Orzhov Basilica

Orzhov Basilica first appeared in the 2006 Ravnica: City of Guilds expansion, designed to represent the ecclesiastical and financial might of the Orzhov Syndicate. As a bounceland, or karoo land, it was mechanically crafted to provide color fixing at the cost of returning a land to the player's hand, a staple design philosophy for the guild-aligned lands of that era. This specific printing originates from the 2017 Commander Anthology, which curated popular cards from previous Commander decks to make them more accessible to the growing player base.

The visual identity of the Basilica was created by illustrator Greg Staples, who employed a dark, opulent aesthetic to reflect the Syndicate's role as both a church and a debt-collecting syndicate. The artwork depicts the towering, gothic spires of the guild's headquarters, emphasizing themes of austerity and gothic luxury. It was well-received by players for its atmospheric consistency and functional utility in multi-color Commander formats, remaining a frequently utilized card in black-white decks across the years.