Orzhov Basilica is a common land that enters tapped, allowing you to return another land to its owner's hand when it comes into play. It also provides a single colorless mana and a black and white mana, making it suitable for Orzhov decks.

Power level: 2/5 (it's a decent land, but not game-changing)

Main use cases:

• Late-game ramp, providing additional black and white mana
• Self-mill with other cards like Sifter of Skulls or Venser, Shaper Savant
• Milling lands to draw more cards in the late game

Most popular formats: Casual games, Commander (as a moderate-speed land)

Card Mechanics & Interactions: Orzhov Basilica

The Orzhov Basilica is a tapped land that enters the battlefield with an additional ability. Its primary function is to generate life and black mana while influencing the board state.

Oracle Text Breakdown:

• "This land enters tapped.": As a tap-land, it will always enter the battlefield in the tapped state.
• "When this land enters, return a land you control to its owner's hand.": This ability triggers when the Orzhov Basilica enters the battlefield. It returns one of your lands to your hand, potentially disrupting your opponent's attempts to gain an advantage from your mana development.

Function on the Stack & Battlefield:

When the Orzhov Basilica is played, it immediately enters tapped and triggers its ability to return a land you control to your owner's hand. You can then tap it for two colorless mana (W and B) during your untap step.

Edge Cases & Unusual Rules Interactions:

• Multiple copies: If you have multiple Orzhov Basilicas in play, each one will trigger its ability when entering the battlefield. This could lead to a significant number of lands being returned to hands.
• Land destruction effects: Cards like Chandra's Ignition or Rending the Veil may destroy lands on the battlefield, potentially interacting with the Orzhov Basilica's ability in interesting ways.

Commander-Specific Quirks:

The Orzhov Basilica is a decent choice for Orzhov Commander decks due to its mana-fixing potential and ability to disrupt opponents' plans. However, its relatively low impact on the game state may make it less appealing compared to more aggressive or synergistic options.

Synergies & Interactions with Other Cards:

• Lands: The Orzhov Basilica returns lands to your hand, potentially allowing you to rebuy them and continue developing your mana. This can be particularly useful in combination with cards like Bloom Titan or Jund Obelisk, which reward playing multiple lands.
• Life-gain effects: Since the Orzhov Basilica generates life as part of its tapped mana ability, it can be played alongside cards that enhance this effect, such as Serra Ascendant.

Conclusion

The Orzhov Basilica is a versatile, if somewhat innocuous, land card. Its primary function is to provide two colorless mana while offering some disruption potential through its return-a-land ability. When combined with other cards in the right deck, it can contribute to a more complex and engaging gameplay experience.

Orzhov Basilica is a versatile and strategic card that can benefit various Commander decks, especially those centered around Orzhov, Jeskai, or Dimir. Its ability to return a land to its owner's hand when it enters the battlefield creates opportunities for lands like Liliana of the Veil's ultimate ability, Daxos of Meletis, and Ajani Vengeant. These cards rely on having a specific number of creatures or lands in the graveyard to function optimally.

In Orzhov decks, Basilica's ability can be used in conjunction with Phyrexian Arena and Zombie Archer's anthem effects, which reward players for maintaining life totals below 10. Additionally, its color combination is ideal for Orzhov lifegain strategies that leverage cards like Vampsquid, Ajani's Pridemate, and Liliana of the Veil. When paired with a land-light strategy, Basilica can provide an additional source of Black mana while allowing players to adapt to changing board states.

The card also sees play in Jeskai and Dimir decks that utilize sacrifice effects or tokens. For example, with Griselbrand's ability and Daxos of Meletis on the battlefield, Basilica can help return lands for subsequent uses of these cards.

Casual players may find value in using Orzhov Basilica as a cheap way to generate life gain while removing an unwanted land from their deck. This card is not typically found in competitive decks due to its relatively low price and availability of better alternatives. However, it remains a viable choice for players looking to optimize their Orzhov or similar color combinations.

Orzhov Basilica: A Land of Unpredictability

The Orzhov Basilica is a versatile land that can disrupt opponents' plans and create opportunities for your own. Its ability to return a land to its owner's hand when it enters the battlefield can be a game-changer in certain situations.

• Land recursion: Return a life-gain or color-fixing land, such as Lilting Reflection or Drowned Rusalka, to your hand and reuse it later. This can help you maintain a steady stream of life gain or mana fixing.
• Disrupt opponents' plans: Return an opponent's land, such as Simian Spirit Guide or Glimpse of Nature, to their hand, disrupting their plans for early-game aggression.
• Create opportunities: Return a land with a specific ability, like Orzhov Guildgate, and use its triggered ability when it enters the battlefield.

Synergies

• Life-gain engines: Pair Orzhov Basilica with life-gain cards like Rigging Covenant or Soul Warden to create a powerful combo that can generate card advantage.
• Color-fixing lands: Combine Orzhov Basilica with color-fixing lands, such as Temple Garden or Sunpetal Grove, to maintain a flexible mana base.

Rules Tricks

• Tribute trades: Return a land you control and use the opportunity to sacrifice it for value, creating an exchange of resources between yourself and your opponent.
• Mana fixing: Use Orzhov Basilica's ability to return a color-fixing land and then play that land, fixing your mana and allowing you to cast more expensive spells.

Interactions

• Counter synergies: Be cautious when playing against opponents with counterspells like Counterspell or Dissolve. Return one of their lands, potentially disrupting their plans for counters.
• Card advantage: When returning a land, take note of the potential card advantage generated. This can be used to fuel your own plays or counter an opponent's combo.

The Orzhov Basilica offers a range of possibilities when it comes to land recursion, disruption, and opportunity creation. By understanding its interactions with other cards and rules tricks, you can unlock new strategies and improve your gameplay.

Orzhov Basilica in Commander

The Orzhov Basilica is a land that enters tapped, returning another land to its owner's hand upon entering. This seemingly innocuous ability has led to several common mistakes among players, particularly in Commander format.

• Incorrect timing: Some players believe the return-to-hand effect happens on their upkeep phase, but it actually triggers immediately when the Basilica enters. This can lead to confusion when interacting with other cards that have triggered abilities.
• Misunderstanding synergy: Orzhov Basilica is often paired with Azcanta, the Sunken Ruin or other " fetch" lands like Mystic Remora which return a card from the deck to hand. However, these combinations don't provide the expected synergies since the returned land will be tapped when it re-enters the field.
• Poor removal: The Basilica's triggered ability to add 2 mana can be a tempting play in a life-gain or value strategy, but players often overlook using removal spells like Abrupt Decay to deal with problematic creatures on the battlefield.

Tips for Effective Use

• Consider playing Orzhov Basilica with a land advantage, such as a deck heavy with other fetch lands, to maximize its potential.
• Use removal spells judiciously to maintain board control and create opportunities for value trades.
• Pay attention to card interactions and timing to avoid misunderstandings and maximize the Basilica's utility.

The Orzhov Basilica is a common land from the Commander 2015 set. It enters tapped and returns a land you control to your hand when it enters, generating two mana of any color. This ability can be useful for cycling through your deck or finding specific lands quickly.

In terms of flavor, the Orzhov Basilica is a hallowed sanctuary of the Orzhov Syndicate, a powerful and ancient guild that dominates the city-state of Ravnica. As players cast spells from this land, they tap into the dark energies that permeate the basilica.

As for the budget and accessibility, the Orzhov Basilica has a price point of $0.20 in USD and $0.18 in EUR. It's a common card, making it relatively inexpensive compared to rarer cards.

Orzhov Basilica is a land that can be used in various color combinations and themes. Here are some potential builds around this card:

Commander Suggestions

• Zegana, Utopia Spoken (WUBR) - This commander's ability to create tokens can take advantage of the Basilica's ability to return a land to its owner's hand.
• Bruna, Light of Alabaster (WB) - Bruna's ability to exile creatures and enchantments can be combined with the Basilica's effect to return a land and potentially disrupt an opponent's plans.

Color Identities

• Mono-White-Black - This color combination is a natural fit for Orzhov Basilica, as it provides both white and black mana.
• White-Black-Azorius - Adding Azorius colors can provide more card draw and removal options to complement the Basilica's effect.

Themes

• Token Generation - Cards like Aurelia, the Warleader or Grenzo, Dread Scofflaw can create tokens that can be returned to their owner's hand with the Basilica.
• Land Ramp - Using Orzhov Basilica in a land ramp deck can accelerate your mana development and enable you to play more expensive spells.

Synergy Cards

• Serra Ascendant (W) - This creature's ability to create 2/2 white creatures can be combined with the Basilica's effect to return a land and potentially create more tokens.
• Rakdos, Lord of Riots (BR) - Rakdos's ability to create chaos can be paired with the Basilica's effect to disrupt an opponent's plans and return a land to its owner's hand.

