First printed in Limited Edition Alpha (1993)

All 17 prints

30th Anniversary Edition (30A) #117, 2022
30th Anniversary Edition (30A) #414, 2022
The List (PLST) #USG-147, 2019
Battle Royale Box Set (BRB) #49, 1999
Classic Sixth Edition (6ED) #149, 1999
Urza's Saga (USG) #147, 1998
Fifth Edition (5ED) #186, 1997
Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB) #152, 1995
Fourth Edition (4ED) #152, 1995
Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM) #122, 1994
Revised Edition (3ED) #122, 1994
Foreign Black Border (FBB) #122, 1994
Collectors' Edition (CED) #121, 1993
Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI) #121, 1993
Unlimited Edition (2ED) #121, 1993
Limited Edition Beta (LEB) #121, 1993
Limited Edition Alpha (LEA) #120, 1993

Pestilence

Enchantment

At the beginning of the end step, if no creatures are on the battlefield, sacrifice this enchantment.
Black : This enchantment deals 1 damage to each creature and each player.

MTGO price: 1.17 TIX, the cheapest non-foil print (average sell price on GoatBots, 28 Oct 2026).

In the last 30 days 0.8% of Pauper decks played it (16 of 1906). Most played in Dimir Control. In the last 30 days 0.4% of Commander decks played it (22 of 6150). Most played in K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth.

Combos

17 combos from Commander Spellbook, the most popular first.

Destroy all creatures opponents control during each turn: Maha, Its Feathers Night + Pestilence
Near-infinite damage to all players, Near-infinite damage to creatures…: Pestilence + Smaug the Impenetrable
Infinite damage, Near-infinite +1/+1 counters: Cacophodon + Pestilence + Rite of Passage
Infinite lifeloss for target opponent, Target opponent loses the game: Pestilence + Tree of Perdition + Vhati il-Dal
Infinite card draw, Near-infinite black mana…: Ad Nauseam + Angel's Grace + Pestilence + Skirge Familiar
Near-infinite creature tokens, Near-infinite damage to creatures…: Earthcraft + Pestilence + Polyraptor
Infinite damage, Infinite proliferate: Pentad Prism + Pestilence + Urban Daggertooth
Each opponent loses the game, Near-infinite damage…: Pestilence + Phyrexian Altar + Sprouting Phytohydra
Near-infinite +1/+1 counters on most creatures you control, Near-infinite damage: Crystalline Crawler + Pestilence + Vigor
Infinite damage, Infinite proliferate: Gemstone Array + Pestilence + Urban Daggertooth

See all 17 on Commander Spellbook

Legality

Constructed

Standard Not legal
Pioneer Not legal
Modern Not legal
Legacy Legal
Vintage Legal
Pauper Legal
Future Standard Not legal
Historic Not legal
Timeless Not legal
Alchemy Not legal
Penny Dreadful Not legal
Premodern Legal
Old School 93/94 Not legal

Singleton

Gladiator Not legal

Commander formats

Commander Legal
Duel Commander Legal
Pauper Commander Legal
PreDH Legal
Tiny Leaders Not legal
Oathbreaker Legal
Brawl Not legal
Standard Brawl Not legal
Competitive Brawl Not legal

In tournament decks of the last 30 days

Meta: share of the archetype in the format
Play it: decks of the archetype that play this card
Together: decks with this card that also play the other one (main deck)
Lift: how much more often than chance: 1 = unrelated, above 1 = played together on purpose

Pauper Other periods →

In 16 of 1906 decks (0.8%).

Share of decks

0.8%

▲ 0.3 vs previous 30 days

Weekly, last 90 days

Decks

16 main, 0 sideboard

Avg. copies

2.9

in the main deck

Win rate

48%

3 top 8 (challenges only)

Archetypes by metagame share

Archetype	Meta	Play it
Dimir Control	13.1%	1%
Golgari Grapple	0.6%	100%
BG (unclassified)	0.5%	10%
WB (unclassified)	0.4%	25%

Played together with

Card	Together	Lift
Campfire	100%	9.1
Cast Down	100%	4.3
Bonder's Ornament	88%	12.7
Tithing Blade // Consuming Sepulcher	88%	12.2
Eviscerator's Insight	88%	11.3
Lembas	88%	9.4
Nihil Spellbomb	88%	5.8
Cauldron Familiar	81%	110.6
Nutrient Block	81%	96.8
Fanatical Offering	81%	14.3

Best win rate

Deck	Record
Golgari Grapple True-Name-Nemesis in Pauper Challenge 32	6-2 75%
Golgari Grapple KingZiggy in Pauper Challenge 16	4-2 67%
WB Erik Howley in Pauper Regional Qualifier	3-2 60%
Golgari Grapple True-Name-Nemesis in Pauper Challenge 16	4-3 57%
WB Wesley FOLIO in Masters	3-3 50%
Dimir Control Pafru in Pauper Challenge 32	2-3 40%
Golgari Grapple Antoine P. in the300	1-4 20%
Golgari Grapple Lurot Eric in FirstQualifier	1-5 17%

Challenges only: MTGO publishes only the 5-0 league decks.

Latest decks

Deck	Copies	Finish
Dimir Control bluespace, 28 Oct	3 main	5-0
Golgari Grapple Pleitegeier, 26 Oct	2 main	5-0
BG clamego, 26 Oct	3 main	5-0
WB Erik Howley, 24 Oct	3 main	#8 3-2
Golgari Grapple True-Name-Nemesis, 24 Oct	3 main	#8 4-3
Golgari Grapple KingZiggy, 24 Oct	3 main	#10 4-2
Golgari Grapple Chestu, 20 Oct	3 main	#27 0-3
Golgari Grapple True-Name-Nemesis, 18 Oct	3 main	#3 6-2

Commander Other periods →

In 22 of 6150 decks (0.4%).

Share of decks

0.4%

▼ 0.1 vs previous 30 days