Excavation Elephant MTG Card
2018-04-27 - Number 17
2019-11-07 - Number 98
2020-09-26 - Number DOM-17
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elephant |
| Abilities | Kicker |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
Kicker (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell.) When Excavation Elephant enters the battlefield, if it was kicked, return target artifact card from your graveyard to your hand.
Cards like Excavation Elephant
The Excavation Elephant captures the interest of players looking for utility in their creature cards in MTG. Its ability to return an artifact from the graveyard to its owner’s hand upon being cast offers a parallel to the capabilities of cards like Salvage Scout. While Salvage Scout can also retrieve artifacts, it sacrifices itself in the process. The Elephant, meanwhile, presents a more substantial board presence.
Another comparable card is Trusty Packbeast, which shares the same artifact-returning ability upon entering the battlefield. The differences are subtle, but notable in deck synergy and mana curve considerations. Additionally, we can look at Workshop Assistant, which offers a similar effect but posthumously, as the artifact retrieval is tied to its death rather than its arrival on the battlefield.
Every card has its particular niche, and the Excavation Elephant stands out with its blend of serviceable power and the potential for strategic artifact recursion. It’s the fine nuances between these cards that enrich player strategy and deck building in MTG.
Cards similar to Excavation Elephant by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Excavation Elephant can potentially swing the balance of a game by enabling the return of an artifact card from your graveyard to your hand. This retrieval process ensures that your valuable artifacts remain accessible, maximizing your card economy.
Resource Acceleration: Being able to recover an artifact with Excavation Elephant, especially one that produces mana or has a cost-reducing effect, gives you a crucial boost in your resource game. This can significantly accelerate your ability to play high-cost cards ahead of schedule.
Instant Speed: While Excavation Elephant is a creature, its artifact-returning ability can be activated at instant speed if kicked. This flexibility allows for strategic plays during your opponent’s turn, keeping them guessing and giving you a tactical advantage on the battlefield.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Excavation Elephant requires discarding a card to utilize its full potential, presenting a strategic setback when your hand is already depleted of valuable resources.
Specific Mana Cost: Necessitating both generic and single white mana, the Elephant demands a dedicated slot in mana-curved decks, potentially restricting its play to specific archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost leaning towards the higher end for its creature type, there are considerations to be made when cheaper alternatives could fulfill similar roles with less investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Excavation Elephant can seamlessly adapt to various deck types, excelling in those that revive artifactual power from the graveyard for strategic advantage.
Combo Potential: Leveraging its ability to return an artifact card from your graveyard to your hand, it provides synergy with decks that capitalize on artifact recurrences or self-milling strategies.
Meta-Relevance: As player decks frequently incorporate artifact-centric themes, Excavation Elephant gains importance for its role in artifact recovery, making it a perceptive addition amid those trends.
How to beat
Excavation Elephant is a unique creature card that can be a game-changer in MTG with its ability to return an artifact from your graveyard to your hand when you play it with its kicker cost. Tackling this elephantine challenge requires strategic planning. Cards with exile effects, such as Path to Exile or Cast Out, successfully bypass the Elephant’s potential to recur artifacts. Control decks may also employ countermagic to prevent the Elephant from hitting the battlefield in the first place. Alternatively, playing aggressively to reduce your opponent’s chance to reach enough mana for the kicker cost can be effective.
It’s also worth considering artifact removal options in your deck. Efficient removal spells like Abrade or Naturalize can dismantle the artifacts that Excavation Elephant counts on for its comeback mechanism. Limiting the Elephant’s utility this way makes it a less threatening presence on the board.
Ultimately, while Excavation Elephant can recover valuable tools for your opponent, a well-timed removal or an aggressive start to outpace your opponent’s mana resources are solid tactics that can keep this card from disrupting your path to victory in MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Excavation Elephant MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria and Mystery Booster, 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 Excavation Elephant and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Excavation Elephant Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Viktor Titov.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-04-27 | Dominaria | DOM | 17 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Viktor Titov | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 98 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Viktor Titov | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | DOM-17 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Viktor Titov |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Excavation Elephant has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |