Does Infect Beat Indestructible? The Ultimate Showdown

Yes, infect can indeed “beat” indestructible, though not in the way you might initially think. Indestructible protects a creature from being destroyed by damage (including lethal damage) and from effects that specifically say “destroy.” However, infect creatures don’t deal damage in the traditional sense; they put -1/-1 counters on creatures instead. If these counters reduce a creature’s toughness to zero, it will die due to state-based actions, bypassing indestructible.

Let’s delve deeper into the mechanics at play here, and clear up any confusion with a comprehensive breakdown. Understanding how these two abilities interact is crucial for any Magic: The Gathering player, from casual to competitive.

Breaking Down Indestructible

Indestructible is a powerful keyword ability that prevents a permanent from being destroyed. Specifically, it protects against:

• Lethal damage: If a creature with indestructible takes damage equal to or greater than its toughness, it isn’t destroyed.
• “Destroy” effects: Spells or abilities that explicitly say “destroy” will have no effect on a permanent with indestructible.
• State-based actions: Under normal circumstances, if a creature has lethal damage marked on it, state-based actions will destroy that creature. Indestructible prevents this.

However, indestructible doesn’t protect against everything. It’s important to remember what it doesn’t do:

• Exile: Removing a permanent from the game.
• Sacrifice: Forcing a player to sacrifice a permanent.
• Reducing toughness to zero: via -1/-1 counters or other effects.
• Bounce: Returning a permanent to its owner’s hand.
• “Tucking”: putting a permanent into its owner’s library.

The Mechanics of Infect

Infect is an ability that modifies how damage is dealt. Creatures with infect deal damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters instead of normal damage. When a creature’s toughness reaches zero from these counters, it is put into the graveyard as a state-based action, even if it has indestructible. The reason for this is that the creature isn’t being “destroyed,” but instead is dying because its toughness is zero.

For players, infect means damage is dealt as poison counters instead of regular damage. If a player accumulates ten or more poison counters, that player loses the game. This provides an alternate win condition and a way to get around high life totals.

Why Infect Bypasses Indestructible

The key is that infect doesn’t “destroy” the creature; it reduces its toughness until it dies by a state-based action. A creature with indestructible still exists on the battlefield, but if its toughness is zero or less, state-based actions demand it be put into the graveyard.

Essentially, infect doesn’t directly challenge indestructible’s protective shield against destruction. Instead, it attacks the creature’s toughness, a vulnerability indestructible doesn’t defend. This makes infect a viable strategy against decks relying heavily on indestructible creatures.

FAQs: Mastering the Interaction of Infect and Indestructible

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the interaction between infect and indestructible:

1. If a creature with infect attacks a creature with indestructible, what happens?

   The creature with indestructible receives -1/-1 counters equal to the power of the attacking creature with infect. The indestructible creature is not destroyed unless those counters reduce its toughness to zero.

2. Does indestructible prevent -1/-1 counters from being placed on a creature?

   No, indestructible only prevents destruction. It doesn’t stop effects that place -1/-1 counters on a creature.

3. If a creature has both indestructible and a negative toughness due to -1/-1 counters, does it die?

   Yes. State-based actions cause a creature with zero or less toughness to be put into the graveyard, even if it has indestructible.

4. Can I regenerate a creature with indestructible that has zero toughness due to -1/-1 counters?

   No. Regeneration replaces being destroyed, but a creature with zero toughness dies due to state-based actions, not being destroyed.

5. Does infect work against creatures with hexproof or shroud?

   Yes. Infect doesn’t target creatures, so hexproof and shroud are irrelevant. -1/-1 counters are placed on the creature without targeting.

6. If I give a creature both infect and deathtouch, does it automatically destroy any creature it deals damage to?

   No. While damage from a source with deathtouch is normally lethal, infect replaces damage dealt to creatures with -1/-1 counters. The counters must still reduce the creature’s toughness to zero for it to die.

7. Can I remove -1/-1 counters from a creature?

   Yes, there are various spells and abilities that can remove counters from permanents. Examples include effects that proliferate (adding more counters) or specifically remove -1/-1 counters.

8. Is infect a triggered ability?

   No, infect is a replacement effect. It modifies the result of damage dealt by a source with infect.

9. Does damage from a creature with infect still count as combat damage for abilities like lifelink?

   Yes. Infect modifies the form of damage (to -1/-1 counters), but it’s still considered damage. Therefore, lifelink and other abilities that trigger on combat damage will still function.

10. Does giving infect to a creature with double strike mean it deals double the -1/-1 counters?

    Yes. A creature with double strike deals damage twice in combat. If that creature also has infect, it will place -1/-1 counters twice.

11. How does trample interact with infect and indestructible?

    If a creature with trample and infect attacks a blocking indestructible creature, the attacking player must assign lethal damage to the indestructible creature before any damage can “trample over” to the defending player. While the indestructible creature won’t be destroyed, the trampling creature effectively still deals its power in -1/-1 counters.

12. If a creature with infect is blocked by a creature with first strike and deathtouch, what happens?

    The creature with first strike and deathtouch deals its damage first. If this damage is lethal (considering the creature’s toughness), the infect creature is destroyed before it can deal any damage (or place any -1/-1 counters).

13. Can infect be countered?

    Infect itself is an ability on a creature or permanent, not a spell. However, the spell or creature with infect can be countered like any other spell. Once the creature is on the battlefield with the infect ability, there’s nothing to counter.

14. Are there cards that specifically grant protection from -1/-1 counters?

    While there aren’t many cards with specific protection from -1/-1 counters, there are cards that grant protection from certain colors or card types. Some cards also allow you to move counters from one permanent to another.

15. Is an infect deck viable in Commander (EDH)?

    Yes, infect can be a viable strategy in Commander. While each player starts with 40 life, requiring a large amount of -1/-1 counters to eliminate opponents, the poison counter threshold is only 10. Using infect creatures and strategies to give infect to more powerful creatures can make for a powerful deck. Remember to consider the political implications, as you may become an early target.

Final Thoughts: Infect as a Strategic Tool

Infect is a powerful mechanic that can be used to exploit vulnerabilities and create unique strategies. While it doesn’t directly “destroy” indestructible creatures, it provides a way to overcome their resilience. Understanding the nuances of how infect interacts with other abilities is crucial for mastering Magic: The Gathering.

If you’re interested in learning more about game mechanics and strategy, consider exploring resources like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org or https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. Understanding the theory behind game design can improve your gameplay. Happy playing!