What is Infect?
Infect is a mechanic introduced in the Scars of Mirrodin Block that focus on giving the opponent 10 poison counters to win the game.
It basically boils down into a aggro-comboish deck, that focus on creature aggro and pump spells to generate the 10 poison counter as fast as possible to the opponent.
Infect always has been a deck that people tend to be looked down by people playing against it,it maybe due to them needing to think harder as a misplay could potentially end the game in your favor.
It has seen play in Return to Ravnica 2012 Pro Tour with players like Kelvin Chew and Ari Lax with a placing of 8th and 9th respectively also in Grand Prix Lyon 2012 with Mario Zuñiga and Emilien Wild placing 12th and 13th respectively.
And of course lots of players playing online on MTGO and paper as the deck is pretty cheap to build if you exclude the fetch lands and Hierarchs.
Table of Contents
1) Building Infect
2) Sideboard Options
3) Tournament Results
4) Decklists
1.Building Infect
There’s a few different versions of this deck with variant in colors. However there are always key cards that you will always want to include.
There is another version called the Mono Black infect, however it isn't focusing on giving out poison as fast as possible but focusing on hand disruption through the use of
discard spells and then winning on infect poison counters, the deck will be discussed somewhere else.
2.Sideboard Options
A few good cards to consider for Sideboarding namely: Grafdigger's Cage – For UW Tron, Melira Pod, Any deck requiring a graveyard or playing cards from the library
Would this primer blend all Infect Pump lists together such as BUG Infect and UG Infect, or would it mainly concentrate on the more popular BUG Infect?
Would this primer blend all Infect Pump lists together such as BUG Infect and UG Infect, or would it mainly concentrate on the more popular BUG Infect?
We would prefer to see all the UG(x) Infect lists here, as they are all somewhat similar at their core. A mono black infect list could also be added, but if it needed its own thread, that would have to go in Creation.
I actually played 5 matches in total with the deck and didn't lose a single one, I only lost 1 game, and that was to Tron hitting a T3 Karn. Out of the 10 games, I got 4 T2 Kills, all the rest were T3, one was T5. I seriously have no idea how Glistener Elf isn't banned.
Rundown of matches
Rnd 1: RDW
I won the roll, dropped a land, Elf, passed turn. He dropped a land, Bolted the Elf, and passed the turn. I drop another land, drop another elf, pass the turn, he untaps, drops a land, tries to Incinerate the Elf, I save it with Apostles Blessing. I untap, draw a Pendlehaven, drop it, pump the elf with it, double Groundswell, I win
-4 Giant Growth, +4 Wild Defiance
This was my longer game, he was holding back multiple burn spells to deal with my infect guys. T1 he goes land, Goblin Guide, swings for 2, I reveal Pendlehaven off the top, which I play on my turn. T2 he drops a land, swings for another 2, and passes. I drop a land T2, and pass as well. EOT he Bolts me, putting me to 13, Turn 3 he drops a third land, swings for 2, putting me at 11, and passes the turn. Turn I drop a land and Wild Defiance. T4 he drops a land, Incinerates me for 3, attacks with Goblin for 2, putting me at 6. My T4 I drop a Blighted Agent and pass. He swings with Goblin, puts me to 4, Bolts me, puts me to 1, and passes. I drop a land, Distortion Strike, Groundswell, swing for game.
1-0
Round 2: Karn Tron
Game 1, I nut out perfectly, I win the role, Pendelhaven, Glistener Elf, pass, He plays a Tron Piece and an Expedition Map, passes, Turn 2, I bolt myself for a Misty + Breeding Pool, Pendelhaven pump, Groundswell, Groundswell, GG.
Game 2, I kept a 1 lander since my had had 2 Elfs and a Blighted Agent in it, He goes first, drops a Mine and Expedition Map, pass, I don't draw a land, drop my breeding Pool, play my elf, pass. T2 he drops Tower, cracks to fine Power Plant, pass, I miss another land draw, swing and pump with Giant Growth for 4 poison, pass, T3 he drops Power Plat and Karn, exiles elf, and I concede
Game 3
I go first, drop a Breeding Pool, pass. He drops a Tower T1, plas a Chromatic Sphere, and passes. T2 I play a Forest and drop an Ichorclaw Myr, and pass. He draws, drops Mountain, Pyroclasms, I pay 2 life and Mutagenic Growth to keep my Myr alive. T3 I drop a Beeding pool, Distortion Strike, Might, Groundswell, game
2-0
Round 3: Affinity
This was a pretty basic aggro mirror and I was just faster. I won't go thorugh all the details, but I T2's him Game 1 and T3'd him Game 2.
I played a few friendly games afterwards against more home brew style decks (including a much worse version of infect) and didn't really have any challenges
The one card that is underperforming is Pact of Negation, I never played it since all the removal was on thier turn since they knew I could probably pump my guys if they let me untap, so I rarely had any actual chances to use it. I might swap it out for something, I don't know what for yet.
