Token Resource Volume #2: Classic Tokens 1 of 2: The Rank and File
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miinor_threat
6 July 2010
12584 views
TappedOut Token Resource Volume #2: Classic Tokens 1 of 2: The Rank and File
6 July 2010
12584 views
TappedOut Token Resource Volume #2: Classic Tokens 1 of 2: The Rank and File
That's right TappedOut, it's token time once again. This week we hearken back to the days of yore, a simpler time, when tokens were just 1/1s represented by some dice or one of those glass beads. Im talking about classic, tribal tokens. Eladamri, Lord of Leaves is nothing without a battalion of loyal elf tokens behind him. Goblin Piledriver just doesn't get the job done without goblin-token-cannon-fodder charging headlong at his side. Feeding Frenzy is worthless without a horde of zombie tokens ready, willing, and able to snack on brains!!
So for you, TappedOut, I put together a collection of alternate versions of some of the most iconic tokens of each color. Enjoy
| ## GREEN Green is the undisputed champion of tokens as far as the colors go. In fact, its so nice it gets represented twice. I couldnt in good conscience choose between Saproling and Elf, so I made both. ## Elf-Warrior Token Especially with the rumored return of Imperious Perfect, it is a good time to be an elf. Brought to the board with Elvish Promenade, Nath of the Gilt-Leaf, and Lys Alana Huntmaster to name a few, they are easy to bring out. The fact that they are both elves AND warriors allows for sick tribal synergy with the right cards. Forest-Elf-Summer-Salad-Combo Recipe: Start with some fresh, leafy Imperious Perfect as your base, chop thoroughly with a sharp Obsidian Battle-Axe, toss, and add seasonal Bramblewood Paragon for both zest and trample! Serve directly to your opponents face for best results. |
 | ## Saproling Token I love fungus. I love them. Yes they suck, in fact, they suck a lot. There is not a single mechanic in MTG they are not vulnerable to (Spot-kill, ouch. Mass removal, SUPER-ouch. Counterpells, that'll do it. Bounce, yeah that sucks too ) But dammit I love fungus! Doctor Shroom has fought for fungal civil rights since before it was cool. Thelon of Havenwood is basically the Che Guevarra of Saprolings. My challenge to you is this: Google the TED talk about Mycology by Dr. Paul Stamets and try not to build a fungus deck (it is legitimately fascinating by the way, watch that s--t). Wizards has printed about 4 official Saproling Tokens, but here is a slightly Golgari looking alternate option. |
| ## RED ## Goblin Token Goblins are awesome. They are basically like the frat boys of the MTG universe. Its like when you throw a party and all the sudden 8 of them show up and you are like "F--K. Who invited the goblins!? I hate those guys. Last time they were here somebody crapped in my toilet tank and I'm dead sure it was one of them. I was missing a bunch of CDs too. Seriously, was it Brian? I tell him EVERY time not to call them..." These little baddies hit the board via Siege-Gang Commander, Dragon Fodder, Goblin Assault, and many more. BONUS GOBLIN TRIVIA: Some of the best flavor text of all time is on Goblin Offensive. |
 | ## BLACK ## Zombie Token Brain gumbo, fried brains, lemon-pepper brains, braised brains over lamb-shoulders, brain curry, brain and fennel three-bean-gazpacho, brain tartar, brain stew, chopped-brain cob salad, brain popsicles, dried brains, apple-stuffed brains, summer potato-and-brain salad, BBQ brains, hot and spicy 5 alarm brain chili, brains over linguini with butter sauce, vegan soy imitation-brains, brain smoothie, rice and brains, macaroni and brains, garlic brains, brain tacos 2/2 Zombies are a magic classic. Bridge from Below dredge decks and Zombie tribal couldnt live (...wait) without these tokens. Cemetary Reaper, Grixis Slavedriver, and Necromancer's Covenant all rip these poor souls from deaths sweet embrace and put them on the board, ready to do your bidding you horrible person. |
 | ## BLUE ## Merfolk Wizard Token Granted, blue is not a token powerhouse. KrazyCaley has been known to say "Blue permanent is an oxymoron." However, with the dawn of Lorwyn the Merfolk became a legit tribe. Although their soft, tasty blue flesh is known to be devoured by the more established tribes from time to time, they are sneaky. Ashkaan has a Merfolk deck with a NSFW name that beats with annoying, island-walking, pumped Merfolk, aggro-style. Benthicore, Stonybrook Schoolmaster, and Summon the School all put Merfolk Wizard tokens into play. |
 | ## WHITE ## Soldier Token Ten-hutt!! Soldiers can be nasty. They have an unbelievable amount of tribal synergy. I have lost more freakin games to csmash's deck "Soldiers" to the tune of "Play Daru Warchief, cast Brave the Elements naming green, swing for 16" than I care to think about. Martial Coup, Mobilization, and Captain of the Watch are three of the many, many cards that can make soldier tokens. Wizards has printed several official versions of the white soldier, but I really like this one as an alternate. |
 | ## Alternate Soldier Token Here is a possibly Boros-ish crusader type soldier token in case the first one wasn't your style. |
 | ## COLORLESS ## Sliver Token You weren't expecting this were you? Slivers were THE metagame in their day. If you couldnt handle slivers, you lost, period. To this day they have a fun, crazy synergy that is awesome to both play and play against. The mighty Sliver Queen *oversized* can pump out these babies like nobody's business. Brood Sliver can get CRAZY if you can start hitting with a few slivers a turn as well. |
 | ## BONUS REQUEST TOKEN! This weeks request token goes out to Zanven . Good call on Bottle of Suleiman, it is a high-risk, high-reward, old school artifact that can potentially end-step a 5/5 Djinn into play. This used to be a powerful card in old blue decks, back when blue used to have to pay PREMIUM for big beats. Keep the requests up, I will do what I can! |
Next Up: Classic Tokens 2: Heavy Hitters
In the next edition we will see some more re-made classics. Be on the lookout for bigger, badder tokens.
