Welcome, Commander fans and token collectors. I am Landon Crispens, and I would like to share my admiration for tokens with you. Magic: The Gathering contains a plethora of tokens representing creatures, artifacts, emblems, and other objects. These tokens serve an essential purpose in the game.
For example, tokens help players depict Chandra, Spark Hunter's 3/2 Vehicles and Valor's Flagship's 1/1 Pilots on the battlefield. Also, tokens assist players in representing a game state, such as controlling ten Treasure tokens. Nevertheless, tokens tend to pile up and collect dust when unused. How many Treasure, Goblin, and Human tokens have you accumulated in your lifetime?
Although tokens may sometimes be abundant, not all are worthless pieces of cardboard. While it may be unthinkable, Fable of the Mirror-Breaker's 2/2 red Goblin Shaman creature token sells for as much as the card itself! It also means you may have hidden treasure if a Goblin Shaman is in your token stash. Let's discuss ten other pricey tokens for which players will pay real money.
One of MTG's recent sets, Duskmourn: House of Horror (DSK), introduced Everywhere. The Everywhere is a token land possessing all basic land types. Yet, receiving a beneficial Everywhere requires playing one specific card.
Overlord of the Hauntwoods is a green Avatar Horror enchantment creature with impending. Whenever Overlord of the Hauntwoods enters the battlefield or attacks, you earn a tapped Everywhere. Fortunately, you can get a Everywhere for only three mana through the impending ability. Accumulating two or more Everywhere should solve your mana fixing needs in a multicolor deck. Still, gathering a few physical copies of Everywhere will set you back close to $4 per copy.
Believe it or not, Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO) finally gave players their first Ninja token. Ninja is a 1/1 blue Ninja token that can't be blocked. Any reason to run a stealthy Ninja is probably good, especially in Ninja and ninjutsu-themed decks.
Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow, Satoru Umezawa, and Goro-Goro and Satoru could all use Ninja and its trusty planeswalker, Kaito Shizuki. Seeing Wizards of the Coast rejuvenate Ninjas and ninjustu as competitive Commander strategies has been lovely. While your Ninja cards may not hide in the shadows or jump from roof to roof, you can throw Ninja like a shuriken onto the battlefield. Ninja's cool factor could be why Ninja hovers around $4 each.
Fascinatingly, Shrine is the second NEO token with an average market price of around $4. Paying $4 for a 1/1 colorless enchantment creature token may seem wild. However, Shrine plays a vital role in decks containing Go-Shintai of Life's Origin.
Go-Shintai of Life's Origin is an excellent commander for Enchantress decks. So you know, players must include a Shrine sub-theme in a Go-Shintai of Life's Origin led deck. Players' interest in playing Go-Shintai of Life's Origin helps ensure Shrine is a desirable token. Another Shrine token is available, but it is more expensive.
Did you know there is a Shapeshifter token worth $5? Kaldheim (KHM)'s blue 2/2 Shapeshifter token price tag equals an average Play Booster. Shapeshifter is unique due to its blue identity and that Maskwood Nexus produces them.
Maskwood Nexus is the quintessential card for any kindred deck, with over 150,000 inclusions on EDHREC. Underrepresented kindred types, like Kobold and Lhurgoyf, can utilize Maskwood Nexus. Additionally, every player running Maskwood Nexus likely needs at least one Shapeshifter, which equates to high demand. Thankfully, double-sided tokens feature Shapeshifter exist for a much lower price. And yet, who can turn down the original version of Shapeshifter?
WotC revived the "Honey Badger Don't Care" meme by slipping Badger into Dominaria United (DMU). Though Badger will do whatever it takes for Food, you may use it for other purposes. Besides attacking, blocking, and sitting idly on the battlefield, Badger can be helpful to Greensleeves, Maro-Sorcerer.
Triggering Greensleeves, Maro-Sorcerer's Landfall ability will net a Badger. Accumulating multiple Badger tokens isn't hard with Greensleeves, Maro-Sorcerer under your control. Badger may not be as pricey as Greensleeves, Maro-Sorcerer, but copies of it do sell for close to $5. Maybe WotC will design another card-gifting Badger in the future.