Mono green wouldn't be terrible, but we're so fast that the life loss from playing another color won't hurt us. So, multicolor will always outclass mono g.
Blue gives unblockable with Blighted Agent and Distortion Strike as well as counters, while black gives disruption and more resilient creatures (Phyrexian Crusader).
Mono g won't be bad but isn't optimal.
Last, your list looks pretty good.
I'm just going to start this off by saying I know that infect is not a top tier deck and it does not consistently win before turn 4 and I'm not saying it's breaking the format.
I want to know people's feelings about playing against this deck. I don't mind losing to a fast deck, but it really irks me that this deck can get a lucky draw to hit a turn 2-3 win out of nowhere. I was actually playing a game where, on the draw, I drop a ETB tapped land after my opponent played a Glistener Elf. On his second turn he drops a land, plays double Might of Old Krosa and a Mutagenic Growth for the turn 2 win. I know this isn't the usual way it goes, but it does happen.
I know that any deck can get lucky draws, but it seems that this deck is very often just a coin flip to see if you're outright dead or if you win (in g2 I absolutely shut him down). I feel like this deck just sucks away the fun of playing because of that all-or-nothing nature.
I don't think there would be any way to fix this that wouldn't just ruin the deck, so I'm not asking for that. I just want to see what other people feel about it. Am I being irrational here or do other people dislike this deck and its style as much as me?
It has trouble with UWR and is slightly disadvantaged vs Pod, which in this meta is a large drawback, but it's still very good if you don't expect a lot of creature hate.
Lots of people on this forum were throwing around the possibility of glistner elf being banned but I never found it to be credible myself. It's not a coinflip, it's a metagame thing. If you have main deck lightning bolts or paths you're significantly advantaged against infect.
It's just a deck that punishes you for durdling or playing combo. There's nothing wrong with this. I find that people irrationally view poison as unfair compared to normal damage. You do realize that the benefits of poison are heavily offset by the restrictions on deck creation right? You ban any of the powerful cards in infect and it goes from a teir 1.5 to unplayable because there are no substitutes.
In my meta infect is looked on with disdain, people commonly call it a "cheap" strategy. I can understand that, but it's part of the game. I typically play Zoo or Scapeshift and find I can typically beat the deck as long as I have some early counters or, like mentioned above, Paths or Bolts in hand. I find it helps if I just slow down, take my time and really think through my plays when confronted with a hyper aggressive deck like this.
It has trouble with UWR and is slightly disadvantaged vs Pod, which in this meta is a large drawback, but it's still very good if you don't expect a lot of creature hate.
Lots of people on this forum were throwing around the possibility of glistner elf being banned but I never found it to be credible myself. It's not a coinflip, it's a metagame thing. If you have main deck lightning bolts or paths you're significantly advantaged against infect.
It's just a deck that punishes you for durdling or playing combo. There's nothing wrong with this. I find that people irrationally view poison as unfair compared to normal damage. You do realize that the benefits of poison are heavily offset by the restrictions on deck creation right? You ban any of the powerful cards in infect and it goes from a teir 1.5 to unplayable because there are no substitutes.
In fact, I do play UWR. I usually do well against the deck, it just seems like that deck, above all others, either gets blowout hands that end the game right there or just flounders.
If I had to ban something from the infect deck, it would be the buff spells, over the creatures. Forcing them to play Giant Growth over Might of Old Krosa would limit the turn 2/3 wins by removing the only 1 CMC +4/+4 buff spell.
But, like I said, it's not the mechanic of poison that I dislike, it's the way I feel sitting across from that deck.
In my meta infect is looked on with disdain, people commonly call it a "cheap" strategy. I can understand that, but it's part of the game. I typically play Zoo or Scapeshift and find I can typically beat the deck as long as I have some early counters or, like mentioned above, Paths or Bolts in hand. I find it helps if I just slow down, take my time and really think through my plays when confronted with a hyper aggressive deck like this.
I do run Bolt/Path, so I have a better than 50% win rate against infect, I just dislike seeing the deck.
I was actually considering adding some Gut Shot to my SB, just to show the infect player how much I dislike the deck.
If you play in a meta where people have no disruption, it may be the fastest deck in the format.
The problem is, lots of people play abrupt decay and tons of removal in the format, and one of the best decks in the format has maindeck Melira. It's a good deck to play if you expect lots of tron, storm, and other non-interactive decks, otherwise, it's just not worth the money.
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In fact, I do play UWR. I usually do well against the deck, it just seems like that deck, above all others, either gets blowout hands that end the game right there or just flounders.
If I had to ban something from the infect deck, it would be the buff spells, over the creatures. Forcing them to play Giant Growth over Might of Old Krosa would limit the turn 2/3 wins by removing the only 1 CMC +4/+4 buff spell.
