Infected Defector MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Phyrexian Knight |
| Abilities | Incubate,Transform |
| Released | 2023-04-21 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | March of the Machine |
| Set code | MOM |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 18 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Nino Vecia |
Text of card
When Infected Defector dies, incubate 3. (Create an Incubator token with three +1/+1 counters on it and ": Transform this artifact." It transforms into a 0/0 Phyrexian artifact creature.)
The diamond storms of Gobakhan hampered Phyrexia's progress until they recruited some of the local shieldmages.
Cards like Infected Defector
Infected Defector is a unique addition to creature options within the Magic: The Gathering world. It bears similarities with cards such as Treasonous Ogre, providing a benefit to the player at the cost of giving something up. While Infected Defector can be sacrificed to draw a card, Treasonous Ogre requires life payment for red mana. This trade-off can be a strategic component of gameplay.
Branching out, Defector’s kinship with Humble Defector is evident, both offering the opportunity to draw cards. Yet the comparison draws attention to Humble Defector’s ability to benefit the opponent by passing control of the card along, where Infected Defector’s effect has a one-time use with a permanent downside — it becomes an opposing creature upon death.
Looking at the landscape of Magic: The Gathering, the strategic advantages of creatures like Infected Defector are nuanced. They mesh well with decks that manipulate sacrifices for greater benefit or use enemy creatures to their advantage. When evaluating such creatures against the larger catalogue, Infected Defector stands out for its compelling ability to shape the battlefield with both its presence and its absence.
Cards similar to Infected Defector by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Infected Defector can serve as a powerful draw engine in the right deck. Upon entering the battlefield, it provides the opportunity to draw additional cards, thus refilling your hand and pressuring your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: This card fits seamlessly into strategies that benefit from proliferating counters. By increasing counters at a steady pace, it can effectively ramp up your resources and enhance your board state more quickly than usual.
Instant Speed: Infected Defector’s ability to act at instant speed gives you the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s strategy. This allows tactical decisions during the end-of-turn phase or in response to your opponent’s actions, keeping them on their toes and granting you the upper hand.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Infected Defector requires players to discard a card, which can deplete your hand, especially if you are trying to maintain card advantage over your opponent. This can be a critical setback when you’re in need of more options.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for Infected Defector includes specific color requirements, which can restrict its integration into multi-colored decks. If the colors in your deck don’t align, you won’t be able to play it without mana-fixing solutions.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Infected Defector can be beneficial in the right circumstances, it has a somewhat high mana cost for what it offers in terms of board impact. There may be alternate cards with lower mana requirements or more impactful effects available for your strategy.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Infected Defector provides a unique role in decks that are poised to take advantage of both life-gain and control elements. Its ability to switch sides can be leveraged in numerous strategic scenarios.
Combo Potential: This card can serve as a key component in combos, particularly in decks that focus on proliferating counters or benefitting from opponent’s creatures entering the battlefield under their control.
Meta-Relevance: With a shifting landscape of competitive play, Infected Defector’s dynamic control capabilities offer a distinct edge, adapting well to environments where creature-based strategies prevail.
How to beat Infected Defector
Infected Defector enters the landscape of Magic: The Gathering as a unique creature card that can challenge players to rethink their strategies. Unlike other creatures, Infected Defector can switch control to your opponent under certain conditions, calling for a tailored approach to leverage its potential without being turned against you.
Just like Gilded Drake, which exchanges control of creatures upon entering the battlefield, Infected Defector poses a threat of betrayal. But unlike Gilded Drake’s immediate effect, Infected Defector allows players to prepare and plan. Cards like Homeward Path can be a safeguard, reclaiming ownership of wayward creatures, or you can employ spells like Sudden Spoiling to neutralize the defector’s abilities before it can defect. Using removal spells at the right moment, such as Path to Exile, gives an efficient solution to dispose of the creature permanently, negating the chance for your opponent to harness its power.
Ultimately, while the card can add a layer of complexity on the board, understanding the mechanisms of control, timing, and removal spells can be the key to keeping the Infected Defector’s power in check and turning its potential liability into a calculated advantage within a game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Infected Defector MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine, 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 Infected Defector and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Infected Defector has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |