Token card

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Revision as of 21:54, 27 February 2023 by >Jerodast (singular agreement)
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Token Card
Mechanic
Introduced Mystery Booster
Last used Mystery Booster
Statistics
3 cards
{U} 33.3% {B} 66.7%
Scryfall Search
fulloracle:"Token Card"

Token card has two meanings:

  • A non-standard card used as marker to represent a token. These are included in many Magic products.
  • A type of game object with the properties and rules of regular cards, but which are created by an effect, like regular tokens. They were introduced on Mystery Booster test cards, and are not part of the Comprehensive Rules.

Token markers

Token card for the most commonly created token, Treasure.
Main article: Token

Tokens created by various effects have game properties defined by abilities or rules. However, a physical object must serve as a marker for the token. "Token cards", non-standard cards included in many Magic products, are one choice for such a marker.[1] Dice, beads, scraps of paper, and so on could also be used. Regardless of the choice of markers, these objects follow the game rules defined for tokens; using a token card rather than a different option has no gameplay impact.

In many booster packs, a "slot" is reserved for token cards, marketing cards, and other special content printed in the shape of a card. Other products such as bundles may also include tokens. While token cards have no in-game meaning compared to other forms of markers, they include a card frame and artwork visually fitting with regular Magic cards, making them popular and sometimes even collectible. A token card's art is sometimes by the same artist as a normal card which creates the token, or both pieces of art may have been designed as a single artistic creation, especially for unique tokens only associated with one card. Many tokens use a full-art style, and some have special treatments typically seen on non-token cards like foil.

Token cards do not have a standard Magic card back and may use different card stock, denoting them as illegal to use as regular cards. Some have two different tokens represented on either side of a single card. They usually include the name, types, abilities, and power/toughness of a token created by an ability of a non-token card. Some tokens are more general, such as tokens for copies which could have any attributes. The word "Token" is usually present on the type line, although "Token" is not an actual card type or supertype.

Mystery Booster token cards

Unlike a normal token, token cards do not cease to exist in a zone other than the battlefield. It's both a token and a card. It can move between zones any number of times and continues to exist for the rest of the game.[2]

If a token card is put into a hidden zone, you must use a supplementary token card with a Magic card back to represent it. Since these do not exist yet, you may need to be creative.

For effects that look for or modify the creation of tokens, creating token cards isn't the same as creating tokens.

Conjure is a designed-for-digital mechanic that has many similarities with this concept.[3]

List

Token Name Color Type Line P/T Text Box Source Printings
Gunk Colorless Sorcery (This is a token card which doesn't cease to exist in a zone other than the battlefield and has no mana cost.)
Cycling {4}
Time Walk Blue Sorcery (This is a token card which doesn't cease to exist in a zone other than the battlefield and has a {1}{U} mana cost.)
Take an extra turn after this one.
Reassembling Skeleton Black Creature — Skeleton Warrior 1/1 (This is a token card which doesn't cease to exist in a zone other than the battlefield and has a {1}{B} mana cost.)
{1}{B}: Return Reassembling Skeleton from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
Leeches White Sorcery (This is a token card which doesn't cease to exist in a zone other than the battlefield and has a {1}{W}{W} mana cost.)
Target player loses all poison counters. Leeches deals that much damage to that player.

References

  1. Mark Rosewater (February 6, 2023). "Mission Compleat, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. Eli Shiffrin (November 11, 2019). "Mystery Booster Release Notes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. 10 Sneaky Easter Eggs on Mystery Booster Playtest Cards! (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (August 20, 2021).