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Etched foil

Etched foil is a Magic: The Gathering foil finish that looks more metallic than traditional foil and highlights only parts of the card, and Wizards introduced it on Commander Legends showcase cards in 2020.

Also called Foil-etched, Foil etched.

Magic, Lorcana and more
Traditional foil beside etched foil Two generic Magic cards: one shines all over, the other only on parts of its frame. Traditional foil: The whole card shines; Etched foil: A more metallic shine on only some parts of the card. The tile for Etched foil is outlined. Traditional foil The whole card shines Etched foil A more metallic shine on only some parts of the card

In more detail

Wizards' Commander Legends page introduced the foil-etched treatment on that set's showcase cards, with two in every Collector Booster and fewer in Draft Boosters. A 2023 guide on the Magic news site MTG Rocks describes a more metallic shimmer that picks out only some parts of the card, and says the effect varies in strength from set to set.

The finish is often used on the featured card of a Commander deck. Wizards' product guide lists an extra foil-etched thick display commander in its Commander decks, and MTG Rocks notes that this display card is printed on thicker card stock.

A foil-etched card is a different version from the traditional foil and the non-foil copy of the same card, so check the finish when you buy or list one.

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