Tithe Drinker

Tithe Drinker was originally released in the 2013 Gatecrash expansion for Magic: The Gathering, where it was introduced as a representative of the Orzhov Syndicate, a guild known for its ecclesiastical bureaucracy and extortive practices. The creature utilizes the extort mechanic, which embodies the guild’s flavor of draining resources from opponents while benefiting the controller. Its inclusion in the 2017 Commander preconstructed deck, Draconic Domination, provided a thematic inclusion that mirrored the resource-heavy playstyle often associated with Orzhov-colored strategies.

The artwork for the card was created by illustrator Howard Lyon, who sought to capture the oppressive, gilded aesthetic of the Orzhov. Lyon utilized sharp, dramatic lighting to emphasize the character's religious finery and unsettling demeanor, fitting the visual language of a high-ranking member of the Ravnican church hierarchy. The design was well-received by players for its efficiency in multiplayer formats, where its ability to drain life from all opponents simultaneously provides significant cumulative value.