---
name: "Ancient Excavation"
mana_cost: "{2}{U}{B}"
cmc: 4
type_line: "Instant"
colors: ["B", "U"]
color_identity: ["B", "U"]
keywords: ["Landcycling", "Basic landcycling", "Typecycling", "Cycling"]
set: "C16"
set_name: "Commander 2016"
collector_number: "27"
rarity: "uncommon"
artist: "James Paick"
oracle_id: "46db3dc2-9eb1-4be3-96f9-0013119fcd97"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/ancient-excavation-c16"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "not_legal"
  pioneer: "not_legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "not_legal"
---

# Ancient Excavation
- **Mana Cost:** `{2}{U}{B}` (CMC: 4)
- **Type:** Instant
- **Keywords:** Landcycling, Basic landcycling, Typecycling, Cycling

## Oracle Text
Draw cards equal to the number of cards in your hand, then discard a card for each card drawn this way.
Basic landcycling {2} ({2}, Discard this card: Search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.)

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Excavation](/printing/excavation-pcy.md) — Enchantment
2. [Thirst for Discovery](/printing/thirst-for-discovery-vow.md) — Instant
3. [Mental Journey](/printing/mental-journey-mh2.md) — Instant
4. [Hieroglyphic Illumination](/printing/hieroglyphic-illumination-c20.md) — Instant
5. [Frantic Search](/printing/frantic-search-cmm.md) — Instant
6. [Beneath the Sands](/printing/beneath-the-sands-akr.md) — Sorcery

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Commander 2016 (C16) #27
- **Rarity:** Uncommon
- **Artist:** James Paick
- **Total Printings:** 11 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `not_legal` | Modern: `not_legal` | Pioneer: `not_legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `not_legal` | Penny: `not_legal`