Excava, the Risen PastExcava, the Risen Past | Art by Ilse Gort

If you shove the Sorting Hat on my head, here's the college I'm hoping it's shouting: "Lorehold!" (And I know that's mixing IPs, but at this point, some sort of cross-brand crossover is inevitable.)

But it's not the usual Lorehold commanders I'm interested in. Don't give me the tenured elephant. Don't give me Hofri GhostforgeHofri Ghostforge. Don't give me Lorehold, the HistorianLorehold, the Historian himself. Give me Excava, the Risen PastExcava, the Risen Past!

As the backup commander in the Lorehold precon deck, Excava isn’t getting the love of its counterpart, Quintorius, History ChaserQuintorius, History Chaser. I think people are sleeping on this commander. It’s sweet! And, as I mentioned in my Over/Under article, it reminds me of the demon horse at the Denver Airport. If you’ve been there, you know what I’m talking about.

Why Excava?

Partially because I like this commander. Partially for a personal vendetta.

You see, in my Over/Under article, I predicted Excava, the Risen PastExcava, the Risen Past would lead over 1,200 decks by next year. As I write this, we're at 331.

And so, this Horse and I have a long way to go. But, like a cowboy in an old movie, we've got nowhere to go but onward. Today, I'm going to try to inspire you to build an Excava deck of your own. I mean, just look at this Horse—nay, this stallion!

Excava has a lot going for it. I find four mana value is the sweet spot for commanders, since they're clean turn-two plays with a turn-one Sol RingSol Ring or turn three with a turn-two Arcane SignetArcane Signet. Assuming we've got an artifact, creature, or non-Aura enchantment in the 'yard by then, it's also got immediate board impact, too.

And how 'bout that board impact, huh? Although limited to mana value three or less, we've still got numerous useful targets to retrieve, specifically enters-the-battlefield (ETB) permanents and ways to reset those finality counters.

Excavating Excava

I see Excava as the illegitimate lovechild of Teshar, Ancestor's ApostleTeshar, Ancestor's Apostle and Zoraline, Cosmos CallerZoraline, Cosmos Caller. (I can’t comment on the mechanics of such a union, and I’ll stop writing about it before this article gets cancelled.) Let's consult both parents' EDHREC pages for inspiration on our early inclusions.

From Teshar

Teshar's a little more artifact-heavy than we'd like to be, but these three cards are still excellent includes. Ashnod's AltarAshnod's Altar provides excellent ramp—especially in this deck, since we'll have more 1/1 bodies lying around than normal. Mishra's BaubleMishra's Bauble is a free way to put raw material in the graveyard, giving us one of those 1/1 bodies whenever we need it.

And SkullclampSkullclamp? I don't think you need my explanation on SkullclampSkullclamp.

A few more ideas from Teshar...

Pauper all-star Glint HawkGlint Hawk has added utility in this deck, since the return-an-artifact downside turns into upside here. Imagine we cast and sacrifice the aforementioned Mishra's BaubleMishra's Bauble, return it with Excava, then return it to our hand with Glint Hawk to do it all again. Now that's a turn that will inspire your friends to request that you hurry it up!

Benevolent BodyguardBenevolent Bodyguard provides protection to our commander (literally), while also putting itself in the graveyard for later. And speaking of putting stuff in the graveyard, that's exactly what MillikinMillikin does. It also ramps straight into our commander—and we'll take all the ramp we can get in Boros.

From Zoraline

Note: The unfiltered Zoraline, Cosmos CallerZoraline, Cosmos Caller page has a whole lot of Bats on it, which we don't really care for because they carry rabies. Instead, let's sort by the much more pertinent Reanimator tag.

Since we're packing so many dinky creatures, Welcoming VampireWelcoming Vampire is a welcome addition (not to mention an excellent source of card advantage). Scholar of New HorizonsScholar of New Horizons is an excellent card I'd never before seen. Not only is it a mono-white ramp option, it also removes counters.

...Any counters. Such as, oh, I don't know. Finality counters! Perfect for looping our stuff over and over and over again.

Along the same lines, we've got Rhys, the EvermoreRhys, the Evermore, who's mostly in there for counter removal, and also for keeping Excava around if and when it gets targeted. And that's not all...

We've focused on creatures thus far, but don't forget, Excava can excavate artifacts and non-Aura enchantments, too. That's why we're packing Power ConduitPower Conduit, a card that once again removes those finality counters, turning them into the much more useful +1/+1 counters (or charge counters, if we're feeling silly). And if you thought Seal of CleansingSeal of Cleansing was annoying the first time, try it again.

Finally, I want to give SolemnitySolemnity its own paragraph. Because, unlike Power ConduitPower Conduit and Scholar of New HorizonsScholar of New Horizons and all those cards I mentioned before, this one doesn't remove Excava's finality counters—it prevents them from ever existing. That's a far cleaner way to keep our creatures clean of exiling. Get in the deck.

Alright, thanks to Excava's parents, we've inherited a sizable trust fund of cards from which to begin our lives. But this nepo baby has to make its own way in the world. You think that Strixhaven lecture hall named after your parents guarantees you a doctorate, Excava?

