Daring Archaeologist — ruling 1

A card, spell, or permanent is historic if it has the legendary supertype, the artifact card type, or the Saga subtype. Having two of those qualities doesn’t make an object more historic than another or provide an additional bonus—an object either is historic or it isn’t.

Daring Archaeologist — ruling 2

Some abilities trigger “whenever you cast a historic spell.” Such an ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.

Daring Archaeologist — ruling 3

An ability that triggers “whenever you cast a historic spell” doesn’t trigger if a historic card is put onto the battlefield without being cast.

Daring Archaeologist — ruling 4

Lands are never cast, so abilities that trigger “whenever you cast a historic spell” won’t trigger if you play a legendary land. They also won’t trigger if a card on the battlefield transforms into a legendary land, as the Ixalan and Rivals of Ixalan double-faced cards do.

Daring Archaeologist : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Daring Archaeologist is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

When this creature enters, you may return target artifact card from your graveyard to your hand. Whenever you cast a historic spell, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. (Artifacts, legendaries, and Sagas are historic.)

How it works : Daring Archaeologist

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1April 27, 2018· Wizards of the Coast
A card, spell, or permanent is historic if it has the legendary supertype, the artifact card type, or the Saga subtype. Having two of those qualities doesn’t make an object more historic than another or provide an additional bonus—an object either is historic or it isn’t.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2April 27, 2018· Wizards of the Coast
Some abilities trigger “whenever you cast a historic spell.” Such an ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3April 27, 2018· Wizards of the Coast
An ability that triggers “whenever you cast a historic spell” doesn’t trigger if a historic card is put onto the battlefield without being cast.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4April 27, 2018· Wizards of the Coast
Lands are never cast, so abilities that trigger “whenever you cast a historic spell” won’t trigger if you play a legendary land. They also won’t trigger if a card on the battlefield transforms into a legendary land, as the Ixalan and Rivals of Ixalan double-faced cards do.
No other card is named in this ruling.