There are few mechanics in Magic: The Gathering that are as polarizing to players as infect. Creatures with infect deal damage in the form of poison counters to players and in the form of -1/-1 counters to creatures. As a player with ten or more poison counters on them loses the game, this greatly reduces the amount of damage an infect deck needs to deal in order to win a game. Additionally, creatures with infect can hypothetically deal with indestructible creatures, as enough -1/-1 counters can still destroy an indestructible creature.
With these factors in mind, infect decks are some of the most aggressive and combat focused decks in all of Magic, seeking to defeat an opponent as quickly as possible. So today, we're going to examine the ten strongest and most useful infect cards in Magic: The Gathering!
10 Tainted Strike
An instant for one black mana, Tainted Strike bestows +1/+0 and infect to target creature until the end of turn. Tainted Strike is particularly powerful in the Commander format, for it is quite common for players to swing at each other with enormous creatures.
Due to the nature of Tainted Trike as an instant, whenever a player chooses to not block a creature with power nine or greater, this spell can be cast in response to a lack of declared blockers, immediately taking a player out of the game. Tainted strike can even be cast targeting another player's creature if they're attacking another of one's opponents.
9 Ichorclaw Myr
Ichorclaw Myr is a 1/1 colorless artifact creature with infect for two mana. Additionally, whenever Ichorclaw Myr becomes blocked, it gets +2/+2.
This forces defending players to make a difficult decision: they can choose to directly take the poison counters from Ichorclaw Myr, or sustain three -1/-1 counters on a potential blocker! Furthermore, as Ichorclaw Myr is colorless, it is incredibly easy for players to cast, regardless of their deck's color identity.
8 Hand Of The Praetors
Hand of the Praetors is a unique creature that directly synergizes with other creatures with infect. A 3/2 zombie with infect for four mana, Hand of the Praetors provides all other creatures with infect with +1/+1.
While this makes creatures with infect all the more deadly, Hand of the Praetors can also circumvent opponents defenses, as whenever its controller casts another creature spell with infect, they can put a poison counter directly on target player!
7 Blighted Agent
A blue infect creature that sees a solid amount of play in Modern infect decks, Blighted Agent can often be the end of one's opponents as early as turn three!
For two mana, Blighted Agent is a 1/1 with infect that can't be blocked. While it may appear to be a smaller-scaled threat, Blighted Agent can be buffed by spells akin to Giant Growth, that for one mana, provide a creature with +3/+3 until the end of turn. If a player casts a Blighted Agent on turn two, and then casts three Giant Growth type spells on it on turn three, Blighted Agent can immediately end a game if not answered!
6 Phyrexian Crusader
Phyrexian Crusader is the model example of what an infect creature for three mana should be. While a black 2/2 for three mana is under the rate a player would usually hope for, Phyrexian crusader comes equipped with a slew of keywords that make it worth a player's while.
Phyrexian Crusader not only has infect, but first strike and protection from both red and white. This makes it even more of a threat when attacking, while also making it immune to potent removal spells like Lightning Bolt and Path to Exile!
5 Glistner Elf
A staple of Modern Infect decks, Glistner Elf is simple and sweet; it's a 1/1 with infect for one mana. By using Glistner Elf, a player can start their infect strategy from the word go!
It's not uncommon for a player to swing for seven or more infect damage on turn two thanks to pairing a Glistner Elf with some potent pump spells!
4 Inkmoth Nexus
Similarly to the iconic land, Blinkmoth Nexus, Inkmoth Nexus is a land that is capable of becoming a creature until the end of one's turn. Capable of tapping for one colorless mana, at the cost of one mana, Inkmoth Nexus can become a 1/1 creature with flying and infect until the end of turn.
As this card is normally a land, it is much more difficult for opponents to remove than creatures like Glistner Elf. Even if one's Glistner Elf falls victim to a well timed Fatal Push, Inkmoth Nexus can pick up the slack and continue to push poison counters through!
3 Skithiryx, The Blight Dragon
Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon is the only legendary creature in Magic, making it one of the most popular options for an infect-based Commander deck.
A mono-black 4/4 with flying and infect, Skithiryx can make itself even more terrifying when its controller pays additional mana. For one black, Skithiryx can give itself haste, and for two black mana, it can regenerate itself, making it incredibly difficult to put down.
2 Triumph Of The Hordes
Few cards can immediately end a game of Commander quite like Triumph of the Hordes. A green sorcery for four mana, this spell provides all creatures under its caster's control with +1/+1, trample, and infect.
When paired with an impressive board presence, numerous tokens, or even a single large threat, the widespread combination of trample and infect can often be too much for an opponent to overcome.
1 Blightsteel Colossus
By and Large, Blightsteel Colossus is one of the scariest and hardest to deal with creatures in all of Magic. A massive 11/11 with trample, infect, and indestructible, Blightsteel Colossus can force its might through an opponents defenses without fear due to its incredible combination of offense and defense.
If a Blightsteel Colossus is able to hit an opponent without being blocked, that player immediately loses the game! It is for this reason that Blightsteel Colossus is frequently paired with spells that can cheat it into play without paying its mana cost such as Show and Tell and Sneak Attack!