Infect decks have been around in Modern for a long time. While the Modern metagame is constantly shifting and many old decks can be overpowered by new cards, Infect made a recent comeback, placing 4th in a major Magic: the Gathering tournament. Consequently, a key piece of the deck shot up in price this weekend.
Phyrexian Crusader Price Spike
Phyrexian Crusader was already relatively pricey, sitting at $15.00 just one week ago. But, over the weekend, the infected
Mirran Crusader
Mirran Crusader
Double strike, protection from black and from green
surged to $25.00+.
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What is Infect in Magic: the Gathering?
Infect is a relatively old ability in Magic: the Gathering and some newer players may not know what it is.
Whereas normally, you must deal 20 damage to your opponent to win a game of Magic, Infect is one ability that circumvents this standard. Infect decks only have to work half as hard as other decks, as Infect creatures deal damage in the form of poison counters, and if a player takes 10 poison damage, they lose the game.
To capitalize on this unique ability, Infect decks typically follow a simple strategy. First, they play an infect creature like Glistener Elf. Next, they pump up that creature via effects like Become Immense, Scale Up, and unique lands like Pendelhaven. If you can hit your opponent with a 10 power Infect creature, you win.
Infect decks are historically very fast and aim to win the game around Turn 3. With the best of draws, they can even win on Turn 2!
Wizards of the Coast 
Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast
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Why Did Phyrexian Crusader Spike in Price?
Infect took 4th place at Channel Fireball’s Las Vegas tournament earlier this month. This tournament was one of the biggest in-person Magic: the Gathering events to happen since the pandemic. But the Las Vegas infect deck looked a little different than normal.
While Modern Infect decks have traditionally been blue-green, they are now splashing black for a single card: Phyrexian Crusader.
Ever since Modern Horizons 2 was released, the removal played in Modern has shifted to deal with new threats like
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
Whenever Ragavan deals combat damage to a player, create a Treasure token and exile the top card of that player's library. Until end of turn, you may cast that card.
Dash {1}{R} (You may cast this spell for its dash cost. If you do, it gains haste, and it's returned from the battlefield to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step.)
. The most played removal in the current metagame consists of
Prismatic Ending
Prismatic Ending
Converge — Exile target nonland permanent if its mana value is less than or equal to the number of colors of mana spent to cast this spell.
, Lightning Bolt, and
Unholy Heat
Unholy Heat
Unholy Heat deals 2 damage to target creature or planeswalker.
Delirium — Unholy Heat deals 6 damage instead if there are four or more card types among cards in your graveyard.
. Phyrexian Crusader conveniently dodges all of those spells because of its protection from red and white.
Let’s take a look at the Las Vegas deck, piloted by Jeff Jao:
New Addition to Infect
Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast
Infect has gained a new toy in the form of Ignoble Hierarch. The Goblin Shaman is not replacing
Noble Hierarch
Noble Hierarch
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
{T}: Add {G}, {W}, or {U}.
which has been a mainstay of Infect strategies for years. Instead, Infect decks are playing four of each mana dork.
The eight Hierarchs allow for more consistent, explosive openings. Plus the extra Exalted triggers help pump your Infect creatures. In addition to these two key points, Ignoble Hierarch also produces black mana which enables us to cast our Phyrexian Crusader!
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Will Phyrexian Crusader’s New Price Hold?
There’s currently only one printing of Phyrexian Crusader and it’s from Mirrodin Besieged, a 10-year-old-set. Because of the lack of supply, Phyrexian Crusader is likely to maintain a higher price point until it is reprinted.
With that said, Phyrexian Crusader does have some financial wiggle room. If Infect becomes a big contender in the Modern metagame, it could go higher in price. However, if Infect was a “flavor of the week” and the deck falls out of favor, the price of Phyrexian Crusader will likely follow suit.
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