Infectious Host MTG Card

Infectious Host - Ravnica: City of Guilds

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Zombie
Released	2005-10-07
Set symbol
Set name	Ravnica: City of Guilds
Set code	RAV
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	91
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	rk post

Key Takeaways

The card bolsters decks designed around creature deaths and sacrifices.
Infectious Host’s indirect card advantage can shift game dynamics.
Effective mitigation strategies against it include exile or control effects.

Text of card

When Infectious Host is put into a graveyard from play, target player loses 2 life.

"Lost man, dead man, knocking on the door. Cankerman, soreman, knock no more." —Ravnican children's rhyme

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Infectious Host when it comes to the battlefield or dies, it can lend you card advantage by forcing your opponent to lose life. This action doesn’t rely on drawing cards directly but works as an indirect method to keep you ahead in the game.

Resource Acceleration: Infectious Host isn’t a traditional resource accelerant but its effect can act as a deterrent, indirectly preventing resource depletion by pressuring your opponent to deal with it, or face consistent life loss.

Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, Infectious Host synergizes well with instant speed spells that might trigger its death for added benefit. This makes it a tactical play in your MTG deck, especially when combined with other cards that might trigger upon creature death at instant speed.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Infectious Host demands you relinquish another card from your hand when you play it, an unfavorable trade at times when your hand size is dwindling and each card value becomes critical.

Specific Mana Cost: Casting this creature requires exact mana alignment which might not seamlessly fit into all deck architectures, limiting its versatility for players who operate with a diverse mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost at a higher threshold for its infect capabilities when compared to other options within the same mana range, players might opt for cards that yield greater board presence or immediate impact.

Reasons to Include Infectious Host in Your Collection

Versatility: Infectious Host offers a unique role in decks that capitalize on creature sacrifice or death-triggered abilities. Its ability to deal direct damage to an opponent when it dies makes it a flexible inclusion for assorted strategies seeking incremental advantages.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies focusing on proliferating poison counters, which can quickly escalate to a win condition in the right setup. Paired with cards that benefit from or activate upon creature death, the Infectious Host can become an integral part of a potent combo.

Meta-Relevance: With an environment that includes creature-based aggro decks or where life totals can be a tight race, Infectious Host can provide that essential push towards victory. Its ability to add pressure by dealing damage directly to an opponent upon death can disrupt your opponent’s strategy and potentially tilt the scales in your favor.

How to beat

Infectious Host shines as a unique and strategic addition to the myriad of creatures in Magic the Gathering. This particular card feeds off of its own demise, as it deals damage to your opponent once it heads to the graveyard. It’s part of the valuable arsenal of cards that utilize death triggers, similar to other impactful creatures like Doomed Traveler or Hissing Iguanar.

To tackle Infectious Host, the trick lies in mitigation rather than destruction. Effects that exile, like Swords to Plowshares, offer a clean solution by removing it without triggering its ability. Another effective strategy is to prevent it from dying by using cards such as Rest in Peace, which nullify graveyard related mechanics. Additionally, controlling the battlefield with enchantments like Pacifism can neutralize Infectious Host without having to actually remove it from play.

In essence, circumventing the death-trigger effect is key when facing off against Infectious Host. Focusing on these alternate removal methods or control tactics ensures this pestilent creature doesn’t achieve its full potential, keeping the upper hand securely within your grasp during the match.

Cards like Infectious Host

Infectious Host serves as a niche but potent piece in the vast puzzle of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. It’s analogous to cards like Festering Goblin, which also brings something to the table when it meets its demise. While Festering Goblin allows you to give a creature -1/-1 until end of turn when it dies, Infectious Host takes it further by dealing 2 damage to target player or planeswalker instead.

Examining the card Plague Dogs, we observe a shared theme of dealing damage upon death. Plague Dogs, however, can inflict damage to each opponent and offers the upside of drawing a card for an additional cost. This adds a layer of strategic depth to gameplay. Conversely, Infectious Host focuses exclusively on one target, which could be seen as more limited but does not require an extra investment.

Lastly, Blistergrub stands out by providing a broader impact, causing each opponent to lose 2 life when it dies, without targeting. This makes it effective in a multiplayer setting. Despite its advantages, Infectious Host’s specificity might be preferred in one-on-one scenarios or within decks built around targeted strategies.

Evaluating the unique aspects and situational uses of each, Infectious Host holds its own in Magic: The Gathering for players who value precision and direct pressure in their gameplay tactics.

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

Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Infectious Host MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds, 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 Host and other MTG cards: