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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.

Already know which finish you want? Jump to our in-stock foil singles or etched foil singles.

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.