Combo Notes

• Using Orzhov Basilica in combination with cards like Mox Opal or Expedition Map can accelerate your mana development and enable you to play more expensive spells.
• The Basilica's effect can also be used to return a land that is being held up by an opponent's spell, potentially enabling a turn of mana acceleration.

Orzhov Basilica is a common land from the Commander 2015 set that enters tapped, returning a land to its owner's hand when it comes into play. In addition to its tap ability, it adds two mana of any color to your pool.

In Commander, Orzhov Basilica sees moderate play in various monoblue and white-tinged decks that rely on sacrificing creatures or lands for value. It pairs well with Vivien, Arkbow Guardian, who benefits from the returned land to fuel her ability. The card's presence can also be felt in Orzhov-themed decks, where it helps accelerate the game plan.

However, its impact is limited by the fact that it enters tapped and has a relatively low power level compared to other lands like Stomping Ground or Verdant Catacombs. As a result, it's not considered essential for most Commander decks.

In casual play, Orzhov Basilica can be used as a flexible fixer land to help generate mana. Its ability to return a land to its owner's hand makes it a decent option in smaller formats like Pauper or Limited.

Orzhov Basilica is not banned in any format and remains available for Commander and casual play.

Orzhov Basilica is a land that enters tapped, but its unique ability to return a land you control to your hand when it enters can be game-changing in the right situations. This effect is particularly useful in Commander games where players often have multiple lands and want to manipulate their board presence.

Excels in:

• Games with high life totals or slow pacing, allowing for more control over the board
• Commanders that value card advantage, such as Azami, Lady of Scrolls or Zegana, Uwim, Provost
• Combo decks that need to reset their mana availability, like Kodama's Reach or Tolarian Academy
• Multicolor strategies that want to optimize land drops and minimize life loss

Fails in:

• Aggressive, low-life-total games where tempo is key, as the Basilica's tapped status can be a liability
• Decks with limited land count or no card advantage engines, making it harder to utilize the returned land effectively
• Games against opponents that actively disrupt and destroy lands, such as Demonic Tutor or Sword of War and Peace

When playing Orzhov Basilica, consider including other cards that synergize with its ability, like Baleful Eidolon, Chord of Calling, or Rite of Replication. Be mindful of the game's pace and adjust your playstyle accordingly to maximize the Basilica's potential.

The Orzhov Basilica has a relatively uneventful history, but it's worth noting that it was printed in the Mirrodin set (not C15, which is a correction). This common land enters tapped and returns a land to its owner's hand when it enters. It also generates two mana of any color.

In terms of notable appearances, Orzhov Basilica has seen some play in Commander decks that rely on sacrificing lands for value or generating life gain/loss. However, its relatively low EDHREC ranking (308) and lack of specific mentions in popular decklists suggest it's not a frequently played card.

That being said, there are some examples of Orzhov Basilica being included in decks like Azorius Lifegain and Jeskai Ascension, where its ability to return lands can help the player generate more value or disrupt their opponent. In these contexts, Orzhov Basilica is often combined with other cards that benefit from sacrificed lands, such as Sanguine Bond, Grave Titan, and Lingering Souls.

The Orzhov Basilica is a hallowed sanctuary of the Orzhov Syndicate, a powerful and ancient guild that dominates the city-state of Ravnica. This foreboding basilica serves as a place of worship, governance, and intrigue for the syndicate's adherents.

As players cast spells from this land, they tap into the dark energies that permeate the Orzhov Basilica. The card's ability to add {W}{B} mana is reminiscent of the guildpact, a mysterious contract between Ravnica's guilds that governs their interactions and maintains balance in the city.

The basilica's architecture is characterized by grandiose stone facades, imposing statues of Orzhov leaders, and ornate frescoes depicting the history of the syndicate. The interior is often dimly lit, with flickering candles casting eerie shadows on the walls. It's said that only those who have earned the favor of the Orzhov patriarchs are allowed to enter the inner sanctum.

When an Orzhov Basilica enters the battlefield, it creates a ripple effect in the player's control, returning a land they control to its owner's hand. This can be seen as a manifestation of the syndicate's influence over the city's politics and economy, where even the smallest action can have far-reaching consequences.

The card's tap ability, granting {W}{B} mana, allows players to access powerful spells that tap into both white and black energies. This is reminiscent of the Orzhov's signature color combination, which often involves balancing life gain with death trigger effects.

Overall, the Orzhov Basilica card embodies the intricate politics and mystique surrounding Ravnica's guilds. It invites players to explore the gray areas between benevolence and malevolence, reflecting the city-state's complex balance of power and intrigue.