Are Token Creatures Part of a Library
Asked by robgjr 9 years ago
Hello,
I have a pre-built duel deck, and so far enjoy casual play with the Vraska deck. And Vraska the Unseen states for -7 "put three 1/1 black Assassin creature tokens onto the battlefield..."
I am wanting to tweak the deck, and was wondering if token creatures are considered part of the library, or can I remove them from the deck and use them only when I cast Vraska the Unseen?
Now I understand that removing them from the deck will bring me below the 60 minimum, but I was wanting to add some other cards to make the deck a little stronger.
TheGrayMerchant says... #2
Tokens are not part of your deck. I like to think of them as 'bonus' creatures. There are a number of cards that produce tokens, like Trostani's Summoner. If a token creature dies, it is not put into the graveyard. Instead, it is removed from the game and only put out onto the battlefield when something produces that token.
TL;DR: Tokens are basically placeholders for creatures that aren't in your deck.
January 31, 2015 11:11 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #3
@TheGrayMerchant: That's incorrect. Tokens can change zones. If they are destroyed or would die, they do, in fact, go to the graveyard. Similarly, tokens can be returned to their owner's hand or shuffled into their owner's library. Once a token is in a non-battlefield zone, it remains in that zone until the next time state-based actions are checked, at which point they cease to exist (they are not removed from the game; RFG means exile, and exile is a game zone).
@robgjr: Tokens are never part of a deck. They aren't cards, and they aren't included in your maindeck or in your sideboard. Tokens don't begin the game in your library. The only way a token can exist in a library is if an effect moves it from the battlefield to the library (and the token will cease to exist and therefore be removed from the library the next time state-based actions are checked).
A token is a representation of a non-card permanent created by some effect. Although tokens may be represented by the printed token "cards" found in some booster packs and sealed products, tokens are not cards. Effects that refer to cards do not also affect tokens. Any printed tokens you have may be used as supplements for your deck and may be put onto the battlefield when an effect instructs you to create a token, but they are not actually part of your deck.
January 31, 2015 11:25 p.m.
Thanks guys, I really appreciate it. And if you are interested, take a look at some of the decks that I have built and critique them if you wish. If not, then I thank you for the comments, that does help.
Regards, Rob Gould
January 31, 2015 11:28 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #5
Please remember to select an answer to remove this question from the active queue.
January 31, 2015 11:29 p.m.
Epochalyptik when are state based actions checked? this is the first I've heard of this rule.
February 1, 2015 4:22 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #7
SBA are checked whenever a player would receive priority. If any SBA need to be performed they are performed and then checked again. Once there are no more SBA to perform the player receives priority. If you want to know what the SBA are, rule 704.5 lists all 24 of them.
Dracoson says... Accepted answer #1
Tokens are permanents that aren't represented by a "card" (in the official sense of the word). They are put directly into play via an ability (Like Vraska the Unseen's -7) or spell (like Hordeling Outburst) rather than cast. The included tokens are just handy representations, and aren't legal cards to include in the deck.
January 31, 2015 11:08 p.m.