Orzhov Basilica

Orzhov Basilica was originally introduced in the 2006 expansion Guildpact, representing the administrative and spiritual center of the Orzhov Syndicate on the plane of Ravnica. As a Ravnica bounce land, it is designed to provide utility by producing two colors of mana while maintaining a unique mechanical drawback of returning a land to the player's hand. The Dominaria United Commander version serves as a reprint, maintaining the card's role as a staple in various multicolored deck archetypes within the Commander format.

The artwork for this specific printing was created by John Avon, a legendary figure in Magic: The Gathering illustration known for his distinctive and atmospheric landscape paintings. Avon's vision for the card emphasizes the gothic, cathedral-like architecture of the Orzhov, utilizing dramatic lighting and imposing vertical structures to reflect the syndicate's blend of ecclesiastical authority and predatory finance. His work is consistently praised by the community for its ability to ground abstract game mechanics in a sense of place and scale.