Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Growing Ranks: Tokens, Upkeep, and Internet-Ready Memes

In the vast ecosystem of MTG memes, some cards become rubric for humor because they embody a mechanic so perfectly Ye Olde Reddit would swear it’s a calendar reminder. Growing Ranks does just that for green/white token fanatics. This rare from Commander 2019 is the kind of enchantment that turns a slow, methodical plan into a chorus line of “pop, pop, pop” until your board looks like a festival of little copies marching to your drumbeat. With a mana cost of 2GW hybrid, it’s the kind of spell you can cast in a midrange draw without losing your soul to the colorless void. The hybrid mana—G/W—lets the card feel flexible enough to slot into a team-based deck that’s all about wide boards and friendly collaboration. 🧙‍♂️🔥

At the start of your upkeep, Growing Ranks triggers Populate, creating a token that's a copy of a creature token you control. That means every time you tick up, you’re not just sticking a new creature on the board—you’re duplicating the best part of your battlefield and multiplying it. The flavor text, “We will grow an army large enough to withstand the Izzet's madness,” adds a communal, almost heroic tint to the humor: a chorus of rank-ups, a legion of copycats, and a little nod to Trostani’s mold-breaking optimism. The art by Seb McKinnon, with its moody, almost spectral feel, invites you to imagine a lawful, leafy army marching in elegant formation. It’s the kind of card that becomes a meme because it makes the act of playing more than just a gimmick—it makes it a storyline you can tell on your kitchen table, or in your chat between games. 🎨

“Grow an army large enough to withstand the Izzet's madness.” — flavor text on Growing Ranks, a sentiment that resonates with token decks everywhere.

Memes around Growing Ranks often lean into the leveling-up metaphor. Think of your board as a battalion that “levels up” with each upkeep: first you get one copy, then two, then a handful of identical bodies marching in neat, green-white formation. The humor comes from the escalating rhythm—pop, pop, pop—paired with the realization that you’re nurturing a family of clones who all share your plan. It’s a friendly, chaotic form of power gaming where your success is less about a flashy play and more about the creeping inevitability of inevitability: your tokens keep multiplying, and suddenly everyone is asking for a squad photo of your growing ranks. This is where the internet loves a good progression meme: a tiny board grows into a sprawling army, and the caption writes itself. 🧙‍♂️💎

From a gameplay perspective, Growing Ranks asks for a deliberate, tempo-friendly approach. It’s not just about generating tokens; it’s about choosing which creature you want to copy and how many you can sustain by the time your next upkeep rolls around. In a green-white shell, you’ll likely lean on token producers like Muster, Spike, or a cadre of elves and soldiers that flourish in a wide battlefield. The card’s hybrid mana cost also invites splashing into slightly hybrid-friendly lists—you’re not locked into strict identity; you’re embracing a broader sense of community on the battlefield. The humor here isn’t just about the board state; it’s about the social moment: your friends watching your tokens snowball, your chat soaking in the memes, and the way the board’s “ranks” advance faster than a ladder climb. 🔥⚔️

For creators and collectors, Growing Ranks carries a bit of romantic nostalgia. It’s a reminder of the early days when token strategies felt like a tabletop orchestra—each copy is a musician in a chorus line. The artwork, the flavor text, and the very name evoke a sense of progress and unity that resonates with deck-builders who love collaborative tactics. And for the meme-minded player, the card serves as a perfect punchline: the board is getting bigger, the joke lands, and suddenly your commander-led parade feels like a sanctioned meme ritual rather than a purely strategic play. The rarity and the Commander 2019 pedigree add a collector’s wink to the whole experience, a small badge of honor for those who built their meta around token synergy. 🎲

Practical meme ideas you can steal for your group chat

• Caption: “Upkeep? More like UpKeep-candy!” as the ranks multiply, with a screenshot of your growing board.
• Caption: “When your tokens start a union and demand better board states.”
• Caption: “Level 2: Copy deck edition—How many tokens is too many?”
• Caption: “G/W hybrid mana? More like G/We’re going to need a bigger board.”
• Caption: “When your army outnumbers the Izzet’s chaos and still looks organized.”

Incorporating Growing Ranks into a meme-heavy vibe can be a joyfully chaotic endeavor. Pair the card’s token-centric swing with clever image edits—before-and-after shots of the battlefield, or a growth chart showing your board expanding in parallel with the “levels” of your opponent’s confidence. The magic of the meme isn’t only in the joke; it’s in the shared experience—the way a group of players can laugh together as token counters climb, and the table leans into the theme of unity through growth. 🧙‍♂️🎨

If you’re building around the idea of copy-paste armies, consider complementing Growing Ranks with other token-generating payoffs that keep the tempo up. Cards that double up on your tokens, or that enable you to leverage multiple copies in one big swing, are a natural fit. In real-life play, the joke becomes a friendly ritual: every upkeep is a mini-celebration, every copy-creation a tiny victory, and every meme a reminder that MTG is, at its heart, a story about collaboration, strategy, and the occasional avalanche of cute, copy-pasted critters. ⚔️💎

And if you’re deep-diving into the themes, you’ll want something to keep your hands comfortable while you orchestrate the ranked growth. A neon glow can help set the mood, which is where our featured product comes in—a Neon Gaming Mouse Pad perfectly suited for long sessions of dice-rolling and deck tinkering. It’s a nice, practical companion to the vibe of token armies and leveling-up humor. Enjoy the glow as you craft your next legendary swap of copies and counters. 🧙‍♂️🎲

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