The Contagion (Modern Infect Primer)

Modern Aggro Combo Competitive GU (Simic) Infect

Logics

Land (19)

• 2x Breeding Pool
• 2x Forest
• 1x Horizon Canopy
• 4x Inkmoth Nexus
• 2x Pendelhaven
• 4x Windswept Heath
• 4x Wooded Foothills

Sorcery (2)

• 2x Distortion Strike

Instant (20)

• 3x Become Immense
• 4x Blossoming Defense
• 1x Echoing Truth
• 4x Might of Old Krosa
• 4x Mutagenic Growth
• 4x Vines of Vastwood

Artifact (4)

• 4x Mishra's Bauble

Creature (15)

• 4x Blighted Agent
• 4x Glistener Elf
• 2x Jace, Vryn's Prodigy  ^Flip
• 4x Noble Hierarch
• 1x Spellskite

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Sideboard

Instant (8)

• 2x Dismember
• 1x Dispel
• 1x Echoing Truth
• 2x Nature's Claim
• 2x Spell Pierce

Creature (2)

• 1x Spellskite
• 1x Viridian Corrupter

Artifact (3)

• 3x Relic of Progenitus

Enchantment (2)

• 2x Shapers' Sanctuary

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Simic Infect Primer

Infect is one of the older modern Archetypes in Modern. It has been around for a long time, and has found marginal to great success in it's history. Simic infect is generally accepted as the most powerful version of the deck due to the inclusion of Blighted Agent . At it's peak, it was considered by some the best deck in modern with the like of Gitaxian Probe (R.I.P.) allowing for a more streamlined deck and a way to check if the coast is clear before killing your opponent. Nowadays, the deck has slowed down a bit, changing from an all out blitz and kill to usually killing over 2 turns while being able to threaten lethal if they ever let their guard down. Cards like Spell Pierce , Dismember , and even Jace, Vryn's Prodigy   are making it into lists now, looking for resiliency over sheer speed.

Through and through, infect is a combo deck, looking to assemble a winning hand, find an opening, and kill your opponent. It creates very interesting games, where players actively bluff a lot of the time, and the infect player has to read the opponent. This is why the deck interests me, it is a combo deck that is actually actively interacting with the opponent. Of course most of the interaction is of the whiff your interaction variety, but that better than most combo decks.

In the current meta, infect is probably a tier 2-2.5 deck, with jund and mardu pyromancer being incredibly difficult to overcome. That being said, most people aren't ready for infect, and it is definitely powerful.

Card Choices and Deck Building

Most infect decklists follow a similar formula, as it allows for the most consistency when playing, although there are a number of flex slots in the deck, and all of the time people change up their builds to fit their play style. In general you will see something like:

25-29 Instants or Sorceries, with about 8-12 being protection spells, 1-4 evasion spells, 10-16 being non-protective pump spells, and 3-6 being removal or card draw.

Then we have a fairly standard 12-15 creatures with the main 3 staying the same. Depending on tastes, people will add extra infect creatures or Spellskite main deck.

Lastly we have 19-21 lands to round out the deck.

I will cover in more detail general numbers, as well as different pieces of tech that some people in the deck. Keep in mind, everything I'm putting down is generally what is played. Feel free to shave what I would call a 4 of auto include if it suits your deck building style, or play 4 copies of a card I list as 1. At the end of the day this section is supposed to aid in your deck building, not define it.

Creatures Show

Core Cards

Noble Hierarch (4) - This card is an auto include in every non-budget infect deck list. Ramping allows you to more easily and quickly play out and protect your creatures, and the exalted trigger often times turns a non-lethal attack into a lethal one. Infect is probably the best deck as using the exalted trigger due to infect only having to do 10 damage, essentially doubling the effectiveness of the pump.

Glistener Elf (4) - In Simic infect, you pretty much have to play this guy as a 4 of. He's your weakest threat, offering no evasion on his own, but the fact that he comes down turn one can very easily punish decks with a low creature count, and allow for quick victories.

