Before that, it was only something Japanese sets offered
One of the main things that has gotten attention was the inclusion of the stamped ACE SPEC cards
Unholy Heat Unholy Heat is an interesting case: As long as you can fulfill its delirium clause, this red instant deals so much direct damage that it's basically unconditional removal something that red doesn't usually have access to, and which makes Unholy Heat a bit of a color pie break
People use proxies for a bunch of extremely normal reasons: - Playtesting new decks before spending money - Commander upgrades without chasing down every last staple immediately - Cube maintenance (updating lists without re-buying a small nations GDP) - Kitchen table games where the goal is fun, not authentication theater - Protecting valuable cards by keeping originals safe while you play with substitutes If your group is on board, proxies are often the simplest way to keep games creative, fair, and actually happening
Each card is a piece of art, bringing your favorite characters to life in new and exciting ways
It is possible for you and an ally to have a shared victory by eliminating all three of your enemies