Is infect an ability in Magic The Gathering?

Is Infect an Ability in Magic The Gathering?

Infect is a keyword ability introduced in Scars of Mirrodin that has been a staple in many Magic The Gathering decks. But is it an ability in the true sense of the word? Let’s dive into the details and explore the ins and outs of infect in Magic The Gathering.

Direct Answer

Yes, infect is an ability in Magic The Gathering. Infect is a static ability that modifies the results of any damage dealt by a source with infect. This ability replaces the word "damage" with "poison counters" on the source’s power and toughness.

How Does Infect Work?

Infect works by replacing combat damage with poison counters. When a creature with infect deals combat damage to a player, that player gets a number of poison counters equal to the infect value of the creature. This means that infect creatures can deal damage to players without actually dealing damage to their life total. Instead, they add poison counters to the player’s total, which can eventually kill them.

Is Infect the Same as Poison?

No, infect is not the same as poison. Poison is a type of damage that can be dealt to players, while infect is a keyword ability that replaces combat damage with poison counters**. While poison can be dealt by any means, infect is specifically a property of certain creatures that deal damage in a particular way.

How Does Infect Interact with Deathtouch?

Deathtouch is a keyword ability that causes a creature to deal lethal damage to any creature it deals damage to. When a creature with deathtouch deals combat damage to a player with infect, the player gets the poison counters. However, the deathtouch damage is still considered lethal damage, so the player’s life total is reduced accordingly.

How Does Infect Interact with Toxic?

Toxic is a new keyword ability introduced in the same set as infect. Toxic creatures deal damage to players and add a certain number of poison counters. When a toxic creature deals combat damage to a player, the player gets the poison counters and also loses life equal to the toxic value of the creature.

Conclusion

Infect is a unique ability in Magic The Gathering that replaces combat damage with poison counters. It is a keyword ability that is tied to certain creatures and is not the same as poison. Infect can be a powerful tool in the right deck, and understanding how it interacts with other abilities like deathtouch and toxic can help you build a winning strategy.

Common Questions

• What is infect in Magic The Gathering?
  • Infect is a keyword ability that replaces combat damage with poison counters.
• How does infect work?
  • When a creature with infect deals combat damage to a player, the player gets a number of poison counters equal to the infect value of the creature.
• Is infect the same as poison?
  • No, infect is a keyword ability that replaces combat damage with poison counters, while poison is a type of damage.
• How does infect interact with deathtouch?
  • When a creature with deathtouch deals combat damage to a player with infect, the player gets the poison counters and the deathtouch damage is considered lethal damage.
• How does infect interact with toxic?
  • When a toxic creature deals combat damage to a player, the player gets the poison counters and also loses life equal to the toxic value of the creature.

References

• Magic The Gathering, Scars of Mirrodin, Infect ability
• Magic The Gathering, Official FAQ, Infect
• Magic The Gathering, Official FAQ, Deathtouch
• Magic The Gathering, Official FAQ, Toxic