KrazyCaley says... #3
I do enjoy a good enchantment or planeswalker from time to time, but yeah, usually I'm not a permanent-generating kind of magic player.
July 7, 2010 7:15 p.m.
moldycaster says... #4
heavy hitter token suggestions:
Crush of Wurms - Dark Depths - Din of the Fireherd - Elemental Appeal - card:Feudkiller's Verdict - Godsire - Helm of Kaldra - One Dozen Eyes - Pact of the Titan - Penumbra Wurm - Pongify - Phyrexian Processor - Riptide Replicator - Roar of the Wurm - Rukh Egg - Stangg - Stone Idol Trap - card:Tatsumasa, the Dragon's Fang - Tomb of Urami - Wurmcalling - Wurmweaver Coil - Zektar Shrine Expedition
I think that's all of them.. :P
good job on the artwork, btw. very nice. :)
July 7, 2010 10:46 p.m.
misshepeshu says... #5
Oh man, I love me some tokens. The very first EDH deck I bothered to build had Rhys the Redeemed as my general. Every deck I've built since then creates tokens in some way, shape or form. I have a fever, and the only prescription is more tokens.
Suggestion for heavy hitter token: the elemental from Din of the Fireherd . That's a crazy-ass card in any casual, multi-player format, and the official token is pretty bad-ass, but I'd be curious to see your interpretation.
I really love a lot of the art you use, by the way--I vastly prefer your green and white elf warrior token to the official artwork. (Why do Wizards of the Coast insist on making the elves look so anemic and/or douchey? On the other hand: they're elves. If Goblins are the frat boys of the Magic universe, then the Elves are the entitled yuppie kids with gigantic trust funds.) What are some of the sources you use, or do you create them yourself? I noticed that some of the tokens credit you as the artist.
July 8, 2010 5:17 a.m.
miinor_threat says... #6
@moldycaster: Thanks for the suggestions. You should check out Volume #1, it was dedicated to many of the legendary tokens you mentioned... there is a link at the top of the article.
I love some of these cards you mentioned. Pact of the Titan is already finished and will be in the next article. I would love to be able to put together a good Pongify , it's just a matter of finding the art.
@misshepeshu: Certain cards are VERY difficult to find good token art for, like Spawnwrithe or Mirror-Sigil Sergeant , because they have to look exactly like what is on the original art. Din of the Fireherd is in that category but I will take a look.
To make these tokens I usually start with deviantart.com, various artists' personal websites, and google image searches to find royalty free or fair-use arwork. Then I edit/crop/colorshift/saturate/sharpen/enhance etc. them in a few different image editing programs. Once I get a satisfactory image I mock the cards up in Magic Set Editor.
A few of the tokens I post have been created by others. I wish I was talented enough to create the art myself! I put the Miinor Threat credit on complete tokens that I have edited and do not know the artist credit for.
After I finish this token series I am planning on doing a card creation workshop, card-type by card-type. Kind of a how-to on mocking up an entire set...
July 8, 2010 2:52 p.m.
How about some angels for Luminarch Ascension ? Or some birds, Emeria Angel would never look as stylish!
houmbus says... #1
For your heavy hitters segment, it would be cool to see tokens for Voice of the Woods and Broodmate Dragon
July 7, 2010 1:26 p.m.