This post helps MTG players get the right insect tokens for their deck by explaining the fastest ways to identify, acquire, and customize tokens, so your board state stays readable when the bug swarm shows up.
TLDR
Step one: figure out which kind of Insect token you make, because “Insect token” can mean anything from “harmless 1/1” to “flying deathtouch nightmare.”
Good: use a placeholder (one token + dice/counters) and move on with your life.
Better: grab official-ish token cards or reusable dry-erase tokens so everyone can tell what’s going on.
Best: make custom MTG insect tokens in the PrintMTG Card Maker, with the exact stats and abilities your deck produces, then print them on real card stock so your swarm looks intentional (and not like a desperate arts-and-crafts project).
You know that moment when your deck “makes a few tokens” and then suddenly you have twelve bugs, three of them fly, some have deathtouch, and your opponent is politely asking which ones are which. Congratulations, you have discovered the real final boss of Magic: keeping the battlefield legible.
If you’re here because you need MTG insect tokens, you’re in the right place. Let’s get you from “I’ll just use a die” to “my insect army is organized and mildly terrifying.”
First: confirm what your Insect tokens actually are
“Insect token” is a category, not a promise.
Some decks create plain 1/1 Insects. Others create 1/1 Insects with flying and deathtouch. Others create blue-red flying haste Insects. And then there’s the special chaos tier: cards that sometimes make a generic token, and sometimes make a copy token (which is not the same thing, even if it’s also an Insect).
Here are a few common offenders that lead people to token confusion:
Hornet Queen makes four 1/1 green Insect tokens with flying and deathtouch.
Hornet Nest makes a variable number of 1/1 green Insect tokens with flying and deathtouch based on damage.
The Locust God makes 1/1 blue and red Insect tokens with flying and haste whenever you draw.
Ant Queen makes 1/1 green Insect tokens on demand.
Nest of Scarabs makes 1/1 black Insect tokens when you place -1/-1 counters.
Scute Swarm starts as 1/1 green Insect tokens, then flips into “copy the whole creature” mode once you’re at six lands.
So before you buy or print anything, do this simple check:
Quick token audit (30 seconds, no spreadsheets required)
Look at the exact card text for your token-maker(s).
Write down, for each token:
Power/toughness
Color
Abilities (flying, deathtouch, haste, etc.)
Whether it says “create a token” or “create a token that’s a copy”
If your deck produces more than one distinct Insect token, you want at least one physical token per distinct version. Otherwise, you’ll be “explaining board state” every combat step, which is a hobby, not a strategy.
Good, Better, Best: how to get MTG insect tokens
Here’s the practical framework. Choose the level of effort that matches how often your deck actually does the thing.
Good: placeholders (aka “we’re not here to do arts and crafts”)
This is the minimum viable token plan:
Use one generic token (or a sleeved basic land with “INSECT” written on it).
Put a die on it to represent quantity.
If tokens have keywords, add a second marker (like a bead or a second die) to mean “these ones fly” or “these ones have deathtouch.”
This works. It’s also the origin story of many arguments that start with “Wait, I thought those were the flying ones.”
Use this if:
you rarely generate tokens, or
you only generate one token type, and everyone at the table already knows what it is.
Better: buy or scavenge tokens that already exist
If your deck consistently makes Insect tokens, having proper tokens is the easiest quality-of-life upgrade you can buy for like, the price of a snack.
Ways to get them:
Check your own token stash first. Most players already have a pile of tokens they swear they’ll sort “someday.”
Buy token singles from your local shop or online marketplaces.
Grab reusable dry-erase tokens if you play multiple token decks. They’re the Swiss Army knife of “I don’t want to carry 40 different tokens.”
This tier is great when your token needs are straightforward (1/1 Insect, or 1/1 Insect with a fixed ability).
Best: create custom MTG insect tokens (and make them actually match your deck)
If you’re playing Insect tribal, token swarm, or anything that makes a lot of bugs, custom tokens are the move.
Why?
You can match the exact token text your deck produces.
You can make the art on-theme (spooky, cute, gross, phyrexian, space bugs, whatever your deck’s vibe is).
You stop having that moment where someone says, “So… what are those again?”
And yes, this is where we recommend using the PrintMTG Card Maker.
How to make insect tokens in the PrintMTG Card Maker
The nice part about tokens is that they’re just game pieces with clear information. The annoying part is that most tokens people use are… not clear information.
Here’s the clean approach:
Token build checklist (steal this)
When you design your MTG insect tokens, make sure the token card includes:
Name (Insect, Locust, Scarab, or whatever your deck makes)
Type line (Token Creature – Insect)
Power/Toughness (big and readable)
Abilities (spell them out, or at least keyword them clearly)
Optional but helpful:
Reminder text if the token has a weird clause
A small note like “Created by Hornet Queen” if you have multiple token types
The “make it readable from across the table” rule
Token art is fun. Token readability wins games.
High contrast art prints better and reads better.
If the token has key abilities (flying, deathtouch, haste), make sure those keywords are not tiny.
If you routinely make 20+ tokens, design for fast scanning. Your opponent should be able to understand your board without needing a guided tour.
Printing tip that saves regret
Most MTG tokens are standard card size, and when you print tokens on real card stock, they shuffle, stack, and handle like they belong. If you’re going to invest effort in custom tokens, print them in a format that actually feels good at the table, not as flimsy paper you’ll replace in two weeks.
Token management: how to run a swarm without becoming the table’s accountant
Insect decks love producing wide boards. Your job is to keep that from turning into a confusing pile of cardboard and vibes.
Here are the battle-tested habits:
Use “one token card per version” plus dice for quantity
If you have a single Insect token type:
Put down one token
Put a die on it for the count
If you have multiple Insect token types:
Put down one token card per distinct type
Use dice separately on each
Separate “special ability” tokens physically
If half your tokens fly and half don’t:
Keep them in two piles
Don’t mix them “temporarily.” Temporarily becomes forever.
Watch out for copy tokens
Cards like Scute Swarm can create a generic Insect token early, then create a copy of Scute Swarm later. That matters because the copy has the same rules text and can snowball.
If your deck does this:
Make (or obtain) a copy-token placeholder that clearly indicates “copy of X”
Or use a spare sleeved card and write “Copy of Scute Swarm” on a slip of paper
Not glamorous, but it prevents the classic misunderstanding where your opponent thinks they’re staring at 8 vanilla 1/1s when it’s actually 8 Scute Swarms with landfall triggers queued up like a bad day at the DMV.
FAQs
How many insect tokens should I have for my deck?
If you make tokens occasionally, 2–4 is fine (plus dice). If your deck’s game plan is “create insects until the table looks nervous,” print or carry 8–12 of the main token you make, plus one of each alternate version.
Can I use one generic Insect token for everything?
You can, but you’ll pay in confusion. If your deck makes Insects with different abilities (flying, deathtouch, haste), you really want separate tokens or clear markers. The game gets a lot smoother when the token itself tells the truth.
What’s the easiest way to keep insect tokens readable during games?
One token card per token type, dice for count, separate piles for different abilities. Simple systems beat clever systems because clever systems fail the moment someone bumps the table.
Can I print tokens through PrintMTG if my decklist includes them?
Yes, tokens can be printed, and they generally work best when you list the token name clearly in your list. If you want exact stats and custom art, the Card Maker route is usually better.
What size are MTG tokens?
Most tokens are standard MTG card size. That’s why printing them on proper card stock feels so much better than paper scraps that curl up the moment your table breathes near them.