If you thought Slugs were harmless creatures, think again! Slug could be the lethal blow for your opponents thanks to Toxrill, the Corrosive. Players running Toxrill, the Corrosive can turn their opponents' creatures into 1/1 black Slug creature tokens. Since Toxrill, the Corrosive's slime counter ability triggers at the beginning of each end step, it's easy to amass a handful of Slug.
The only place to find Slug tokens is in Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW) booster packs. A lack of Slug supply and popularity of Toxrill, the Corrosive contributes to Slug $6 price tag. Even double-sided foil tokens from VOW featuring Slug sell for $3 or more. Don't count on Slug becoming less expensive due to the Secret Lair X SpongeBob SquarePants: Legends of Bikini Bottom containing Toxrill, the Corrosive. Watch out because Gary, the Snail and a legion of Slug may be coming to a kitchen table near you.
Amazingly, VOW features another $6 token. Spirit Cleric is a white Spirit Cleric token with power and toughness equal to the number of Spirits you control. Interestingly, Spirit Cleric is also unique to VOW. You receive a Spirit Cleric whenever you cast an enchantment spell with Hallowed Haunting under your control.
Spirit Cleric's Commander appeal is probably because of Hallowed Haunting's playability. Have you seen Hallowed Haunting played in the 99 of Sythis, Harvest's Hand, Anikthea, Hand of Erebos, or Go-Shintai of Life's Origin? Hallowed Haunting can serve as a finisher by amassing an army of Spirit Cleric. Did I mention Hallowed Haunting also grants your creatures flying and vigilance? Running Hallowed Haunting can be pricey depending on the number of Spirit Clerics you want in the deckbox.
KHM introduced the world to Koma, Cosmos Serpent, an uncounterable 6/6 Serpent. Its first ability churns out a 3/3 blue Serpent creature token named Koma's Coil at the beginning of each player's upkeep. Those Koma's Coil creature tokens can multiply quickly in a four-player Commander game. Many players can attest that an unchecked Koma, Cosmos Serpent and fellow Koma's Coil is not a positive outcome for anyone except its controller.
In addition to likely needing several copies of Koma's Coil, the token happens to be uniquely named. Any tokens with unique names limit opportunities for reprinting, which can drive higher demand and prices. It doesn't hurt that Koma, Cosmos Serpent is playable in Commander, too. These and other factors have led to Koma's Coil reaching a price of around $7 per copy. Would you rather spend $7 on a Wastewood Verge, a Blasphemous Edict, or a Koma's Coil?
Are you fond of giant robots like those in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing or Mobile Suit Gundam SEED? Well, Mechtitan may be the next best option to a Gundam in MTG (until it becomes a Universes Beyond crossover). Excitingly, making a copy of Mechtitan lets you control a 10/10 artifact creature with flying, vigilance, trample, lifelink, and haste.
Surprisingly, Mechtitan dramatically exceeds the price of its namesake card, Mechtitan Core. With an average market price of over $8 per copy, Mechtitan is both a pricey token and a path to victory. Creating a Mechtitan sadly requires exiling several artifacts, including Mechtitan Core. However, the allure and satisfaction of defeating opponents with a giant flying robot far exceed the cost. Now may be a great time to dig through that NEO stack of tokens to find hidden treasure.
This last token is a combined set of two. Transformers (BOT) is an outstanding addition to The Brothers' War (BRO). Among BOT's 15 Transformers cards is a double-sided Esper Decepticon named Soundwave, Sonic Spy. In Transformers lore, Soundwave, Sonic Spy orders a group of Mini-Cassettes to carry out missions. Accompanying Soundwave, Sonic Spy in BOT are two of those Mini-Cassettes, Laserbeak and Ravage. Moreover, you can create a token copy of Laserbeak or Ravage through Soundwave, Sonic Spy's backside by casting an odd or even mana value spell.
Soundwave, Sonic Spy may have limited playability in Commander, but collecting its loyalty Mini-Cassettes can cost more than you think. Singular tokens of Laserbeak sell for about $4 each. Astonishingly, Ravage commands a premium price of around $7. Furthermore, Ravage is more expensive than all other regular version Transformers cards in BOT! Should you need a Laserbeak or Ravage, consider grabbing double-sided tokens featuring at much lower prices.
Read More:
Am I The Bolas? - I Really Want to Build This Commander, But My Friend Hates It
How Fun Are the Duskmourn Commanders?
Please note: card prices listed in this article are accurate at the time of writing, but prices can vary over time and between locations.
