Pestilence — ruling 1

Note that "until end of turn" effects wear off after "at the beginning of the end step" triggered abilities, so an artifact that animates until end of turn can keep this on the battlefield.

Pestilence — ruling 2

It will stay on the battlefield if there is a creature that is put into the graveyard during the end step. This is because this ability will not trigger at all if there is at least one creature on the battlefield as the end step begins.

Pestilence — ruling 3

Each activation is considered a new damage effect. An activation can only be 1 point of damage.

Pestilence : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Pestilence is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

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

How it works : Pestilence

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1June 1, 2011· Wizards of the Coast
Note that "until end of turn" effects wear off after "at the beginning of the end step" triggered abilities, so an artifact that animates until end of turn can keep this on the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2June 1, 2011· Wizards of the Coast
It will stay on the battlefield if there is a creature that is put into the graveyard during the end step. This is because this ability will not trigger at all if there is at least one creature on the battlefield as the end step begins.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3October 4, 2004· Wizards of the Coast
Each activation is considered a new damage effect. An activation can only be 1 point of damage.
No other card is named in this ruling.

Popular combos

Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.

#1
Maha, Its Feathers Night + Pestilence
Destroy all creatures opponents control during each turn
1During any turn, activate Pestilence by paying , dealing 1 damage to each creature and each player.
2Each creature your opponents control dies as a state-based action due to having 0 toughness.
3Repeat each turn as desired.

#1
Maha, Its Feathers Night + Pestilence
Destroy all creatures opponents control during each turn
1During any turn, activate Pestilence by paying , dealing 1 damage to each creature and each player.
2Each creature your opponents control dies as a state-based action due to having 0 toughness.
3Repeat each turn as desired.

#2
Smaug the Impenetrable + Pestilence
Near-infinite damage to all playersNear-infinite damage to creaturesNear-infinite artifact ETBNear-infinite artifact LTB
1Activate Pestilence by paying , dealing 1 damage to each player and creature.
2Smaug triggers, creating a Treasure token.
3Activate the Treasure by tapping and sacrificing it, adding .
4Repeat.

#3
Cacophodon + Rite of Passage + Pestilence
Infinite damageNear-infinite +1/+1 counters on creatures you control
1Activate the permanent by tapping it, adding .
2Activate Pestilence by paying , dealing 1 damage to each creature and each player.
3Cacophodon and Rite of Passage trigger.
4Resolve the Rite of Passage trigger, putting a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
5Resolve the Cacophodon trigger, untapping the permanent that can produce .
6Repeat.

#3
Cacophodon + Rite of Passage + Pestilence
Infinite damageNear-infinite +1/+1 counters on creatures you control
1Activate the permanent by tapping it, adding .
2Activate Pestilence by paying , dealing 1 damage to each creature and each player.
3Cacophodon and Rite of Passage trigger.
4Resolve the Rite of Passage trigger, putting a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
5Resolve the Cacophodon trigger, untapping the permanent that can produce .
6Repeat.

#4
Vhati il-Dal + Tree of Perdition + Pestilence
Infinite lifeloss for target opponentTarget opponent loses the game
1Activate Vhati il-Dal by tapping it, causing Tree of Perdition to have base toughness 1 until end of turn.
2Activate Tree of Perdition by tapping it, swapping an opponent's life total with Tree of Perdition's toughness.
3Activate Pestilence by paying , dealing 1 damage to each creature and each player.
4The opponent targeted in step 2 loses the game due to having zero life.
5You may repeat this during each of your turns if your life total allows.

#4
Vhati il-Dal + Tree of Perdition + Pestilence
Infinite lifeloss for target opponentTarget opponent loses the game
1Activate Vhati il-Dal by tapping it, causing Tree of Perdition to have base toughness 1 until end of turn.
2Activate Tree of Perdition by tapping it, swapping an opponent's life total with Tree of Perdition's toughness.
3Activate Pestilence by paying , dealing 1 damage to each creature and each player.
4The opponent targeted in step 2 loses the game due to having zero life.
5You may repeat this during each of your turns if your life total allows.

#5
Ad Nauseam + Angel's Grace + Skirge Familiar + Pestilence
Infinite card drawNear-infinite black manaNear-infinite damage
1Cast Angel's Grace by paying , preventing you from losing the game this turn.
2Cast Ad Nauseum by paying , putting your entire library in your hand and losing life equal to the total converted mana cost of those cards.
3Activate Skirge Familiar many times by discarding your entire hand, adding for each card discarded.
4Actviate Pestilence many times by paying each time, dealing 1 damage to each creature and each player each time.

#5
Ad Nauseam + Angel's Grace + Skirge Familiar + Pestilence
Infinite card drawNear-infinite black manaNear-infinite damage
1Cast Angel's Grace by paying , preventing you from losing the game this turn.
2Cast Ad Nauseum by paying , putting your entire library in your hand and losing life equal to the total converted mana cost of those cards.
3Activate Skirge Familiar many times by discarding your entire hand, adding for each card discarded.
4Actviate Pestilence many times by paying each time, dealing 1 damage to each creature and each player each time.

#6
Polyraptor + Pestilence + Earthcraft
Near-infinite creature tokensNear-infinite damage to creaturesNear-infinite damage to all playersNear-infinite death triggers
1Activate a basic Swamp by tapping it, adding .
2Activate Pestilence by paying , dealing 1 damage to each creature and each player.
3Each Polyraptor you control triggers, creating that many token copies of Polyraptor.
4Activate Earthcraft by tapping an untapped Polyraptor, untapping the basic Swamp.
5Repeat.

#7
Sprouting Phytohydra + Phyrexian Altar + Pestilence
Each opponent loses the gameNear-infinite damageNear-infinite death triggersNear-infinite creature ETB
1Activate Pestilence by paying , dealing 1 damage to each creature and each player.
2Sprouting Phytohydra triggers, creating a token copy of itself.
3Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing the damaged Sprouting Phytohydra, adding .
4Repeat until each opponent loses the game due to having zero or less life.

#7
Sprouting Phytohydra + Phyrexian Altar + Pestilence
Each opponent loses the gameNear-infinite damageNear-infinite death triggersNear-infinite creature ETB
1Activate Pestilence by paying , dealing 1 damage to each creature and each player.
2Sprouting Phytohydra triggers, creating a token copy of itself.
3Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing the damaged Sprouting Phytohydra, adding .
4Repeat until each opponent loses the game due to having zero or less life.

#8
Urban Daggertooth + Pestilence + Pentad Prism
Infinite damageInfinite proliferate
1Activate Pestilence by paying , dealing 1 damage to each creature and each player.
2Urban Daggertooth triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on Urban Daggertooth and a charge counter on Pentad Prism.
3Activate Pentad Prism's ability by removing a charge counter from it, adding .
4Repeat.

Interactions with other cards

These cards' text mentions Pestilence.

Pestilence Rats

Pestilence Rats's power is equal to the number of other Rats on the battlefield. (For example, as long as there are two other Rats on the battlefield, Pestilence Rats's power and toughness are 2/3.)