Tokens - Normal Monster Cards … No, Really
More articles here at the City Of GamersTokens have been around forever now. Scapegoat,Ojama Trio and Stray Lambs being the most commonly played token effects. But in all the years that tokens have seen play, there is rampant misinformation of what exactly tokens are and what they are capable of doing. I’ve always had a small fascination with Token Monsters and their usability, and I wish to clear up any confusion players may have about such “imaginary” monsters. As always, it is my hope you’ll find this useful. I’ve included a summary for easy reference and remembrance.
I think a part of the problem with people’s misconception of what Token Monsters are, stems from the most common use of the word “token” in our generation. Video Game Tokens. For most people, at least on this side of the hemisphere, tokens are generally little coins that come out of a machine in exchange for quarters and dollar bills. So coins are often the most common use for tokens when looking for something to represent one.
A lack of coins might result in your using a paper clip or dice, empty card sleeves or custom-made token cards. When my local store was giving away some Batman HeroClix figures, I used them that day to represent Sheep and Ojama Tokens generated by Scapegoat and Ojama Trio respectively.
But these are not what define what a token is or what it does. We may have commonly gotten used to referring to tokens as coins, but that doesn’t change the dictionary definition of the word token being used in this case:
to•ken (tō'kən)Which is the definition used and nearly fully explained in the Official Rule Book v5:
n. Something serving as an indication, proof, or expression of something else; a sign: “Tears are queer tokens of happiness” (Eugene O'Neill).
Quote:
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E. Monster Tokens Monster Tokens are used IN PLACE of Monster Cards. The tokens represent monsters that appear on the field as a result of a card being activated. These monsters are not included in a Deck. Use coins or a similar marker (as long as it can be flipped to indicate Attack Position [heads] or Defense Position [tails])as a Monster Token. When put into play, Monster Tokens are placed on the Monster Card Zone of the Game Mat. When destroyed, Monster Tokens are simply removed from the field. Similarly, if Monster Tokens are returned to a player ’s hand by card effects, they are also removed from the field. Monster Tokens count toward the 5-card Monster Card Zone limit. |
As a result, they are perfectly legal to use with effects that select, affect, reference or otherwise use “monsters”, “cards” or “monster cards”. The only thing that might make the effect illegal to use with a token is if the effect is dependant on the token doing something that it isn’t capable of doing.
The Proof
...Is in the pudding, as they say. Countless rulings refer to tokens and how they interact with other effects. These rulings clearly define what a token is capable of and leave no room for confusion. I’ve sorted each relevant mention of tokens in the official FAQ (as of 5-13-2006) by effect interaction. Control Change, Deck, Graveyard, Removed From Play, etc. This little reference should help to smooth things out for you. It is sorted alphabetically by subject.
Battle Positions
Tokens cannot be flipped face-down. So you cannot even target them with an effect that would attempt to do so. But notice, that if the effect is non-targeting, a blanketing effect that looks at a whole side of the field, then the tokens will attempt to fulfill as much of the condition as possible and go into Defense Position.
Book of MoonControl Change
You cannot flip a Monster Token face-down because Monster Tokens are always face-up.
Swords of Concealing Light
Since there’s no such thing as a face-down Monster Token, Monster Tokens are simply changed to Defense Position when the effect of "Swords of Concealing Light" is applied.
Monster Tokens can switch control just like any other monster card, as shown by these rulings. In addition, the person who owned the card that generated the tokens is considered the owner of said tokens, in the event ownership becomes an issue.
Creature SwapCosts
A player may select a Monster Token.
Ojama Trio
If there are Ojama Tokens on your opponent's side of the field, and "Remove Brainwashing" is activated, the Ojama Tokens are switched to your side of the field. If you don't have enough Monster Zones for them, some of the Ojama Tokens are destroyed and the damage is inflicted to the opponent.
Cobra Jar
When the "Poisonous Snake Token" is destroyed as a result of battle, it is the opponent of "Cobra Jar"'s controller that takes the damage; so even if the opponent had taken control of the "Poisonous Snake Token" with "Change of Heart", he/she still takes the damage when it is destroyed.
