ordered my first Dragon shields
Gear forum
Posted on Dec. 11, 2014, 8:24 p.m. by VampireArmy
So today i took the plunge ssh vs invested in something higher than ultra pro and bought some Dragon shields black. Are they glossy? I've grown a little tired of gloss because they tend to stick after a while.
Having bought 5-6 boxes of dragon shield, a few packs of KMC hyper matte and more ultra pros than I can count I have to say that in my opinion Ultra Pros end up being the best.
Dragon shields get incredibly dirty like you wouldn't believe but they're the most durable
KMCs shuffle very nicely and are pretty similar to Ultra Pros but more durable. Higher price point though.
Ultra Pros break a bit easier but their price point makes them the best buy. Buying Ultra Pros and replacing them semi frequently is the best way to go.
December 11, 2014 8:34 p.m.
alpinefroggy says... #6
Ultra is the cheapest certainly but if your goal is to protect cards they are awful. use dragonshields or kmc hyper mattes.
That being said you shouldnt have any problem of them splitting just make sure to play with them on a clean surface and have clean hands or they will get sticky quickly and etremely grimy, their only real downside. Hypermattes are even better though. Same durability but better shuffle feel and they wont get dirty. As it is now I play a frequent bit and have played the same kmc hypers for almost a year now without any splitting
December 11, 2014 8:49 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #7
I prefer KMC Hyper-Mats because of their durability and that they are designed to accept the KMC "perfect sizes" for double sleeving. Dragon Shields have a tendency to accumulate dirt and dead skin quicker than other sleeves, but they look very nice. Regular cleaning with a soft-bristled brush or a microfiber cloth keep them nice. Just be prepared to have people criticize your excessive OCD when they see you cleaning your sleeves.
Ultra Pro Pro Mattes are fine and are cheap enough to justify replacement over cleaning. They don't offer the level of protection that KMC or Dragon Shields do, and some players (like myself) find the little holo-stamp near the bottom of the sleeves irksome. However, Ultra Pro recently began producing its own line of "perfect size" sleeves, meaning you can double sleeve with Ultra Pros, if you wish. all in all, they aren't terrible, but I prefer to invest in higher-quality sleeves for my more expensive decks.
December 11, 2014 8:52 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #8
I'm a huge fan of KMC Hyper Mattes. They shuffle comfortably, almost never break and work well for double sleeving. The sleeves do collect a bit of dirt sometimes, but overall having tried Dragon Shield, Ultra Pro and KMC I have to recommend KMC.
December 11, 2014 8:55 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #9
That's good news. I'm a sticker for shuffle comforbility but I'm about to be buying the big game cards for my decks and i need that shit to stay nice. I have hyper mats for my modern deck now and some Wal-Mart ultra pros for my secondary deck. My standard deck is in some old legions which are basically ultra pros and after 3yrs of play they are a pain to shuffle
December 11, 2014 9:08 p.m.
notamardybum says... #10
dragon shields can get sticky quick, but they last. keep your play area and hands clean, and dont forget a playmat if necessary
December 11, 2014 9:22 p.m.
slovakattack says... #11
GlistenerAgent: KMC master race! I love the textured backing.
December 11, 2014 9:30 p.m.
Dragon shields got a customer for life out of me after my first box of em. I bought them almost 10 years ago and they still shuffle, cut and glide like the day I first used them.
If double sleeving (for like EDH or something that cards won't be changed much) i use perfect fits and then dragon shields.
A playmat and clean hands are essential though. They do accumulate dirt and what not due to their "glossiness" but by taking easy precautions you can easily get years of play out of them like I have.
December 11, 2014 9:33 p.m.
KMC Hyper Mattes are the way to go. I have 6 decks (5 Commander, 1 Modern) in them, all double sleeved. I have yet to split a Hyper Matte even after a year of use.
December 12, 2014 2:41 a.m.
Hjaltrohir says... #14
@JakeHarlow I use Ultra Pro and double sleeve with KMC perfect fit and that works, so Ultra Pro releasing perfect fit doesn't mean that much...
December 12, 2014 2:42 a.m.
JakeHarlow says... #15
You are definitely correct, awesomeguy37. My bad.
December 12, 2014 2:50 a.m.
I've tried Dragonshields several times and KMC Hyper-Mattes twice. Dragonshields are very durable, but also really bulky, slippery, and uncomfortable to shuffle (in my opinion). My first KMCs were the black ones released in their first set of KMCs. Hated them. They accumulated dirt way too quickly. Then I got some of the red ones which came out later.
Hands down, absolute best sleeves I have ever used.
December 12, 2014 2:59 a.m.
I was a devout Dragon shield user for a long time. But the glossy'ness of both sides got worn and I didnt like the way they looked after a bit of play and decided to go a different route. I bought 2 packs(100) of Ultra Pro PRO-MATTE Black for about 25% less than Dragon shields and love the way they feel, shuffle and keep a clean look.
December 28, 2014 3:30 p.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #18
Just look up the sleeves on the reviews by Tolarian Community College. The KMC Hyper Matts are his best choice of sleeves. A+. They last the longest, specifically designed for double sleeving, and have an excellent shuffle feel. They also have a matte back.
December 29, 2014 3:16 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #19
Gonna be totally honest.
My take on the KMCs so far has been I love the durability but the back still feels smooth. I like the back to be a little textured. I had some that I bought at walmart like that but haven't been able to find them since.
December 29, 2014 3:26 p.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #20
Then you didn't get the hyper matte brand. You most likely got the super matte.
December 29, 2014 3:54 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #21
that's possible. Ah well, i'll try again whenever these get a little battered
December 29, 2014 3:57 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #22
Yeah, make sure it says "Hyper-Mat." The other KMC sleeves are "super series."
xlaleclx says... #2
They're very glossy and get very dirty very quickly.
December 11, 2014 8:30 p.m.