Basilica Screecher MTG Card


Basilica Screecher leverages extort for card advantage, taxing opponents while bolstering your position. While specific mana needs limit flexibility, the Screecher’s abilities can accelerate resource advantages. Its instant-speed extort provides strategic depth, making it a versatile choice for Orzhov decks.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Bat
Abilities Extort,Flying
Power 1
Toughness 2

Text of card

Flying Extort (Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay {WB}. If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain that much life.)

A screech in the night is all it takes for Orzhov debtors to clutch at their coin purses.


Cards like Basilica Screecher

Basilica Screecher takes its place in the pantheon of Orzhov creatures in Magic: The Gathering, offering an intriguing blend of abilities for players. It stands in comparison to cards like Syndic of Tithes which also bears the extort mechanic, allowing players to leverage their mana to chip away at opponents’ life totals and bolster their own. Yet, Basilica Screecher presents an added dimension with its flying capability, providing not just a financial drain but also an evasive threat.

Drifting into the realm of flyers, the card Thrull Parasite emerges as another similar contender, endowed with extort and the ability to meddle with counters on the battlefield. Though it doesn’t take to the skies like the Screecher, it compensates with its utility in disrupting the opponent’s strategies. Child of Night is another card that often surfaces in discussions due to its lifelink ability, giving a direct life gain rather than the conditional one that extort offers.

Across the landscape of MTG, Basilica Screecher occupies a unique space by combining evasion with the steady taxing effect of extort, showcasing why it can be a modest yet astute inclusion in certain black and white deck builds.

Syndic of Tithes - MTG Card versions
Thrull Parasite - MTG Card versions
Child of Night - MTG Card versions
Syndic of Tithes - MTG Card versions
Thrull Parasite - MTG Card versions
Child of Night - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Basilica Screecher by color, type and mana cost

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Nether Shadow - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cyclopean Mummy - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Black Knight - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Nether Shadow - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cyclopean Mummy - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Black Knight - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Basilica Screecher. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Black BurnMono-Black Burn PauperBlack BurnPauper League 2024-03-27
WBWB PauperPauper Challenge 64 2024-01-28

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Basilica Screecher may not directly draw you cards, but its extort ability can lead to indirect card advantage by keeping your hand full while depleting your opponent’s resources. Every spell you cast has the potential to tip the balance slightly more in your favor, making the Screecher a subtle but persistent threat.

Resource Acceleration: Though not a direct source of ramp, the extort mechanic allows Basilica Screecher to effectively tax your opponent, slowly accelerating your resource advantage. Each successful extort trigger is a step towards gaining the upper hand in the long game, enabling you to utilize your resources more efficiently than your adversary.

Instant Speed: As a creature, the Screecher operates at sorcery speed, but the extort ability shines in its capacity to be activated at instant speed. This facet of the card grants it the flexibility to interact during an opponent’s turn, providing a steady life drain and resource swing each time you cast another instant-speed spell, further augmenting the advantage provided by Basilica Screecher.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike some other creatures in the MTG universe, Basilica Screecher does not impose a discard requirement on the player, making it a straightforward addition to your arsenal without the downside of decreasing your hand size.

Specific Mana Cost: Basilica Screecher commands a specific mana cost which requires black mana. This can potentially restrict deck-building options, as it is less flexible when considering color combinations, necessitating a commitment to black mana sources in your deck composition.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While a converted mana cost of two may seem moderate, in fast-paced games, there are more impactful creatures or spells that could be played at the same or lower cost. This sometimes makes Basilica Screecher less favorable in highly competitive environments where efficiency and impact per mana spent are crucial.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Basilica Screecher offers utility across numerous deck types, particularly in Orzhov strategies that capitalize on its Extort ability, allowing for consistent life gain and pressure on opponents.

Combo Potential: As a creature with a low mana cost, Basilica Screecher can be easily combined with other Extort cards for a cumulative effect, turning each spell cast into a multi-faceted advantage. It also partners well with cards that thrive on life total discrepancies.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where aggressive strategies are prevalent, the Screecher serves as both an early blocker and a means to stabilize your life total, making it a relevant choice for players looking to keep pace with fast opponents.


How to beat Basilica Screecher

Basilica Screecher finds its place in the pantheon of cards that offer more than just creature aggression. With its combination of flying ability and extort, the card introduces a strategic element to games. Players can steadily chip away at an opponent’s health while bolstering their own, making it a noteworthy card in the Orzhov arsenal for any Magic: The Gathering player.

To counter this evasive threat, focusing on removal spells that don’t rely on targeting or attacking creatures is key. Board wipes like Supreme Verdict nullify the flying advantage by clearing the field without discrimination. Moreover, instant-speed removal like Fatal Push can be very effective and mana-efficient. Similarly, life gain strategies can outpace the extort mechanic, reducing the Screecher’s impact over time. Incorporating flexible removal and life stabilization options will help to neutralize this flying menace and strip away its control over the match. Recognizing the Basilica Screecher’s dual threat early on and responding accordingly secures a robust defense against its subtle, yet persistent influence within the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

When considering Basilica Screecher for your collection, it’s clear that this card offers more than meets the eye. Its extort ability provides a constant pressure on your opponents while assisting in keeping your life total healthy. Whether you’re crafting an Orzhov deck or looking to exploit lifegain synergies, this card is a modest investment that can yield high returns in the right strategy. If you’re intrigued by the depth that such a card adds to your gameplay or interested in discovering creative ways to incorporate it into your decks, we invite you to explore further. Delve deeper into MTG strategies and find out how Basilica Screecher can become a key player in your victorious matchups. Dive into the details and begin your evolution into a more adept, resourceful player today.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Basilica Screecher MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash and Ravnica: Clue Edition, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Basilica Screecher and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Basilica Screecher Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2013-02-01 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Christine Choi.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-02-01GatecrashGTC 582003NormalBlackChristine Choi
22024-02-23Ravnica: Clue EditionCLU 1052015NormalBlackChristine Choi

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Basilica Screecher has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Basilica Screecher card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2013-04-15 The amount of life you gain from extort is based on the total amount of life lost, not necessarily the number of opponents you have. For example, if your opponent’s life total can’t change (perhaps because that player controls Platinum Emperion), you won’t gain any life.
2013-04-15 The extort ability doesn’t target any player.
2013-04-15 You may pay {W/B} a maximum of one time for each extort triggered ability. You decide whether to pay when the ability resolves.