...Well, maybe it does. But we've got to do our own work, too! There are a heck of a lot of useful permanents to return with this Horsey, and I plan on returning them all. Here are a few of my favorites, straight off the dome.

Key Cards for Excava, the Risen PastExcava, the Risen Past

Creatures

I wouldn’t describe Whitemane LionWhitemane Lion as a desirable Magic card, but it is a less-than-three-mana creature that removes a finality counter from our permanents, which is totally desirable. Plus, it's instant-speed protection for our commander.

Speaking of which, Selfless SaviorSelfless Savior provides the same for not just Excava, but our whole board. And finally, this is the final time I talk about removing finality counters, but...that's what Phelia, Exuberant ShepherdPhelia, Exuberant Shepherd does best. And if you haven't combined her with Containment PriestContainment Priest yet, you haven't lived.

Artifacts

Darksteel IngotDarksteel Ingot has been mostly power-crept, but I like the sound of an indestructible Birds of ParadiseBirds of Paradise. Don't you? Wayfarer's BaubleWayfarer's Bauble performs a similar role in this deck, allowing us to double our ramp thanks to Excava. (That’s especially desirable for Boros.)

And finally, while Indiana Jones would frown upon tomb desecration, we are totally playing Desecrated TombDesecrated Tomb. Many cards will be leaving our graveyard thanks to Excava, and the Bats provide nice support for the ancient demon-horse milieu.

Enchantments

Channel Touch the Spirit RealmTouch the Spirit Realm for a blink, then return it with Excava. Particularly hostile toward tokens, and yes, it works with the aforementioned Containment PriestContainment Priest, too. Fable of the Mirror-BreakerFable of the Mirror-Breaker belongs in any deck with basic Mountains, but I like it even better here, because if we revive our Fable with Excava and make it to chapter III, the Saga exiles itself before flipping, which takes the finality counter with it.

And finally, the third card I'd like to mention in this section is Urza's SagaUrza's Saga. There are many words on this baby, but the operant one is “enchantment," allowing us to recur it with our commander. It was also recently voted the greatest Magic card printed in the past decade by a community poll. I'd quibble with that, but still, now we've got the masses on our side, too.

Typal Support

You wouldn't think a Spirit Horse would get much typal support, but now that Magic is almost old enough to run for president (it's got my vote), we can find help for any creature type.

Crested SunmareCrested Sunmare costs too much to return with our commander, but since it grants indestructible, we'll include it here. Vanguard of the RestlessVanguard of the Restless is the right mana value, although it won't need much help returning from the graveyard, since it can do that all on its own. Rather, I'm including it here since it pumps Excava, which could open up better attacks down the line.

Quintorius, History ChaserQuintorius, History Chaser provides extra bodies whenever stuff leaves the graveyard, and the -4 grants double strike, which might open up a free attack or two.

All the Other Stuff

Now that I've sufficiently bored you with cards that remove finality counters, it's time for some odds and ends to fill out our list. Let's begin with a fun sub-theme.

Since Excava retrieves permanents whenever it attacks, we want several ways to generate extra attacks. Aggravated AssaultAggravated Assault is on the pricier end, but it's the right card type at the right mana cost with the right effect. Same goes for Combat CelebrantCombat Celebrant, which incidentally provides infinite combats with Helm of the HostHelm of the Host, hence that card's inclusion.

Fear of Missing OutFear of Missing Out is a smaller-scale version of the extra combat thing, but for just two mana, we'll take it.

These cards are in the list mainly to fill the ol' graveyard. Faithless LootingFaithless Looting is the best at doing that, while Joshua, Phoenix's DominantJoshua, Phoenix's Dominant provides the extra utility of being a whole other card on the back. And assuming we've got seven cards in the bin, Tersa LightshatterTersa Lightshatter does a decent impression of our commander.

For just one mana, ReconnaissanceReconnaissance is a slick way to keep Excava attacking without actually risking him in combat. In addition, Nesting GroundsNesting Grounds is an essential inclusion in this deck, since it can move those finality counters from our creatures to opposing ones.

And finally, rounding out this section, we've got Darksteel CitadelDarksteel Citadel, which functions both as a land and as an indestructible 1/1 flyer from the 'yard when we need it.

Playing the Deck

Now this part is a whole lot of theory-crafting since, admittedly, I don't have my hands on this exact list just yet. Still, just like I do in my usual Over/Under column, I can venture to make some predictions.

I anticipate this being the sort of deck that rewards a smooth talker—straight from the horse's mouth, if you will. Since Excava only triggers on attacks, we're going to bother our opponents with the constant sound of hoofbeats, especially when they're coming near them. If we can assure them that it's nothing personal and we're only attacking for the value, it'll go a long way toward reducing blowback.

Furthermore, this deck might prove deceptively tricky to pilot. Since our commander forces our mana curve so low, the overall power level of our deck might be lower than others. Yet the sheer number of options each turn is where this deck shines. We've got so many trinkets to play with that the deck will reward choosing the right ones every turn, based on the board state.

Excava, the Risen Past Commander Deck List

Here it is!

Get on your Horse and ride, readers. Excava is ready to give you a history lesson.