Blighted Agent (4) - This card is the main reason you play Simic when you play infect. It being unblockable allows you to create hellish board states. for the opponent, where a lot of times they will just desperation race you, and most of the time they lose that race.

Situational Cards

Spellskite (0-2) - Spellskite and infect have gone hand in hand since the beginning of infect. Currently it has much less value, and since the Splinter Twin ban, you almost never see them. Still some people will play up to 2 maindeck, it is a proactive, repeatable, and effective way to protect your creatures if you're planning on playing a slower infect game.

Ichorclaw Myr (0-4) - Very rarely will you see someone play 4 copies of Ichorclaw Myr in Simic infect. I have seen decks playing up to 2 of them though. Usually when put in the deck, you will also see a couple copies of Rancor to go with it.

Viridian Corrupter (0-1) - Sometimes people play a copy of this card mainboard. It's a maindeck answer to a Chalice of the Void on 1, and it being a 2/2 can be relevant sometimes. Just be careful when playing it, as it will kill any artifacts you have when it comes down if it has no other targets.

Jace, Vryn's Prodigy   (0-2) - You play Jace if you intent on playing a more grindy version of infect. It is slow, but it's looting fuels Become Immense , fixes your hand, and it's flipped form allows you to flashback protection or a situational card that might win you the game.

Spells Show

Protection Spells

Vines of Vastwood (4) - I have not seen a single infect list not running 4 Vines. Sometimes call the green counterspell, aside from already pulling double duty in the deck, being a pump and protection spell, it also has the chance to prevent opponent's effects. You can use it to stop an Archbound Ravager's modular trigger, or stop a lethal Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Restoration Angel combo. Core card in the deck.

Blossoming Defense (4) - Very rarely I have seen this card played as a 3 of, but I think it's right to play 4 in the deck. It runs double duty, working as a pump and protection, and is very important to the deck.

Apostle's Blessing (0-2) - Most infect decklist play at least one copy of this card mainboard due to it's versatility. It can situationally get your attack through, and it protects your creature even if the only land you have open is an Inkmoth Nexus .

Spell Pierce (0-3) - I really like Spell Pierce in the main for Simic Infect. It helps a lot in some of the more difficult match-ups, and with the lack of Gitaxian Probe , the deck requires more protection in the now.

Pump Spells

Might of Old Krosa (4) - 1 Mana for 4 power consistently is a rate that infect can't pass up on. This card has been a staple in all versions of infect and I don't see that changing. It's just so good.

Become Immense (2-4) - Even in the Gitaxian Probe days of infect, I was never a proponent of 4 Become Immense as it is clunky in multiples. These days, most people run 2 or 3. It's clunky in multiples, but very powerful once you set it up.

Mutagenic Growth (3-4) - Being a mana-less pump, this card can sometimes be essential in winning the game, and is the card that most frequently helps you kill out of nowhere. It's good to note that when cast before a Become Immense it works as a clunky piece of ramp, which has won me multiple games.

Groundswell (0-4) - This is a defining card in your deck, playing 4 likely means you're shaving some of the flexibility of the deck, and going for a much more aggressive line. I personally have seen and played decks with anywhere from 0 to 4 copies of the card. My currently list runs 0, but that's because I like to be more versatile, and generally safer. Ultimately it's however you prefer to play though.

Giant Growth (0) - Giant Growth is not great in the deck. The +3/+3 often leaves you just short. If you really must play it, play 1 copy, other than that avoid this card altogether.

Flex Slots

Distortion Strike (0-2) - Most Simic infect lists sit at 1 Distortion Strike with a second in the side board. It is a flexible card and allows you to kill over 2 turns. I wouldn't recommend 0, but I have seen it.

Dismember (0-2) - A lot of lists have adopted playing 1 copy of Dismember especially with Humans running so many problematic creatures. Running one or two in the main deck gives you a chance against a Thalia, Guardian of Thraben or Meddling Mage in game 1.

