One of the best things about MTG Foundations as a set is the way in which it dips into so much of the game’s rich history. It has direct reprints, of course, but it also has new cards that riff on classic designs in interesting ways. In that sense, from a certain angle, Foundations actually looks like a Modern Horizons set for Standard. One card that seriously brings this to mind is Raise the Past; a new take on MTG classics like Rally the Ancestors and Return to the Ranks. Far from just being a clever callback, I think this card could actually eclipse its inspirations.
Raise The Past MTG
- Mana Value: 2WW
- Rarity: Rare
- Card Text: Return all creature cards with mana value 2 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Raise the Past is a much simpler design than its MTG forebears. Where Rally the Ancestors and Return to the Ranks were both X spells, this one offers a flat rate. Four mana to reanimate every creature with mana value two or less from your graveyard. Rally can do the same thing for the same cost, at instant speed no less. The major difference between the two is that Rally only lets you keep those creatures for a single turn, while Raise lets you keep them for good.
As far as I’m concerned, this immediately puts Raise a tier above Rally in this category. Sure it doesn’t have the same instant-speed combo potential, but it gives you a lot more long-term value. Unlike Rally, Raise doesn’t exile itself, either, so spell recursion effects can play very well with it. Return to the Ranks is a trickier comparison, since it can potentially cost less in the right situation. Mass reanimation spells like this are at their best when recovering from a board wipe, however, and Return is much worse than Raise in that scenario.
With all of that in mind, Raise the Past is probably the best incarnation of this effect we’ve seen in Magic yet. Both previous versions saw plenty of play, across multiple formats. It’s not much of a stretch to assume this card will see a similar amount of play as a result. Not just in Standard either, but in the likes of Commander, Pioneer, and maybe even Modern too.
The Time Of The Two Drop
There are plenty of potential homes for Raise the Past. In Standard, this a clear auto-include in the likes of Orzhov Midrange and Boros Convoke. Bringing back a Deep-Cavern Bat in the former is a huge headache for your opponent, and in the latter you can resurrect pretty much every creature in your deck. Especially with new versions of Convoke running Arabella, Abandoned Doll and friends.
In Pioneer, this card can do work in multiple decks. Azorius Spirits runs enough two drops to make Raise the Past a potential powerhouse. The more reasonable development? A Mardu Prowess adaptation of the current Rakdos deck. These are both decks that struggle against board wipes, so throwing a couple of Raise the Past in should shore up that weakness.
Speaking of decks with great low-curve creatures, I genuinely think Raise the Past could see play in Boros Energy in Modern. Phlage aside, this gets back every creature in the deck at a very reasonable price. Just imagine dropping a Guide of Souls, Amped Raptor, and Ajani, Nacatl Pariah in a single turn. That’s what this card can do, with the potential to go even bigger as games go later. It’s rare for a Standard card to break into Modern, but I think Raise has what it takes.
Even if it doesn’t, it will definitely find a home in Commander. There’s no shortage of graveyard decks in the format, and this often reads “You win the game” when played in such lists. Getting back staple ramp like Sakura-Tribe Elder or combo pieces like Saffi Eriksdotter is huge game. Even in a totally fair deck, rebuilding after one of the many board wipes in Commander is reason enough to try this out.