Orzhov Basilica

Orzhov Basilica first appeared in the Guildpact expansion in 2006, designed as part of a cycle of bouncelands representing the ten guilds of Ravnica. The card was specifically crafted to represent the ornate, cathedral-like seat of power for the Orzhov Syndicate, a guild defined by its dual nature of organized religion and predatory debt collection. Its mechanical design, which requires a player to return a land to their hand, was intended to balance the powerful ability to produce two colors of mana in a format where efficiency was closely monitored.

The Iconic Masters version, featuring artwork by Titus Lunter, was released in 2017 to celebrate the rich visual and mechanical history of Magic: The Gathering. Lunter’s rendition maintains the gothic, imposing aesthetic established by original illustrator Greg Staples, emphasizing the looming, ivory-and-gold architecture that signifies the Orzhov’s dominance. By the time of this reprint, the bounceland cycle had become a staple of casual and Commander formats, praised by players for its reliable mana fixing despite the inherent tempo cost.