TLDR
If you just need the official version of an emblem, Scryfall is the fastest place to find it.
If you want custom MTG emblems that match your deck’s art or theme, PrintMTG’s card builder is the cleanest way to make a readable reminder piece.
Emblems are not normal cards or permanents, so your printed emblem’s real job is simple: be clear, easy to spot, and not embarrass you next to the rest of your deck.
Print them at normal MTG card size so they sleeve neatly with tokens and other deck accessories.
Custom MTG emblems usually become urgent at the exact moment a planeswalker ultimate resolves and somebody reaches for a scrap of paper that looks like it lost a fight with a Sharpie.
The good news is that emblems are simple game objects. Under the rules, they go in the command zone, they are not cards or permanents, and they usually have only the abilities the effect gave them. So when you make one, you are not trying to fake a card. You are making a clean reminder piece that keeps the board state obvious.
The Practical Framework: Find It, Build It, or Fake Nothing and Just Write It Down
If you need custom MTG emblems, the smart move is picking the route that matches the problem.
Use Scryfall if:
You want the official emblem text or art reference for a real card.
Use PrintMTG’s card builder if:
You want a printed emblem that matches your deck, your tokens, or your general level of visual pickiness.
Use a dry-erase card or note if:
You are testing something once and do not care what it looks like. Some people are emotionally comfortable with that. I respect them from a distance.
For most players, the sweet spot is simple. Find the official wording first, then build a cleaner custom version in PrintMTG’s editor so it actually looks like it belongs on the table.
How to Find Official Emblems Fast
If the emblem already exists in Magic, start with Scryfall. Searching t:emblem pulls up emblem printings, and searching o:"you get an emblem" helps you find the cards that create them. If you already know the source card, searching that card name plus “emblem” usually gets you there in about ten seconds, which is ideal because life is short and Commander turns are already long enough.
This matters because the best custom emblem is usually based on exact rules text first, then better art second. If you are making an emblem for a real planeswalker or other real card, do not freestyle the wording unless you enjoy mid-game rules debates that start with “I thought it said...” and end with three phones on the table.
How to Make Custom MTG Emblems With PrintMTG
PrintMTG’s MTG Card Maker is a very good fit for custom MTG emblems because it already does the annoying parts for you. You can choose a frame, edit every field, upload artwork, insert symbols, reposition and scale art, and watch the live preview update before you order prints. PrintMTG’s own custom card guide also calls out custom tokens and emblems as one of the normal use cases, not some strange side quest.
Here is the clean workflow I’d use:
1. Start With Official Text
If your emblem comes from a real Magic card, grab the exact wording first. Use Scryfall or the official card database as your source, then paste that rules text into the builder.
This is the boring step. It is also the step that saves you from making a gorgeous emblem that accidentally does the wrong thing.
2. Treat the Emblem Like a Reminder Piece, Not a Spell
Because emblems are not regular cards, you do not need to force them into a fake mana cost, fake rarity, or fake mechanical identity. Keep the layout simple.
A good custom emblem usually has:
a clear title, like “Chandra Emblem” or “Atraxa Emblem”
“Emblem” in the type line
the exact rules text
art that matches the deck without crushing readability
And yes, you can absolutely make it prettier than the official reminder piece. Just do not make it so pretty that nobody can read it from across the table.
3. Use Art That Matches the Deck
This is where PrintMTG’s builder earns its keep. The editor lets you upload art, drag it to reposition, and zoom it until the composition actually works. That is useful for emblems because they tend to be text-heavy. You want art that supports the theme without turning the text box into camouflage.
If your deck has a theme, keep the emblem in the same visual language:
horror deck, use dark textured art
sci-fi reskin deck, keep the emblem in the same universe
clean cube setup, keep the emblem minimal and text-forward
The emblem does not need to steal the show. It just needs to look like it belongs there.
4. Print Emblems Together With Tokens
This is the part people skip for no good reason. If your deck makes an emblem and also makes tokens, print them together.
A matching token-and-emblem pack looks better, plays better, and makes your board state easier to read. PrintMTG already has a good walkthrough on How to Make Custom Magic: The Gathering Cards With the PrintMTG Card Maker if you want the full editor flow from blank template to finished card.
And honestly, this is where custom accessories start feeling worth the effort. One lonely emblem is nice. A deck where the tokens, emblems, and custom pieces all look coordinated is nicer.
5. Keep the Size Normal
If you want the emblem to shuffle into a token stack, fit in sleeves, and feel right in hand, print it at standard MTG size. PrintMTG’s print spec content uses 2.5" × 3.5" as the normal target size, with bleed added only when you are preparing full print files. For a finished printed emblem, standard card size is the practical target.
For print setup details, keep MTG Card Size, Bleed, and Safe Zone handy. It saves a lot of preventable misery.
When Other Tools Make Sense
As of March 2026, there are still several usable custom card tools besides PrintMTG. MTG.Design is a browser-based option that works from desktop or mobile. Card Conjurer still offers frame-heavy customization and card-import style workflows. Magic Set Editor is still the desktop pick if you are building whole custom sets instead of one or two game pieces. And InfiniTokens is the reusable option if you want dry-erase reminders instead of printed ones.
They all have their place. But for most people making custom MTG emblems, they are more tool than problem. If your goal is “I want a clean emblem that matches my deck and I do not want to become a hobbyist layout engineer,” PrintMTG is the shorter path.
A Simple Checklist Before You Print
Before you call the emblem done, check these:
The rules text matches the real emblem, if it is based on an official card
The word “Emblem” is obvious at a glance
The art does not fight the text box
The text is readable from across the table
The size matches your other tokens and reminders
The emblem visually matches the deck it belongs to
That is it. You do not need to overcomplicate this. Most emblem design mistakes come from treating the piece like a showcase card instead of a game aid.
FAQs
Are Emblems Actual Cards in MTG?
No. Emblems are objects that exist in the command zone. They are not cards, not permanents, and not a card type. The printed piece you use is basically a marker or reminder that shows what the emblem does.
Where Can I Find Official Emblem Text?
Scryfall is the fastest practical answer. Search t:emblem for emblem printings, or o:"you get an emblem" to find the source cards that create them.
Do I Need an Emblem-Specific Template?
No. In most cases, a clean custom card layout is enough. What matters is readability and clear text, not whether the frame is “officially emblem-shaped,” because that is not really the job here.
What Size Should I Print Custom MTG Emblems?
Standard MTG card size is the sensible choice: 2.5" × 3.5". That keeps the emblem easy to sleeve, store, and handle with the rest of your deck accessories.
Are Custom MTG Emblems Better Than Dice or Sticky Notes?
Usually, yes. Dice are great for numbers. Emblems are ongoing rules objects. A printed emblem is harder to forget, easier to read, and much less likely to look like somebody left a grocery list on the battlefield.