If you’re googling mtg proxy cards foil vs nonfoil pros and cons, you’re probably deciding whether you want your deck to look like a treasure chest… or behave like a deck of cards. Both are valid goals. They just don’t always coexist peacefully.
Foil proxies can look awesome. They can also curl, glare, scuff, and generally act like they have their own opinions about humidity. Nonfoil proxies are usually calmer. Sometimes “calm” is the whole point.
If you’re still getting your proxy workflow dialed in, start with this: How to Make MTG Proxies: Printing Guide and Legality Basics. It’ll save you from learning everything the hard way, which is the traditional MTG method.
MTG proxy cards foil vs nonfoil pros and cons in one sentence
Foil proxies win on “wow,” nonfoil proxies win on “use this every week without babysitting it.”
Now let’s make that less vague.
What foil proxies do well
They look premium fast
Foil adds “special” instantly, even when the art is basic. If you’re building a Commander deck and you want the commander, a few pet cards, or your favorite staples to pop, foiling is the quick shortcut.
They’re great for display pieces and gifts
Custom alt-art, a themed deck, a playmat-matching land suite, a meme card you made for a friend, foils shine here. Literally.
They help you spot key cards in a pile
This is underrated. If you’re proxying a cube, a battle box, or a teaching stack, a foil treatment on a few “signpost” cards can make setup and sorting easier.
Where foil proxies get annoying
Glare is real
At a table with overhead lights, foils can turn into tiny mirrors. That’s fine until somebody asks, “what does that do?” and you tilt the card around like you’re trying to catch a signal from space.
If your group plays on webcam sometimes, glare becomes a full-time job.
They can curl and warp
This is the big one. Foils curl because the foil layer and the paper layers react differently to humidity. When moisture changes, one side expands or contracts more than the other, and the card bends.
Your deck is not being dramatic. Physics is.
They can scuff faster than you want
Foil surfaces can pick up scratching and clouding from play and handling. Sleeves help, but if you’re the kind of person who mash shuffles like you’re trying to start a fire, foils notice.
They can drift toward “too convincing”
Here’s the boring ethical note: the more your proxies look exactly like official product, the more you risk confusion later. That’s especially true with foils, because “shiny” reads as “real” to a lot of players at a glance.
Label your proxies. Keep them obviously not-for-sale play pieces. You don’t need a future headache.
Why foils curl, in plain English
A foil card is basically a sandwich. One part is paper stock, one part includes a plastic or metallic-looking layer. Paper absorbs and releases moisture. The foil layer does not behave the same way. When humidity changes, the paper side changes size more than the foil side, and the card bends.
That’s why two different environments can curl foils in opposite directions. Too dry and the paper shrinks. Too humid and it swells. Either way, your card decides it wants to be a Pringle.
How to reduce curl in foil proxy decks
None of this is mystical. It’s just managing moisture and keeping cards stored like you actually want them to stay flat.
1) Keep foils sleeved and in a deckbox
Sleeves slow down how fast moisture moves in and out. A deckbox helps too. This doesn’t “solve” curling, but it reduces the speed of the problem so your deck isn’t changing shape every time the weather changes.
2) Avoid extreme “dry everything” storage
A common mistake is tossing silica gel everywhere like you’re prepping for a flood. Over-drying can make curling worse in some cases because the paper side shrinks. If you’ve ever pulled a foil out of an ultra-dry box and it’s curled harder than before, congrats, you did science.
3) Use stable humidity, not maximum dryness
If you want to store foils long-term, stable humidity matters more than “dry.” Many collectors use 2-way humidity control packs in sealed containers to keep things steady, not desert-level.
4) Store foils tightly packed when possible
Cards packed flat in a deckbox, binder, or storage row tend to behave better than loose stacks. Loose stacks let individual cards curl freely. Tight stacks apply gentle pressure and limit how far they can bend.
5) Do not use heat like a maniac
“Can i fix curling with a hair dryer?” You can also fix a loose tooth with a hammer. Don’t cook your cards. Heat plus moisture swings is how you get permanent warping.
Nonfoil proxies: the boring choice that usually wins
Nonfoil proxies are what you choose when you want your deck to behave like a deck, not like a craft project you have to maintain.
Benefits of nonfoil
More consistent flatness over time
Better readability under harsh lighting
Less visible scratching and surface wear
Usually closer to “normal deck feel” across a whole list
If you’re proxying a cube, a gauntlet for testing, or a commander staples pool you’ll shuffle forever, nonfoil is just… easier.
And yes, “easier” is a real feature.
So what should you choose
Here’s the practical decision tree most people land on:
Choose foil proxies if
You’re foiling just a handful of cards (commander, signature spells, a few highlights)
Your deck is mostly for casual play and you like the aesthetic
You store your stuff reasonably well and your environment is not a humidity rollercoaster
You accept that foils can be higher maintenance
Choose nonfoil proxies if
You’re proxying a full deck or cube and want consistency
You play under bright lights or on webcam a lot
You want maximum durability with minimum babysitting
You’re printing on a budget and want the highest “play value per card”
If you’re also deciding where to get them printed, this guide is a good baseline: Where to Buy MTG Proxy Cards Online in the USA.
Quick note for other TCGs
The same general rules apply outside MTG.
Pokémon: holos and textured cards can warp too, especially with humidity swings.
Lorcana: foiling methods differ, but you’ll still see curling complaints in the wild.
Flesh and Blood: premium treatments look great, but glare and handling are still a thing.
Netrunner: proxies are often about readability and consistency first, and foil is usually a “nice-to-have,” not the default.
Different games, same reality: shiny cards are fun until they stop lying flat.
FAQ
Are foil proxies “worth it” for a whole deck?
Sometimes, but most people are happier foiling selectively. A fully foiled proxy deck can look incredible. It can also become a humidity mood ring.
Do foil proxies shuffle worse?
In sleeves, usually not. Unsleeved, you’ll notice differences more. Also, curled foils shuffle worse because they’re literally not flat.
Can i fix curled foils permanently?
You can often flatten them by bringing them back toward a stable humidity level and storing them flat. “Permanent” is tricky because if your environment keeps changing, the card will keep responding.
What’s the safest approach?
If you want the best ratio of looks to sanity: foil the commander and a few favorites, keep the rest nonfoil.
Also, for anyone still reading mtg proxy cards foil vs nonfoil pros and cons and hoping there’s a magic answer: there isn’t. It’s tradeoffs. Like most of Magic.