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Foil vs etched foil vs non-foil

Last updated: August 13, 2026

Most Magic: The Gathering cards come in more than one finish, and the finish changes both the look and the price. Here's how the three you'll see most often differ.

Non-Foil

The standard finish: a matte-to-satin card face with no shine. Non-foil is what fills most decks — it's the cheapest finish, it lies flat, and it's the easiest to keep in Near Mint condition because there's no foil layer to curl or scratch. If you're building a deck to play, non-foil is almost always the value pick. Browse non-foil singles.

Traditional Foil

A traditional foil has a reflective, rainbow-sheen layer across the whole card face. Foils were introduced in 1999 and remain the most common premium finish. They look fantastic and command a premium — from a little more to several times the non-foil price, depending on the card. The trade-off: foils are prone to slight curling (the foil layer and the cardstock react differently to humidity) and show fingerprints and scratches more readily, so condition matters more on a foil. Browse foil singles.

Etched Foil

Etched foil is a newer finish (introduced with Commander Legends in 2020) with a textured, engraved-looking shimmer rather than the smooth rainbow sheen of a traditional foil. The pattern is etched into the foiling for a distinctive matte-metallic look that many collectors prefer, and etched foils tend to curl less than traditional foils. You'll mostly find them on Commander and special-set cards. Browse etched foil singles.

Which should you buy?

For playing, buy non-foil — it's cheaper and holds condition better. For collecting, display, or a pimped-out deck, foil and etched foil are worth the premium. Just remember that finish is separate from condition: a foil can be Near Mint or Moderately Played, so check both when you compare prices (see our grading guide).

Every printing's page lists the finishes we have in stock with a price for each. Start browsing.