TLDR: The lowest verified merchandise subtotal for exactly 100 cards is a tie. PrintMTG and ProxyMTG each publish a 100–199-card rate of $0.55 per card, making one 100-card deck $55 before shipping and tax. However, both publish free shipping only on orders over $75. That means neither can responsibly be named the cheapest proxy commander deck on delivered price until both carts are quoted for the same address and shipping method. MTGProxy.com is substantially higher on published card price at $100 before shipping and tax.
The important distinction is merchandise price versus delivered price. A service can advertise the lowest per-card tier and still lose after shipping, while a larger order can sometimes reach a free-shipping threshold. For one Commander deck, the correct comparison is exactly 100 standard, nonfoil cards with no sleeves, box, rush service, or other extras.
What is the cheapest proxy commander deck right now?
On published card price, PrintMTG and ProxyMTG are tied. PrintMTG lists $0.55 per card for 100–199 cards, so exactly 100 cards cost $55 before shipping and tax. Its published free-shipping threshold is over $75, which the bare deck does not reach.
The ProxyMTG proxy-ordering site publishes the same $0.55 rate for 100–199 cards and the same $55 merchandise subtotal for 100 cards. It also states that free shipping begins over $75, leaving the 100-card delivered total dependent on the checkout shipping charge.
Consequently, $55 is the lowest verified subtotal in this comparison, not a verified delivered-price winner. If one cart charges less shipping to the same address, that service becomes cheaper. If the charges match, the result remains a tie before tax.
| Service | Published 100-card tier | 100-card subtotal | Shipping status | Published free-shipping threshold | Ordering consideration | Current verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PrintMTG | $0.55 per card at 100–199 cards | $55 before shipping and tax | Checkout quote required | Over $75 | Confirm that the cart accepts exactly 100 selected cards and record standard shipping | Tied for lowest verified subtotal |
| ProxyMTG | $0.55 per card at 100–199 cards | $55 before shipping and tax | Checkout quote required | Over $75 | Confirm the exact card-entry workflow and record standard shipping | Tied for lowest verified subtotal |
| MTGProxy.com | $1 per standard card at 50–199 cards | $100 before shipping and tax | Not established by the supplied evidence | Not used in this comparison | Confirm checkout extras and shipping before purchase | Higher published subtotal |
| MakePlayingCards | Configuration-dependent | No comparable 100-card total established | Depends on configuration and destination | Not established for the comparison | Requires a fixed card size, stock, packaging choice, artwork setup, and shipping method | Not ranked on price |
Price-check scope: the table uses the published vendor pricing supplied for this comparison. It excludes sales tax and does not substitute an assumed shipping charge for a real checkout quote. Because no normalized destination quote was supplied, the delivered-price fields remain unresolved rather than filled with estimates.
Why exactly 100 cards matters
Commander’s fixed deck count lands directly on a major pricing boundary. The documented PrintMTG tiers show 99 cards at $0.80 each, or $79.20, but 100 cards at $0.55 each, or $55. The 100th card can therefore reduce the entire merchandise subtotal by $24.20 instead of simply adding another card charge.
This is why pricing a 98- or 99-card list and mentally adding a commander produces the wrong answer. Finalize the full list before comparing vendors. Use the same 100-card input everywhere, with the same treatment of basic lands, tokens, and double-faced cards. The Commander decklist preparation guide explains how to clean up the list before uploading or selecting cards.
The tier boundary also gives you a useful cart check. If the checkout displays a total near the 99-card rate after the hundredth card is added, stop and verify the quantity, product type, and discount application. Do not assume a published tier was applied correctly merely because the cart contains 100 line items.
Shipping can still change the winner
A $55 subtotal sits $20 below $75, but the published language says free shipping begins over $75, not at $75. At $0.55 per card, the first whole-card quantity above that threshold is theoretically 137 cards: 137 × $0.55 equals $75.35. That is 37 additional cards and $20.35 more merchandise than the bare 100-card deck.
That produces a simple decision test. If standard shipping on 100 cards is less than $20.35, adding 37 unwanted cards solely to unlock free shipping costs more. If shipping is more than $20.35, a 137-card cart could be cheaper before tax while also supplying useful tokens, alternate cards, or deck upgrades. This is only a threshold calculation; checkout must confirm that the tier and free-shipping rule apply exactly as published.
Do not pad the order automatically. First compare these two totals for the same vendor:
- Exactly 100 cards plus standard shipping.
- The smallest useful order above the free-shipping threshold.
- Any required fees, packaging choices, or upgrades.
- A consistent pre-tax total, unless every cart uses the same disclosed tax destination.
The broader 100-card proxy deck cost guide covers other expenses that can enter the budget. For this narrow comparison, however, tokens, sleeves, deck boxes, and premium options should stay out unless they are included identically in every cart.
