Do Tokens Count as Creatures in Graveyard?
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Tokens do count as creatures in the graveyard for the purpose of triggering certain abilities and effects, but they immediately cease to exist after being put into the graveyard as a state-based action. This means that while tokens can be considered creatures in the graveyard for a brief moment, they do not remain in the graveyard and are not treated as creature cards for effects that specifically refer to creature cards.
Understanding Tokens in Magic: The Gathering
What are Tokens?
Tokens are permanents that are created by spells or abilities and can represent any type of permanent, including creatures, artifacts, and more. They are used to track effects and can be used to represent creatures or other permanents on the battlefield.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do tokens go to the graveyard?: Yes, tokens do go to the graveyard, and as a passive effect, they immediately cease to exist.
- Can tokens be sacrificed and exiled?: Yes, tokens can be sacrificed and exiled as with any card in MTG.
- Do tokens count for all triggered abilities?: Yes, tokens count for all triggered abilities, such as “when a creature enters the graveyard” before they are removed.
- Do tokens count as creatures?: Tokens are most often creatures, but artifacts have become increasingly common, and any permanent type is possible.
- Do tokens count for Gravestorm?: Yes, tokens do count for Gravestorm, as it only cares about permanents that went to the graveyard, rather than cards.
- Does creating a token count as a creature spell?: No, a token can’t be a spell, as a spell exists only on the stack, while a creature is a permanent that exists only on the battlefield.
- Do token creatures count as part of your deck?: No, creature tokens aren’t cards, just markers for effects that make creature tokens.
- How do token creatures work?: Token creatures behave exactly like normal creatures when they are in play, and can be used to fight, reap, or for their printed Action abilities.
- Is a token creature a permanent in MTG?: Yes, a permanent is a card or token on the battlefield, and a token becomes a permanent as it enters the battlefield.
- Can a token be a legendary creature?: A token is only legendary if the effect creating it says that it’s legendary or if it’s a token copy of a legendary permanent.
- Do tokens have summoning sickness?: Yes, tokens have summoning sickness, as it applies to all permanents but affects creatures specifically.
- Can you mutate a token creature?: Yes, tokens can mutate just like nontoken permanents can.
- Does exiling a token count as dying?: No, exiling a token won’t trigger the death effect, as it goes from the battlefield to exile, to not existing at all.
- Does Bloodchief Ascension trigger off tokens?: No, Bloodchief Ascension will not trigger on a token creature dying, because although the token is put into the graveyard, it’s not a card.
- Can you return a token from graveyard?: No, once a token leaves the battlefield and goes to a graveyard or another zone, it can’t go back to the battlefield or go to a third zone.
Conclusion
In conclusion, tokens do count as creatures in the graveyard for the purpose of triggering certain abilities and effects, but they immediately cease to exist after being put into the graveyard as a state-based action. Understanding how tokens work in Magic: The Gathering is crucial to playing the game effectively, and by answering these frequently asked questions, we hope to have provided a comprehensive guide to tokens and their interactions with the graveyard.