But, like I said, it's not the mechanic of poison that I dislike, it's the way I feel sitting across from that deck.
I do run Bolt/Path, so I have a better than 50% win rate against infect, I just dislike seeing the deck.
I was actually considering adding some Gut Shot to my SB, just to show the infect player how much I dislike the deck.
I'm not going to lie, personally I despise playing against Infect! If I get paired up against the Infect player I'll usually give them a hard time(all in good fun!), asking why they couldn't build a "real" deck. I'll also admit that I take great joy in beating Infect players as well.
If I had to ban something from the infect deck, it would be the buff spells, over the creatures. Forcing them to play Giant Growth over Might of Old Krosa would limit the turn 2/3 wins by removing the only 1 CMC +4/+4 buff spell.
I don't think Infect is a problem. It's quite the glasscannon compared to other decks and the most common way to interact with your opponent in this format is removal - which a lot of decks play plenty of.
I took it to an event and people rolled their eyes, if that's what you mean. We all have our preferences. I went 3-2 losing to the Emrakul/Griselbrand deck and BW Tokens.
I've been on both sides of this debate and while the deck can have crazy draws, lots of times it just dies to all the maindeck creature hate that's going around. People have already mentioned Melira and there is tons of Spellskite in my meta, too. You need a pretty specific hand to deal with removal on the infect side.
Some people don't like playing vs. permission control and I think this deck is totally fair in that light. In my experience the only people who like hard control are the people playing it; the same theory applies here. I've found modern to be inherently "unfair" compared to Standard and while it bugged me to start, I don't care so much anymore. Burn has some silly draws too but neither deck is consistent.
Before bashing it, take it for a spin. Very rarely do those draws actually happen. Most infect list are not even running mutagenic anymore or they are sided out games 2 and 3. Infect is a more fragile deck than you give it credit.
BTW Thank you for playing that turn 1 colonnade...that is almost the only way infect can beat URW. You mis-played. If the colonnade was the only land you needed to muligan. If it was a shockland you should have played it untapped and taken the 2...you are in no real danger going below 5 life total against infect. You have to respect a glistener elf turn 1...play it safe and put out mana untapped your first turn. Good experience for you though.
it won;'t get banned, "if your one of the many crying infect is broken and needs to be banned" the fault is on you the accussor and what i calculate is your decks in ability to bring creature destruction into play for purposes of stopping fast decks.
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This is where being a good magic player becomes very important. People without experience in modern, or especially, legacy, don't understand the consequences of keeping a solid hand. Not necessarily saying the OP doesn't know this, I'm just saying in general, some players new to this format (or legacy) don't.
In legacy, game 1, you have to watch your opponent to decide to mulligan. If he is hesitant on whether or not he is going to keep or not, and takes a while to decide, it may be a good idea to mull for combo hate. So let's say we know our opponent is playing belcher, a deck that easily wins on turns 1 or 2. If i'm playing force of will, I will mulligan to 2 cards if that's what it takes to get a force of will and a blue card to pitch to it.
I remember when I first started playing jund, I was on the draw against infect. He plays a turn 1 glistener elf. I keep a hand with some hand disruption and some removal, but no lands that come into play untapped on turn 1. So I play a land tapped, and sure enough, he kills me on turn 2. That was completely my fault.
Of course, that's an extreme example (that mainly applies to legacy), but the aspect applies to modern as well. In standard, there really isn't many things that are dangerous to require aggressive mulligans and require specific hate, so I think some players who join modern and legacy who are used to a format that is more forgiving of most turn 1 plays haven't learned this concept yet.
As for non-interactive decks, I wish people would appreciate them more. It's a combo deck. It's part of the game. I guess you don't get to play magic when playing against combo sometimes, but you still get to watch people play magic in the worst case scenario...or if you're lucky, they'll let you keep the storm count for them at least. Sure, playing against combo makes your butthole pucker every time they 'flip the coin' to see if they win this turn or not, but isn't that what makes magic exciting even if you're on the other side of the table?
I don't think Infect is a problem. It's quite the glasscannon compared to other decks and the most common way to interact with your opponent in this format is removal - which a lot of decks play plenty of.
Groundswell is a lot more situational than Might of Old Krosa (I know that Vines of the Vastwood grants +4/+4, too, but that one costs 2 mana).
it won;'t get banned, "if your one of the many crying infect is broken and needs to be banned" the fault is on you the accussor and what i calculate is your decks in ability to bring creature destruction into play for purposes of stopping fast decks.
I'm not saying it should be banned, I was just interested in the general view on the deck.
This is where being a good magic player becomes very important. People without experience in modern, or especially, legacy, don't understand the consequences of keeping a solid hand. Not necessarily saying the OP doesn't know this, I'm just saying in general, some players new to this format (or legacy) don't.