How the other options compare
MTGProxy.com is not the price leader at 100 cards
MTGProxy.com publishes a $1-per-card rate for 50–199 standard cards. That makes an exactly 100-card order $100 before shipping and tax, or $45 more than the two $55 subtotals.
A lower shipping charge could narrow that difference, but it would have to overcome a substantial merchandise gap. Unless checkout reveals a major promotion or another material inclusion, MTGProxy.com does not lead this specific comparison on published 100-card price.
MakePlayingCards is a configurable route, not a proven price winner
MakePlayingCards offers configurable custom game cards, with choices such as card configuration and buyer-supplied design files affecting the setup and price. That flexibility can be relevant to advanced buyers, especially when custom backs, materials, or larger projects matter, but it prevents a fair one-number comparison without fixing the exact product.
A defensible quote would need to specify card size, stock, finish, front-and-back configuration, packaging, quantity, artwork preparation, destination, and shipping service. Until those details are standardized, MakePlayingCards should remain unranked rather than being presented as the cheapest route based on a different product or order size.
Ordering friction is the practical tie-breaker
If PrintMTG and ProxyMTG produce the same delivered total, the next question is how much work each order requires. Price is not the whole cost when one workflow makes it easier to catch missing cards, choose the intended printing, or correct a list before payment.
Use a short workflow test before committing:
- Load the same finalized 100-card list into each service.
- Confirm that every card resolves to the intended name, version, and face.
- Check how double-faced cards and custom images are handled.
- Verify that the cart contains exactly 100 physical cards.
- Record the merchandise subtotal, standard shipping, discounts, and pre-tax delivered total.
- Save a copy or screenshot of the final list before paying.
Do not infer speed or ease from a homepage alone. A deck importer can be convenient, but error visibility, art selection, correction tools, and price transparency also matter. For configurable printers, file preparation may add work even if the final card price is competitive.
After delivery, count and reconcile the order before sleeving it. The 10-minute proxy-order inspection workflow provides a quick process for identifying missing, duplicated, damaged, or visibly misprinted cards while the order record is still easy to retrieve.
A note on proxy use
This comparison concerns personal playtest cards and casual Commander use, not counterfeit cards or tournament eligibility. Wizards of the Coast’s published proxy policy distinguishes personal, noncommercial playtest cards from counterfeits and states that sanctioned events require authentic Magic cards, apart from a narrow judge-issued proxy exception for cards damaged during an event. Read Wizards’ proxy policy and communication statement.
A local store, event organizer, or playgroup may set its own expectations for casual games. Ask before arriving with a proxied deck, and make the cards readily distinguishable from authentic Magic cards.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest published price for 100 Commander proxies?
The lowest verified merchandise subtotal in the supplied comparison is $55 before shipping and tax. PrintMTG and ProxyMTG both publish a $0.55-per-card tier for orders of 100–199 cards. Neither is yet a confirmed delivered-price winner because normalized shipping quotes were not available.
Can 100 cards really cost less than 99 cards?
Yes. Under the documented PrintMTG tiers, 99 cards at $0.80 each total $79.20, while 100 cards at $0.55 each total $55 before shipping and tax. Quantity discounts can apply to the full order, so crossing the threshold can reduce the total.
Should tax be included when comparing services?
Only if every cart uses the same delivery address and tax treatment. For a broadly useful comparison, delivered cost before tax is usually cleaner: merchandise plus standard shipping and mandatory fees. A tax-inclusive comparison should disclose the destination ZIP code because tax can vary by location.
Should I add cards to qualify for free shipping?
Only when the added merchandise costs less than the shipping charge it removes and the checkout confirms eligibility. At the published $0.55 tier, reaching a strict over-$75 threshold requires at least 137 cards, or $75.35 in merchandise. Compare that cart directly with the 100-card cart rather than assuming free shipping is automatically cheaper.
Can I use a proxy Commander deck in a sanctioned event?
Generally no. Wizards states that sanctioned events require authentic Magic cards, subject to a narrow exception involving judge-issued proxies for damaged cards. For casual Commander, confirm the expectations of the store, organizer, and other players before the game.
The bottom line
PrintMTG and ProxyMTG are tied at the lowest verified 100-card merchandise subtotal: $55 before shipping and tax. MTGProxy.com starts at $100 for the same standard-card count, while MakePlayingCards needs a fully specified configuration before it can enter an apples-to-apples price comparison.
For one deck, the deciding factor should be the standard shipping quote to your address. Build the same 100-card cart at both $55 contenders, compare delivered totals before tax, and then use ordering friction as the tie-breaker. Until those checkout figures are recorded on the same day for the same destination, the honest result is a subtotal tie—not a manufactured cheapest-delivered winner.
