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Rules AnswersCounters, Triggers & Replacement

Does an enchantment that says 'whenever a creature dies' trigger when a creature token is destroyed?

Short answer
Yes. Token creatures die when destroyed (sent to the graveyard), triggering 'whenever a creature dies' abilities, even though tokens cease to exist moments later.

A token is a creature permanent on the battlefield, and when it is destroyed it moves to the graveyard — this counts as dying. CR 700.4 defines 'dies' as moving from the battlefield to the graveyard, and CR 111.8 confirms tokens do go to the graveyard and trigger 'dies' effects before ceasing to exist as a state-based action.

The key point is that the token reaches the graveyard momentarily, which is enough to satisfy the 'dies' trigger condition. Triggered abilities check the event as it happens (CR 603.2), so the enchantment's ability sees the token moving from battlefield to graveyard and triggers normally.

After the trigger is placed on the stack, the token ceases to exist in the graveyard (CR 111.8), but the trigger has already been generated and will still resolve — the disappearance of the token doesn't counter the trigger.

Example: You control Dictate of Erebos ("Whenever a creature you control dies..."). Your 1/1 Saproling token is destroyed by a removal spell. The token goes to the graveyard, Dictate of Erebos triggers, and the trigger goes on the stack — even though the Saproling token then ceases to exist.

This applies equally to tokens that are sacrificed, die in combat, or are destroyed by any other effect — any token creature moving from the battlefield to the graveyard counts as dying under CR 700.4.

HIGH confidence CR 111.8 CR 603.2 CR 700.4
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