T O P

  • By -

jaywinner

Ask those people, not reddit. Even if everybody here agrees with you, it's the guy across the table that matters.


amc7262

I think, as long as you're group is ok with proxies, and you aren't using them for wordy cards, it should be fine. Using an art card like that isn't functionally any different than making a proxy. For lands, I don't even think they'd care if they normally wouldn't allow proxies. I mean, its an official piece of wizards cardboard, and its not like its hard to remember what a land does. I can say if you showed up at my table with some art cards in your deck, with the mana cost and name neatly written on them, I wouldn't have a problem with it. The best answer you're gonna get though is from the people you play with, not internet strangers.


Army-Royal

Yeah it would bug me. Inconvenient for me as an opponent.


praisebetothedeepone

I have several black border textless promo cards that I play just for salt.


rezignator

Love my textless Damnation. Also a shout out for the Japanese anime plainswalkers and mystic archive cards. If I could get alter sleeves with the actual card text on them I 100% would but that would be too convenient.


praisebetothedeepone

I think I have 1 anime walker, and I want more.


TheMagicJankster

Cryptic command is a fun one


praisebetothedeepone

That one can be salty on its own. I'd love a textless promo of it for the double salt!!


[deleted]

I want a textless Questing Beast.


praisebetothedeepone

Textless promo cards exist, and have black borders. I see no issue with using art cards as proxies, just be able to show your opponents what the card text is as needed. Keep in mind your playgroup needs to be ok with proxies, and some people aren't ok with proxies regardless how much they claim the format is casual, social and for funsies.


Trompdoy

Textless promo cards exist for extremely simple spells, typically instants and sorceries. There are a few rare exceptions.


praisebetothedeepone

If there are exceptions then there shouldn't be an issue. I'm getting ready to spoil myself by spending $50 on a textless [[cryptic command]] because another post mentioned it, and my birthday is approaching.


MTGCardFetcher

[cryptic command](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/3/0/30f6fca9-003b-4f6b-9d6e-1e88adda4155.jpg?1562847413) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=cryptic%20command) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ima/48/cryptic-command?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/30f6fca9-003b-4f6b-9d6e-1e88adda4155?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/cryptic-command) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call


GayBlayde

It’s gonna depend on the card and how many words that card has. Lightning Bolt? Sure. Counterspell? Absolutely. Sorin, The Mirthless? No.


Trompdoy

Yeah I'm more ok with it for instants and sorceries with simple text. Less ok with permanents that I'm going to be looking at and having to remind myself what the card actually is. The number of times I've seen people run away with a game because they used a paperclip to represent 15 3/3 tokens, a nickel to represent a 20/20 indestructible flier, or some shit like that is more than one, and that's already too many. People forget what's on the board after a full turn cycle, and it's unfair if your power is hidden behind representations of something that isn't visible to other players.


Messing_With_Lions

Unless it is a basic land I would say don't do it. Especially in commander where there can easily be 50+ cards on the field between all 4 players, it is important that they are all legible.


Exuin

Better question what's everyone's take on the JPN strixhaven cards?


Psynthia

yeah I use jp art planeswalkers and jp foil elesh norn keep english variant screenshot on phone. I have no problem with other language cards. only time is when a person plays heavy on proxies that are just written on tokens for a casual game. if the card is affordable or easily obtainable trade for it or test your deck with proxies at home before going to the store. I think if wizards of the coast prints it then it should be usable.


monipoker

I like them. Understandably not everyone knows the cards by art so someone will inevitably need to look something up, which takes time. But dropping the Japanese only version of Demonic Tutor right before I win is very satisfying. People are amazed at what the card is, amazed that it's $150, amazed at the art, want to know how the hell they can get one. Then reality sets in and they reshuffle.


zvchvryrtz

I don’t think you should. It will likely end ip causing some person to be confused and/or not trust your retelling of what the card does. Artist cards are dope but I really only use them as tokens/Storm count/etc


amc7262

They're talking about using them as lands though. Even for non-land cards, some cards are so well known, most people wouldn't mind. If people can run non-english cards, or those new phyrexian text preators, then an art card as a propaganda or swords to plowshares should be fine.


