Best Sleeves and Deck Boxes
Gear forum
Posted on Dec. 14, 2013, 4:38 p.m. by sonicizslow
I picked up some Ultra-Pro Sleeves which seem to be pretty good. A friend of mine has Dragon Shields and they seem nice too. What others are there? Which is best? What about deck boxes? Thanks for the help in advance.
Dragonshield
Strongest out of any of the mainstream sleeves. Durable, Never seen one split.
May be miscut, not necessarily always 100 count in box, sometimes more, sometimes less.
KMC
Best overall sleeve, especially double sleeving
Splits, but only after rigorous use
The top opening is much more "open" than other sleeves
has perfect fit sleeves, perfect for double sleeving
Ultra-Pro
Best value. I usually compare to fast food; reliable, does the job, but not the best.
Splits after some use, extra care needed when shuffling if you want them to last (though they usually don't compared to the above two)
Easiest to shuffle with
Conclusions:
- These three are what I use. My main deck is KMC double sleeved, EDH deck is Dragonshielded, and I draft with my Ultra Pro. All are good, just depending on what you really want out of your sleeves.
December 14, 2013 4:50 p.m.
derposaurus says... #4
Dragon Shields have silky smooth card sleeves, so pick them up if they're the same price as ultra pros. Those and Ultra Pro are the two best ones.
For boxes, I'd just go with an Ultra Pro. I've not heard of many other companies that do boxes.
December 14, 2013 4:54 p.m.
Boxes:
The Ultra-Pro Mana Flip Box is good; it can fit a double sleeved deck + sideboard pretty weel, though you do have some side room.
Ultra-Pro deck boxes are good too, I keep my secondary decks and dice in them.
The fat pack boxes are what I use to store my decks, you can fit around 3-4 decks in those. Toploaders fit in them as well, so I use those as dividers.
December 14, 2013 4:54 p.m.
AyeDavanita10 says... #6
Well, i agree with osang21, if you buy ultra pro they'll do fine. But personally i think the best price/quality ratio has to be Dragon Shield, i have some sleeves for like 5 years and i still use themas for the box, the only bad box i can think of is the Ultra Por Deck Vault, being made of metal they sometimes scratch your sleeves, other than that any box will do just fine
December 14, 2013 4:56 p.m.
Ultra pro is best imo. They have way better feeling than dragon shield and they last (at least for the one year ive been using them almost daily)
December 14, 2013 5 p.m.
Some1TookMyName says... #8
People whine about dragon shields not being able to shuffle as easy. But in my opinion I'd use dragon shields... they last longer, are more durable, and dont get all wavy at the top of the sleeve. What's the big deal in using a little more strength in shuffling dragon shields together, i'll never know.It depends how often you use the sleeves also. If you throw together a deck to play once in a while then get Ultra Pro. If you're constantly playing and switching cards in and out of sleeves, dragon shields are worth the money. Deck boxes are typically dpenedent on their design and price. The nice expensive Ultra Pro ones are my favorite like Here. But most Boxes ar ethe same just designed differently or have graphic, its just plastic.There is no best but in my opinion investing in a better deck box is worth more than buying plastic ones and people like Ultra Pro mattes over dragon shields and they're only excuse is the price and the shuffling is smoother (until they get worn down after a while). The utility and usability is why I choose Dragon Shields.
December 14, 2013 5:02 p.m.
in my opinion dragon shield attracts more shit than ultra pro sleeves. Probably because of the back of dragon shield being glossy.. I love that when i shuffle with one year old ultra pro it still says fluffluffluff :)
December 14, 2013 5:08 p.m.
Hallowed_Titan says... #10
I agree with MadDreams. I have both ultrapro and dragons. I prefer the dragons though.
December 14, 2013 5:10 p.m.
Kmc sleeves are my favorite and I've now used all three. Best deck box I've had are the legion deck vault, fits two edh decks seperately or a double sleeved easily with room for sideboard. Not the cardboard one, but the vinyl dragon scales one
December 14, 2013 5:16 p.m.
.. The Dragon Shield ive used has been smudged up tho. Its a question of what you like. If you like strong sleeves then i guess dragon is better than ultra pro (I might be wrong, they just feel stronger.) But ultra pro has a waaay better feel with their matte finish and it doesnt attract as much dirt (dragons, with their glossy finish attracts a loot of dirt)
December 14, 2013 5:17 p.m.
KMC tight sleeves underneath dragon shield standard sleeves for me. Ultra pros are trash in comparison to those two (in my opinion). Ultra pro deckboxes are fine. Can fit an EDH deck in, double sleeved.
December 14, 2013 6:02 p.m.
@ChiefBell: You change font and name colours more often than I change my underwear.. So like at least twice a week.
