Predefined token

A predefined token is a concept used in card text where an effect may create tokens simply by stating what kind of token will be created, and the game rules have already defined what characteristics the resulting object will have. Blood, Clue, Food, Gold, Incubator, Junk, Map, Powerstone and Treasure are the predefined tokens for artifacts. Role and Shard are the predefined tokens for enchantments. Walker is the only predefined token for creatures.

Description

Abilities normally state the characteristics of tokens they create, such as color, types, and text. When one of the predefined token types is specified, however, the rest of the characteristics are not stated, since they are specified by the game rules already. This allows for shorter card text, similar to keyword actions and abilities as well as batching terminology. Like those cases, many cards employing predefined tokens include reminder text to clarify the specifics of that token.

Each kind of artifact and enchantment predefined token so far is specified as a subtype and includes a single activated ability. Other cards or tokens may have the same subtype; these usually do have the matching predefined ability, but this is not guaranteed by rule - for instance, Gingerbrute has the "Food ability" in addition to other characteristics not found on other Foods, but Glittering Stockpile does not have the predefined "Treasure ability". Gaining or losing such subtypes does not affect a permanent's abilities or functionality, in contrast to the intrinsic ability of basic land types or the game rules governing Sagas for example.

Example 1

Vampires' Vengeance
Instant
Vampires’ Vengeance deals 2 damage to each non-Vampire creature. Create a Blood token. (It’s an artifact with “{1}, {T}, Discard a card, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.”)

Example 2

Fae Offering
Enchantment
At the beginning of each end step, if you’ve cast both a creature spell and a noncreature spell this turn, create a Clue token, a Food token, and a Treasure token.

Development

Predefined tokens had roots in Investigate, which defined token properties as part of a keyword action. Over time R&D realized they didn't need the keyword action at all.

List of predefined tokens

See the game rules below for exact characteristics.

Predefined artifact tokens and subtypes:

• Blood - Introduced in Innistrad: Crimson Vow; associated with black and red vampires of Innistrad.
• Clue - Introduced in Shadows over Innistrad; associated with the investigate ability and Innistrad.
• Food - Introduced and primarily used in Throne of Eldraine.
• Gold - Introduced in Born of the Gods, made predefined in Theros Beyond Death, and associated with Theros. Has been mostly supplanted in card design by the similar Treasure token, due to Gold tokens' lack of tapping in their activation cost.
• Incubator - Introduced in March of the Machine; associated with the incubate ability and New Phyrexia. Incubators are the only tokens that are transforming and double-faced.
• Junk - Introduced in Universes Beyond: Fallout to represent the game's miscellaneous items.
• Map: Introduced in The Lost Caverns of Ixalan.
• Powerstone - Introduced in Dominaria United and primarily used in The Brother's War.
• Treasure - Introduced in Ixalan block and now deciduous, appearing in many sets.

Predefined enchantment tokens and subtypes:

• Role auras - Introduced in Wilds of Eldraine, there are seven different types of role tokens. Each one is treated as a separate predefined token.
  • Cursed Role
  • Monster Role
  • Royal Role
  • Sorcerer Role
  • Virtuous Role
  • Wicked Role
  • Young Hero Role
• Shard - Introduced in Kaldheim and used exclusively for the abilities of Niko Aris. The only token to be made predefined while appearing on only one card.

Predefined creature tokens:

• Walker - Introduced and exclusive to Secret Lair Drop Series: The Walking Dead and their Universes Within couterparts. The first and only predefined creature token.

Rules

From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

• 111.10. Some effects instruct a player to create a predefined token. These effects use the definition below to determine the characteristics the token is created with. The effect that creates a predefined token may also modify or add to the predefined characteristics.
  • 111.10a A Treasure token is a colorless Treasure artifact token with “{T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.”
  • 111.10b A Food token is a colorless Food artifact token with “{2}, {T}, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.”
  • 111.10c A Gold token is a colorless Gold artifact token with “Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.”
  • 111.10d A Walker token is a 2/2 black Zombie creature token named Walker.
  • 111.10e A Shard token is a colorless Shard enchantment token with “{2}, Sacrifice this enchantment: Scry 1, then draw a card.”
  • 111.10f A Clue token is a colorless Clue artifact token with “{2}, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.”
  • 111.10g A Blood token is a colorless Blood artifact token with “{1}, {T}, Discard a card, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.”
  • 111.10h A Powerstone token is a colorless Powerstone artifact token with “{T}: Add {C}. This mana can’t be spent to cast a nonartifact spell.”
  • 111.10i An Incubator token is a transforming double-faced token. Its front face is a colorless Incubator artifact with “{2}: Transform this artifact.” Its back face is a 0/0 colorless Phyrexian artifact creature named Phyrexian Token.
  • 111.10j A Cursed Role token is a colorless Aura Role enchantment token named Cursed with enchant creature and “Enchanted creature has base power and toughness 1/1.”
  • 111.10k A Monster Role token is a colorless Aura Role enchantment token named Monster with enchant creature and “Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 and has trample.”
  • 111.10m A Royal Role token is a colorless Aura Role enchantment token named Royal with enchant creature and “Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 and has ward {1}.”
  • 111.10n A Sorcerer Role token is a colorless Aura Role enchantment token named Sorcerer with enchant creature and “Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 and has ‘Whenever this creature attacks, scry 1.’”
  • 111.10p A Virtuous Role token is a colorless Aura Role enchantment token named Virtuous with enchant creature and “Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 for each enchantment you control.”
  • 111.10q A Wicked Role token is a colorless Aura Role enchantment token named Wicked with enchant creature, “Enchanted creature gets +1/+1,” and “When this Aura is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, each opponent loses 1 life.”
  • 111.10r A Young Hero Role token is a colorless Aura Role enchantment token named Young Hero with enchant creature and “Enchanted creature has ‘Whenever this creature attacks, if its toughness is 3 or less, put a +1/+1 counter on it.’”
  • 111.10s A Map token is a colorless Map artifact token with “{1}, {T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Target creature you control explores. Activate only as a sorcery.” See rule 701.40, “Explore.”
  • 111.10t A Junk token is a colorless Junk artifact token with “{T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Exile the top card of your library. You may play that card this turn. Activate only as a sorcery.”