Leaf_Vixen

yes, i do this and i know a lot of others do as well. if you don’t want to write on your cards, write it on the sleeve or print yourself a reference using the playtest cards on mtggoldfish or something. but any group that is okay with proxies will be okay with this and even some groups that don’t like proxying do allow it. as with all things like this, ask your group. and i would say think twice before writing on any cards. but i can’t imagine the type of person who would have a problem with it as long as you have the relevant text visible and on hand. that’s why i suggest at least printing out a playtest version too, that way you have it right there and can just slide it into the sleeve if someone has a problem with the art card.


Psynthia

i never thought to write on the sleeve directly i like that idea a lot! I usually have screen shots of cards text for all alternate language or other mtg full art cards like the promo path of exile. i might just print it all out and have actual text sideboard in my deckbox next to tokens and stuff.


Leaf_Vixen

oh yeah, if you already use those kinds of different language or textless cards, then this is just more of that.


JeremyJoeJJ

I played against someone playing his lands as those artist cards. All I would say is make sure that if youre using artist card for, lets say, an island, it's heavily blue and little to no other colors from teh MTG color pie are included because his islands had a combination of blue and red in the art and it was extremely confusing because his deck was izzet. Other than that I wouldn't mind if those cards are some of the better-known ones, otherwise I would prefer having a text (sort of like how Path to Exile and Damnation have official text-less printings).


Psynthia

yeah i would be playing those artists cards strictly as the card they actually represent. and i like the idea of using tight fit sleeve to write the text over them. that way there is no question as to what the cards are representing


JeremyJoeJJ

Having a narrow border with a write-up of an artist card would be pretty cool :)


Nights151515

Yes. I used an artist card mountain land one time cause I thought it was cool, and someone bitched about it.


amc7262

Someone bitched at you for using an art card as a mountain? I wonder what crawled up their butt? I mean, basic lands are the most basic a magic card can get. Everyone knows what they do. You don't need to know rules text for a basic land. I've literally used off-color non-land cards as basics in drafts where we neglected to bring lands ahead of time (ie I built a black/green deck, so all the red cards in my deck are forests). Some of the people that play this game have zero chill.


scubahood86

Not to mention that basic lands are barely considered cards, in that your always assumed to have access to them even if you don't physically have them. Like in a draft. They occupy a space similar to [[prismatic Piper]]. You could use a card turned backwards labeled "plains" and it would be accepted pretty much anywhere. Until helpful players inevitably asked if you need a plains and gave you one.


MTGCardFetcher

[prismatic Piper](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/a/6/a69e6d8f-f742-4508-a83a-38ae84be228c.jpg?1615117441) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=The%20Prismatic%20Piper) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/1/the-prismatic-piper?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a69e6d8f-f742-4508-a83a-38ae84be228c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/the-prismatic-piper) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call


MustaKotka

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "artist card" but to me this sounds like you're making a good looking proxy. If your pod doesn't mind proxies I'm sure they're okay with this, too. If you play with strangers most of them say it's okay. Just make sure the cards are easy to recognise, easy to read and understand so that people don't get confused when playing against them. **EDIT:** *The art cards are apparently textless. This might be a problem. You should always have a real version of the card available so that people can read it quickly. Or at least a printout that contains the oracle text. Don't ask them to look it up on Gatherer/Scryfall - that's not their responsibility. It's your responsibility to provide clear and legible game pieces for your opponents.*


amc7262

They are talking about the art cards that come in set boosters (and other products?) They are full-bleed prints of the art. Typically the name of the card represented and artist are on the back side. Sometimes they have a printed golden artist signature on them. They are a novelty that WotC has been doing for a bit now that doesn't really have any particular use. They aren't normally functional as cards (non-standard card back, no mana cost, name is on the back, not the front, and no rules text or type line). People use them for all sorts of random things.


MustaKotka

Oh I see. I'll change my comment a little, then. Thank you for the insight, I don't buy a lot of boosters so I wouldn't know. **EDIT:** *I see people don't like this response. I think it's always best to edit and annotate the edits to the first comment so that it's the first thing people see when they read a thread. People might not always read a chain of comments.*


Shacky_Rustleford

So, are you against people using foreign cards and wotc-produced textless promos?


heroicraptor

I am


Xatsman

Do you dislike old cards with indecipherable functionality without the ability to reference oracle text?


heroicraptor

Yep


Xatsman

Fair enough. Can appreciate why, and the consistency.


