Infect
| Infect | |
|---|---|
| Keyword Ability | |
| Type | Static |
| Introduced | Scars of Mirrodin |
| Last used | Unfinity |
| Reminder Text | Infect (This creature deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.) |
| Storm Scale | 7[1] |
| Statistics |
56 cards  1.8%  7.1%  7.1%  32.1%  5.4%  25%  19.6%  1.8% |
| Scryfall Search | |
| keyword:"Infect" | |
Infect is a keyword ability that was introduced in Scars of Mirrodin.[2][3]
Description
A creature with infect deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and players in the form of poison counters. If a player has ten or more poison counters, they lose the game. In Two-Headed Giant, it's fifteen or more.
Infect is centered in black and green and there are also some artifacts having the keyword. It combines poisonous and wither abilities. In Mirrodin Besieged the mechanic was expanded to white,[4] and finally spread to red in New Phyrexia.
As with its related mechanic proliferate, infect is Phyrexian in theme. Each creature with infect, and all cards that gave infect and/or positively affected creatures with infect, were printed with the Phyrexian watermark. The mechanic was considered for Phyrexia: All Will Be One, but ultimately dismissed because R&D has soured on environments using -1/-1 counters and because infect is disliked by many.[5]
Rules
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- Infect
- A keyword ability that affects how an object deals damage to creatures and players. See rule 702.90, “Infect.”
From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- 702.90. Infect
- 702.90a Infect is a static ability.
- 702.90b Damage dealt to a player by a source with infect doesn’t cause that player to lose life. Rather, it causes that source’s controller to give the player that many poison counters. See rule 120.3.
- 702.90c Damage dealt to a creature by a source with infect isn’t marked on that creature. Rather, it causes that source’s controller to put that many -1/-1 counters on that creature. See rule 120.3.
- 702.90d If an object changes zones before an effect causes it to deal damage, its last known information is used to determine whether it had infect.
- 702.90e The infect rules function no matter what zone an object with infect deals damage from.
- 702.90f Multiple instances of infect on the same object are redundant.
Rulings
- Infect's effect applies to any damage, not just combat damage.
- The -1/-1 counters remain on the creature indefinitely. They're not removed if the creature regenerates or the turn ends.
- Damage from a source with infect is damage in all respects. If the source with infect also has lifelink, damage dealt by that source also causes its controller to gain that much life. Damage from a source with infect can be prevented or redirected. Abilities that trigger on damage being dealt will trigger if a source with infect deals damage, if appropriate.
- If damage from a source with infect that would be dealt to a player is prevented, that player doesn't get poison counters. If damage from a source with infect that would be dealt to a creature is prevented, that creature doesn't get -1/-1 counters.
- Damage from a source with infect affects planeswalkers normally.
- Creatures that have both infect and Toxic can add poison counters from both abilities when combat damage resolves.
Reminder text
The latest reminder text for Infect reads "This deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and players in the form of poison counters.".
Examples
Example
Scourge Servant 
Creature — Phyrexian Zombie
3/3
Infect (This creature deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.)
Cards that grant infect
Instant
Sorcery
Aura
Equipment
Sticker
Trivia
- Infect was featured as rules card 1 of 5 in the Scars of Mirrodin set and as rules card 4 of 5 in the Mirrodin Besieged set and as rules card 3 of 4 in the New Phyrexia set.
- Hand of the Praetors is a lord for all creatures with infect.
- Inkmoth Nexus is a manland with infect.
- While Infect has not returned with new cards since Scars block due to its polarizing nature, Unfinity has it partially represented through stickers.
- For a short while, Infect was considered for the design of Phyrexia: All Will Be One.[6]
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (2019-04-17). "Follow up on the -1/-1 thing...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 06, 2010). "Something Wicked This Way Comes, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Tom LaPille (November 05, 2010). "Infection Spreads". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 24, 2011). "Under Besiege, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 17, 2023). "Phyrexia: All Will Be One Direction, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 20, 2023). "Odds & Ends: 2023, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
External links
- A Planeswalker's Primer for Scars of Mirrodin: Infect (Video). YouTube.