Can a Token Be a Commander?
The answer to this question might seem straightforward at first: a token can’t be a commander because it’s not a card. In Magic: The Gathering’s Commander format, a commander is a unique card designated by the deck’s players at the start of the game. Tokens are temporary representations of a card on the battlefield that cease to exist when their original card leaves the battlefield or is removed. With this definition, it would seem that a token could never be a commander. However, there is more to it than that.
Commander-Style Tokens
In certain circumstances, tokens can acquire characteristics that might make them suitable as commanders. In Magic: The Gathering’s terminology, Commander-Style Tokens refer to tokens with abilities and powers similar to those found on legendary creatures. Some tokens have abilities, life totals, and colors, making them resemble actual commanders.
Card Advantage and Permanent
Token commanders can still provide significant card advantage and permanent benefits to the game. Some token commanders create an army of tokens to attack and defend, similar to a powerful legendary creature. They can provide lifelinking, intimidate, or even sacrifice their tokens to create more advantage.
Types of Tokens
Several types of tokens can potentially become commanders, including:
• Combat Tokens: These tokens represent creatures, which, as we mentioned earlier, can have abilities and colors, making them suitable for commanding.
• Planewalker Tokens: Similar to Planeswalkers, these tokens can create token armies, sacrifice their own tokens for advantage, or even become legendary creatures.
• Other Token Types: Other token types, such as land tokens, can become commanders by offering card draw, ramping, or generating mana.
Card-Specific Commanders
A few card-specific commanders can generate tokens directly or indirectly, which become potential commanders:
• Token-Generating Cards: Cards like Geth, Lord of the Forge or Kavu Titan can generate tokens that might become commanders.
• Token-Powering Cards: Cards like Rhys the Redeemed or Lazav, the Multifarious can turn their tokens into commanders through abilities.
Conclusion
While a token can’t be a commander in the classical sense, certain situations and card effects can turn tokens into commanders with unique abilities. When designing a Commander deck, consider cards that can create token armies or transform tokens into commanders. Token commanders can provide diverse gameplay options, from building token armies to creating sacrificial tokens.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Pros:
• Card advantage: Token commanders can offer lifelinking, token generation, and sacrifice to create more opportunities.
• Permanent: Tokens, when created by a token commander, remain on the battlefield, creating a loyal army.
Cons:
• Limited utility: Most tokens have limited abilities or lifelengths.
• Disadvantages: Tokens might be sacrificed, destroyed, or exile, rendering the commander temporarily useless.
In conclusion, while tokens can’t be commanders per se, specific card effects and designs can transform them into viable commanders. Commander players should consider card advantage and token generation when building a deck.
Summary
| Commander Type | Abilities | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Token Commander | Token generation, lifelinking, sacrifice | Temporarily creates a token army to attack or defend |
| Planewalker Commander | Planewalker-esque abilities, card draw, sacrifice | Similar to a Planeswalker, this token commander generates tokens, sacrifices, and draws |
| Card-Specific Commander | Card advantage, life totals, colors | Turns into a legendary creature through abilities |
Note: Bold text highlights key points.
References:
- Draftsim.com. (2023). Can a Token Be a Commander? https://www.draftsim.com/faqs/magic-the-gathering/token-can-be-commander.html
- Vintageisthenewold.com. (2023). Can a token be a commander?. https://www.vintageisthenewold.com/faq/can-a-token-be-a-commander/
- TheGamer.com. (2023). Can A Non-Creature Be A Commander In Magic: The Gathering?. https://www.thegamer.com/non-creature-commander-magic-gathering/
- Tappedout.net. (2023). Can legendary token creatures be commanders?. https://www.tappedout.net/threads/can-legendary-token-creatures-be-commanders.
- mtgsalvation.com. (2023). Can an enchantment be a commander?. https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Commander/Faq/Can_an_enchantment_be_a_commander
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