TLDR

  • ProxyMTG turns Commander precons into editable decklists you can tweak before you order, because a precon is a starting point, not a lifelong vow.
  • You can browse precons, open a deck page to see the full 100-card list, then add the whole deck to an order and customize from there.
  • The workflow is built for the real precon experience: “I like 70 cards, hate 20, and the other 10 are lands from a parallel universe.”
  • Best use: start from a precon, cut the clunk, swap versions/art, add upgrades, then print a deck that actually matches how you want to play.

Commander precons are the gateway drug of MTG deckbuilding: cheap-ish, playable out of the box, and guaranteed to contain at least one card that makes you ask, “Who approved this?” The ProxyMTG precon deck tools are basically a shortcut through that phase. Instead of buying a sealed product and then immediately replacing a chunk of it, ProxyMTG lets you start from a precon decklist, customize it like a normal build, and order the version you actually want.

What the ProxyMTG precon deck tools actually are

ProxyMTG’s precon ecosystem is a set of connected pages and workflows that do three things well:

  1. Browse preconstructed Commander decks like a library, not like a scavenger hunt.
  2. Open a precon’s page and see the full list, organized by card type, so you can sanity-check what you’re starting from.
  3. Load the entire 100-card deck into an order, then edit it, swap versions, and add upgrades before checkout.

That’s the big idea: you’re not “buying a precon” as a locked product. You’re using a precon list as your starting template, then making it yours before you print.

Tool 1: The Commander Precons library (pick a starting point fast)

The “Commander Precons” section is where ProxyMTG tries to solve the most common precon problem: choosing one without opening 19 browser tabs and forgetting why you were there.

On the library page, each entry reads like a deck “card” in a deckbuilder: deck name, face commander, set/release context, and the fact that it’s a full 100-card Commander list. You can move through precons across sets (including recent releases and crossover-style product lines), then click into the one you want.

This is especially useful if you’re in one of these situations:

  • You’re new to Commander and you want a functional baseline without brewing from scratch.
  • You’re returning after a break and you want something current without studying the entire last year of releases like it’s the bar exam.
  • You want a theme deck but you’re not trying to start from an empty decklist and “discover yourself.”

Tool 2: The precon deck page (your 100-card X-ray)

Click into a specific precon and you get a clean breakdown: a short “what this deck is trying to do” overview, the face commander highlighted, and then the full decklist organized by sections like Commander, creatures, artifacts, enchantments, instants, sorceries, and lands.

That organization matters more than it sounds. Precons often feel coherent until you actually see the list laid out and realize:

  • you have 14 expensive spells and 6 ways to ramp into them,
  • your “interaction package” is mostly vibes,
  • your mana base is technically legal but emotionally upsetting.

The deck page makes it easy to scan the structure and decide what you’re keeping, what you’re upgrading, and what you’re cutting immediately. It’s less “blind purchase” and more “cool, I know what I’m getting into.”

Tool 3: The order workflow (where the precon becomes your deck)

Here’s where the ProxyMTG precon deck tools do the heavy lifting.

https://edhrec.com/precon

When you add a precon deck to your order, ProxyMTG loads the full 100-card list into the same workflow you’d use for any custom order. And critically, it’s not locked. The site explicitly frames precons as editable starting points: you can remove cards, swap versions, change printings/sets, and tailor the list before you buy.

That means your precon workflow becomes something like this:

  • Start with a known, functional shell.
  • Make the obvious fixes.
  • Add your upgrades.
  • Print one cohesive list instead of cobbling it together across multiple systems.

A practical “precon upgrade” playbook (that doesn’t pretend you have infinite time)

If you want a clean, repeatable approach, this is the simplest framework I’ve found for turning a precon into “my deck now”:

Step 1: Fix the deck’s engine (mana + early plays)
Most precons are fine, but “fine” often means “you will miss a land drop on turn four and learn humility.” Focus on:

  • smoothing the mana base,
  • adding efficient ramp that matches your curve,
  • trimming the cards that cost a lot and do almost nothing the turn they land.

Step 2: Upgrade the glue (draw + interaction)
This is the part that makes a precon stop feeling like it’s running on coupons.

