Token card
| Token Card | |
|---|---|
| Mechanic | |
| Introduced | Mystery Booster |
| Last used | Unknown Event |
| Statistics |
4 cards  25%  25%  50% |
| 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 which behaves like a regular card, including the capacity to exist in any zone, but which are created by an effect like regular tokens rather than being included in a deck. They were introduced on Mystery Booster test cards, and are not part of the Comprehensive Rules.
Token markers
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.
Token card game mechanic
These "token cards" are created by several abilities on test cards first included in the Mystery Booster set. They have all the properties and rules of regular cards once created. Therefore, 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]
All sources of token cards so far put the token cards into a zone where regular tokens cannot exist. The rulings for the Mystery Booster set state that a supplementary token card (physical object) with a Magic card back must be used to represent token cards (game object) in hidden zones like the library or hand, but also point out no such cards exist, "so you may need to be creative." Players at events using test cards might represent them with typical token marker cards meant for regular tokens, or write over basic lands or other expendable cards.
Conjure is a designed-for-digital mechanic introduced in 2021 that has many similarities with this concept.[3] The token card mechanic returned on another test card created for the Unknown Event at MagicCon Philadelphia 2023.
Rulings
Because token cards are created by test cards, which are only usable in casual play or specific limited events, they are not in the Comprehensive Rules. As a result there is some ambiguity in their behavior, which are partly defined by the rulings issued for Mystery Booster:
- Unlike a normal token, a token card doesn’t 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.
- 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 don’t 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.
List
Three token cards have exactly the same properties as a previous Magic card, while one is original.
| 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 
|
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| 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  mana cost.)Take an extra turn after this one. |
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| 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 mana cost.): Return Reassembling Skeleton from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
|
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| Leeches | White | Sorcery | (This is a token card which doesn't cease to exist in a zone other than the battlefield and has a mana cost.) Target player loses all poison counters. Leeches deals that much damage to that player. |
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References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 6, 2023). "Mission Compleat, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Eli Shiffrin (November 11, 2019). "Mystery Booster Release Notes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ 10 Sneaky Easter Eggs on Mystery Booster Playtest Cards! (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (August 20, 2021).