Sharding Sphinx MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeArtifact Creature — Sphinx
Abilities Flying
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Sharding Sphinx excels in card advantage by creating Thopters, translating into tactical battlefield presence.
  2. Its synergy with spells and blue mana sources accelerates resources, despite a potentially restrictive mana cost.
  3. While cost-prohibitive, its snowballing effect and meta relevance make it a formidable addition to any collection.

Text of card

Flying Whenever an artifact creature you control deals combat damage to a player, you may put a 1/1 blue Thopter artifact creature token with flying into play.

Whether mechanical or biological, life finds a way to propagate itself.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sharding Sphinx generates a Thopter token whenever an artifact creature you control deals combat damage to a player. This creates potential for significant card advantage as each Thopter can be considered an extra card worth of value on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: While the Sharding Sphinx may not directly produce mana or treasure tokens, the Thopter tokens it creates can be utilized with other cards to ramp up resources. They can potentially be sacrificed or tapped for effects that accelerate your resource pool, indirectly contributing to your mana development over time.

Instant Speed: Although Sharding Sphinx operates at sorcery speed, it synergizes well with other blue instant speed spells. This allows you to maintain a defensive posture while potentially building a flying army. Keeping mana open to protect your Sphinx with counterspells or bouncing an opposing threat can lead to a favorable board state at a moment’s notice.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sharding Sphinx necessitates a significant board presence to maximize its ability, which can be a steep requirement in games where establishing creatures is challenged or if facing removal-heavy opponents.

Specific Mana Cost: With its blue-intensive casting cost, including double blue mana, Sharding Sphinx demands a dedicated investment in blue mana sources, potentially straining mana bases not heavily skewed towards blue mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a six mana value, Sharding Sphinx occupies a high slot on the mana curve. In environments where the pace is fast and efficiency is key, the sphinx may prove too costly time-wise against more immediate threats or answers.


Reasons to Include Sharding Sphinx in Your Collection

Versatility: Sharding Sphinx offers a dynamic role in artifact-centric and blue-based decks, with its ability to generate tokens fitting into numerous strategies, from token swarm to artifact synergy builds.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in combos, particularly with mechanics that capitalize on artifact creatures entering the battlefield. Each Thopter token can be a critical piece in executing intricate combo finishes or board control tactics.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Sharding Sphinx positions itself as an asset. Its potential to swarm the board with Thopter tokens can turn the tides, making it a valuable card against a wide range of decks in the current meta.


How to beat

Sharding Sphinx stands out as a powerful card in MTG, renowned for its ability to generate a swarm of Thopter tokens which can quickly overrun opponents. When this artifact creature deals combat damage to a player, it creates that many 1/1 blue Thopter artifact creature tokens with flying. This can snowball into an insurmountable advantage if left unchecked.

To effectively neutralize this threat, consider cards that can remove or neutralize artifacts and flying creatures. Utilizing instant-speed removal spells like Path to Exile or Disenchant can catch your opponent off guard, preventing the Sphinx from triggering its token-generating ability. Board wipes such as Wrath of God also serve as a reset button, clearing the multitude of tokens alongside the Sphinx itself.

Taking a proactive approach can also be key. Deploying countermeasures like Pithing Needle to shut down the Sphinx’s triggered ability or Ethersworn Canonist to restrict the number of spells your opponent can cast may prevent them from overwhelming you. By disrupting the Sphinx’s synergy within your opponent’s strategy, you pave the way for your victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Grasping the potential of Sharding Sphinx in your deck could be the game-changer you’ve been looking for. With its unique ability to amass an army of Thopter tokens, it digs a path toward victory through sheer numbers in the air. As you fine-tune your artifact and token strategies, consider the strengths and weaknesses we’ve discussed to maximize the Sphinx’s impact. Dive into strategies that exploit token generation and leverage the Sphinx’s synergy with instant speed spells. For those aiming to climb the ranks or refine their collections, Sharding Sphinx holds a place among the ingenious choices in MTG. Embark on the journey to include this card in your armory and watch your board presence take flight. Additional wisdom and strategic insights await; join BurnMana and enhance your expertise firmly in the MTG realm.


Cards like Sharding Sphinx

Within the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Sharding Sphinx stands out as a unique artifact creature card by virtue of its ability to create a snowball effect on the battlefield. It echoes the themes seen in other creature cards like Thopter Spy Network. Both cards thrive in an environment that favors artifact-based strategies, producing Thopter tokens. However, Sharding Sphinx takes token generation to the next level by creating a token for every artifact creature that deals combat damage, not just itself.

Another card that shares similar territory is Efficient Construction, which plants a token into play whenever you cast an artifact. Unlike Sharding Sphinx, which requires combat damage for its effect, Efficient Construction’s trigger is tied to casting artifacts, potentially offering a more consistent output of tokens. There’s also Whirler Rogue to consider, which not only generates Thopter tokens upon its entry but can also temporarily make a creature unblockable, adding a layer of tactical advantage that Sharding Sphinx doesn’t provide directly.

Each of these cards aligns with different aspects of artifact-centric playstyles, showcasing why Sharding Sphinx is a valuable asset, especially in aggressive decks aimed at overwhelming opponents with numerous flying constructs.

Thopter Spy Network - MTG Card versions
Efficient Construction - MTG Card versions
Whirler Rogue - MTG Card versions
Thopter Spy Network - MTG Card versions
Efficient Construction - MTG Card versions
Whirler Rogue - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sharding Sphinx by color, type and mana cost

Cyberdrive Awakener - MTG Card versions
The Temporal Anchor - MTG Card versions
Kappa Cannoneer - MTG Card versions
Steelclad Serpent - MTG Card versions
Torrential Gearhulk - MTG Card versions
Warzone Duplicator - MTG Card versions
Auton Soldier - MTG Card versions
Cyberdrive Awakener - MTG Card versions
The Temporal Anchor - MTG Card versions
Kappa Cannoneer - MTG Card versions
Steelclad Serpent - MTG Card versions
Torrential Gearhulk - MTG Card versions
Warzone Duplicator - MTG Card versions
Auton Soldier - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sharding Sphinx MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara and Commander 2013, 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 Sharding Sphinx and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Sharding Sphinx Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2008-10-03 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Michael Bruinsma.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-10-03Shards of AlaraALA 552003NormalBlackMichael Bruinsma
22013-11-01Commander 2013C13 562003NormalBlackMichael Bruinsma
32018-08-09Commander 2018C18 1012015NormalBlackMichael Bruinsma
42020-07-17JumpstartJMP 1762015NormalBlackMichael Bruinsma
52022-11-18The Brothers' War CommanderBRC 941997NormalBlackMichael Bruinsma
62023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 2352015NormalBlackMichael Bruinsma

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sharding Sphinx has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
GladiatorLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sharding 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 If combat damage is dealt to players by multiple artifact creatures you control (including, perhaps, Sharding Sphinx itself), Sharding Sphinx's ability will trigger that many times. You'll get that many Thopter tokens. You'll get just one token per creature, no matter how much combat damage that creature dealt.
2008-10-01 The only difference between a colored artifact and a colorless artifact is, obviously, its color. Unlike most artifacts, a colored artifact requires colored mana to cast. Also unlike most artifacts, a colored artifact has a color in all zones. It will interact with cards that care about color. Other than that, a colored artifact behaves just like any other artifact. It will interact as normal with any card that cares about artifacts, such as Shatter or Arcbound Ravager.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
See more decks