What it does
Populate lets you create a token that's a copy of a creature token you already control. When you populate, you choose one of your creature tokens and make a copy of it—that's the entire action. No mana, no triggers from the original; you just get a new copy.
The big nuance: populate only works with creature tokens. You can't populate a Treasure or Clue token, and you can't copy a real (nontoken) creature. Also, the copy uses the token's printed/copiable characteristics, so counters, Auras, and Equipment aren't copied—but if you populate a token that's itself a copy of something (like a token copying your big creature), you copy those copiable values. Anthem effects and buffs apply afterward.
In Commander, populate shines with go-wide and token-value decks, especially with powerful tokens like Angels, Beasts, or token-copies of bombs. Doubling effects (Doubling Season, Anointed Procession) also double populate's output, snowballing your board fast.
Iconic cards with Populate
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