Token
A token is a permanent that is not represented by a regular card with a casting cost. Usually, but not always, tokens are creatures (It is possible to use cards such as Followed Footsteps and Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker to create noncreature tokens). Tokens were featured as rules card 4 of 9 in the Magic 2011 set.
If a token leaves play and goes to another game zone, it will be there only briefly before ceasing to exist as a state-based effect.
Examples
- Teysa, Orzhov Scion has the ability: "Whenever another black creature you control is put into a graveyard from play, put a 1/1 white Spirit token with flying into play." If you have a black token creature that gets destroyed, it will go to the graveyard, trigger Teysa's ability and put it on the stack, then disappear.
- Momentary Blink reads in part: "Remove target creature you control from the game, then return it to play under its owner's control." If this spell is used on a token creature, it will leave play, but cannot come back into play and so stays removed from the game. It will cease to exist when state-based effects are next checked.
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Token specific creature types
Some creatures named in the legal subtype-list only appear on tokens.
- Deserter tokens are created by Kjeldoran Home Guard.
- Orb tokens are created by Phantasmal Sphere. Note that artifacts like Chaos Orb don't have the Orb subtype.
- Pentavite tokens are created by Pentavus.
- Survivor tokens are created by Varchild's War-Riders under opponent's control. Note that Auriok Survivors, Riptide Survivor and Survivor of the Unseen don't have the survivor subtype.