Card Sleeves
Asked by -Orvos- 11 years ago
What are the rules for card sleeves in magic? do all sleeves have to be the same? I would imagine they would have to be, but what about casual play. I guess it would just be up to the group you are playing with right? Im only asking cause I recently bought some sleeves and only had enough of 1 color to do 1 deck but I have enough of a second color sleeve that If i mixed them it would be perfect. So i understand it would probably be banned in standard tournaments but what about other situations? Is there an unwritten code of ethics and good sportsmanship that this would apply to?
In a sanctioned even or tournament all the sleeves must be the same with no individual identifying marks. In a casual kitchen table game with friends, it's entirerly up to you and your group whether you can or can't.
November 15, 2013 2:27 a.m.
the problem people might have with using two different colors for one deck is that you could easily put certain cards in one color and the rest in another color. Like for example, if you had yellow and blue sleeves you could put all your land in the yellow ones and all your spells in the blue ones. I'm not saying that your going to make an attempt to cheat or anything like that, but even if you weren't paying attention to what card you put in which colored sleeve eventually after playing a few games you'd start to recognize it. Then in a situation where you know you need a specific card but have noticed they're all in yellow sleeves and the top of your deck is a blue sleeve you'd unintentionally have inside knowledge about cards you haven't seen.
November 15, 2013 3:39 a.m.
Probably the "fairest" way to play with two different types of sleeves in the same deck would be to have all playsets of cards and then split them up, two into one color and two into another with lands being split evenly.
The only way you could manipulate your odds then would be after drawing two of the same card in the same color, really, since then you know you have better odds of guessing what's on top. You could arguably make better guesses with just one specific card in your hand, but it's not a perfect science.
zandl says... Accepted answer #1
While I can't quote the exact official rules, in tournament play, if you use sleeves (it's required at higher Rules Enforcement Levels), all of them must be identical in size, thickness, color, and transparency. If you aren't using sleeves, there shouldn't be any distinctive markings on the backs of your cards (including bends, scuffs, scratches, marker, pen, etc.).
In a casual group, it's important to always ask if something's okay before showing up and expecting it to be that way. I could see some groups not particularly minding you having two different colors in a deck (admittedly, it's a neat little concept). But I would assume more (if not most) casual groups would prefer you to either play with sleeves that all match or without sleeves entirely.
November 15, 2013 2:26 a.m.