Smothering TitheHow it works & interactions with other cards

How the Tithe Works

Smothering Tithe features a triggered ability that triggers whenever an opponent draws a card. This includes the draw during their draw step, as well as any cards drawn via spells or abilities. For each card drawn, the opponent is offered a choice: pay {2} mana or let you create a Treasure token. Because the ability triggers per card drawn, it can quickly generate a massive amount of mana if opponents are drawing extra cards through spells or engine pieces.

Resolution Step-by-Step

When an opponent draws a card, Smothering Tithe triggers and the ability is put onto the stack. If an opponent draws multiple cards at once (like drawing three from a spell), Smothering Tithe triggers three separate times. These triggers wait on the stack until the draw spell finishes resolving. Then, the triggers resolve one by one. For each individual trigger, the opponent decides whether to pay {2} or allow you to create a Treasure. You do not get the Treasures all at once; you get them as each trigger resolves and the opponent declines to pay.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is forgetting that this is a triggered ability that requires player choice. You cannot force a player to pay the {2} mana; the choice is entirely theirs. Additionally, if you control multiple effects that trigger on draws, you can choose the order in which they are placed on the stack. Remember that if you have multiple Smothering Tithe effects, each one triggers separately, potentially forcing an opponent to pay {2} multiple times for a single draw or give you multiple Treasures.

When to Deploy Smothering Tithe

This card is most effective when played early in the game or in games with four or more players. Since it triggers on every opponent's draw step, in a standard four-player game, you are guaranteed three Treasure tokens per round if no one pays the tax. It is also a powerful response to decks that rely on heavy card draw, as it forces them to either stop their momentum or give you the resources to outpace them.

Interaction examples

Multiplying Your Wealth

Smothering TitheAnointed Procession

With Smothering Tithe and Anointed Procession on the battlefield, the math changes significantly. When an opponent draws a card and chooses not to pay {2}, Smothering Tithe attempts to create one Treasure token. Anointed Procession's replacement effect doubles this, resulting in you receiving two Treasure tokens instead of one. This effectively doubles your mana production every time an opponent fails to pay the tax.

The Ghostly Tax Evasion

Smothering TitheGhostly Prison

While both cards tax your opponents, they function independently. If an opponent wants to attack you, they must pay {2} per creature due to Ghostly Prison. If they then draw a card later that turn, Smothering Tithe triggers separately. The opponent must decide if they have enough mana to pay both the cost to attack and the cost to prevent you from getting a Treasure. This combination creates a heavy mana squeeze on your opponents' turns.

Using Your Spoils

Smothering TitheTreasure

If your opponent draws a card and cannot or will not pay {2}, you create a Treasure token. This token is an artifact that you can tap and sacrifice at any time (even on an opponent's turn) to add one mana of any color to your mana pool. This mana can be used to cast spells, activate abilities, or even pay for your own tax effects if needed.