In legacy, game 1, you have to watch your opponent to decide to mulligan. If he is hesitant on whether or not he is going to keep or not, and takes a while to decide, it may be a good idea to mull for combo hate. So let's say we know our opponent is playing belcher, a deck that easily wins on turns 1 or 2. If i'm playing force of will, I will mulligan to 2 cards if that's what it takes to get a force of will and a blue card to pitch to it.
I remember when I first started playing jund, I was on the draw against infect. He plays a turn 1 glistener elf. I keep a hand with some hand disruption and some removal, but no lands that come into play untapped on turn 1. So I play a land tapped, and sure enough, he kills me on turn 2. That was completely my fault.
Of course, that's an extreme example (that mainly applies to legacy), but the aspect applies to modern as well. In standard, there really isn't many things that are dangerous to require aggressive mulligans and require specific hate, so I think some players who join modern and legacy who are used to a format that is more forgiving of most turn 1 plays haven't learned this concept yet.
As for non-interactive decks, I wish people would appreciate them more. It's a combo deck. It's part of the game. I guess you don't get to play magic when playing against combo sometimes, but you still get to watch people play magic in the worst case scenario...or if you're lucky, they'll let you keep the storm count for them at least. Sure, playing against combo makes your butthole pucker every time they 'flip the coin' to see if they win this turn or not, but isn't that what makes magic exciting even if you're on the other side of the table?
Well, my problem with my turn 2 loss was that I went down to 5 already, having drawn no lands at 7 and no hate at 6. Corner-case, I know, but it happens and it's a bit annoying.
I don't have a problem with most other combo decks, but it's just the way that Infect is so variable that rubs me the wrong way. Most other combo decks are not, in fact, "coin-flips." Infect seems to be one of the least consistent combo decks in modern and the incredibly variable range of speed makes losing to this deck early feel like you just got out-lucked.
If you play UWR, and you lost to Quickfect... that's on you dude. UWR has more tools and ways to stop the deck than just about anything out there. Rule one, never let a creature swing, and if you have to, never let it go unblocked.
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What is Infect?
Infect is a mechanic introduced in the Scars of Mirrodin Block that focus on giving the opponent 10 poison counters to win the game.
It basically boils down into a aggro-comboish deck, that focus on creature aggro and pump spells to generate the 10 poison counter as fast as possible to the opponent.
The previous primer was written by our dear forum member chags and can be found at http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=466007
History
It has seen play in Return to Ravnica 2012 Pro Tour with players like Kelvin Chew and Ari Lax with a placing of 8th and 9th respectively also in Grand Prix Lyon 2012 with Mario Zuñiga and Emilien Wild placing 12th and 13th respectively.
And of course lots of players playing online on MTGO and paper as the deck is pretty cheap to build if you exclude the fetch lands and Hierarchs.
Table of Contents
1) Building Infect
2) Sideboard Options
3) Tournament Results
4) Decklists
1.Building Infect
There’s a few different versions of this deck with variant in colors. However there are always key cards that you will always want to include.
There is another version called the Mono Black infect, however it isn't focusing on giving out poison as fast as possible but focusing on hand disruption through the use of
discard spells and then winning on infect poison counters, the deck will be discussed somewhere else.
4 Glistener Elf
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Vines of Vastwood
4 Rancor
4 Mutagenic Growth
4 Groundswell
2 Apostle’s Blessing
4 Might of old Krosa
2 Pendelhaven
2 Forest
Card choice and Explanations
Fetchlands/Shocklands – Not much explanation here.
Forest – You will at least need at least some forest to cast Nature’s Claim in case of a Blood Moon effect coming into play.
Glistener Elf – Your 1 drop Infect.
Noble Hierarch – Your 1 drop mana dork + exalted trigger.
Vines of Vastwood/Apostle’s Blessing – Protection spells to protect your combo pieces, Vines could act as a pump spell too if kicked.
Mutagenic Growth/Groundswell/Might of old Krosa – Your pump spells
Pendelhaven – Gives a pump that can either deliver the finishing blow or protect your creatures from Pyroclasm.
Rancor – Reusable pump effect
Inkmoth Nexus – Your infect manland.
But but, where are the rest of the cards?
Well depends on what colors you want to run.
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Plague Stinger
2 Breeding Pools
2 Overgrown Tomb
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Verdant Catacombs
Any other budget variety
Cathedral of War to replace Hierarchs
Remove Fetchlands and increase Basic and Shockland count and add in checklands like Hinterland Harbor and Woodland Cemetery
2.Sideboard Options
A few good cards to consider for Sideboarding namely:
Grafdigger's Cage – For UW Tron, Melira Pod, Any deck requiring a graveyard or playing cards from the library
Thoughtseize/Inquisition of Kozilek – Combating other Combo Decks
Spell Pierce – Normally found in the UG version but sometimes in the BUG version, a simple counter spell.
