Hi, ok so for a short explanation. I used to have 4 Rebecca Guay foil path to exiles... but became short on cash, so I sold three of them.. keeping one with me as a souvenir. Then from the sales, I bought 3 cheaper Path to Exile.. the duel decks version. Well, now here's the issue.. just recently noticed that now, the only foil card in my deck is the Rebecca Guay PTE. Not sure if it's true... but I have read somewhere on Reddit that players can get a game loss for having only one foil in a deck? Because the foil card might be warped and easily recognizable. Checked my foil card.. it's not warped at all, and is just as flat as the other cards, there's no way to tell where it is in the library when the deck is on the table. Should I buy a fourth path to Exile that is not foil to be safe - feels like a waste of money . Or is it ok to keep using the one foil card in my deck?
So long as the card is indistinguishable from the others from the back, it is not marked and legal to be played in the deck alongside the nonfoils. Issues only arise, if you can somehow differentiate the card when face down. If you want to be on the absolute safe side, talk to a judge when participating in a tournament before it starts and have him examine the deck. If he says it's fine, all green. If he does find issue with it, well, it's still a legit card so he'll probably just give you a proxy for the event to replace it with.
If your foil Path truly isn't warped, and you can't possibly notice it when it's on top of the deck or cut to it in your deck, you really should be fine. Foils risk being marked by warping, but when they aren't warped, they aren't marked, there is no problem. Having a single foil or just one kind of foils may make a judge perforiming a deck check on your deck more suspicious, and check for warping with more scrutiny, but if the foils aren't marked, you're clean.
If he does find issue with it, well, it's still a legit card so he'll probably just give you a proxy for the event to replace it with.
Though I personaly wouldn't mind at a small Regular REL tournament if no one there is bothered by it, that normally shouldn't happen according to policy. Proxies are issued only in cases where cards are accidentally damaged or excessively worn during the event, not to replace marked cards. Players are left to their own devices to make their deck legal. If decklists are used and already have been handed out, they must find a non-marked copy of the same card, or replace it with a basic land.
[...]
The Head Judge of a tournament may issue a proxy (see section 3.4) for a card that has become worn or damaged during the tournament. Any other cards that are not Authorized Game Cards are prohibited in all sanctioned tournaments.
[...]
The Head Judge is the final authority on acceptable cards for a tournament. If a player is required to replace a card in his or her deck and is unable to find a replacement, the player may replace the card with a card named Plains,Island, Swamp, Mountain, or Forest of his or her choice. This also applies to cards that are lost and must be replaced to have a legal deck.
3.4 Proxy Cards
A proxy card is used during competition to represent an Authorized Game Card that has been accidentally damaged or excessively worn in the current tournament (including damaged or misprinted Limited product) as determined solely by the Head Judge. Proxies are not allowed as substitutes for cards that their owner has damaged intentionally or through negligence.
Players may not create their own proxies; they may only be created by the Head Judge. When a judge creates an proxy, it is included in the player’s deck and must be denoted as a proxy in a clear and conspicuous manner. The original card is kept nearby during the match and replaces the proxy while in a public zone as long as it is recognizable. A proxy is valid only for the duration of the tournament in which it was originally issued.
At Regular REL, if decklists aren't used, replacing a marked or illegal card with another card that's legal in the format is also alright in my book.
I'm a former judge (lapsed), who keeps up to date on rules and policy. Keep in mind that judges' answers aren't necessarily more valid than those of people who aren't judges; what matters is we can quote the rules to back up our answers. When in doubt, ask for such quotes.
Thanks for the explanations. I'm sort of relieved.
The deck is in the office right now, and I'm at home already. But tomorrow I will take some close up pics of it from the sides, front, and when the foil is on top. So it can be seen if it's ok or not. Will post again here tomorrow with the pics.
Thanks for the explanations. I'm sort of relieved.
The deck is in the office right now, and I'm at home already. But tomorrow I will take some close up pics of it from the sides, front, and when the foil is on top. So it can be seen if it's ok or not. Will post again here tomorrow with the pics.
You can do that if you really want to, but if I were you, I wouldn't give myself that much trouble. We can't give you a more definitive answer just looking at pictures. At an event, I don't think that showing the Head Judge that "the judges at MTGSalvation told me it was ok" will make a difference. It will be for the Head Judge to decide if your card is marked or not. If they are fair and not dumb, you really shouldn't have any problems. I'd just stop worrying about it.
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I'm a former judge (lapsed), who keeps up to date on rules and policy. Keep in mind that judges' answers aren't necessarily more valid than those of people who aren't judges; what matters is we can quote the rules to back up our answers. When in doubt, ask for such quotes.
Ok. ^^ and I won't do something like that. I only bring the screenshots taken here to our frindly FNM store. At a large event where judges are present, I don't bring the screenshots anymore.
Anyway, I'm a photographer. So will take pics anyway. Will show them here tom.
Sleeved it and put it into the library. The card sticking out is the foil, so people here on the forum can see it's position in the library.
Now here is how the library looks when the foil is tucked in. I think it's not really visible anymore.
And lastly, here is how the library looks when the foil is on top.
So far, no opponent has complained about me having only 1 foil card is in the deck. So I guess it should be ok. And I will be buying a regular pte when have some extra cash.
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The deck is in the office right now, and I'm at home already. But tomorrow I will take some close up pics of it from the sides, front, and when the foil is on top. So it can be seen if it's ok or not. Will post again here tomorrow with the pics.
Nexus MTG News // Nexus - Magic Art Gallery // MTG Dual Land Color Ratios Analyzer // MTG Card Drawing Odds Calculator
Want to play a UW control deck in modern, but don't have jace or snaps?
Please come visit us at the Emeria Titan control thread
Anyway, I'm a photographer. So will take pics anyway. Will show them here tom.
Nexus MTG News // Nexus - Magic Art Gallery // MTG Dual Land Color Ratios Analyzer // MTG Card Drawing Odds Calculator
Want to play a UW control deck in modern, but don't have jace or snaps?
Please come visit us at the Emeria Titan control thread
Sleeved it and put it into the library. The card sticking out is the foil, so people here on the forum can see it's position in the library.
Now here is how the library looks when the foil is tucked in. I think it's not really visible anymore.
And lastly, here is how the library looks when the foil is on top.
So far, no opponent has complained about me having only 1 foil card is in the deck. So I guess it should be ok. And I will be buying a regular pte when have some extra cash.
Nexus MTG News // Nexus - Magic Art Gallery // MTG Dual Land Color Ratios Analyzer // MTG Card Drawing Odds Calculator
Want to play a UW control deck in modern, but don't have jace or snaps?
Please come visit us at the Emeria Titan control thread