Tithe Drinker MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tithe Drinker provides dual functionality as both an offensive and defensive asset. This versatile card not only chips away at your opponent’s life total with each attack but also bolsters your own through its lifelink ability, effectively doubling the value you get from every point of damage dealt.

Resource Acceleration: The extort mechanic on Tithe Drinker can act as a resource accelerator. Every time you cast another spell, you can pay an additional white or black mana to drain your opponent, padding your life total whilst dwindling theirs, turning every spell into a potential swing in resource balance.

Instant Speed: Although Tithe Drinker itself is not an instant, its extort ability operates at instant speed. This means that any spell you cast can be followed up with the extort trigger, keeping your opponents always on their toes and having to account for the potential life swing, even during their turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Tithe Drinker doesn’t explicitly require you to discard cards, its extort ability can indirectly cause hand depletion. Activating extort multiple times often means forgoing the opportunity to play other cards from your hand, which could lead to a decrease in your available resources over time.

Specific Mana Cost: Tithe Drinker carries a mana cost that demands both white and black mana. This can restrict the flexibility of the card, limiting it to decks that support Orzhov colors or a sufficient mana base that can accommodate such strict requirements, effectively narrowing its deck compatibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing two mana might not seem excessive at first glance, but for a 2/1 creature, this can be viewed as relatively steep, particularly when considering the aggressive nature of some formats. The card could potentially languish in your hand while you establish the necessary mana, or it may be outclassed by more impactful creatures that can be played at the same cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Tithe Drinker’s lifelink ability allows for defensive plays while its extort mechanic ensures a consistent way to whittle down opponents’ life totals directly. It can be a valuable addition to Orzhov decks or any strategy looking to benefit from life gain and opponent life loss.

Combo Potential: The extort ability synergizes well with multiple spells and effects that aim to cast numerous spells in a single turn. This combo potential makes Tithe Drinker an asset in decks that are focused on small, incremental advantages leading to victory.

Meta-Relevance: Given its low mana cost and utility in affecting life totals, Tithe Drinker can be particularly effective in metas where aggressive strategies tend to dominate. The card offers a way to stabilize early while setting up for stronger mid-game plays.

How to beat

Tithe Drinker poses a challenge on the MTG battlefield with its lifelink and extort abilities, leading to a swing in life totals that may be difficult to overcome. Luckily, there are moves to counter it effectively. A straightforward strategy to defeat this pesky creature is through removal spells. Spells such as Doom Blade or Go for the Throat can easily take care of Tithe Drinker before its controller can benefit from its abilities. If you’re dealing with a swarm of creatures along with Tithe Drinker, consider board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation to reset the playing field.

Another angle is to use creatures with first strike to eliminate the Tithe Drinker in combat before it can deal damage and trigger its lifelink ability. This negates the life gain that the opponent could use to their advantage. Enchantment-based removals like Pacifism or Bound by Moonsilver can also be used to neutralize Tithe Drinker without triggering death effects that some creatures may have upon being destroyed.

Ultimately, Tithe Drinker is formidable, but with the right cards and tactics, it can be efficiently managed. Keeping removal spells at the ready or employing creatures strategically can assure its abilities do not dominate the game.

BurnMana Recommendations

Tithe Drinker shines as a multifaceted card in MTG, adept at tipping life total scales in your favor. With its lifelink and extort abilities, it presents a nuanced choice for players who enjoy resource manipulation and synergy in their gameplay. If you’re keen to blend offense and defense while savoring every spell’s full potential, Tithe Drinker warrants a closer look. Enhance your deck’s resilience and pressure with this unique Orzhov gem. Fine-tune your MTG expertise and discover more game-altering strategies and cards with us. Let the journey to MTG mastery be as rewarding as your next draw.