Monster Tokens
Monster tokens first appeared in Labyrinth of Nightmare with Jam Breeding Machine, but tokens were not commonly used until the release of Scapegoat in the Joey Starter Deck. Since then, many cards have been released that summon monster tokens, but Scapegoat is still the most popular.
The effects of monster, spell, and trap cards can generate monster tokens, which represent monsters on the field. Any object can be used as a monster token—a coin, bead, stone, pretzel, Gregory Horror miniature, or even a hair clip—but make sure you use something that can clearly show whether the token is in attack or defense position.
When a monster token is on the field, it is treated like a normal monster card. This means that a token has the same strengths and weaknesses that a normal monster card has. This doesn’t mean, however, that a token has the same effects as a normal monster card. You might have noticed that some cards (like Triangle Power) specifically say that their effects are not shared by monster tokens. Effects always come from the card that created the token, not from the token itself. This aspect of tokens trips a lot of players up.
Example: Non-Spellcasting Sheep
Let’s say I have Non-Spellcasting Area face up on my side of the field, along with three Sheep tokens and a Berserk Gorilla. If my opponent plays Dark Hole, only my Berserk Gorilla would be destroyed, because my Sheep tokens would be treated like normal monster cards and would therefore be protected by Non-Spellcasting Area.
I’ll note here that each monster token takes up a monster zone space. This can be important when your opponent is playing Ojama Trio and Ground Collapse.
Monster tokens can’t exist off the field. If a monster token is destroyed or otherwise removed from the field, that token ceases to exist. Period. It doesn’t go into your deck, hand, or graveyard.
Example: Penguin Soldier vs. the Tokens
Let’s say I have two Sheep tokens on my side of the field. My opponent flip-summons a Penguin Soldier and targets my Sheep tokens with Penguin Soldier’s effect. When the effect resolves, it will remove my tokens from the field, and they’ll cease to exist.
Monster tokens have one final quirk: they can’t be turned face down. This was determined in the rulings for Book of Moon on the official Yu-Gi-Oh! website’s FAQ.
Example: Choosing targets for Tsukuyomi
Let’s say my opponent has a face-up Magician of Faith, a face-up Spirit Reaper, and two Sheep tokens. If I were to summon Tsukuyomi, and I wanted to use its effect on my opponent’s monsters, I would only be able to target Magician of Faith or Spirit Reaper. The Sheep tokens would be off-limits because they can’t be turned face down.
Counters
Counters work in a different way. Counters are typically placed onto another card; they aren’t put onto the field by themselves. Anything can represent a counter, although I recommend using game stones.
Like monster tokens, counters are generated by the effects of monster, spell, and trap cards. Cards like Skilled Dark Magician, Pitch-Black Power Stone, Magic Reflector, and Big Core each have their own uses for counters, and these uses are based on the effects of the particular card.
In general, counters have a specific use. Breaker the Magical Warrior gets a spell counter when it comes into play that increases its ATK by 300 points, and you can remove the spell counter from Breaker to destroy a spell or trap card. Big Core uses counters to sustain itself on the field after engaging in battle. You’ll see that there are a variety of uses for counters.
Spell Counters
Not every card in the game can use spell counters; only those cards that specifically allow for spell counters can use them. Pitch-Black Power Stone has an effect that lets you place a spell counter on another card, but this will only work if the target card says it can have spell counters.
Be sure to read cards closely to find out if they can use spell counters. For example, you know that you can put spell counters on Skilled Dark Magician, Skilled White Magician, Breaker the Magical Warrior, and Legendary Flame Lord because the directions on those cards say you can.
Spell Counters vs. Other Counters
Big Core uses counters as part of its effect, but these counters are not the same as spell counters. You will not be able to use Apprentice Magician to replace one of Big Core’s counters, because Apprentice Magician only works with spell counters.
Magic Reflector also uses counters, but its counters are dedicated to protecting spell cards from destruction. You can’t move these counters onto another card or use them for other purposes.
I hope that this article has helped clear up the uses of monster tokens and counters. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll take your game to the next level.
Next Week: Blast Held by a Tribute