Spellskite – Protects your combo pieces from burn or removal
Nature’s Claim – Your Best anti enchantment and artifact hate since life gain isn't important to you
Hurkyl's Recall /Creeping Corrosion- Affinity
Dismember – Kills opposing spellskites, Melira, Kiki Jiki, etc
Abrupt Decay/Beast Within – Kills most or almost everything with Beast within giving out a 3/3 Beast to the opponent as a con.
Distortion Strike – More evasion for creatures that are not Blighted Agent
Ranger’s Guile/Mizzium Skin- More protection for the combo pieces with Mizzium Skin being cheap to overload.
Sleight of Hand/Serum Visions/Gitaxian Probe - Cantrips that normally found in UG version of Infect
Pithing Needle - Great against tron naming expedition map, karn liberated, etc and also great against Pod naming Pod, Seer or kiki jiki.
3.Tournament Results
2 Breeding Pool
2 Forest
4 Inkmoth Nexus
1 Island
4 Misty Rainforest
2 Pendelhaven
4 Verdant Catacombs
Creatures
4 Blighted Agent
4 Glistener Elf
2 Ichorclaw Myr
4 Noble Hierarch
2 Apostle's Blessing
3 Gitaxian Probe
4 Groundswell
4 Might of Old Krosa
3 Rancor
3 Serum Visions
4 Sleight of Hand
4 Vines of Vastwood
3 Creeping Corrosion
2 Dismember
2 Negate
4 Spell Pierce
4 Spellskite
2 Breeding Pool
2 Forest
4 Inkmoth Nexus
4 Misty Rainforest
2 Overgrown Tomb
2 Pendelhaven
4 Verdant Catacombs
Creatures
4 Blighted Agent
4 Glistener Elf
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Plague Stinger
2 Apostle's Blessing
2 Giant Growth
4 Groundswell
4 Might of Old Krosa
4 Mutagenic Growth
4 Rancor
4 Vines of Vastwood
3 Dismember
3 Grafdigger's Cage
4 Nature's Claim
2 Spellskite
3 Thoughtseize
3 Breeding Pool
4 Inkmoth Nexus
4 Misty Rainforest
2 Pendelhaven
4 Verdant Catacombs
2 Snow-covered forest
Creatures
4 Blighted Agent
4 Glistener Elf
3 Ichorclaw Myr
4 Noble Hierarch
2 Apostle’s Blessing
3 Gitaxian Prob
4 Groundswell
4 Might of old krosa
2 Rancor
3 Serum Visions
4 Sleight of hand
4 Vines of Vastwood
4 Dismember
2 Dispel
1 Dryad Arbor
2 Nature’s Claim
3 Spellskite
2 Threads of Disloyalty
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Breeding Pool
2 Cathedral of War
2 Forest
2 Gemstone Mine
4 Inkmoth Nexus
3 Misty Rainforest
1 Overgrown Tomb
2 Pendelhaven
3 Verdant Catacombs
4 Blighted Agent
4 Glistener Elf
4 Plague Stinger
4 Noble Hierarch
Spells
4 Apostle’s Blessing
4 Giant Growth
4 Groundswell
4 Might of old krosa
4 Ranger’s Guile
4 Vines of Vastwood
3 Dismember
4 Nature’s Claim
4 Spellskite
4 Thoughtseize
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Plague Stinger
4 Glistener Elf
4 Blighted Agent
Instant
1 Apostle's Blessing
4 Vines of Vastwood
4 Might of Old Krosa
1 Giant Growth
3 Mutagenic Growth
4 Groundswell
3 Thoughtseize
Enchantment
4 Rancor
Land
2 Forest
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Inkmoth Nexus
1 Breeding Pool
3 Overgrown Tomb
2 Pendelhaven
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Relic of Progenitus
3 Spellskite
1 Hurkyl's Recall
4 Dismember
3 Nature's Claim
1 Apostle's Blessing
1 Thoughtseize
Modern Daily #5798582 on 08/13/2013Magic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards
60 cards
2 Breeding Pool
4 Forest
4 Inkmoth Nexus
4 Misty Rainforest
2 Pendelhaven
4 Verdant Catacombs
20 lands
4 Blighted Agent
4 Glistener Elf
4 Ichorclaw Myr
4 Noble Hierarch
16 creatures
1 Giant Growth
4 Groundswell
4 Might of Old Krosa
4 Mutagenic Growth
4 Rancor
1 Ranger's Guile
4 Vines of Vastwood
24 other spells
3 Dismember
1 Fog
1 Giant Growth
3 Nature's Claim
1 Ratchet Bomb
3 Spell Pierce
3 Twisted Image
2 Breeding Pool
2 Forest
4 Inkmoth Nexus
4 Misty Rainforest
2 Overgrown Tomb
2 Pendelhaven
4 Verdant Catacombs
Creatures
4 Blighted Agent
4 Glistener Elf
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Plague Stinger
3 Apostle's Blessing
