Tithe Drinker MTG Card


Lifelink and extort from Tithe Drinker translates into a potent mix of attack and sustain. Instantaneous extort triggers can alter game state with opportunistic life swings. Mana specificity and potential resource depletion are downsides that require strategy.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Vampire
Abilities Extort,Lifelink
Power 2
Toughness 1

Text of card

Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.) Extort (Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay {WB}. If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain that much life.)


Cards like Tithe Drinker

Tithe Drinker is a unique multicolored creature card in Magic: The Gathering, with a presence that is reminiscent of other lifelink vampires like Vampire Nighthawk. The latter is known for its lifelink ability coupled with flying and deathtouch, providing both offensive and defensive versatility. Unlike Vampire Nighthawk, Tithe Drinker introduces the extort mechanic, allowing players to gain life and whittle down opponents’ life totals whenever they cast spells. This creates strategic depth and synergy with decks that focus on casting numerous spells.

A close cousin in functionality to Tithe Drinker is the Blood Artist, which provides a different take on life manipulation. It can drain life whenever creatures die, including itself, turning the battlefield into a resource for life advantage. While not a lifelink creature, Blood Artist excels in decks with frequent creature turnover. When comparing to Paladin of the Bloodstained, a creature that creates a Vampire token with lifelink upon entering the battlefield, Tithe Drinker stands out as a repeatable source of life gain and opponent life loss—a cornerstone for any lifelink strategy.

Through a comparative lens, Tithe Drinker emerges as a valuable component in any lifelink or extort-themed deck within Magic: The Gathering, offering both an aggressive body and a passive ability that can affect the game’s progression over multiple turns.

Vampire Nighthawk - MTG Card versions
Blood Artist - MTG Card versions
Paladin of the Bloodstained - MTG Card versions
Vampire Nighthawk - MTG Card versions
Blood Artist - MTG Card versions
Paladin of the Bloodstained - MTG Card versions

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Nightsky Mimic - MTG Card versions
Cloistered Youth // Unholy Fiend - MTG Card versions
Loyal Cathar // Unhallowed Cathar - MTG Card versions
Vizkopa Guildmage - MTG Card versions
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High Priest of Penance - MTG Card versions
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Chief of the Scale - MTG Card versions
Karlov of the Ghost Council - MTG Card versions
Wayward Servant - MTG Card versions
Legion Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Syndicate Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Cruel Celebrant - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
WBWB PauperPauper Challenge 64 2024-01-28

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.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tithe Drinker MTG card by a specific set like Dragon's Maze and Commander 2017, 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 Tithe Drinker and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Tithe Drinker Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2013-05-03 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Slawomir Maniak.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-05-03Dragon's MazeDGM 1092003NormalBlackSlawomir Maniak
22017-08-25Commander 2017C17 2002015NormalBlackSlawomir Maniak
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 14982015NormalBlackSlawomir Maniak
42020-09-26The ListPLST C17-2002015NormalBlackSlawomir Maniak

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tithe Drinker has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Tithe Drinker 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.