  • Add more consistent card draw, especially repeatable sources.
  • Replace the awkward removal with cleaner answers that match your pod.

Step 3: Upgrade the win condition (payoffs that actually close games)
Precons often have a plan, but not always the finishing power to end a game without everyone slowly dying of old age.

  • Add a couple higher-ceiling payoffs that fit your commander.
  • Cut the “cool idea” cards that do not meaningfully advance your plan.

ProxyMTG’s workflow is built for this style of editing because it’s list-first: you’re constantly adjusting what’s in the final print order, not just collecting ideas in a notebook you’ll never look at again.

Version and art switching: small detail, big quality-of-life

One underrated “tool” here is the emphasis on versions. ProxyMTG’s print workflow is designed around choosing versions and readability preferences as part of building the order, not an afterthought. If you’ve ever played against someone’s deck where half the cards are impossible to parse from across the table, you already know why this matters.

Pick versions that you can read quickly. Or pick versions that match your theme. Both are valid. Your deck should not require binoculars.

Double-faced cards stop being a “two-card problem”

Precons love double-faced cards. ProxyMTG’s printing workflow treats them like they should be treated: as actual double-faced cards, not a “print two separate pieces and pretend it’s fine” situation. That’s a big deal for Commander decks that include transform cards as core pieces, not cute extras.

Where ProxyMTG’s precon tools fit compared to other precon resources

ProxyMTG’s precon deck tools are about turning a precon into an editable, printable order. Other sites shine in different parts of the pipeline.

Here’s the clean division of labor:

  • EDHREC’s Precon Upgrade Guide is excellent for “what are people commonly adding and cutting?” It’s data-first and fast.
  • Deckbuilder platforms (like Moxfield and Archidekt) are great for long-term iteration and tracking versions of a list over time.
  • ProxyMTG’s precon workflow is best when you want a straight shot from precon to playable physical deck without juggling file prep, image scraping, or a separate print pipeline.

The best combo is simple:

  1. Use EDHREC or a trusted upgrade guide to identify your first 10–20 swaps.
  2. Use ProxyMTG to load the precon, make those swaps, and print the finalized list.

That’s the difference between “I’m planning to upgrade this” and “I upgraded this and it’s in sleeves.”

Common precon printing mistakes (and how to avoid them)

Even with a good tool, precons have a few predictable failure points. Here’s a quick checklist that prevents most “why does my deck feel weird?” moments:

  • Basic land counts: if you swap several spells, re-check your land count. You did not “accidentally build cEDH,” you just cut two lands and now you’re stuck on three mana forever.
  • Commander identity vs upgrades: make sure your new cards still match color identity. Commander rules will enforce it, your excitement won’t.
  • Curve creep: if every upgrade is a five-drop “because it’s powerful,” your deck becomes a museum exhibit.
  • Readability: pick versions you can parse fast. Speed of play matters in Commander, even if your group pretends it doesn’t.
  • Double-faced cards: confirm your list includes what you think it includes. DFCs are the #1 way people end up with “almost right” lists.

Who should use ProxyMTG precon deck tools?

You’ll get the most value here if:

  • you want a Commander deck quickly and you like starting from a known precon shell,
  • you’re upgrading multiple precons and want a consistent workflow,
  • you’d rather edit a list directly than manage a pile of “upgrade ideas” across five sources.

If you love brewing from scratch and you enjoy spreadsheets, godspeed. ProxyMTG is more for the rest of us, the people who want to play games this week.

FAQs

Can I customize a ProxyMTG precon before ordering?

Yes. The point is that the precon isn’t treated as a locked product. You load the full list, then adjust it before checkout.

Do ProxyMTG precons include the full 100-card decklist?

Yes. The precon deck pages present full Commander lists, and the workflow is designed around loading the whole 100-card list into an order.

Can I add upgrades to a precon order?

Yes. The intended workflow is “start with the precon list, then swap cards and add upgrades” so your final order reflects your edited list.

What if I only want part of the precon?

Then treat it like a starting pool. Load the list, delete what you don’t want, and keep the pieces you do.

Do I get any pricing benefit for ordering a precon this way?

ProxyMTG positions precons as discounted decks, including a stated discount when you add a preconstructed deck to your order.