1 Distortion Strike
4 Groundswell
3 Might of Old Krosa
4 Mutagenic Growth
1 Predator's Strike
4 Rancor
4 Vines of Vastwood
2 Abrupt Decay
3 Dismember
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
4 Nature's Claim
2 Spellskite
1 Wild Defiance
4.Sample Deck Lists
4 Glistener Elf
4 Plague Stinger
4 Blighted Agent
4 Noble Hierarch
Pump Spells
4 Groundswell
4 Might of Old Krosa
2 Giant Growth
4 Mutagenic Growth
4 Rancor
4 Vines of Vastwood
2 Apostle’s Blessing
Lands
2 Breeding Pool
2 Forest
2 Overgrown Tomb
4 Misty rainforest
4 Verdant Catacomb
4 Inkmoth Nexus
2 Pendelhaven
4 Blighted Agent
4 Glistener Elf
4 Ichorclaw Myr
4 Noble Hierarch
Pump Spells
4 Rancor
4 Groundswell
4 Might of Old Krosa
4 Mutagenic Growth
2 Apostle’s Blessing
4 Vines of Vastwood
Evasion Spells
2 Distortion Strike
Lands
2 Breeding Pool
4 Forest
4 Islands
4 Misty Rainforest
2 Pendelhaven
4 Inkmoth Nexus
3x Apostle's Blessing
4x Groundswell
4x Might of Old Krosa
4x Mutagenic Growth
4x Vines of Vastwood
Creature (14)
4x Blighted Agent
4x Glistener Elf
4x Ichorclaw Myr
2x Plague Myr
3x Breeding Pool
4x Forest
3x Hinterland Harbor
4x Inkmoth Nexus
4x Island
2x Pendelhaven
Sorcery (3)
3x Distortion Strike
Enchantment (4)
4x Rancor
2 Pithing needle
3 Grafdigger's Cage
3 Nature's Claim
2 Simic Charm
3 Beast Within
2 Spellskite
Hi all, If I am missing any information please throw a message here =D
Modern : Huh?
EDH : UBGW Thrasios / Tymna Combo UBGW // GRW Mayael Big Stuff GRW // GU Edric Timewalkers GU
We would prefer to see all the UG(x) Infect lists here, as they are all somewhat similar at their core. A mono black infect list could also be added, but if it needed its own thread, that would have to go in Creation.
For reference, here is the old primer. It was out of date and needed edits anyway:
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=466007
4 Glistener Elf
4 Ichoclaw Myr
4 Blighted Agent
Instants
4 Giant Growth
4 Might of Old Krosa
4 Groundswell
4 Mutagenic Growth
4 Apostles Blessing
4 Pact of Negation
4 Distortion Strike
Land
4 Breeding Pool
4 Misty Rainforest
2 Pendlehaven
4 Island
4 Forest
2 Inkmoth Nexus
4 Wild Defiance
4 Gutshot
4 Hornet Sting
I actually played 5 matches in total with the deck and didn't lose a single one, I only lost 1 game, and that was to Tron hitting a T3 Karn. Out of the 10 games, I got 4 T2 Kills, all the rest were T3, one was T5. I seriously have no idea how Glistener Elf isn't banned.
Rundown of matches
Rnd 1: RDW
I won the roll, dropped a land, Elf, passed turn. He dropped a land, Bolted the Elf, and passed the turn. I drop another land, drop another elf, pass the turn, he untaps, drops a land, tries to Incinerate the Elf, I save it with Apostles Blessing. I untap, draw a Pendlehaven, drop it, pump the elf with it, double Groundswell, I win
-4 Giant Growth, +4 Wild Defiance
This was my longer game, he was holding back multiple burn spells to deal with my infect guys. T1 he goes land, Goblin Guide, swings for 2, I reveal Pendlehaven off the top, which I play on my turn. T2 he drops a land, swings for another 2, and passes. I drop a land T2, and pass as well. EOT he Bolts me, putting me to 13, Turn 3 he drops a third land, swings for 2, putting me at 11, and passes the turn. Turn I drop a land and Wild Defiance. T4 he drops a land, Incinerates me for 3, attacks with Goblin for 2, putting me at 6. My T4 I drop a Blighted Agent and pass. He swings with Goblin, puts me to 4, Bolts me, puts me to 1, and passes. I drop a land, Distortion Strike, Groundswell, swing for game.
1-0
Round 2: Karn Tron
Game 1, I nut out perfectly, I win the role, Pendelhaven, Glistener Elf, pass, He plays a Tron Piece and an Expedition Map, passes, Turn 2, I bolt myself for a Misty + Breeding Pool, Pendelhaven pump, Groundswell, Groundswell, GG.