You must be able to fulfill the conditions of a cost in order to be able to pay it. You CAN use a Monster Token to pay for the cost of an effect, as long as your not trying to send the monster someplace it cannot exist. For example, you can tribute a Monster Token to pay for the cost for Cannon Soldier's effect and inflict 500 points of damage, but you cannot pay the cost for Ultimate Baseball Kid's effect using a token. The two effects are very similar, but Ultimate Baseball Kidrequires the monsters to be specifically sent to the Graveyard. Cannon Soldier does not. Since Monster Tokens will never exist off the field, they cannot even be used to pay the cost for his particular effect. (See also Graveyard and Tributing)
Elemental Hero Tempest(I would be remiss to leave out this ruling listed under Altar for Tribute It blatantly contradicts the above two rulings, and by extension, a few others. However, this particular ruling is somewhat older and a good number of judges I’ve conferred with seem to feel that it is an older ruling that may have been over looked and never taken off the books. General consensus is that tokens cannot be used as costs, when the cost requires the monster to hit the Graveyard, etc. The majority of rulings clearly point to that.
You cannot use a Monster Token for the cost because they are not sent to the Graveyard.
Manticore of Darkness
You can't send a Monster Token to the Graveyard for "Manticore of Darkness"'s effect because Monster Tokens are taken off the field instead of going to the Graveyard.
Altar for TributeDeck
You can select a Token Monster as the cost for "Altar for Tribute", but you won't gain any Life Points because Tokens are taken off the field instead of going to the Graveyard.)
Monster Tokens cannot exist in the deck. You can attempt to send them there but they will disappear once they leave the field.
Generation ShiftGraveyard
You can target a Token Monster with “Generation Shift” and it will be destroyed, but you do not search or shuffle your Deck (this part of the effect is not resolved).
Next to be Lost
You cannot target a Token Monster with “Next to be Lost” because they cannot exist in your Deck.
Monster Tokens can not go to the Graveyard, but they can be sent by effects that would attempt to do so. Once they leave the field, they cease to exist.
Bubble CrashHowever, if the effect requires the monster to go to the Graveyard, then the effect will resolve for no effect or not trigger the effect at all, as the case may be.
Monster Tokens count towards these 6 cards, and can be selected by this card’s effect (but they will be taken off the field instead of being sent to the Graveyard.
Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the EndIf the effect has NO Graveyard requirements, then the effect WILL resolve properly.
Tokens will be removed from the field by "Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End"'s effect, but will not add to the damage total because they are not sent to the Graveyard.
Fatal Abacus
Monster Tokens do not trigger this card’s effect because they are not sent to the Graveyard.
Millennium Scorpion
If “Millennium Scorpion” attacks and destroys a Monster Token, the effect of “Millennium Scorpion” does not activate because a Monster Token isn’t sent to the Graveyard.
Great DezardHand
"Great Dezard" can achieve his effects by destroying Monster Tokens.
Insect Princess
"Insect Princess" gains 500 ATK if she destroys an Insect-Type Monster Token.
Monster tokens cannot exist in the hand either, but they CAN be selected for effects that would attempt to put one there. As is always the case with a Monster Token, it will leave the field and then cease to exist.
Penguin SoldierNormal Monster Cards
You may target Monster Tokens, and they will be taken off the field, instead of returning to the hand.
I’m amazed, after all this time, that people still think tokens are not “real” monsters, and are immune to things that would affect “real” Monster Cards. That’s not the case however. Monster Tokens are just like any other monster on the field, with a minor “no face-down” restriction placed upon them. In these rulings, notice that Token Monsters aren’t treated any different from “real” Monster Cards. (See also Statistics/Stats)
D.D.Trap HoleThe rulings also show that they are, in fact, Normal Monsters. For this very reason, certain effects that affect Normal Monsters, and not tokens, have to specifically exclude tokens in their card text. (e.g. Sword of the Soul-Eater, Delta Attacker, Thousand Energy, Triangle Power) Tokens are never Effect Monsters and never have effects. The effect of something like an Ojama Token is actually a condition placed on it by Ojama Trio and could not be negated with something like Skill Drain or Divine Wrath.
You can select a Token as your monster to destroy and remove from play from your side of the field for “D.D. Trap Hole”.
Jam Breeding Machine
If you have two "Jam Breeding Machines" on your side of the field you cannot Summon any monsters, even Slime Tokens.