Echoing Truth (0-1) - Filling a similar role to Dismember , Echoing Truth works as a 1 shot answer to a problematic permanent your opponent has. Most times you cast it on end step to removal whatever then untap and kill the opponent. It's situation, buit it's also a catch-all, so it can be a useful tool main deck.

Rancor (0-2) - I like this card a lot more if you're playing Ichorclaw Myr in your deck, but it's reasonable on it's own. It grants evasion to a Glistener Elf and a repeatable 2 extra damage is nothing to scoff at, especially when you don't have to sink mana into it. If you play Rancor you should probably shave copies of Become Immense as the cards synergize very poorly.

Twisted Image (0-2) - With the drop in the amount of Spellskite s played, this card has gotten much less appealing to me. It often just cantrips, in which case there are better options. I've seen people play up to 2, but I personally wouldn't play any.

Become Immense Fuel

Thought Scour (0-4) - This card is great in conjunction with Become Immense . Having a little bit of card draw is always nice. The downsides are that you can mill the cards you need, and that it slows down your game plan. Personally this is my favourite of the 3 options here.

Street Wraith (0-4) - While technically a creature, in this list it's just a Gitaxian Proble minus the Peek . It allows you to essentially play a 56 card deck, and helps with Become Immense .

Surgical Extraction (0-3) - This is the weakest of the 3 if you ask me. It does the Peek aspect of Gitaxian Probe and can potentially be a blow out, but it just down't do enough to me, still, to each their own, and it's not unreasonable.

Sideboard Choices Show

For this section we are going to cover only sideboard cards that have not already been listed above. I do actually like more copies of a lot of the cards in the sideboard to shore up certain match-ups, but feel there's no need to write out multiple descriptions on cards.

Dispel (1-2) - Just a generally good one mana counterspell. It matches up well with our gameplan, and you rarely see a Simic Infect decklist without 1 or 2 copies.

Grafdigger's Gage (0-2) - This is the usual answer to graveyards coming out of infect due to the inclusion of Become Immense . It only shuts of our opponents, and costs only 1 mana, making it very useful. Play this if you see a lot of Snapcaster Mage or graveyard decks. Keep in mind this doesn't actually stop a Living End so don't bring it in there.

Nature's Claim (2-4) - There are a lot of problematic artifacts or enchantments that you encounter while playing infect. With the downside being essentially meaningless in the deck, it's pretty much an auto include to play at least 2. Go up to 3 or 4 if you feel you really need them in your meta.

Shapers' Sanctuary (2-3) - This card can help a lot against control match-ups, keeping your hand constantly full while they deal with your threats. If there's not a lot of control, you may not need it, but it is usually pretty safe to have at least 2 in your board.

Kitchen Finks (0-3) - I have seen lists play up to 4, but it feels like overkill to me. Kitchen Finks is great because it helps shore up some of the more difficult match-ups, and with all our pump, as well as people actively taking more damage of their lands because we are infect, it can win games. Bring them in against Zoo, Burn, Jund and situationally against control.

Dissenter's Deliverance (0-1) - This is a great flexible card for dealing with problematic artifacts in the deck. If you have nothing to use it on in a pinch, you can cycle it for something better.

Unravel the Aether (0-1) - This is another good option. It gets around Chalice of the Void and also Welding Jar .

Nihil Spellbomb (0-2) - Even when you don't draw off it, being able to remove just your opponent's graveyard can be a big game.

Wild Defiance (0-2) - This card is great against red based control decks, turning off their Lightning Bolt s, and allowing you to bring in more protection spells because they double as pump.

Invisible Stalker (0-4) - I'm not a huge fan of this plan, but I see the appeal to it, game 2 the opponent plays a little more careless with their lands, and brings in extra removal. You stick Invisible Stalker and now there is almost nothing they can do to stop you from winning with a few pump spells. I persoannly feel like it's only good against opponent's who are playing sloppily, but it's a reasonable strategy non-the-less.