On a more serious note, I agree with the Ultra Pro's = Fast Food comparison; it sums it up pretty well.
December 14, 2013 6:45 p.m.
Cobthecobbler says... #16
In my experience, Ultra Pro will not last. The only way to make them last is by solely pile shuffling every game. Riffle Shuffling and Bridge Shuffling will destroy them. Whether they open on the sides, or the image on the back comes scraping off, it still shows they are not meant to last. But, as far as the aesthetic aspect, they look the nicest, usually coming in many different designs, and the majority are MTG related. The Deck Boxes however are top notch. The $3 ones that flip open at the top and come in matte colors, will break however. Eventually. The side-loading ones (like the Ravnica guild boxes) they have are more durable and look better. However, the Faux-Leather Mana Flip boxes are the best overall. They will fit up to 100 single-sleeved cards. They also protect your decks very well.
For Sleeves, I recommend Dragon Sleeves, as they will not break unless you're shoving the corner of a card into the opening on top. They are very durable and they look nice. Be careful when you first get them because they are slippery and you will probably have some trouble shuffling at first. Give them a few shuffles and they'll be fine.
I've heard nothing but good stuff from KMC, and it seems they're the go-to for double sleeving.
Hope this helps.
December 14, 2013 7:17 p.m.
I used to like the Ultra Pro, but I recently started to use KMC for my standard play and I love them! Also, I sleeve all my Commander decks in Dragon Shield. They are bulky and don't shuffle as well as KMC, but they last FOREVER. You just cant wear them out! Hope this helps...
December 14, 2013 7:31 p.m.
sonicizslow says... #19
Wow, didn't expect a response like this. Dragon Shields I think will be my next move. Although this thread did answer my question (Thank You!!!) Another question has risen. Why would/does one double sleeve? (Should i start a new thread for that?)
December 14, 2013 7:42 p.m.
Cobthecobbler says... #22
As per your double sleeving question, there are a couple different reasons.
One is that professional players are more likely to do this to protect their investments. The other being that some people have a level of OCD that can't be compromised in a simple game of cards.
There are also players that would do this to ensure they're cards stay NM for longer, because they plan on having that deck or some of those cards for a long time.
December 14, 2013 7:54 p.m.
theinfernumflame says... #23
I've used Ultra-Pro and Dragonshield. Ultra-pro are good for being cheap (especially if you're just sleeving up a draft deck), but sometimes I'll have several of them split per day. My constructed decks are in Dragonshields, which, even though they are more expensive than Ultra-Pro, I've never had one split in over a year of use.
December 14, 2013 7:56 p.m.
smash10101 says... #24
I know I'm a bit late, but I do want to share my thoughts on sleeves.
Dragon Shields (approx. 10 cents/sleeve) say that they come 100 to a box, but I have never seen less than 104. They are pretty good sleeves, never had one break or a card fall out. People say they're harder to shuffle than Ultra Pro, but I don't really notice much of a difference. And I'm talking EDH here.
Ultra Pro (approx. 6.5 cents/sleeve) are ok. They get the job done, but they are much less protective than Dragon Shields or KMCs. They are loose fitting and get wavy on top after a while. I've never split one, but I have had some where the back (colored part) started peeling off, thought that was after 10 years of on and off use. I still use those sleeves (not the dead ones) and they work fine. They seem to be built differently than new ones though.
KMC Matts (approx. 12.5 cents/sleeve) are really nice. They come in packs of 80, which I don't like, but they are thought of as the best on the market. One thing I have noticed is that they show oil from your fingers really easily, though it can be wiped off. They are super slippery when you first open them, but the settle down soon after. I think they are a bit easier to shuffle than Dragon Shields, but again, I don't notice that too much. Never had one break on me, but I've only been using them for a few months.
Legion Supply Art Sleeves (approx. 10 cents/sleeve) are pretty good. I've never owned them myself, but many of my friends do. They have a lot of different designs. They seem to hold up well, and shuffle fine. At least one style (not sure if all) has a really nice finish to it and just feels awesome. It's not smooth, but it's not super rough like some Ultra Pros.
Fantasy Flight Art Sleeve (approx. 10 cents/sleeve) are great. I like the art on a lot of them. In the year I've been using these the only issue I've been running into it that after a while of not using them they start to stick together, though that may be because I often play just after eating. They come in packs of 50 and can be hard to find certain styles since many are limited print runs.
December 14, 2013 8:34 p.m.
sonicizslow says... #25
Thank you everyone!! like I said, didnt expect this response. Dont worry though, Ill come up with more questions yet!
December 14, 2013 10:35 p.m.
