Vexing Sphinx MTG Card
2006-07-21 - Number 50
2023-01-13 - Number 297
2023-01-13 - Number 73
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Sphinx |
| Abilities | Cumulative upkeep,Flying |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Provides card advantage by drawing multiple cards if you discard during your upkeep.
- Acts as a deck filter, speeding up access to crucial cards while maintaining pressure.
- Requires targeted strategies to overcome, such as discard spells or direct removal.
Text of card
Flying Cumulative upkeep— Discard a card. (At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.) When Vexing Sphinx is put into a graveyard from play, draw a card for each age counter on it.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Vexing Sphinx offers a unique take on card advantage by potentially drawing multiple cards. Each time you choose to discard a card to avoid sacrificing Vexing Sphinx, you’re setting up for a sizable card draw. This can be a substantial gain, propelling you ahead of the opponent in terms of available options and responses.
Resource Acceleration: By virtue of its cumulative upkeep cost, the Sphinx indirectly acts as a resource acceleration mechanism. As you discard cards, you’re effectively filtering through your deck, hastening your access to the key cards that can lead to quicker and more impactful plays later in the game.
Instant Speed: Although Vexing Sphinx itself does not operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with instant-speed spells. Its requirement to discard cards fits seamlessly into strategies that operate on the opponent’s turn, allowing you to sculpt your hand tactically while keeping up the pressure.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Vexing Sphinx mandates that you discard a card during each of your upkeep phases. Should you fail to meet this condition, you’re compelled to forfeit this creature, which could have otherwise been a formidable asset. Considering your hand size, this might force difficult choices, potentially depleting valuable resources prematurely.
Specific Mana Cost: Commanding a casting cost that is exclusively blue mana can prove restrictive. This creature requires three blue mana to hit the field, meaning it naturally fits into mono-blue or heavy blue-focused decks, thereby limiting its versatility in multicolored deck strategies where mana flexibility is paramount.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At four total mana, three of which must be blue, the investment to bring Vexing Sphinx into play is significant. There are alternative creatures or spells within the same mana range that may provide immediate impact or possess innate abilities that could offer greater strategic advantages, especially in environments where tempo and efficiency reign supreme.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The Vexing Sphinx offers a unique blend of aggressive stats and card filtering, making it a strong inclusion in blue-centric decks that want to maintain pressure while refining their hand.
Combo Potential: This Sphinx interacts well with deck strategies that manipulate the graveyard. Its cumulative upkeep cost can fill your graveyard with cards, setting the stage for powerful reanimation tactics or delve spells.
Meta-Relevance: In a landscape where efficient beaters with additional utility are prized, Vexing Sphinx stands out. Its ability to dodge removal by sacrificing it at will can be particularly useful in matchups where control elements are prevalent.
How to beat Vexing Sphinx
Vexing Sphinx poses a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering matches. This enigmatic creature card is known for its cumulative upkeep cost that requires you to discard a card. Failing to pay the cost forces you to sacrifice the creature, which could be turned to your advantage. Using targeted discard spells can quickly deplete an opponent’s hand, making it difficult for them to keep the Sphinx on the battlefield. Cards like Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek can be particularly effective here.
If confronting Vexing Sphinx, consider including removal spells that can bypass its cumulative upkeep mechanism. Direct damage spells or ones that can destroy a creature regardless of its power and toughness, like Murder, are suitable candidates. If you can maintain card advantage while pressuring your opponent to sacrifice resources to keep their Sphinx, you’ll likely outpace them in the long run. Another strategy is to employ counter spells when they cast Vexing Sphinx, ensuring that this perplexing threat never takes flight in the first place.
Overall, beating Vexing Sphinx requires foresight and efficient resource management. It’s essential to have a plan for dealing with such cards, either by neutralizing them before they establish control or outmaneuvering them through careful play and card selection.
Cards like Vexing Sphinx
Vexing Sphinx is an intriguing card that invites comparisons with other creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to draw cards upon the sacrifice after skipping a draw, sets it apart. In the realm of creatures that synergize with discarded cards, we find creatures like Enigma Sphinx. Though Enigma Sphinx doesn’t demand a sacrifice, it offers a cascade effect, potentially putting multiple cards into play.
We can also look to creatures like Sphinx of Foresight with its ability to scry at the beginning of your turn, streamlining your draw strategy without the need to discard. On the other end of the spectrum lies Magus of the Bazaar, which allows for card draw at the cost of discarding three cards, a considerable commitment for a more aggressive draw strategy. Each creature has its nuances that cater to different playstyles and deck builds.
By analyzing the benefits and the strategic requirements, Vexing Sphinx holds its ground as a card that promises both a challenge and a reward for those players adept at managing their hand and planning for the future of their game strategy.
Cards similar to Vexing Sphinx by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Vexing Sphinx MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap and Dominaria Remastered, 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 Vexing Sphinx and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Vexing Sphinx Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2006-07-21 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by Lars Grant-West.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2006-07-21 | Coldsnap | CSP | 50 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Lars Grant-West | |
| 2 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 297 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Lars Grant-West | |
| 3 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 73 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lars Grant-West |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Vexing Sphinx has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Vexing Sphinx card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-10-01 | Paying cumulative upkeep is always optional. If it's not paid, the permanent with cumulative upkeep is sacrificed. Partial payments of the total cumulative upkeep cost can't be made. For example, if a permanent with “cumulative upkeep ” has three age counters on it when its cumulative upkeep ability triggers, it gets another age counter and then its controller chooses to either pay or sacrifice the permanent. |
| 2022-12-08 | Paying cumulative upkeep is always optional. If it’s not paid, the permanent with cumulative upkeep is sacrificed. Partial payments of the total cumulative upkeep cost can’t be made. For example, if Vexing Sphinx has three age counters on it when its cumulative upkeep ability triggers, it gets another age counter and then its controller chooses to either discard four cards or sacrifice it. |
