Decoding Infect Damage: Is It Combat Damage in Magic: The Gathering?
Yes, infect damage does count as combat damage in Magic: The Gathering. Creatures with Infect deal damage in the form of -1/-1 counters to creatures and poison counters to players, but the initial damage dealing process is still considered combat damage if it occurs during the combat phase. Let’s delve deeper into this concept and address some common questions.
Understanding Infect and Combat Damage
In Magic: The Gathering, combat damage is a crucial aspect of gameplay. It involves creatures dealing damage to each other or to players during the combat phase. Several abilities and mechanics interact with combat damage, making it essential to understand its nuances.
Infect is an ability that modifies the type of damage dealt. Instead of creatures dealing standard damage, they deal damage in the form of -1/-1 counters to creatures and poison counters to players. These counters can have significant effects, weakening creatures and ultimately causing players to lose the game when they accumulate ten or more poison counters in Commander, or one in some older formats.
The key takeaway is that Infect doesn’t bypass the combat damage step; it alters the result of that damage. This distinction is vital when considering interactions with other cards and abilities.
FAQs: Infect and Combat Damage
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify how Infect and combat damage interact, addressing common misconceptions and providing valuable insights.
1. Does Preventing Combat Damage Prevent Poison Counters from Infect?
Yes, absolutely! If you use a card like Fog, Spore Frog, or Moment’s Peace to prevent combat damage, you also prevent the application of poison counters from Infect. These “Fog effects” negate the combat damage, and thus, the Infect effect is nullified. Remember, you are preventing damage, not just changing its form.
2. Does Infect Only Apply to Combat Damage?
Not necessarily. Infect applies to any damage source, not just combat. If a creature with Infect uses an ability that deals damage (like Prodigal Pyromancer’s ability, if somehow granted Infect), that damage will be dealt as -1/-1 counters to creatures and poison counters to players.
3. Is Toxic Better Than Infect?
Toxic creatures deal combat damage, turning that damage into poison counters in a specified amount with Toxic X. For example, a creature with Toxic 1 deals 1 poison counter alongside combat damage. Infect creatures only deal damage in the form of -1/-1 counters to creatures and poison counters to players, so you only have one route to victory. Toxic can apply both pressure and works with proliferate. Toxic triggers also do not use the stack. Both are viable strategies, but the context of the game and your deck’s strategy will determine which is “better” in a given situation.
4. If a Creature with Infect is Blocked, Does the Blocking Creature Get -1/-1 Counters?
Yes, if a creature with Infect deals combat damage to a blocking creature, the blocking creature receives -1/-1 counters equal to the damage dealt. This can weaken or even destroy creatures, making Infect a potent offensive strategy.
5. Can You “Fog” Infect Damage?
Yes, you can. As stated before, Infect damage is still damage, just in a different form. Therefore, cards like Fog that prevent combat damage are effective against Infect. This can buy you valuable time or completely disrupt your opponent’s strategy.
6. Does Deathtouch Work with Infect?
Absolutely! Deathtouch means that any amount of damage a creature deals is considered lethal damage. If a creature has both Deathtouch and Infect, even a single point of damage will destroy a creature and give the player two poison counters. This combination is extremely powerful.
7. Does First Strike Beat Deathtouch and Infect?
It depends. If a creature with First Strike can deal lethal damage (or enough -1/-1 counters via Infect) to a creature with Deathtouch before the Deathtouch creature deals its damage, then yes, First Strike wins. The Deathtouch creature will be destroyed before it can deal damage.
8. Can Infect Destroy Indestructible Creatures?
Yes, Infect can overcome Indestructible. While Indestructible prevents a creature from being destroyed by lethal damage, it doesn’t prevent it from receiving -1/-1 counters. Enough -1/-1 counters can reduce a creature’s toughness to zero, causing it to be put into the graveyard, even if it’s indestructible.
9. Does Losing Life Count as Taking Damage?
No. Losing life is distinct from taking damage. Infect specifically modifies how damage is dealt (into poison counters). Actions that cause life loss, such as paying life for an ability, are not affected by Infect.
10. Does Infect Count as Combat Damage for Monarch?
Yes, it does. When a creature with Infect deals damage, it’s still considered combat damage. The card states that creatures with infect “deal damage in the form of poison counters”, making it clear it’s still dealing combat damage, just in a different form.
11. How Do You Counter an Infect Strategy?
Countering Infect involves a multi-pronged approach:
- Removal Spells: Eliminate creatures with Infect before they can deal damage.
- Fog Effects: Prevent combat damage to avoid receiving poison counters.
- Life Gain: While not a direct counter, gaining life can provide a buffer against the eventual loss from poison.
- Artifact and Enchantment Removal: Some Infect strategies rely on equipment or enchantments to boost their creatures’ power; removing these can significantly weaken their attack.
12. Why is Toxic Instead of Poisonous?
In modern Magic, “Toxic” is used instead of “Poisonous” to create a clearer mechanic. “Toxic” is a static ability meaning it will apply it’s effect without the use of the stack, similar to a creature with lifelink. “Poisonous” used to be a triggered ability meaning it would use the stack, similar to a creature enchanted with [[Spirit Link]].
13. How Much Infect Damage Kills a Player in Commander?
In the Commander format, a player loses the game once they accumulate ten or more poison counters. This is a deliberate design choice to balance the effectiveness of Infect in a multiplayer environment.
14. Does Hexproof Stop Deathtouch (or Infect)?
Hexproof prevents a creature from being the target of spells or abilities your opponents control. Deathtouch doesn’t target, so Hexproof doesn’t prevent it. Similarly, Infect damage isn’t targeted, so Hexproof won’t prevent a creature with Infect from dealing damage to a player.
15. Does Damage Prevention Change the Source?
No, damage prevention does not change the source of the damage. For example, if a creature with infect deals damage, and that damage is prevented with a spell like Fog, the source of the (prevented) damage is still the creature with infect. This is important for effects that trigger based on the source of the damage.
Mastering the Nuances of Infect
Understanding the intricate relationship between Infect and combat damage is crucial for any Magic: The Gathering player. By grasping these concepts, you can better strategize, build more effective decks, and navigate complex game situations with confidence. Remember that preventing combat damage is a direct counter to Infect, and that Infect can bypass even Indestructible creatures.
For more in-depth information on game mechanics and learning resources, consider exploring the work of organizations dedicated to educational game design, like the Games Learning Society, found at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. Exploring the work of the Games Learning Society can give you a different view of the nuances and strategies behind TCGs. With the right knowledge and strategic thinking, you can become a formidable force in the world of Magic: The Gathering!