Lands Show

Lands are pretty simple, being fairly generic for Simic Infect. In gnereally you're looking at 20 lands,

8-9 Green Fetchlands

1-3 Basic Forest

2-3 Breeding Pool

0-1 Dryad Arbor

1-2 Pendelhaven

4 Inkmoth Nexus

Playing Infect

This section will cover technical play, and mulligans.

Mulligans Show

As a combo deck, you need to look for 4 key things when keeping a hand. You need at least 1 infect creature, enough mana, some protection spells, and some pump. If you have a good mixture of these things, the hand is almost always a keep.

As your hand gets smaller, you have to be less picky, a pump and a creature with mana may have to do, or protection with no pump. You need something to get going and apply a bit of pressure, otherwise you likely just lose.

Fetching Show

For the most part, it is ok to just fetch shok. Before fetching though, you should be asking yourself what you need to do with that mana. For example, if you plan on attacking with an Inkmoth Nexus , fetching basic Forest is much better than a Breeding Pool , because you're using the mana to activate it anyway. Sometimes holing a fetch to get a Dryad Arbor as a surprise blocker is a game winning line. It's all about evaluating what you need, and fetching accordingly. I very rarely don't fetch a Breeding Pool with my first fetch, but there are exceptions to every rule.

Sequencing Show

This answers 2 main questions, do I lead on a Glistener Elf or Noble Hierarch ? Do I play Inkmoth Nexus or a green Source on Turn 2? Both these questions are answer by the goals you have when deck building.

For example, in my current build, I will always lead on a Noble Hierarch unless I know the match-up is better to lead an elf, and I will always get the green source down first. The reason for both of these choices is that my version of the deck is slower, and is looking to play reactively until I can set up a win.

If your version of the deck is built to be faster with Groundswell s, Rancor s, and the like, then leading the Glistener Elf and the Inkmoth Nexus is probably the better option.

Obviously, there are exceptions to these rules, but this is the general rule I would follow then making these choices. If you're looking to blitz, lead with the threat. If you're playing the protection game, lead with mana.

When to Pump Show

In general, you pump only when you know it's safe to do so. If your opponent taps out, then by all means fire off as much as you can safely do, because they won't be able to stop you. It can be tricky though, knowing what to play around, and ultimately will come down to repetitions and practice with the deck to figure out what works and what doesn't.

As far as trading with creatures using pump, ideally you are using repeatable sources such as Pendelhaven or Noble Hierarch to trade. If not I generally hold off until I would discard to hand sinze, or feel like if I don't become proactive now I will lose the game. This is also something that will come with practice on the deck.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Infect preys on decks that don't play many early creatures, such a tron, or decks that aren't interactive, such as storm. When they are unable to interact with your plan, you can kill very quickly, and in general before they can work their plan.

Infect has 3 main weaknesses, hand disruption, decks with lots of spot removal, and decks with flying blockers. Modern is a format where it almost down't matter what deck you play, you have some kind of interaction in it. This is why I lean toward a higher amount of protection spells.

Flying blockers are also an issue, as our only way through it Blighted Agent at that point.

Hand disruption is generally good against combo decks. If you know you're playing against a deck with it, have redundancy in your hand is likely a good way to win.

The combination of these threats can cause major problems, making decks like Jund, Burn, and Mardu Pyromancer very difficult match-ups, the last one being probably our worst possible match-up outside of a random deck playing Melira, Sylvok Outcast

And that's everything for now. If you have any questions, or you feel like I missed something, please let me know, and I will do my best to update this accordingly. Also feel free to give the deck a +1 to help get infect more exposure.

Date added	9 years
Last updated	5 years
Legality	This deck is Modern legal.
Rarity (main - side)	2 - 0 Mythic Rares 22 - 3 Rares 19 - 6 Uncommons 15 - 6 Commons
Cards	60
Avg. CMC	1.46
Tokens	Emblem Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
Folders	Infect, My Modern Decks, Modern Infect, Infect MODERN, Favorites