Game 2, I kept a 1 lander since my had had 2 Elfs and a Blighted Agent in it, He goes first, drops a Mine and Expedition Map, pass, I don't draw a land, drop my breeding Pool, play my elf, pass. T2 he drops Tower, cracks to fine Power Plant, pass, I miss another land draw, swing and pump with Giant Growth for 4 poison, pass, T3 he drops Power Plat and Karn, exiles elf, and I concede
Game 3
I go first, drop a Breeding Pool, pass. He drops a Tower T1, plas a Chromatic Sphere, and passes. T2 I play a Forest and drop an Ichorclaw Myr, and pass. He draws, drops Mountain, Pyroclasms, I pay 2 life and Mutagenic Growth to keep my Myr alive. T3 I drop a Beeding pool, Distortion Strike, Might, Groundswell, game
2-0
Round 3: Affinity
This was a pretty basic aggro mirror and I was just faster. I won't go thorugh all the details, but I T2's him Game 1 and T3'd him Game 2.
I played a few friendly games afterwards against more home brew style decks (including a much worse version of infect) and didn't really have any challenges
The one card that is underperforming is Pact of Negation, I never played it since all the removal was on thier turn since they knew I could probably pump my guys if they let me untap, so I rarely had any actual chances to use it. I might swap it out for something, I don't know what for yet.
4 Ichorclaw Myr
4 Rotwolf (???)
3 Giant Growth
4 Might of Old Krosa
4 Groundswell
4 Mutagenic Growth
4 Apostles Blessing
4 Vines of the Vastwood
4 Rancor
2 Ranger's Guile
4 Inkmoth Nexus
2 Pendalhaven
Would this be competitive in a Control-ish meta game?
My lame attempt at humor...
Why does everyone in Bant hate the Lord of Riots? 'Cause they're all, Rakdos-intolerant! Awwww, yeah...
Blue gives unblockable with Blighted Agent and Distortion Strike as well as counters, while black gives disruption and more resilient creatures (Phyrexian Crusader).
Mono g won't be bad but isn't optimal.
Last, your list looks pretty good.
2x Breeding Pool
2x Forest
4x Inkmoth Nexus
4x Misty Rainforest
2x Overgrown Tomb
2x Pendelhaven
1x Swamp
3x Verdant Catacombs
Enchantment (2)
4x Rancor
2x Apostle's Blessing
2x Giant Growth
4x Groundswell
4x Might of Old Krosa
4x Mutagenic Growth
4x Vines of Vastwood
Creature (16)
4x Blighted Agent
4x Glistener Elf
4x Noble Hierarch
4x Plague Stinger
3x Dismember
3x Grafdigger's Cage
4x Thoughtseize
3x Nature's Claim
2x Spellskite
2x Breeding Pool
4x Forest
4x Inkmoth Nexus
4x Island
4x Misty Rainforest
2x Pendelhaven
Sorcery (2)
2x Distortion Strike
Enchantment (4)
4x Rancor
2x Apostle's Blessing
4x Groundswell
4x Might of Old Krosa
4x Mutagenic Growth
4x Vines of Vastwood
Creature (16)
4x Blighted Agent
4x Glistener Elf
4x Ichorclaw Myr
4x Noble Hierarch
4x Beast Within
2x Grafdigger's Cage
4x Nature's Claim
3x Spellskite
Modern : Huh?
EDH : UBGW Thrasios / Tymna Combo UBGW // GRW Mayael Big Stuff GRW // GU Edric Timewalkers GU
I want to know people's feelings about playing against this deck. I don't mind losing to a fast deck, but it really irks me that this deck can get a lucky draw to hit a turn 2-3 win out of nowhere. I was actually playing a game where, on the draw, I drop a ETB tapped land after my opponent played a Glistener Elf. On his second turn he drops a land, plays double Might of Old Krosa and a Mutagenic Growth for the turn 2 win. I know this isn't the usual way it goes, but it does happen.
I know that any deck can get lucky draws, but it seems that this deck is very often just a coin flip to see if you're outright dead or if you win (in g2 I absolutely shut him down). I feel like this deck just sucks away the fun of playing because of that all-or-nothing nature.
I don't think there would be any way to fix this that wouldn't just ruin the deck, so I'm not asking for that. I just want to see what other people feel about it. Am I being irrational here or do other people dislike this deck and its style as much as me?
Lots of people on this forum were throwing around the possibility of glistner elf being banned but I never found it to be credible myself. It's not a coinflip, it's a metagame thing. If you have main deck lightning bolts or paths you're significantly advantaged against infect.
It's just a deck that punishes you for durdling or playing combo. There's nothing wrong with this. I find that people irrationally view poison as unfair compared to normal damage. You do realize that the benefits of poison are heavily offset by the restrictions on deck creation right? You ban any of the powerful cards in infect and it goes from a teir 1.5 to unplayable because there are no substitutes.
