Infect

Infect is a keyword ability that was introduced in Scars of Mirrodin. 
==Description==
A creature with infect deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and players in the form of poison counters. If a player has ten or more poison counters, they lose the game. In Two-Headed Giant, it's fifteen or more.
Infect is centered in black and green and there are also some artifacts having the keyword. It combines poisonous and wither abilities. In Mirrodin Besieged the mechanic was expanded to white, and finally spread to red in New Phyrexia. 
As with its related mechanic proliferate, infect is Phyrexian in theme. Each creature with infect, and all cards that gave infect and/or positively affected creatures with infect, were printed with the Phyrexian watermark. The mechanic was considered for Phyrexia: All Will Be One, but ultimately dismissed because R&D has soured on environments using -1/-1 counters and because infect is disliked by many.
==Rules==
==Rulings==
*Infect's effect applies to any damage, not just combat damage.
*The -1/-1 counters remain on the creature indefinitely. They're not removed if the creature regenerates or the turn ends.
*Damage from a source with infect is damage in all respects. If the source with infect also has lifelink, damage dealt by that source also causes its controller to gain that much life. Damage from a source with infect can be prevented or redirected. Abilities that trigger on damage being dealt will trigger if a source with infect deals damage, if appropriate.
*If damage from a source with infect that would be dealt to a player is prevented, that player doesn't get poison counters. If damage from a source with infect that would be dealt to a creature is prevented, that creature doesn't get -1/-1 counters.
*Damage from a source with infect affects planeswalkers normally.
*Creatures that have both infect and Toxic can add poison counters from both abilities when combat damage resolves.
==Reminder text==
The latest reminder text for Infect reads "This deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and players in the form of poison counters.".
==Examples==
==Cards that grant infect==
Instant
*<c>Tainted Strike</c> 
Sorcery
*<c>Triumph of the Hordes</c> 
Aura
*<c>Phyresis</c> 
*<c>Glistening Oil</c> 
*<c>Corrupted Conscience</c> 
Equipment
*<c>Grafted Exoskeleton</c> 
Sticker
*<c>Happy Dead Squirrel</c>
==Trivia==
* Infect was featured as rules card 1 of 5 in the Scars of Mirrodin set and as rules card 4 of 5 in the Mirrodin Besieged set and as rules card 3 of 4 in the New Phyrexia set.
*<c>Hand of the Praetors</c> is a lord for all creatures with infect.
*<c>Inkmoth Nexus</c> is a manland with infect.
*While Infect has not returned with new cards since Scars block due to its polarizing nature, Unfinity has it partially represented through stickers.
*For a short while, Infect was considered for the design of Phyrexia: All Will Be One.
==References==
==External links==
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