Basilica Guards
Mana Cost:
Type: Creature — Human Soldier
Oracle Text:
Defender
Extort (Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay {W/B}. If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain that much life.)
Power/Toughness: 1/4
Rarity: common
Prints: View all prints (1) →
Expansion: Ravnica Remastered
Price ( USD): $0.05
USD: $0.05 · EUR: €0.18
Public Decks Using This Card
No public decks are currently using this card.
Character Background
Basilica Guards reads as a stout 1/4 defender for three mana with extort, making it a natural stabilizer in control or value-oriented Orzhov lifegain decks. Its 1/4 body sits in front of ground aggression while extort turns each spell into incremental drain—excellent with cheap instant-speed interaction (Swords to Plowshares, Path to Exile) or repetitive cantrips if you splash for more colors. Run multiple Guards to multiply extort triggers or pair with Ajani's Pridemate to grow a threat from each life gain, or with Sanguine Bond to convert small gains into lethal swings. It’s poor in aggro shells but shines when your plan is to lock the board and bleed opponents out while you stabilize; prioritize resilient removal and a smooth Orzhov mana base so you can consistently pay the {W/B} tax. In short: play it as a life-taxing wall that buys time and fuels synergies rather than a tempo piece.
Generated using gpt-5-mini · Updated at 2026-05-16 14:40:43 UTC