In fact, I do play UWR. I usually do well against the deck, it just seems like that deck, above all others, either gets blowout hands that end the game right there or just flounders.
If I had to ban something from the infect deck, it would be the buff spells, over the creatures. Forcing them to play Giant Growth over Might of Old Krosa would limit the turn 2/3 wins by removing the only 1 CMC +4/+4 buff spell.
But, like I said, it's not the mechanic of poison that I dislike, it's the way I feel sitting across from that deck.
I do run Bolt/Path, so I have a better than 50% win rate against infect, I just dislike seeing the deck.
I was actually considering adding some Gut Shot to my SB, just to show the infect player how much I dislike the deck.
The problem is, lots of people play abrupt decay and tons of removal in the format, and one of the best decks in the format has maindeck Melira. It's a good deck to play if you expect lots of tron, storm, and other non-interactive decks, otherwise, it's just not worth the money.
I'm not going to lie, personally I despise playing against Infect! If I get paired up against the Infect player I'll usually give them a hard time(all in good fun!), asking why they couldn't build a "real" deck. I'll also admit that I take great joy in beating Infect players as well.
Groundswell would like to have a word with you.
I don't think Infect is a problem. It's quite the glasscannon compared to other decks and the most common way to interact with your opponent in this format is removal - which a lot of decks play plenty of.
I've been on both sides of this debate and while the deck can have crazy draws, lots of times it just dies to all the maindeck creature hate that's going around. People have already mentioned Melira and there is tons of Spellskite in my meta, too. You need a pretty specific hand to deal with removal on the infect side.
Some people don't like playing vs. permission control and I think this deck is totally fair in that light. In my experience the only people who like hard control are the people playing it; the same theory applies here. I've found modern to be inherently "unfair" compared to Standard and while it bugged me to start, I don't care so much anymore. Burn has some silly draws too but neither deck is consistent.
[360][Unpowered] USAstrat's Cube
Draft my cube on CubeTutor!
Modern: UWR UWR Control
EDH: WBR Kaalia of the Vast
BTW Thank you for playing that turn 1 colonnade...that is almost the only way infect can beat URW. You mis-played. If the colonnade was the only land you needed to muligan. If it was a shockland you should have played it untapped and taken the 2...you are in no real danger going below 5 life total against infect. You have to respect a glistener elf turn 1...play it safe and put out mana untapped your first turn. Good experience for you though.
Twitter- RogueSource.
Decks: "Name one! I probably got it built In one of these boxes."
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[I]Some call it dig through time, when really your digging through CRAP!
Merfolk! showing magic players what a shower is since Lorwyn!
In legacy, game 1, you have to watch your opponent to decide to mulligan. If he is hesitant on whether or not he is going to keep or not, and takes a while to decide, it may be a good idea to mull for combo hate. So let's say we know our opponent is playing belcher, a deck that easily wins on turns 1 or 2. If i'm playing force of will, I will mulligan to 2 cards if that's what it takes to get a force of will and a blue card to pitch to it.
I remember when I first started playing jund, I was on the draw against infect. He plays a turn 1 glistener elf. I keep a hand with some hand disruption and some removal, but no lands that come into play untapped on turn 1. So I play a land tapped, and sure enough, he kills me on turn 2. That was completely my fault.
Of course, that's an extreme example (that mainly applies to legacy), but the aspect applies to modern as well. In standard, there really isn't many things that are dangerous to require aggressive mulligans and require specific hate, so I think some players who join modern and legacy who are used to a format that is more forgiving of most turn 1 plays haven't learned this concept yet.
As for non-interactive decks, I wish people would appreciate them more. It's a combo deck. It's part of the game. I guess you don't get to play magic when playing against combo sometimes, but you still get to watch people play magic in the worst case scenario...or if you're lucky, they'll let you keep the storm count for them at least. Sure, playing against combo makes your butthole pucker every time they 'flip the coin' to see if they win this turn or not, but isn't that what makes magic exciting even if you're on the other side of the table?
Modern Junk Primer
Legacy ANT Primer
L1 Judge
Groundswell is a lot more situational than Might of Old Krosa (I know that Vines of the Vastwood grants +4/+4, too, but that one costs 2 mana).
I'm not saying it should be banned, I was just interested in the general view on the deck.
Well, my problem with my turn 2 loss was that I went down to 5 already, having drawn no lands at 7 and no hate at 6. Corner-case, I know, but it happens and it's a bit annoying.
I don't have a problem with most other combo decks, but it's just the way that Infect is so variable that rubs me the wrong way. Most other combo decks are not, in fact, "coin-flips." Infect seems to be one of the least consistent combo decks in modern and the incredibly variable range of speed makes losing to this deck early feel like you just got out-lucked.