<p><strong>You are correct in the general sense. The CMC of <em>almost</em> any tokens is 0. The only exception is tokens copying other cards (e.g. <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Cackling%20Counterpart">Cackling Counterpart</a>).</strong></p>
<p>The simplest reference is <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=218006" rel="noreferrer">the Oracle rulings</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>6/1/2011  A token has a converted mana cost of 0, unless it is copying
something else.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>6/1/2011  If a creature is copying something else, its converted mana
cost is the converted mana cost of whatever it's copying.</p>
</blockquote>
<hr />
<p>So, why do most tokens have CMC 0?</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>110.5b</strong> ... A token doesn't have any characteristics not defined by the spell or ability that created it.</p>
<p><em>Example: Jade Mage has the ability &quot;{2}{G}: Put a 1/1 green Saproling
creature token onto the battlefield.&quot; The resultning token has no mana
cost, supertype, expansion symbol, rules text, or abilities.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Normally, in Magic, the absence of a value isn't the same as &quot;zero&quot;, but the definition of <em>converted mana cost</em> explicitly covers this situation:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>202.3a</strong> The converted mana cost of an object with no mana cost is 0.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-23T21:26:51.673Z
Silly me, I should have looked at the card.
DForck42
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-23T21:49:45.030Z
Little nitpick: the absence of a value usually does usually imply that it's zero, if it's needed in a calculation: *107.2. If anything needs to use a number that can’t be determined, either as a result or in a calculation, it uses 0 instead.* When in doubt, the comp rules tend to repeat themselves just to err on the safe side, so it's no wonder that they explicitly spell out 202.3a when 107.2 would technically suffice.
Hackworth
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-13T23:10:37.157Z
Note, a flipped card (Delver, Huntsmaster, etc) also has a casting cost of 0.
Hyppy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-01-14T16:54:15.637Z
Does this mean the resulting token has no artist, too, until it is targeted by Brushstroke Paintermage of course? :-)
corsiKa
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-01T05:00:42.593Z
Indeed it does.
aaron
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-23T21:23:41.737Z
2012-05-23T21:49:39.107Z
2012-05-23T21:49:39.107Z
Alex P
<p>From my understanding, the CMC (converted mana cost) of a token is 0.  When you sacrifice a creature with <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Birthing%20Pod">Birthing Pod</a> it adds 1 to the CMC.  So, if I sacrifice a token (any token) to Birthing Pod, can I get a creature with a CMC of 1 from my deck?</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Can I Birthing Pod a token to get a creature with a CMC of 1?
DForck42
# Can I Birthing Pod a token to get a creature with a CMC of 1?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-05-23)

From my understanding, the CMC (converted mana cost) of a token is 0. When you sacrifice a creature with [Birthing Pod](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Birthing%20Pod) it adds 1 to the CMC. So, if I sacrifice a token (any token) to Birthing Pod, can I get a creature with a CMC of 1 from my deck?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-05-23. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

**You are correct in the general sense. The CMC of *almost* any tokens is 0. The only exception is tokens copying other cards (e.g. [Cackling Counterpart](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Cackling%20Counterpart)).**

The simplest reference is [the Oracle rulings](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=218006):

> 6/1/2011 A token has a converted mana cost of 0, unless it is copying
> something else.

> 6/1/2011 If a creature is copying something else, its converted mana
> cost is the converted mana cost of whatever it's copying.

---

So, why do most tokens have CMC 0?

> **110.5b** ... A token doesn't have any characteristics not defined by the spell or ability that created it.
>
> *Example: Jade Mage has the ability "{2}{G}: Put a 1/1 green Saproling
> creature token onto the battlefield." The resultning token has no mana
> cost, supertype, expansion symbol, rules text, or abilities.*

Normally, in Magic, the absence of a value isn't the same as "zero", but the definition of *converted mana cost* explicitly covers this situation:

> **202.3a** The converted mana cost of an object with no mana cost is 0.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Silly me, I should have looked at the card.  
> **username_2**: Little nitpick: the absence of a value usually does usually imply that it's zero, if it's needed in a calculation: *107.2. If anything needs to use a number that can’t be determined, either as a result or in a calculation, it uses 0 instead.* When in doubt, the comp rules tend to repeat themselves just to err on the safe side, so it's no wonder that they explicitly spell out 202.3a when 107.2 would technically suffice.  
> **username_3**: Note, a flipped card (Delver, Huntsmaster, etc) also has a casting cost of 0.  
> **username_4**: Does this mean the resulting token has no artist, too, until it is targeted by Brushstroke Paintermage of course? :-)  
> **username_5**: Indeed it does.  

---

