee and your day on “maybe they won’t notice.” It’s not a clever loophole. It’s just a fast track to a judge call.
If you genuinely didn’t know, you’ll usually be told to fix it. If you did know and tried to slide it through, that can escalate into a much worse conversation.
2) The one exception: judge-issued proxies (and why you can’t bring your own)
This is where a lot of confusion comes from, because Magic uses the word “proxy” in a very specific way in tournament documents.
A judge-issued proxy can be created by the Head Judge when an otherwise legal card can’t be used without marking the deck, usually because it got damaged during the tournament. The judge-created proxy is:
created by the Head Judge, not the player
clearly marked as a proxy
valid only for that tournament
So no, you can’t print your own Elden Ring version of a card and claim it’s “basically the same thing.” The rules explicitly don’t work that way.
This exception exists so a tournament doesn’t implode because somebody’s foil got wrecked mid-round, not so you can bring a fan-made crossover deck to a sanctioned bracket.
3) Unsanctioned tournaments: proxies might be allowed, but ask like an adult
Unsanctioned events can be anything from:
a store-run Commander night with a prize pool
a charity event
a “we’re drafting a cube in the back” mini tournament
a proxy-friendly league
In these events, the organizer can say “proxies are fine,” and that’s the end of it.
Quick checklist: how to avoid awkward surprises
Before you bring Elden Ring proxies to an event, confirm:
Is this event sanctioned? (If yes, stop here.)
Are proxies allowed? (Some places allow a few, some allow full decks, some allow none.)
Any restrictions? (Examples: no reserved list, no custom art, must be clearly labeled, color print only, etc.)
Is readability enforced? (If your gorgeous full-art Radahn frame hides the mana cost, someone will complain. Fair.)
Copy-paste script (text or in-person)
Use this. It works. It’s boring. That’s the point.
“Hey! Quick question before I show up: is tonight’s event sanctioned or unsanctioned? And are proxies allowed? I’ve got a themed Elden Ring proxy deck, fully readable, but I want to follow the event rules.”
If they say yes, you’re good. If they say no, you saved yourself an annoying drive and a public rules discussion you didn’t want.
If you want PrintMTG version of this, our stance is here: Proxy Use Policy.
4) “Legal issues” vs “tournament rules”: what people actually mean
When someone asks about legal issues, they’re usually mixing together three different things:
Tournament legality (rules): Are proxies allowed under the Magic Tournament Rules?
Store policy (house rules): Even if it’s unsanctioned, does the organizer allow them?
Intellectual property (actual law): Are you using copyrighted Elden Ring art, logos, names, or other protected content without permission?
Tournament rules are enforced by judges, not courts
If you bring Elden Ring proxies to a sanctioned tournament, the problem is not “you’re going to jail.” The problem is “your deck isn’t legal for this event.”
IP is the real “legal” angle, and it’s mostly about distribution
Elden Ring’s art, logos, and branding are protected IP. Reproducing and distributing that content can create risk, especially if you’re selling it or making it widely available.
In practice, the risk profile changes depending on what you’re doing:
Personal-use, casual play: usually low drama, but not automatically “legal”
Selling or distributing: much higher risk of takedowns or enforcement
Using official logos/branding in a way that implies endorsement: also a great way to invite trouble
If you’re printing custom cards with Elden Ring imagery, keep it clean: don’t present it as official anything, don’t use it to deceive anyone.
5) The practical solution: keep two versions of the deck
If you play both tournament Magic and casual Magic, the easiest setup is:
Tournament version: all authentic cards, fully compliant
Casual version: your Elden Ring reskin, your custom frames, your full “boss music starts now” experience
This is also the least stressful way to avoid arguments at registration. You don’t want to be the person negotiating proxy policy at the table while everyone else is shuffling up.
6) Printing Elden Ring-style proxies for casual play (without making a mess)
If your event is proxy-friendly (or it’s just your kitchen table), then proxies are a tool, and the goal is simple: readable cards that shuffle consistently.
The quality pitfalls are always the same:
muddy blacks that eat rules text
low-res art that looks fine on screen and tragic in print
inconsistent sizing that makes a deck feel marked in sleeves
colors drifting between reorders so your deck looks like it time-traveled
This is where a dedicated workflow helps. At PrintMTG, we run a production stack built for consistent cards: a premium printing press, a high-end UV coater, and a rotary die cutter for fast, repeatable cutting. We also enhance uploaded images so resolution and color hold up on real cardstock. It’s the difference between “nice theme” and “why does my Sol Ring look like it was faxed.”
FAQs
Are Elden Ring MTG proxies allowed at FNM?
If it’s sanctioned FNM, assume no. If it’s an unsanctioned casual night that happens to be on Friday, maybe, but you still need organizer approval.
What about if I own the real cards and just want to use proxies?
Owning the real card doesn’t make proxies tournament-legal in sanctioned play. Authorized cards are still required.
Can a judge approve my printed proxies ahead of time?
No. Judges can issue proxies only in narrow cases during the event. Pre-printed proxies don’t become legal because you asked nicely.
Are alters or custom art versions allowed in sanctioned tournaments?
Some alters are allowed if the underlying card remains recognizable and the modification doesn’t create gameplay issues. A full proxy is a different category than an altered authentic card.