Foils

KrovikanMist · Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 107

Say you have a few foils in your deck, what are the rules regarding that? Is there like a policy of either needing all foils or no foils at all.

this is regarding real-life tournment play.

Nere · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Posts: 10

You cant have say 4 of one card all foils and the rest of the deck normal. You need something along the lines: random amount of foils of random cards or full foil deck.

Hardtrack · Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 284

Sadly, there are no hard and fast rules, since you could 'mark' your deck with foils in many ways. Basically, when the judge looks over your deck, he shouldn't get the feeling you only made certain portions foil to mark your deck. So don't foil only one card, or all your non-lands, or all your creatures, etc.

LoneWulf · Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 148

As Hardtrack stated there are no hard and fast rules regarding this. This is more an issue of how the judge perceives your intent (deck marking or just a little bling). There shouldn't be too much of a problem as long as the few foils in your deck aren't showing too much of the "foil bend".
The same goes for the use of card sleeves. Always best to ask the Head Judge/Tournament Organizer before the event begins. Some HJ/TOs won't allow certain sleeves due to reflectiveness or art.

Avata · Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 372

Definitely. The rule for that kind of thing is always "When in doubt, consult the TO."

Pegleg · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1

The wizards of the coast ruling is it doesnt matter with foils they are considered not marked cards and are allowed to be played. Can't really do anything about it unless its a blatant and they are trying to take advantage of foils during the game like feeling for mark cards and stuff

LoneWulf · Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 148

lennin · Guest

heres an idea stop wasting ur money on foils and buy regular cards, that saves money and can save u from being dqued.

CMA-Flippi · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 12:39 pm Post subject:

there is nothing wrong with using all lands foil or only 1 specific card in foil.

the only possible problem is how your foils are bended. if there is a way to find out which cards are foils or not (marked cards) it can get problematic. if you, for example have foils look different (from the back) than normal cards, you will probably receive a penalty for marked cards. If all of these cards are lands, the penalty is marked cards-pattern (Gameloss)

...so, make sure there is no way to make a difference (bend) within foils and nonfoils.

I use some foils, (if i have them) and never had a problem with it

L1 Judge

Hardtrack · Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 284

There are people that can always pick out foils by simply handling them, just because they are slightly thicker than regular cards. I personally can only do it if they are a little bend, but I've seen people pick out the foils with almost 100% accuracy when I couldn't tell the difference.

Therefor you are under scrutiny the moment your foils have some sort of pattern. In most cases it should be fine, but I'd always check beforehand and try to avoid any pattern in your foils. All foil lands will almost certainly get you into trouble, because the advantage is so great.

LoneWulf · Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 148

Just to make sure I'm 100% clear...

Foils are not inherently bad to play with and are not immediately targeted as "problem" cards. Even playing with all foiled lands is not really a problem. It's when they develop that little bend and become easily spotted within your deck.
Play with quality sleeves and make sure to shuffle face up then face down and that should help alleviate some of the bending. I'll shuffle my deck both ways just to keep my normal cards from getting bent too much from being shuffled in one direction. As long as your last few shuffles are face down to ensure proper randomization there shouldn't be any issues.

Hardtrack · Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 284

Just the fact that all your lands are foils, could get you into trouble. It will probably not, but it can. If somebody calls a judge about your foils, and he checks your deck to find only the lands foil, he may decide that you need to change them. Again, it's not very likely, but it could happen. I'd either make my entire deck foil or make sure there is no pattern to the foils.

Drizzs · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 34

if theres seriously a problemw ith foils lol why would wizards print them? anyways personally at champs all my lands were foiled a judge came over and said that it does'nt matter what cardsa re foiled as long as the deck itself is'nt stacked in anyway or the cards arent marked and so heres my answer

if you cards arent marked who cares what is foiled or what is'nt foiled, the rule applies to both foils and nonfoils, just make sure there not marked in any way !! Thanks

Drizzs

nico · Administrator Joined: 28 Oct 2003 Posts: 813

drizs: wizards =/= DCI. Also, as said multiple times before in this thread, the problem is not in the foiling itself, but in the bending that happens with foils, wich may cause cards to be regarded as being marked. This may result in pnalties, especially when it is only lands, or only a very select and crucial group of cards. It may even result in a dq if a judge thinks you are using it to cheat.

Greetz Nico

Agent0013 · Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 2

Just use sleeves. Personally, I like to use the Raven Black ultrapros. I have never been able to notice a foil when it is in a sleeve, but usually have no problems pointing one out in an unsleeved deck. Also, sleeves keep your potentially expensive cards nice and shiny!