Magic: The Gathering (MTG) has been around since 1993. It’s a popular collectible card game cherished by millions. The game’s depth, storylines, and varied expansions have created a huge secondary market. Some rare MTG cards are worth thousands of dollars. This high value means there’s also a market for fakes—counterfeit MTG cards. But there’s another category known as proxies, which aren’t meant to deceive. They’re just placeholders, although they can sometimes look so authentic that someone else could pass them off as real.
Magic gets expensive. When staples, dual lands, or iconic cards cost more than an entire deck used to, the temptation to “just get a cheap copy” shows up.
But here’s the blunt truth:
Buying counterfeits is a bad idea—for you, for your local stores, and for the community. Counterfeits are designed to deceive. They create scams, destroy trust in trading, and can bring legal or platform consequences when money changes hands.
What we can do is more useful than pointing you to shady sources:
- show you the ethical alternative: clearly disclosed proxies for casual play and playtesting
- explain why counterfeits exist and why they’re risky
- show you how to spot them
The Appeal of Counterfeit MTG Cards (and the real cost)
Counterfeits exist because certain cards are extremely valuable. People who don’t care about the rules—or the harm—see an opportunity to profit by printing and selling near-identical copies. They often target high-demand, high-dollar staples: Power 9, dual lands, Reserve List cards, and format-defining pieces.
The fallout is bigger than one bad transaction:
- Collectors and players get ripped off. A fake in a trade binder turns a friendly deal into fraud.
- The secondary market becomes harder to trust. When you’re worried about being scammed, trading stops being fun.
- Stores take the hit. LGS owners and staff have to spend more time verifying cards and dealing with disputes.
There’s also the legal and platform angle. In many places, making and selling counterfeit goods is illegal, and buying them can expose you to scams, seized packages, or payment disputes. Some people claim they “just want cheap replicas for kitchen-table Magic,” but once money changes hands and the product is designed to pass as real, you’re in counterfeit territory—whether you intended that outcome or not.
How to Identify Counterfeits (Practical Tests)
No single test is perfect, but a combination of quick checks can protect you.
1) Light Test (non-destructive)
Hold the card in front of a bright light. Genuine cards tend to let a consistent amount of light through with a uniform glow. Many counterfeits either block light too strongly or let it through unevenly.
It’s quick and non-destructive, which makes it a good first pass—especially on trades.
2) Magnification / Rosette Pattern (non-destructive)
Under magnification, real MTG cards show a rosette dot pattern in printed areas. When you zoom in on art, borders, or text boxes, you’ll usually see a consistent, structured dot pattern.
Counterfeits often show:
- muddy dots
- misaligned patterns
- colors bleeding in ways the rosette pattern doesn’t
This is one of the more reliable non-destructive checks if you have a loupe or phone macro lens.
3) Card “Ripping” Test (destructive — avoid on valuable cards)
If you tear a real MTG card, you’ll usually see an inner colored core layer. The exact appearance can vary by print era, but many real cards show a recognizable internal layer.
This test is destructive, so it’s not recommended for anything you’d actually want to keep. It’s included here because people mention it, not because it’s the best approach.
A better practice for high-value cards: buy from reputable sources, compare to known authentic examples, and use non-destructive checks first.
Proxies: Acceptable Replacements (for casual play)
If what you really want is a playable stand-in—to test a deck, play casually, or protect expensive originals—then you’re not looking for counterfeits. You’re looking for proxies.
Proxies can be a practical tool when they’re used responsibly:
- casual playgroups that allow proxies
- testing a list before buying expensive cards
- keeping authentic cards safe at home
Proxy vs Counterfeit: the difference is intent + disclosure
The difference usually comes down to two things:
- Intent: Is the item meant to be a stand-in, or meant to pass as authentic?
- Disclosure: Is it clearly labeled and described as a proxy?
Responsible proxy use includes:
- never trading or selling proxies as authentic
- being upfront with your playgroup
- understanding proxies aren’t tournament legal in sanctioned play
Our site prints quality proxies that aren’t meant to be passed off as real cards. Other sites like MTG.Cards offer a magic the gathering card maker so you can design your own Magic cards.
