Populate
| Populate | |
|---|---|
| Keyword Action | |
| Introduced | Return to Ravnica |
| Last used | Modern Horizons 3 Commander |
| Reminder Text | Populate (Create a token that's a copy of a creature token you control.) |
| Storm Scale | 5[1] |
| Statistics |
20 cards  35%  10%  20%  30%  5% |
| Scryfall Search | |
| keyword:"Populate" | |
Populate is a keyword action that creates copies of creature tokens.
History
Populate was designed by Mark Rosewater.[2] It was introduced in Return to Ravnica as the mechanic for the Selesnya Conclave. Dragon's Maze added 2 cards with populate.
Commander 2019 later used populate as a theme for its deck, which added five new cards. It also appeared as a one-off in the New Capenna Commander, March of the Machine Commander, the Lord of the Rings Holiday Release and Modern Horizons 3 Commander.
Populate can be done in blue if it returns in a non-Ravnica set.[3]
Rules
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- Populate
- A keyword action that creates a copy of a creature token you control. See rule 701.30, “Populate.”
From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- 701.30. Populate
- 701.30a To populate means to choose a creature token you control and create a token that’s a copy of that creature token.
- 701.30b If you control no creature tokens when instructed to populate, you won’t create a token.
Rulings
- You can choose any creature token you control. If a spell or ability puts a token onto the battlefield under your control and then instructs you to populate (as Coursers’ Accord does), you may choose to copy the token you just created, or you may choose to copy another creature token you control.
- If you choose to copy a creature token that's a copy of another creature, the new creature token will copy the characteristics of whatever the original token is copying.
- The new creature token copies the characteristics of the original token as stated by the effect that put the original token onto the battlefield.
- The new token doesn't copy whether the original token is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any noncopy effects that have changed its power, toughness, color, and so on.
- Any "as [this creature] enters the battlefield" or "[this creature] enters the battlefield with" abilities of the new token will work.
- If you control no creature tokens when you populate, nothing will happen.
Examples
Example
Eyes in the Skies 
Instant
Put a 1/1 white Bird creature token with flying onto the battlefield, then populate. (Put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of a creature token you control.)
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (2022-06-22). "Where is populate on the Storm Scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 27, 2018). "What was the Guilds that you are directly responsible to design its abilities?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 13, 2023). "How come Populate is green and white, and not blue?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
