Can Tokens Phase Out in Magic: The Gathering? A Comprehensive Guide
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Yes, tokens can phase out in Magic: The Gathering. However, the critical distinction lies in what happens when a token phases out. While they can indeed be affected by phasing effects, they cease to exist as a state-based action when they are phased out. They do not return to the battlefield during your untap step like other permanents that have phased out. This seemingly simple rule has significant implications for strategy and deck building. Let’s dive deeper into the intricacies of tokens and phasing.
Understanding Phasing and Tokens
What is Phasing?
Phasing is an ability in Magic: The Gathering that causes a permanent to phase out, effectively removing it from the game until its controller’s next untap step. A phased-out permanent is treated as though it doesn’t exist. It can’t be targeted, affected by spells or abilities, or interact with any other permanents on the battlefield. Then, during the controller’s next untap step, the permanent phases in, returning to the battlefield.
What are Tokens?
A token is a permanent on the battlefield that isn’t represented by a regular card from a deck. Tokens are created by spells or abilities and represent creatures, artifacts, enchantments, or other permanent types. They have defined characteristics such as power, toughness, color, and abilities, as specified by the effect that created them.
The Interaction: Phasing Out Tokens
The rule that governs this interaction is quite clear: Phased-out tokens cease to exist as a state-based action. State-based actions are automatic game actions that occur whenever certain conditions are met, and they don’t use the stack, meaning they can’t be responded to.
Therefore, if a token is targeted by a phasing effect, it will phase out. However, it will then immediately cease to exist. It will not return during the controller’s untap step, unlike non-token permanents. This is a crucial difference to remember when building decks that utilize or interact with tokens.
Why This Matters Strategically
Understanding this rule is critical for a couple of reasons:
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Avoiding Wasted Resources: If you’re considering using a phasing effect on a token, be aware that it’s essentially a removal spell. If you’re trying to protect a valuable token, phasing isn’t the answer.
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Strategic Removal: Phasing can be a way to deal with troublesome tokens, especially those with abilities that trigger when they leave the battlefield. By phasing them, you prevent those abilities from triggering because they cease to exist before entering the graveyard or exile.
FAQs: Tokens and Phasing
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the rules and interactions surrounding tokens and phasing:
1. Can token creatures phase out?
Yes, token creatures can phase out. However, they will cease to exist as a state-based action immediately after phasing out.
2. What happens to tokens when they phase out?
Tokens in the phased-out zone cease to exist. They do not return to the battlefield during the next untap step.
3. If a token has an aura or equipment attached to it, what happens when the token phases out?
Any phased-out Auras, Equipment, or Fortifications that were attached to those tokens remain phased out for the rest of the game. They don’t return to the battlefield since the token they were attached to no longer exists.
4. Do phased out creatures get summoning sickness upon return?
This is a tricky question, as tokens don’t return! But for regular, non-token creatures, as long as they’ve experienced an upkeep before being phased out, creatures and permanents aren’t affected by summoning sickness and can use all abilities they’ve got when they phase back in.
5. Are tokens destroyed when exiled?
Yes, tokens do go to the exile zone, and as a passive effect immediately cease to exist. They of course can be exiled and count for all triggered abilities such as “when a permanent leaves the battlefield” before they are removed.
6. What happens if you flicker a token MTG?
Tokens can be the target of a flicker effect, just like any other card or permanent, but they won’t return to the battlefield. When a token moves to another zone (exile, in this case), it ceases to exist and therefore can’t return to play. Flickering is not effective on tokens.
7. Can tokens get undying?
Tokens can gain undying, and the ability will trigger if a token is put into a graveyard. However, like all tokens, it can’t return to the battlefield and will cease to exist as a state-based action before the ability would go on the stack. The undying ability won’t bring the token back.
8. What happens to tokens returned to hand?
Tokens can only exist in play, so once you return a token to hand, it ceases to exist. This is similar to “killing” the token, but it doesn’t trigger abilities that trigger upon death because the token ceases to exist immediately upon leaving the battlefield.
9. Can I regenerate tokens?
You can regenerate token creatures like any other creature. You can do so because a token doesn’t go to the graveyard if you regenerate it. As such, it isn’t removed from the game. Instead, it stays on the battlefield. Regeneration prevents the token from being destroyed in the first place.
10. Are magic tokens permanent?
A token is a permanent that is not represented by a regular card with a casting cost. They are created by the effects of many different spells and abilities, rather than being cast from a zone (such as the hand) like normal cards. They are subject to the same rules as other permanents, with the added caveat that they cease to exist in zones other than the battlefield.
11. Can you target a token with a spell?
Yes, you can target a token with a spell or ability, assuming it meets the targeting requirements. However, if that spell would move the token to another zone (like the graveyard or exile), the token will cease to exist as a state-based action immediately after.
12. What is the token rule in Magic: The Gathering?
A token is a marker used to represent any permanent that isn’t represented by a card. The player who creates a token is its owner. The token enters the battlefield under that player’s control. The spell or ability that creates a token may define the values of any number of characteristics for the token.
13. Does Deathtouch work on tokens?
Yes, deathtouch works on tokens just like it works on any other creature. If a creature with deathtouch deals damage to a token creature, the token creature will be destroyed.
14. Can tokens get summoning sickness?
Since summoning sickness applies to all permanents but affects creatures specifically, yes, tokens can get summoning sickness. If you create a token creature and it hasn’t been under your control continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn, it can’t attack or use abilities with the tap or untap symbol.
15. What happens if you phase out a commander that is a token?
When your commander phases out it cannot be moved to the command zone. Objects that are phased out will phase back in during the untap step of the player who controlled them when they phased out, unless the phasing effect specifies a duration. However, since tokens cease to exist when phased out, this scenario won’t occur. A token commander ceases to exist.
Conclusion
While tokens can phase out, the critical takeaway is that they don’t return. This nuanced rule can significantly impact gameplay, especially when strategizing around token-heavy decks or considering using phasing effects. Always remember that phasing a token is essentially a removal spell, and plan your plays accordingly. Understanding these intricate rules is what makes Magic: The Gathering a complex and rewarding game. For further exploration of games and learning, consider visiting the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ or GamesLearningSociety.org. Mastering these rules is crucial for achieving success in the game.