Can creatures with infect deal damage to planeswalkers?

Can Creatures with Infect Deal Damage to Planeswalkers?

Infect is a fascinating mechanic in Magic: The Gathering that allows creatures to deal damage to players and other creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters. But can these creatures also deal damage to planeswalkers? In this article, we’ll delve into the world of infect and explore the answer to this question.

Direct Answer: Yes, Creatures with Infect Can Deal Damage to Planeswalkers

According to the official Magic: The Gathering rules, creatures with infect can deal damage to planeswalkers just like they do to creatures and players. This means that if a creature with infect attacks a planeswalker, it will deal the appropriate amount of damage in the form of -1/-1 counters to the planeswalker.

How Infect Works

Before we dive into the specifics of infect and planeswalkers, let’s quickly review how infect works in general. Infect is a mechanic that allows creatures to deal damage to creatures and players in the form of -1/-1 counters and poison counters, respectively. This damage is cumulative, meaning that each successive attack will deal additional damage.

Infect and Planeswalkers

Now that we’ve covered the basics of infect, let’s explore how it interacts with planeswalkers. According to the Magic: The Gathering rules, planeswalkers are considered to be creatures, but with the added ability to have loyalty counters. These loyalty counters can be gained or lost as a result of various effects, including combat damage.

When a creature with infect attacks a planeswalker, it will deal the appropriate amount of damage in the form of -1/-1 counters to the planeswalker. This damage will be cumulative, meaning that each successive attack will deal additional damage.

Example:

Let’s say you have a creature with infect, such as Vine Sliver, that attacks a planeswalker with 4 loyalty counters. Vine Sliver deals 2 damage to the planeswalker in the form of -1/-1 counters, leaving the planeswalker with 2 loyalty counters. On the next turn, Vine Sliver attacks the planeswalker again, dealing an additional 2 damage in the form of -1/-1 counters. This leaves the planeswalker with 0 loyalty counters and loses the game.

Counterplay

While creatures with infect can be a powerful force on the battlefield, they’re not invincible. Here are a few ways to counterplay against infect:

• Removal Spells: Creatures with infect are vulnerable to removal spells, which can be used to destroy them before they can deal damage.
• Pact: Pact is a powerful card that allows you to defer the cost of a spell to the next turn. This can be used to play around infect creatures and avoid taking damage.
• Fog: Fog is a classic removal spell that can be used to stop infect creatures in their tracks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, creatures with infect can indeed deal damage to planeswalkers. This damage will be cumulative, meaning that each successive attack will deal additional damage. While creatures with infect can be a powerful force on the battlefield, they’re not invincible. By using removal spells, Pact, and Fog, you can counterplay against infect and keep your planeswalkers safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can infect creatures deal damage to planeswalkers with more than 10 loyalty counters? No, infect creatures can only deal damage to planeswalkers with 10 or fewer loyalty counters.
• Can planeswalkers with 0 loyalty counters still be attacked by infect creatures? No, planeswalkers with 0 loyalty counters are considered to be destroyed and cannot be attacked.
• Can I use removal spells to destroy infect creatures? Yes, removal spells can be used to destroy infect creatures and prevent them from dealing damage.

Table: Infect and Planeswalkers

Table: Counterplay Options

I hope this article has helped you understand how infect works with planeswalkers. Remember to always keep your opponents on their toes with removal spells, Pact, and Fog!