MonsterFinder221 says... #26
Sleeves: Dragon Shield
Deck Box: Ultra Pro's magnetic flip box / Satin Tower
December 14, 2013 10:56 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #27
I don't like using Ultra-Pro sleeves for anything beyond drafting or protecting my deckbuilding collection (which sits in a card box anyway). They aren't the sturdiest of sleeves, and they're prone to tearing if you shuffle too much or too hard.
I personally use Dragon Shields on my EDH decks and KMCs on my 60-card competitive decks. KMCs have a better feel and shuffle a bit easier, but Dragon Shields come in conveniently-sized boxes of 100-105, which makes them ideal for EDH. I will say that Dragon Shields also pick up more dirt and grime, but they're very sturdy.
I use custom cedar deck boxes for my important decks, but I also do like Ultra-Pro deckboxes. I use their larger (100-ish) plastic flip-top boxes to hold most of my other decks because they have room for tokens, extra sleeves, a sideboard, and dividers.
December 14, 2013 11:03 p.m.
Ultra Pro: Cheap, but nothing special in terms of sleeves. Not durable, split, I don't like them. However, they have top-notch deck boxes of all shapes and sizes.
KMC: Regular sleeves let in a lot of dust, but you can double-sleeve for the best protection out there. Good for expensive legacy and vintage.
Dragonshield: My favorite, but a gamble. Very durable, but some of them are great and others are not as good. I've gotten brand-new and scratched-up sleeves from them, but the good ones shuffle fantasticly. Very smooth
December 14, 2013 11:31 p.m.
KrosanTusker says... #29
One thing about Ultra Pro sleeves -- they're good value, and as people have said they do split occasionally, but the really annoying thing is that the basic plain Ultra Pro sleeves are really, really slippy to start with and the deck easily falls over (especially with EDH decks, if you're as clumsy as me). It takes a while to break them in.
December 15, 2013 11:41 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #30
On that note, matte finish is the way to go if you're buying Ultra-Pro sleeves (or KMC, for that matter). They have a better feel and don't slide around as much as gloss or flat finishes.
Also, I don't mean to give the impression that Ultra-Pro sleeves are unusable. Comparatively speaking, they rank third amongst the sleeves I've tried (behind both KMC and Dragon Shield, but ahead of Fantasy Flight and other brands). I like that they're thin and easily slide over your cards, but I don't like how flimsy they feel. Again, I trust them for drafting and sleeving my deckbuilding collection, but not much else.
Oh, and if this hasn't been mentioned, stay away from printed sleeves. Most often, when a sleeve starts coming apart without having split anywhere, it's because the back of the sleeve is actually a composite backing with a printed film and a solid sheet. The film will eventually begin to bubble and peel. The Fantasy Flight sleeves I tested demonstrated this problem disappointingly early, and I've also had it happen to some Ultra-Pro art sleeves. Stick with solid finishes if you can.
December 15, 2013 11:54 a.m.
smash10101 says... #31
I've only ever had that happen to my Ultra Pros after 10 years of use Epoch. They were the solid deep blue ones and the super shiny metallic silver. The silver ones had a clear film come off, but the blue ones had some of the blueness come with. My fantasy flights have not had the same problem, though I've only had those for about a year.
December 15, 2013 1:52 p.m.
IzzetFanatic says... #32
I believe that the best sleeves are either the Dragon Shields or KMC Hyper or Super Mattes. Ultra Pro sleeves seem to be to weak but also seem to shuffle very well. Dragon Shield sleeves are very durable and shuffle well but the material used to make them seem to get dirtier faster and start to shuffle with less ease. Also, the first time I got some I was preparing for a Grand Prix. After about a week of rigorous play testing, on a playmat, they got extremely dirty. I was a little disappointed in the quality but none the less got a second pack. The second pack seems to work well and I have them for about 6 months and they seem fine. My personal favorite sleeve is the KMC Hyper Matte. They shuffle excellently and are very durable. They are also by far the best for double sleeving. All though double sleeving sounds obsessive, when you are spending hundreds of dollars on modern decks and legacy decks it is definitely worth it. KMC's inner sleeves (perfect fits) are also by far the best inner sleeve.
As to which deck box is the best, I would say either the Legion Iconic Mana symbol box which will hold a double sleeved 75 card deck (Main board as well as sideboard) or the Ultra Pro satin tower which holds a double sleeved EDH deck as well as a second compartment to hold die and counters.
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April 19, 2015 2 p.m.
Hello! This thread hasn't been posted in for 4 months! Could you please check the dates of threads before posting - no one likes old threads being pushed to the top of the forums. It stops newer threads from getting their own time at the top.
KrosanTusker says... #2
Sleeves: Ultra Pro
Boxes: Ultra Pro
Then again, I have never used Dragon Shield.
December 14, 2013 4:44 p.m.