Infectious Rage MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant
Released	2002-05-27
Set symbol
Set name	Judgment
Set code	JUD
Number	92
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Christopher Moeller

Key Takeaways

Infectious Rage offers a continual power boost that can escalate quickly and significantly impact gameplay.
Drawbacks include a discard requirement, restriction to certain mana types, and a comparatively high casting cost.
Its meta relevance and combo potential make it a compelling choice for aggressive MTG deck strategies.

Text of card

Enchanted creature gets +2/-1. When enchanted creature is put into a graveyard, choose a creature at random Infectious Rage can enchant. Return Infectious Rage to play enchanting that creature.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When you have Infectious Rage in your deck, it is designed to embolden your creatures substantially, often transforming even the most unassuming creature into a significant threat. This upgrade can be vital for turning the tides during a game, turning each of your attacking creatures into a more dangerous opponent for your adversary to deal with. Infectious Rage can offer consistent value over time, especially if it remains attached to a creature that can consistently deal combat damage.

Resource Acceleration: Infectious Rage has the potential to be a game-changer by granting your creature an additional power boost whenever a spell is cast. This effect persists and accumulates, making each subsequent spell you cast increasingly more impactful. This incremental power surge can quickly escalate, putting your opponent on a tight clock and pressuring them to find an answer or face overwhelming forces on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: Infectious Rage isn’t an instant itself, but it interacts favorably with other instant speed spells in your arsenal. Each time you cast spells on your opponent’s turn, Infectious Rage’s triggered ability can increase your creature’s power. This introduces a layer of tactical depth to your game, enabling surprise combat enhancements that can catch your opponent off guard and potentially disrupt their strategic planning.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Infectious Rage necessitates the discard of another card when you cast it. If your hand is nearly empty or you’re holding onto key cards for your strategy, this additional cost can put you at a disadvantage, disrupting your play rhythm and depleting valuable resources.

Specific Mana Cost: Infectious Rage demands a specific blend of mana—one red and one other—to cast. This requirement can be restrictive for multicolored decks that may not consistently have the necessary mana types available, especially in the early stages of the game when mana sources are more limited.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana, the card can be seen as an investment, especially in fast-paced games where tempo is vital. In metagames dominated by low-cost, high-impact cards, the mana spent on casting Infectious Rage might lead to missed opportunities and delays in executing your deck’s overall strategy.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Infectious Rage adds a layer of complexity to any deck featuring aggressive strategies. This red enchantment can turn any creature into a significant threat, scaling up the damage quickly in a slugfest. Whether you’re aiming to buff a single powerhouse or spread the love across a swarm of creatures, Infectious Rage can find a home in various deck builds.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations that capitalize on creatures entering and leaving the battlefield. Additionally, in decks with sacrificing mechanics, Infectious Rage can inadvertently become a game-ender, turning the loss of your creature into a dramatic swing in life totals.

Meta-Relevance: In fast-paced game environments where aggressive decks are prevalent, Infectious Rage can give you the upper hand. Its ability to add consistent damage makes it a potent inclusion in any collection that aims to compete in the current meta where turning up the heat quickly on opponents can make all the difference.

How to beat

Infectious Rage is a unique enchantment that can change the tide of a game in Magic: The Gathering. When approaching situations with this card on the battlefield, players need to consider its potential to significantly enhance the power of a creature every time it burns a path from one opponent to the next. It stacks quickly and can prove lethal without the right countermeasures.

Defeating Infectious Rage requires a few strategic moves. Firstly, having removal spells ready is crucial. Enchantment removal like Naturalize or Disenchant can swiftly eliminate Infectious Rage from the game. Another method is targeting the creature it enchants before the enchantment triggers its formidable effect. Using instant-speed removal such as Path to Exile or Murder can disrupt your opponent’s plans before they manifest. Alternatively, countering it directly with spells like Negate ensures it never hits the field.

In summary, maintaining control of the board and being prepared with the right spells are key. By managing threats early and prioritizing enchantment control, players can mitigate the cascading power of Infectious Rage and maintain an advantageous position in the duel.

Cards like Infectious Rage

Infectious Rage augments the repertoire of Magic: The Gathering’s aura cards catering to those who favor aggressive gameplay. Comparable to Rancor, Infectious Rage bestows a power boost to a creature, though it trades Rancor’s resilience for an expansion of damage. While Rancor brings a recurring element through its return-to-hand ability, Infectious Rage extends its effect across multiple opponents upon the enchanted creature’s demise.

Analogous to Madcap Skills, Infectious Rage lends a significant enhancement to a creature’s damage output, but whereas Madcap Skills grants a substantial bonus to power and evasion with menace, Infectious Rage emits a spillover effect, hitting each opponent as the enchanted creature meets its end. Consequently, it can be a tool for tactical plays, especially in multiplayer formats.

Certainly, in evaluating its kinship with other auras like Unholy Strength or Bravado, Infectious Rage stands out for its unique ability to disperse damage posthumously. Each of these enchantments offers strategic benefits aimed at elevating creature performance, yet Infectious Rage’s potential for broad impact adds a layer of intimidation to Magic: The Gathering’s combat phase that rivals rarely anticipate.

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

Emblem of the Warmind - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Infectious Rage MTG card by a specific set like Judgment, 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 Rage and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Infectious Rage has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-10-04	When this card returns to the battlefield, it is put onto the battlefield on the creature without targeting it, so it can be placed on a creature with Shroud.
2004-10-04	You can’t return this card to the battlefield onto something it can’t enchant. For example, you can’t place this card on a permanent with protection from red.