Where Do People Get Counterfeits?
Where Do People Get Counterfeits? (Why we won’t list sources)
You won’t see counterfeits openly advertised on reputable marketplaces under “counterfeit MTG cards,” because that would be an open confession of illegal activity. Counterfeits tend to circulate through:
- sketchy websites
- underground forums
- marketplace listings with vague language and low-quality photos
- private deals where buyers are pressured to act fast
This is exactly why it’s risky. Buyers can lose money, compromise personal data, get stuck with unusable cards, or end up in disputes that go nowhere.
What About ProxyKing.biz?
Some proxy services produce extremely high-quality prints that feel great in a sleeve. Quality is a good thing for casual play. The problem is what happens when someone uses realism to deceive.
That’s why, regardless of where you get proxies:
- keep them in casual-only settings
- be transparent with your group
- don’t list them or trade them as authentic
- don’t support products designed to bypass authenticity checks
The community survives on trust. Proxies work best when they’re used openly and ethically.
ProxyKing.biz is a site that to provides MTG proxies. They are clear and state they don’t sell real cards, and they aren’t trying to pass them off as real. But… their proxies look very close to authentic MTG cards. This quality attracts people who want realistic stand-ins for casual play.
Quality
They print their cards with high-resolution techniques, so the cards have crisp details and feel very similar in weight to official MTG cards. Some people love this because it feels good to shuffle and show off. But the same realism could lead to unethical misuse.
Customization
Generally ProxyKing doesn’t offer customization, however they do take requests from time to time. That’s neat if you want unique versions of your favorite cards. It’s also a gateway for someone with bad intentions to create near-flawless knockoffs. ProxyKing.biz doesn’t promote this, but it’s an option in the wrong hands.
Shipping and Pricing
They’re based in Texas and ship worldwide. A standard proxy costs around $4, with foils at about $5. Reviews on various sites say they deliver on time. People mention the proxies are high quality. This is all good if you’re honest, but it’s easy to see how some folks might exploit the situation.
Ethical Use of Proxies
Most casual groups are fine with proxies as long as everyone agrees. Proxies let you:
- test expensive strategies before buying
- experiment with combos without dropping hundreds of dollars
- protect valuable originals while still playing the deck
To keep it healthy:
- disclose proxies before the game starts
- match your table’s power level expectations
- don’t bring proxies to sanctioned events unless the organizer explicitly allows them (rare)
Pitfalls and Community Impact
The biggest community harm doesn’t come from casual proxy use. It comes from fraud.
If someone slips a realistic fake into a trade binder and sells it near market value, that’s not “proxying”—that’s deception. It creates long-term damage:
- traders become paranoid
- stores spend more time verifying
- disputes increase
- trust declines
Even honest players get caught in the crossfire, because every trade becomes a stress test.
Should You Buy Counterfeits?
No.
Counterfeits damage trust in the hobby, invite scams, and can create legal and platform risks. If your goal is casual play or playtesting, proxies can be a reasonable alternative—as long as they are clearly disclosed and used ethically.
If your goal is collecting or building a long-term collection, focus on:
- avoiding deals that are “too good to be true”
- buying from reputable sources
- learning basic counterfeit checks
Conclusion
So, where do people buy counterfeit MTG cards? Usually from shady sources that aren’t accountable and thrive on secrecy. That’s precisely why it’s risky—and why we don’t recommend it or provide sources. We will always recommend reputable PROXY printing companies like ProxyKing and PrintMTG over shady counterfeit printers.
If you want to save money and play casually, proxies are the safer, ethical option:
- disclose them
- use them in casual settings
- never represent them as real
- don’t expect tournament legality
If you want authentic cards, protect yourself with reputable sellers and basic authentication checks. Either way, the best outcome is the same: keep the community trustworthy, keep trading fun, and don’t reward the counterfeit ecosystem.
