Infectious Horror MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Zombie Horror
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Infectious Horror creates card advantage by forcing opponents to respond to its life-draining attack.
  2. The card’s mana requirements may limit its flexibility but offer a strong presence in mono-black decks.
  3. With high synergy potential, Infectious Horror can be central to potent life-loss-focused combos.

Text of card

Whenever Infectious Horror attacks, each opponent loses 2 life.

Not once in the history of Grixis has anyone died of old age.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Infectious Horror brings a unique angle to card advantage that can help dismantle your opponent’s life total while maintaining board presence. Each attack not only deals damage but effectively creates a psychological edge as opponents confront the looming threat of this creature’s effect touching their life points.

Resource Acceleration: While Infectious Horror itself doesn’t bolster your mana pool directly, its synergistic potential with other cards for ramp strategies can’t be overlooked. By threatening steady life loss, it can force opponents to deal with it promptly, indirectly accelerating your resource gain by disrupting their plans and maintaining your own tempo.

Instant Speed: Infectious Horror may not be an instant, but its impact has a ripple effect that is felt immediately upon attack. Its static ability functions on attacking, a mechanic that can be leveraged unpredictably in tandem with flash creatures or other instant-speed interactions, unsettling your opponent’s strategy each time Infectious Horror lunges forward.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Infectious Horror does not directly require a discard, but considering its specific and potentially high mana cost, it could indirectly contribute to a faster depletion of your hand, especially if your strategy doesn’t support this kind of tempo.

Specific Mana Cost: Infectious Horror demands a precise combination of mana types (one black and three others), limiting its incorporation in multicolored decks that may not consistently generate the necessary mana without the proper land base or mana-fixing cards.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four mana cost, Infectious Horror’s impact on the game may not justify its expense, particularly when there are alternative creatures or spell cards available that can provide a more significant effect or value upon entering the battlefield or being cast.


Reasons to Include Infectious Horror in Your Collection

Versatility: Infectious Horror works well in decks that focus on life-draining mechanics, slotting easily into black archetype strategies where consistent life loss for your opponent is key.

Combo Potential: This card has interesting synergies within decks that amplify life loss effects. When coupled with cards that trigger on life loss or cast spells, Infectious Horror can become a linchpin in a potent damaging combo.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where the field is crowded with aggressive decks, Infectious Horror can shift the tide by passively eroding the opponent’s life total, complementing defensive strategies that whittle down an opponent’s resources.


How to beat

Infectious Horror is a creature card that can be quite daunting in the right MTG deck. Its ability, which causes opponents to lose life upon attacking, can put pressure on the battlefield. To effectively counter this card, key strategies must be implemented. First, consider using removal spells that can deal with creatures swiftly, such as Murder or Path to Exile, to eliminate Infectious Horror before it can become a persistent threat.

Another effective tactic is to utilize creatures with high toughness or those with the ability to block multiple creatures. By presenting a sturdy defense, the impact of Infectious Horror’s attacks can be mitigated. In addition, life gain effects can help to offset the life loss triggered by the horror’s ability. Lastly, staying ahead in the game through card advantage and board presence will reduce the horror’s influence, allowing you to maintain control of the game and eventually overcome this formidable adversary. By prioritizing these approaches, Infectious Horror can be managed and contained.


Cards like Infectious Horror

Infectious Horror weaves a subtle web of strategic play within the broad tapestry of creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest kin on the battlefield might well be cards like Zulaport Cutthroat. Both creatures manifest their power in sapping life from your opponents whenever certain conditions are met. Where Zulaport Cutthroat gains you life when a creature you control dies, Infectious Horror ensures your opponent loses life whenever it attacks, regardless of its combat success.

Another card in a similar realm is Blood Artist, which also thrives on the strategy of draining opponents’ life, albeit through a different trigger: the death of other creatures. While Infectious Horror is more straightforward with its attack mechanism, Blood Artist offers a finer control over life points with its responsive ability. Compared to the robust four mana needed for Infectious Horror, Blood Artist’s utility comes cheaper and can integrate seamlessly into decks prioritizing death-triggered strategies.

Pondering over this comparison, Infectious Horror presents as a unique force with a persistent impact during each combat that shakes your enemy’s life total, painting its own niche amongst MTG creatures designed to bleed out the opposition.

Zulaport Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Blood Artist - MTG Card versions
Zulaport Cutthroat - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)
Blood Artist - Avacyn Restored (AVR)

Cards similar to Infectious Horror by color, type and mana cost

Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Dirge Bat - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Bad Ass - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Deathgazer - MTG Card versions
Dirty Wererat - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - Chronicles (CHR)
Rag Man - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Phyrexian Debaser - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Slinking Skirge - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Gravedigger - The List (PLST)
Scandalmonger - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Urborg Shambler - Invasion (INV)
Whispering Shade - Odyssey (ODY)
Filth - Judgment (JUD)
Demon of Catastrophes - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Bold Plagiarist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Dirge Bat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Toxin Sliver - Legions (LGN)
Vampiric Spirit - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Nim Shambler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Bad Ass - Unhinged (UNH)
Scourge of Numai - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Deathgazer - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Dirty Wererat - Hachette UK (PHUK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Infectious Horror MTG card by a specific set like Conflux and Archenemy, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Infectious Horror and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Infectious Horror Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2009-02-06 and 2018-07-13. Illustrated by Pete Venters.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-02-06ConfluxCON 472003normalblackPete Venters
22010-06-18ArchenemyARC 182003normalblackPete Venters
32014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 1152003normalblackPete Venters
42018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 1012015normalblackPete Venters

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Infectious Horror has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Infectious Horror card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2018-07-13 In a Two-Headed Giant game, Infectious Horror’s ability causes the opposing team to lose 4 life.

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