Physical Double
You can target a Monster Token with "Physical Double" to create a Mirage Token copy of it.
Needle Ceiling
Face-down monsters and Monster Tokens are included in determining the number of monsters on the field.
Non-Spellcasting Area
The effect of “Non-Spellcasting Area” includes Ritual Monsters and Fusion Monsters that do not have effects, as well as Monster Tokens.
White Magician Pikeru
Monster tokens and face-down monsters are included for "White Magician Pikeru"'s effect.
Emissary of the OasisThis is one bit of information that I still see misrepresented, but it does, in fact, have rulings to back it up. Monster Tokens are, indeed, counted as “cards”.
A Monster Token is a Normal Monster, but a Ritual Monster without an effect is not a Normal Monster.
Human-Wave Tactics
"Human-Wave Tactics" includes Tokens.
The Law of the Normal
The "Law of the Normal" includes Tokens.
KotodamaOne of my personal favorites, and lesser know rulings, is this one for Token Thanksgiving. Since a token will remain a token as long as its on the field and since it is, in fact, a monster card, then it is a legal target for Relinquished and, by extension, Thousand-Eyes Restrict. While tokens are never generated as Spell or Trap Cards, they can be transformed into Equip Spell Cards using these two monster’s effects. Just like any other Monster Card. They will remain tokens, however. Yes, this is the very rare occasion you would see an Equip Spell Token.
Sheep Tokens will be destroyed by the effect of "Kotodama" since Monster Tokens are considered cards.
Secret Barrel
Monster Tokens are counted for "Secret Barrel".
Spatial Collapse
"Spatial Collapse" includes Tokens, too.
Spatial Collapse
While "Spatial Collapse" is active and you have 1 or more cards already on your side of the field, you cannot activate "Scapegoat" because you would have your 1 previous card + the "Scapegoat" card + 4 monster tokens = 6.
Token ThanksgivingRemoved From Play
"Token Thanksgiving" will destroy a Monster Token equipped to "Relinquished".
Another action that affects tokens as easily as it would regular monster cards is removing them from play. Just like effects that attempt to send a token to the Graveyard, effects that attempt to remove a token from play will also move the token off the field and into nothingness.
Chain DisappearanceStatistics/Stats (ATK/DEF/ATTRIBUTE/Type)
The effect of "Chain Disappearance" can remove multiple monsters that are Summoned simultaneously, for example if your opponent activates "Scapegoat", you can respond with "Chain Disappearance" to remove all 4 "Sheep Tokens" that were Special Summoned from the field.
Different Dimension Gate
You can select a Monster Token when you activate "Different Dimension Gate", but the token is taken off the field.
All the evidence that a Monster Token is treated like any other monster is evident in rulings like the ones I’ve listed under Normal Monster Cards. But there is further evidence of that in the rulings that show a Token Monster’s stats will modify and even be referenced, (say it with me) just like any other Monster Card.
Command KnightSummoning
If "Physical Double" creates a Mirage Token of a Warrior-Type monster while "Command Knight" is on the field, take the current ATK (including "Command Knight" Bonus), then apply all bonuses again if appropriate. So a Mirage Token of a 1600 ATK Warrior-Type monster would be ATK 2000 (it copies the 1600 ATK and then gains "Command Knight"’s +400 ATK bonus).
Firebird
Winged Beast-Type tokens on the controller’s side of the field are included and will increase the ATK of “Firebird” when destroyed.
King Tiger Wanghu
"King Tiger Wanghu"’s effect includes Monster Tokens with ATK 1400 or less.
Maji-Gire Panda
Beast-Type tokens like “Sheep Tokens” are included and will increase the ATK of “Maji-Gire Panda” when destroyed.
Maju Garzett
When you Tribute Monster Tokens to Tribute Summon "Maju Garzett", the sum of their ATK's will be the ATK of "Maju Garzet".
Physical Double
If a Field Spell Card was active before resolution of "Physical Double" that applied to the targeted monster, it applies to the original monster and to the Mirage Token. So if a Field Spell Card was increasing ATK by +500, the original would get +500 ATK and the Mirage Token would get an additional +500 ATK, for a +1000 ATK bonus total for the Mirage Token over the printed ATK of the original monster. Likewise, when "A Legendary Ocean" is active, and you activate "Physical Double" targeting a WATER monster, the Mirage Token's Level Stars are 2 fewer than the printed Level Stars of the original targeted monster.
