Side boarding against infect
Modern forum
Posted on May 26, 2015, 6:50 p.m. by AllAroundGeek
My game store is full of infect. On some nights, 40-50% of the people there are playing it. Other than melira, what do you guys think are the best sideboard cards to hate out infect?
Would really help if we knew the deck you're playing so we know what you could splash for or what you already have the colors for. That said, cheap removal in general is strong against infect. Even sorcery speed removal is viable here as it could force them to waste Vines of Vastwood on your turn instead.
Tokens also have it fairly easy against Infect if you're running white. Spirit tokens especially are fairly expendable, and can fly over the most common infect creatures when multiple blockers aren't needed.
I've also known some people to have Darkblast in sideboard for the express purpose of killing tiny annoying creatures that can't be allowed to stick around.
Spellskite is a universal answer as it can be a useful blocker as well as steal their buffs for 2 life, and if you're against infect, you might as well pay as much life as you can.
May 26, 2015 7:03 p.m. Edited.
AllAroundGeek says... #4
I'm not really playing any deck at the moment, I'm in the middle of makeing a new, more competitive deck, this is really just general interest, and maybe to see if there are just colors that can't deal with infect
May 26, 2015 7:07 p.m.
tyforthevenom says... #5
Beat infect? You can't beat infect, and by the old saying you should join them lol
May 26, 2015 7:21 p.m.
PlattBonnay says... #6
If you're really looking to hate on infect, try Sudden Shock. Kills their threats dead.
May 26, 2015 7:28 p.m.
Geth's Verdict good because they will usually have only 1-2 creatures on the board
May 26, 2015 7:48 p.m.
lemmingllama says... #8
Melira, Sylvok Outcast is kinda good. So is Spellskite. Basically anything that keeps them off their spells.
Also I would totally recommend using cheap removal. Path to Exile, Lightning Bolt, Darkblast, Vapor Snag, etc. Anything that doesn't cost a lot and can delay them until you can kill them.
Finally, turn 1 Inquisition of Kozilek or Thoughtseize can be backbreaking. If they only have a single infect creature, they are stuck durdling around until they can draw another.
May 26, 2015 7:58 p.m.
jandrobard says... #9
Spellskite ruins infect, but can't race a t2 win. (it's very unlikely, but it could happen) Darkblast is good for decks like Dredge of grixis/BUG delver that can use their graveyard. Sudden Shock does kill their creature hands-down with no chance of saving it, but it's not so great against any other deck. Your best bet is multiple discard spells, then Liliana of the Veil.
May 26, 2015 8:03 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #10
Melira wins, Spellskite is pretty impossible to beat as well, Chalice of the Void set to 1 does miracles.
May 26, 2015 8:13 p.m.
AllAroundGeek says... #11
Yeah, Spellskite seems to be the best, that also saves sideboard slots because it's good against burn too, which is also prevalent at my store. But then I wouldn't be able to play the foil Leyline of Sanctity that I pulled from MM15, so that's kinda sad
May 26, 2015 8:56 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #12
You people missed the best one.
Night of Souls' Betrayal kills them super dead.
May 26, 2015 8:58 p.m.
jandrobard says... #13
GlistenerAgent It does, and it shuts off a few other decks, but at 4 mana I'd rather use Chalice of the Void instead.
May 26, 2015 9:05 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #14
No, you wouldn't. Infect literally can't win through poison damage with a NoSB in play. Chalice for 1 is very beatable.
May 26, 2015 9:10 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #15
Night of Souls' Betrayal is four mana. If you survive to Turn 4, Infect is not going so hot anyways. Chalice to 1 gets just about all the pumps, Elf, etc...
May 26, 2015 9:15 p.m.
jandrobard says... #16
Chalice for 1 is beatable by the infect player, but it gives you time to stabilize and (hopefully) win before they get back on their feet. Night of Souls' Betrayal is basically a free win, but it's 4 mana. With some other disruption (Bolt! Thoughtseize!), it can be used, but it requires a decent starting hand.
May 26, 2015 9:31 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #17
If you keep a keepable hand (that is, at least one removal spell or disruption), Night will hit play barring nut draws, which, contrary to popular belief, don't always happen.
May 26, 2015 11:59 p.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #18
What GA said, just have an answer in your opening hand and something capable of dealing with Inkmoth Nexus in your 60. A T2 Smallpox can be devastating to Infect.
May 27, 2015 12:21 a.m.
JexInfinite says... #19
lemmingllama Melira just makes the opponent count to 20, rather than 10, and Noble Hierarch is in the deck if the infect plan goes awry. Not the best strategy.
May 27, 2015 4:15 a.m.
tyforthevenom says... #20
melira is a good plan if you're playing an aggressive deck like hexproof aura's because in the matchup if infect doesn't infect you have the advantage
May 27, 2015 6:46 a.m.
lemmingllama says... #21
Melira might not be ideal, but you make them count to 20 instead of 10, then you block with her and then they have to count to 10 again. It doesn't save you from dying, but it slows them down significantly. Add in some other tempo plays to kill their creatures or attack their hand, and you'll likely win the game.
May 27, 2015 8:28 a.m.
Didgeridooda says... #22
If you use it right, Gut Shot could work. You just got to pop the creature, or prevent the creature. Or you could use infect tools against them, and give pro/hexproof to your opponent's creatures.
May 27, 2015 10:11 a.m.
I play modern infect. Definitely use kills spells during your turn so we have to waste the Vines of Vastwood. Secondly, Spellskite makes it extremely difficult to win against unless we have a Wild Defiance in plan but this doesn't usually do the trick. Game two though, if I see Spellskite, I board in 7 ways to kill it, either Nature's Claim or Twisted Image. Spellskite is also amazing against Boggles Hexproof and it definitely makes problems for Splinter Twin. If I expect Lightning Bolt or Path to Exile turn one then I hope for a Noble Hierarch turn one so I can play Blighted Agent turn two with Vines or Apostle's Blessing in hand. An earlier comment mentioned Inquisition of Kozilek or Thoughtseize turn one which is super effective unless the infect's win is planning on Inkmoth Nexus which also usually dodges sorcery speed kill cards.
May 31, 2015 1:59 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #24
Don't board in all seven Spellskite removal spells unless you're playing against a deck where they are actively good.
filledelanuit says... #2
Lightning Bolt
The biggest part about beating infect is knowing how to play against infect. You have to kill their creatures on your turn or on their end step. If you bolt while in combat you will quickly come to regret it.
May 26, 2015 6:56 p.m.