Infect

Keywords · intermediate

Infect changes how a creature's damage works. A creature with infect deals damage to creatures as -1/-1 counters and to players as poison counters.

How it works

• Damage to a creature is dealt as -1/-1 counters instead of normal damage. Those counters stay until the creature leaves play.
• Damage to a player is dealt as poison counters instead of life loss. Ten poison counters lose the game.
• Infect applies to all damage the creature deals, not just combat damage.

Rules notes

• Because -1/-1 counters are permanent, even small infect creatures permanently shrink blockers.
• Infect and wither both deal creature damage as -1/-1 counters; infect additionally deals poison to players.
• A player can lose to poison while still at a high life total.

Rule reference

[702.90]