Another set of rulings showing how tokens are no different from any other monster, even in the mechanics behind their summon. While they may not exist until the effect Special Summoning them resolves, their summon can still be responded to, or negated, by the appropriate effects.
Insect QueenTributing
If you want to use "Royal Oppression" to negate the Special Summon of an Insect Monster Token, you chain it to the activation of "Insect Queen"’s effect during the End Phase.
Royal Oppression
When "Insect Queen" destroys your opponent’s monster, an "Insect Monster Token" is Special Summoned during the End Phase, and the effect of "Royal Oppression" can be activated at that time to negate the Special Summon and destroy "Insect Queen".
Royal Oppression
When "Jam Breeding Machine" activates its effect to Special Summon a "Slime Token" in the Standby Phase, and the effect of "Royal Oppression" can be activated at that time to negate the Special Summon and destroy "Jam Breeding Machine".
The act of tributing does not require the tribute to go to the Graveyard. Often, the no-tribute restriction placed on Sheep and Ojama Tokens by the effect of Scapegoat and Ojama Trio has led some to believe that the tribute restriction is a default action of all tokens. However, this is not true. Tokens only have that restriction if an effect places it on them, and can otherwise be used as tributes for any effect or cost. (As a side note, the “no-tribute” restriction for the above mentioned cards is only referring to Tribute Summons. Tributing for a Special Summon, like Metamorphosis or Lava Golemare NOT Tribute Summons. The restriction does not apply to Tribute Effects.)
Hand of NephthysSummary
You can Tribute a Monster Token as part of this card’s cost.
Lava Golem
You can Tribute "Sheep Tokens" to Special Summon "Lava Golem" because it is not a Tribute Summon.
Maju Garzett
When you Tribute Monster Tokens to Tribute Summon "Maju Garzett", the sum of their ATK's will be the ATK of "Maju Garzett".
Metamorphosis
You can Tribute a Monster Token (including a Sheep Token from "Scapegoat").
Scapegoat
You may offer Sheep Tokens as Tributes for Toon Monsters, since they are Special Summoned and not Tribute Summoned.
Statue of the Wicked
You can Tribute a "Wicked Token".
Tribute Doll
You can use Monster Tokens as a cost for "Tribute Doll".
Seeing the rulings laid out like this makes understanding token/effect interaction easier and helps prevent any further dissemination of false info. When someone argues with you about what tokens can do, you can calmly and patiently refer them to a host of rulings and official documentation that explain the irrefutable truth. Here are the “rules” about tokens laid out in a simple terminology for easy reference.
1. When tokens leave the field, they cease to exist. If an effect tries to put tokens in the Graveyard, Hand, Deck or Removed from Play Zone, they simply disappear.
2. Tokens can be used as costs as long as the cost doesn’t require it to go to a specific place outside the field; the Graveyard, Deck, Hand or Removed from Play Zone.
3. Tokens are Normal Monster Cards. Normal, Monsters AND Cards. All three. Anything that you could generally do on the field with, say, a face-up Skull Servant, you can do with a Monster Token (unless an effect specifically forbids it). Even equip it to Relinquished.
4. Tokens are never considered to have effects or be Effect Monsters. Any effect from a token is placed upon it by the effect that generated it. The effect is considered to come from the generating card.
5. Tokens cannot be flipped face-down. This is their only on-the-field restriction.
6. Tokens can be tributed unless an effect prevents it. The no-tribute restriction placed on some tokens is due to the card effects that generated them, and not the default action of all Token Monsters.
There you have it. More information was available then I originally thought regarding Monster Tokens, which really makes you wonder why people still get taught incorrectly. It is my sincerest desire that this guide will help to quell this one small problem. Don’t bash someone over the head with this information, but use it to teach others and help educate the community. Be like Simon Key and just be “happy to be playing the game”. I know I am.
Peace
-The Jedi
Mark Daniel Martinez
Unofficial Slime Token Monster Card created by Mark Daniel Martinez