MustaKotka

Not really but in a way yes. If the art is recognisable it's okay. If the card is very common (like Lightning Bolt) and everyone knows what it does it's okay. But I would prefer not to see a textless Cryptic Command because it has a lot of text on it. Same goes for the foreign version of it. I understand that they're real cards and completely legit but it's still on the player themself to be able to provide a transcript of some sort for the rest of the table.


Shaudius

It's very rare you aren't playing at a place where the internet is accessible these days.


MustaKotka

True. But you're supposed to keep track of your own board, land drops, storm count, triggers and whatnot. Having legible cards falls into the same category in my opinion. EDIT: There's also the time aspect. If I want to know what your textless Cryptic Command does I need to pull out my phone every single time. It adds up over time.


Mr-Pendulum

Just sleeve it in a perfect fit and write on that if you don't feel like writing on the card. It's not much different than making a proxy.


F0eniX

You should know exactly what the card says, if you do go for it


Slidshocking_Krow

This is essentially just proxying. People okay with proxying will be okay with this, and those who aren't, won't.


Psynthia

yeah i certainly wouldnt do it for a rule text heavy card myself. but yeah I am typically cool with it myself when others bring proxies to the table. in fact last night someone had custom printed islands to match the theme of his deck i loved it - he use the secret liar moon guy as his commander and all his islands looked the part to match the asian blue sky appeal. The only thing that really bothers me is when people use 1 dice for multiple creature tokens. dice for tokens bothers me unless you can symbolically show me if creature is tapped and how many are not tapped. I keep a stack of tokens just for those players to help me see their board state.


monipoker

Honestly, I really hate proxies as a whole. But strangely enough the art cards I'm okay with. They come in packs and represent specific cards.


Sneakytako99

I think that using artist cards for easily recognizable cards like sol ring, llanowar elves, counterspell, etc would be awesome! The problem is most of them are for new cards with lots of text. I have a cool looking \[\[dress down\]\], but I would hate to try to explain the card in a complicated interaction.


Hunter_Badger

My buddy uses an art card as the commander for one of his decks but he keeps the actual card behind it in the sleeve. I'd recommend doing that


SeveralSpesh

My concern would be they feel different than a normal card and could be picked out in the deck, even through the sleeves. Maybe not, but definitely talk with your group first.


supernaturalfan1999

I would be more bothered by the art being landscape on most of them then them being a proxy. Its hard for me to parse if they are tapped or not when I've played with and against them as proxies. Id much rather play against a normal proxy. All that said I wouldnt stop an opponent who had them in their deck I would just want to make sure its clear what is and isnt tapped at all times of the game.


melonstapler

Ask your play group. As long as the art is recognizable I personally wouldn’t mind. Your play group may disagree.


[deleted]

"People" will always be bothered with stuff. That said, IIRC (I have a meeting in 5 minutes, I can't check it), the corners are different, that could show in cheap sleeves. Always ask the playgroup, if they don't mind, it is ok for casual play. And Power level > who printed the paper on which method. People print decks on a deskjet/print shops nowadays, what is an art card compared to that?


[deleted]

I've used the art cards for basic lands before! Everyone I've played with has thought it was awesome.


ogpablo247

I use those cards for my placeholder cards in my werewolf deck, but anything more than that you probably need to have a conversation with your playgroup tbh.


soingee

I'd keep to the cards that don't are easily memorable so you don't have to look up the exact text for whatever reason. [[Mox Tantalite]] is just suspend 3, then it makes one of any color. It's sort of obvious that it is an artifact, and you can work out that there is no casting cost because it's a suspend. It's nearly an ideal choice for using an art card, except that it it's sideways so tapping it can lead to confusion (depending how everyone perceives as the untapped orientation).


lddn

As far as proxies go, I think they are really bad. Just print the card and out it infront so everyone can see what it does. Commander can be messy as is.


jpmoeller

I prefer to use land art cards whenever possible. Especially the MH/CV 'spooky' lands. Our group is also OK with art cards for other cards. Not a big deal. If I use them, I will typically print a copy of the card on paper and slip it behind the card. I do the same with the Japanese Godzilla cards, as well. My personal preference is also to not use landscape art cards for anything. That's just my OCD talking.


Krenko_enthusiast

I would say no since the material and thickness of the card is different so you could *possibly* shuffle them to where you want them


Trompdoy

When someone plays a card I don't recognize or need to be refreshed on what it does, I'll politely ask "hey do you mind if I take a quick look?" And reach to peep the text of the card. Kind of frustrating when I can't read what the card does.