Infect and Wither: A Deep Dive into Magic’s Poisonous Pair

The question on many minds: Does infect and wither stack? No, they do not. While both abilities involve distributing -1/-1 counters, having both on the same source doesn’t double the effect. A creature with both infect and wither will simply deal damage in the form of -1/-1 counters to creatures and poison counters to players. It’s a case of redundancy, not synergy. Now, let’s unravel the nuances of these fascinating mechanics!

Understanding Infect and Wither

Infect and wither are two abilities in Magic: The Gathering that change how damage is dealt. Instead of reducing a creature’s toughness or a player’s life total, they distribute -1/-1 counters to creatures and, in the case of infect, poison counters to players. These counters are a permanent reduction, making these abilities potent methods of weakening opponents or achieving a poison-based victory. The strategic importance of these abilities often revolves around bypassing traditional defenses and achieving a different path to victory.

Infect: The Poisonous Touch

Infect fundamentally alters the concept of damage. A creature with infect deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters, and to players in the form of poison counters. Ten or more poison counters result in an immediate loss for the player. This makes infect a powerful alternative win condition, especially against decks that rely on high life totals or life gain strategies.

Wither: The Attrition Game

Wither, on the other hand, focuses solely on creatures. Damage from a source with wither is dealt to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters. This ability is fantastic for weakening opposing creatures, making them easier to kill or reducing their effectiveness in combat. The persistent nature of these counters makes wither a consistent threat throughout the game.

Synergies and Interactions

While infect and wither don’t stack with themselves, or with each other, they do synergize with other mechanics in unique and interesting ways. For example, abilities that increase power will certainly make a creature with either ability that much more threatening!

• Proliferate: Both poison counters and -1/-1 counters are types of counters, so proliferate can add even more!
• Trample: This allows infect creatures to bypass blockers and still deliver poison counters to the defending player.
• Deathtouch: If a creature has both deathtouch and infect or wither, any amount of damage, even just one -1/-1 counter, will be enough to destroy a creature.

Infect and Wither FAQs

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the intricacies of infect and wither:

1. Does infect count as combat damage?

   Infect itself is not combat damage. Infect changes how damage is dealt. Declaring an attack with a creature and it not being blocked, provided no other abilities dictate otherwise, is combat damage.

2. Is wither permanent?

   Yes, wither’s effect is permanent. The -1/-1 counters remain on the creature indefinitely. They won’t be removed if the creature regenerates or the turn ends.

3. Is infect a replacement effect?

   Infect is not a replacement effect, although it might seem like one. It’s a unique case where it changes how damage is dealt, but it doesn’t strictly replace the normal damage dealing process.

4. How many poison counters does infect give?

   A creature with infect deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters. The number of poison counters is equal to the amount of damage the creature would have dealt as life loss.

5. Does Saskia work with infect?

   Saskia the Unyielding’s ability can indeed amplify the threat of infect. By choosing a player, Saskia essentially doubles the infect damage being dealt to them. This can quickly turn a small amount of infect damage into a lethal threat.

6. Does infect bypass indestructible?

   Yes, infect can bypass indestructible. While an indestructible creature cannot be destroyed by damage, it can still receive -1/-1 counters from infect. If the number of -1/-1 counters reduces its toughness to zero, it will be put into the graveyard.

7. Can you get rid of infect counters?

   Removing poison is notoriously difficult in Magic. Poison counters cannot be removed, contrasting with life gain. Leeches, from Homelands, is the only exception to this rule. There may be more cards printed in the future that can remove infect counters from a player.

8. Do poison counters count as infect?

   The counters given to players with poison and infect are the same, but the abilities that give them are different. Players receive poison counters because of the infect ability.

9. Is infect better than toxic?

   Whether infect is better than toxic is situational. Toxic creatures deal combat damage as well as poison damage, which isn’t true with infect. With infect creatures you only get one route to victory since they don’t deal combat damage.

10. Do toxic counters stack?

    If a creature with 8 power and Toxic 4 hit a player, the player takes 8 damage and gets 4 poison counters. Multiple instances of the mechanic do stack.

11. Does infect reduce life total?

    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.

12. Do you gain life with infect?

    Yes, lifelink can be combined with infect. The creature’s controller will gain life equal to the damage dealt, even if that damage is in the form of poison counters.

13. What happens if a creature has both infect and deathtouch?

    A creature with both infect and deathtouch is incredibly potent. Any amount of damage it deals to a creature, even just one -1/-1 counter, is enough to destroy that creature.

14. How do you counter infect strategies?

    One effective method is to overwhelm an infect opponent with removal spells, preventing their creatures from dealing damage. Another approach is to use cards that defer the cost of spells to the next turn, disrupting their tempo.

15. Does infect work in Two-Headed Giant?

    Yes, infect works in Two-Headed Giant, but the threshold for losing the game is higher. In Two-Headed Giant, a team loses when they accumulate fifteen or more poison counters.

Mastering the Poison

Infect and wither are complex but rewarding mechanics in Magic: The Gathering. Understanding their nuances and interactions with other abilities can give you a significant edge in deckbuilding and gameplay. By mastering these poisonous pairs, you’ll be well-equipped to challenge your opponents with unconventional strategies and secure victories through attrition and toxic tactics. Delve deeper into the world of game-based learning and research with the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. There are many possibilities when you are willing to think outside the box!