Are you brewing a token-based deck for Commander? If you are, these token doublers will be some of the best cards in your deck. You’ll always be happy to see one in your opening hand.
Unfortunately, there haven’t been many token doublers printed in the history of the game. However, a few very powerful ones have been released in the last couple of years. Here, we’ve compiled the best options to consider for any Commander deck.
In this list, we will be looking at only the best generic token doublers in MTG. That means no effects that trigger only for a specific creature type, like Endless Ranks of the Dead for zombies. We’re focusing on cards that any token-based Commander deck can use.
Get ready for some epic brewing! Here’s our list of the 12 Best Token Doublers in MTG for Commander & EDH:
#1 Parallel Lives
Parallel Lives is as good as it gets. For four mana, any tokens you create are doubled. Being an enchantment means it will stick around longer than creatures with doubling abilities. This is a must-run for any token-based deck.
#2 Anointed Procession
Anointed Procession is the same as Parallel Lives but in white. Both colors are exactly where you want to be for a token-based deck. If you happen to have both in play, the effect stacks. So, for instance, if you would create one token, Parallel Lives doubles it to 2, and then Anointed Procession will double it again to 4.
#3 Chatterfang, Squirrel General
Chatterfang gets bonus points for also being a viable Commander. It’s the lowest mana value token doubler that always triggers (others have conditions to meet). It also has a removal and pump ability built-in.
#4 Ocelot Pride
Fresh off the press is Ocelot Pride, which made our list of the best new Commander cards from Modern Horizons 3. It’s only one mana and can double the number of tokens you create in a turn. There’s no card in Commander that can offer that kind of value for token decks at 1 mana.
This card may even turn out to be the #1 token doubler in all of MTG over time. For now, we have it at #4, as the doubling trigger only happens if you gained life and have the city’s blessing. While getting to 10 permanents is easy in a token deck, gaining life will require a little more build-around.
If push comes to shove, you can always attack to trigger lifelink and the token doubling effect. Combining with cards like Dolmen Gate will make attacking and getting triggers easier for all your cards.
#5 Rhys the Redeemed
Rhys is a repeatable doubler of tokens that can run away with the game. Its ability works at instant speed, so you can keep your mana up for Teferi’s Protection and the like at the same time.
What makes Rhys better than other doublers is that it doubles everything in play, whereas other cards only double what will come into play in the future.
#6 Doubling Season
Double everything with Doubling Season! Do you have cards like Cathar’s Crusade in your token deck? If you do, Doubling Season will not only double the number of tokens you get but also double the number of +1/+1 counters you put on those tokens.
Doubling Season would be higher on the list, but getting your doubler effect out a turn earlier, at 4 mana, is huge for the previously mentioned cards.
#7 Mondrak, Glory Dominus
Mondrak is an Anointed Procession on a stick. That’s actually a bit of a downside, as it dies to board wipes and creature removal like Swords to Plowshares.
On the plus side, Mondrak can be your Commander and has a one-mana way to give itself indestructibility. However, it’s not as great as it looks in a format where cards like Farewell and Toxic Deluge are popular.
#8 Adrix and Nev, Twincasters
Adrix and Nev, Twincasters is pretty much on par with Mondrak, Glory Dominus. Ward 2 does a good job of protecting it from most spot removal. Commander players generally don’t want to waste their entire turn of mana just to remove one creature unless they are about to lose the game.
Although you really want this effect in green-white, green is still a primary token color and blue has a fair amount of merfolk token generation as well. Adrix and Nev, Twincasters also makes a pretty decent Commander.
#9 Rabble Rousing
Rabble Rousing encourages you to attack with all your tokens. If you do, you’ll get to double up on them! It doesn’t matter if any die, as they replace themself. As an added bonus, you’ll almost always trigger the Hideaway ability and get to cast the best card from the top 5 of your library for free.
#10 Ojer Taq, Deepest Foundation
Why double your tokens when you can triple them? This makes any token-generating card amazing. If you cast something like Spectral Procession to get three 1/1 fliers, you will end up with nine tokens instead!
The biggest downside here is the mana cost. You only want to play Ojer if your deck has sufficient ramp to play this on turn 4 or 5 at the latest. If your meta is really slow, then this is pretty insane, as you’ll be out-valuing everyone at the table.
#11 Primal Vigor
What’s the difference between Primal Vigor and Doubling Season? The big difference is that Primal Vigor doubles tokens and counters for everyone; whereas, Doubling Season only doubles things for you.
This makes Primal Vigor much worse in Commander. Between 3 other players, chances are tokens or counters will be coming into play for someone.
Either way, Primal Vigor still makes it onto our list as you’re going to be benefiting more than anyone else at the table. Only run this card if you are already playing Doubling Season and want another doubling effect.
#12 Kaya, Geist Hunter
Finally, we have Kaya, Geist Hunter. She’s a nice option for Orzhov decks that don’t get all the green doubling effects.
The big downside to Kaya is that she is easy to kill as a Planeswalker through combat damage. However, she does only cost 3 mana and will survive creature-based board wipes.
Honorable Mention: Second Harvest
When you’re ready to swing for lethal and win the game, Second Harvest is a one-shot surprise Rhys, the Redeemed. The reason this card didn’t make the main list is that it only works once, whereas the rest are repeatable effects.
The best way to use Second Harvest is in the late game before your turn to double the amount of tokens you control. If you already have another token doubler effect out, you’ll start your turn with 4x the number of creatures you had the previous turn. Then attack for lethal!
Those are all our recommendations for the best token doubler cards in the Commander & EDH format. If you’re running a green or white token deck, you may also be interested in our best white card draw and best green card draw in Commander list. Also, don’t forget to run Skullclamp in your token builds!
READ MORE: The Best Token Commanders in MTG
