<p>Tokens could always be tapped &amp; untapped.  They're (usually) supposed to be creatures, after all, and creatures tap &amp; untap.</p>

<p>Exhibit A: The very first token-generating card, <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bThe%20Hive%5d">The Hive</a>, from Alpha:</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/UfW89.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p>Note that the text says "mak[e] sure to indicate when each Wasp is tapped."</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-31T20:49:20.227Z
Could you imagine if cards were still made with this much text? Wowzers!
corsiKa
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-01T00:42:58.043Z
They shifted a lot of that text into rules for just that reason.
murgatroid99
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-31T00:28:22.807Z
2015-03-31T00:28:22.807Z
jwodder
<p>It's been a <em>long</em> time since I've played Magic.  <sub><sup>(My "new" cards are from 4th edition.)</sup></sub></p>

<p>As I recall, tokens could be created and destroyed, but they could never be tapped or untapped.  In practice, people represented them with pennies or scraps of paper.</p>

<p>Now I'm seeing talk about tapping and untapping tokens, and cards being sold to represent tokens to make this job easier.</p>

<p><strong>When did Magic start tapping and untapping tokens?</strong></p>

<p>Alternatively, if they've always allowed it and my memory and/or understanding of the rules is simply faulty, feel free to make that clear in your answer.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-31T05:42:11.550Z
I have a suspicion you've confused and conflated tokens with counters in your memory. Certainly _counters_ don't get tapped, just added or removed, and are also represented with pennies or scraps of paper.
doppelgreener
<magic-the-gathering>
Has Magic always had tapped/untapped tokens?
Joe
# Has Magic always had tapped/untapped tokens?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-03-31)

It's been a *long* time since I've played Magic. (My "new" cards are from 4th edition.)

As I recall, tokens could be created and destroyed, but they could never be tapped or untapped. In practice, people represented them with pennies or scraps of paper.

Now I'm seeing talk about tapping and untapping tokens, and cards being sold to represent tokens to make this job easier.

**When did Magic start tapping and untapping tokens?**

Alternatively, if they've always allowed it and my memory and/or understanding of the rules is simply faulty, feel free to make that clear in your answer.

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I have a suspicion you've confused and conflated tokens with counters in your memory. Certainly _counters_ don't get tapped, just added or removed, and are also represented with pennies or scraps of paper.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-03-31. Score: 12 | Accepted answer

Tokens could always be tapped & untapped. They're (usually) supposed to be creatures, after all, and creatures tap & untap.

Exhibit A: The very first token-generating card, [The Hive](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bThe%20Hive%5d), from Alpha:

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/UfW89.jpg)

Note that the text says "mak[e] sure to indicate when each Wasp is tapped."

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Could you imagine if cards were still made with this much text? Wowzers!  
> **username_4**: They shifted a lot of that text into rules for just that reason.  

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