Sphinx of the Second Sun MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost8
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Sphinx
Abilities Flying
Power 6
Toughness 6

Key Takeaways

  1. This card generates card advantage and resource acceleration each turn, amplifying your strategic options.
  2. It can strain your hand size and mana base, demanding careful deck construction and resource management.
  3. Its versatility and combo potential make it a valuable addition to collections geared towards control or combo decks.

Text of card

Flying At the beginning of your postcombat main phase, you get an additional beginning phase after this phase. (The beginning phase includes the untap, upkeep, and draw steps.)

He watches in silence as the shadows shift, bringing Amonkhet ever nearer to the Hour of Revelation.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sphinx of the Second Sun provides a significant boost in card draw by granting an additional beginning phase to its controller, essentially letting you draw an extra card each turn. This ability is central to ensuring a steady flow of options and resources, keeping you ahead in the game.

Resource Acceleration: With the Sphinx of the Second Sun in play, you benefit from an additional untap step, which can be a game-changer. The untap step gives you access to all of your mana sources for a second time in your turn, functioning like a turbo-charge for your mana resources and enabling more substantial plays or multiple spells in a single turn.

Instant Speed: While the Sphinx itself doesn’t cast at instant speed, it uniquely allows its controller to benefit from instant-speed spells more effectively. With the additional main phase awarded by the card, you have more opportunities to utilize your mana and cast spells at the right moment, making your instant-speed interactions even more potent.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Despite not having a discard requirement itself, Sphinx of the Second Sun might compel players to discard due to maximum hand size if its ability triggers excessive card draw. This can be especially problematic if you’ve reached your draw limit and need to maintain a full grip of strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: The precise mana cost of this sphinx includes two blue mana symbols, which could restrict deck-building options. This might force players to invest more in mana fixing or to play this card only in blue-heavy decks where its cost can be consistently met without straining the mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing eight mana, Sphinx of the Second Sun demands a significant amount of resources. This steep cost means it competes with other impactful high-mana spells and can be challenging to play in faster-paced games where earlier threats and responses are crucial.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sphinx of the Second Sun offers unique flexibility across various decks. Its ability to grant an additional beginning phase can enable a myriad of strategies, be it for untapping permanents, accruing extra draw, or exploiting time-related triggers.

Combo Potential: With its potential to mesh seamlessly with strategies that care about the beginning phase – think extra upkeep triggers or doubling age counters – this card opens up a swath of combo avenues. Additionally, its ability to ensure consistent land drops can be a game-changer.

Meta-Relevance: As the MTG landscape continually shifts, having a card that can adapt to a slower, more cunning game plan is invaluable. Sphinx of the Second Sun can be a key component in a control or combo-centric environment, providing that much-needed edge over opponents.


How to beat

Sphinx of the Second Sun is a unique addition to the realm of powerful cards in Magic: The Gathering. This card stands out with its ability to grant its controller an additional beginning phase after their postcombat main phase, essentially doubling the opportunities for untapping, upkeep, and drawing. Dismantling this advantage can be challenging, but not impossible.

To counter Sphinx of the Second Sun’s effects, strategic removal spells are effective. Direct damage spells such as Shock or Murderous Rider’s Swift End can remove the Sphinx before its benefits compound over several turns. Permission strategies can also play a key role; countering the spell with Negate or Essence Scatter before it even touches the battlefield stops the threat in its tracks. Moreover, employing enchantment-based removal like Banishing Light can neutralize the Sphinx without triggering death effects that some creatures have.

Overall, while Sphinx of the Second Sun can be a formidable force on the battlefield, there are various strategies to mitigate its impact. Well-timed removals, robust counterplays, and proactive board control are essential when facing this celestial behemoth in a game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Embark on a journey of strategic depth with Sphinx of the Second Sun, a card that offers more than meets the eye. Its unique ability to grant an extra beginning phase can revolutionize your gameplay, providing card advantage and resource acceleration critical for overwhelming your opponents. However, remember to wield its power wisely; the high mana cost demands careful planning. At BurnMana, we dive deep into such intricate strategies and the ever-evolving metagame. Explore with us as we delve into advanced playstyles, uncover synergies, and optimize decks. Enhance your MTG collection and gameplay—unlock the full potential of your cards with our expert insights.


Cards like Sphinx of the Second Sun

The Sphinx of the Second Sun offers a unique dynamic to MTG gameplay with its special ability to add an additional beginning phase after the postcombat main phase. This feature allows players to untap all permanents they control, draw an additional card, and gain an extra step for triggered abilities, distinguishing it from other cards in the game.

When considering counterparts, Medomai the Ageless stands out, having an ability that grants extra turns when dealing combat damage to a player, analogous to the Sphinx’s additional phase benefit. However, Medomai’s effect is conditionally effective and emphasizes combat, while Sphinx of the Second Sun provides a consistent bonus during each turn. Another similar card is Paradox Haze, enchanting a player with an additional upkeep step, which synergizes with upkeep-triggered abilities; still, it lacks the card draw or untap benefit the Sphinx offers.

Overall, Sphinx of the Second Sun presents a novel inclusion in decks seeking to maximize turn-based strategies. With the capability to shift the tempo of the game while providing card advantage, it holds a particular prestige among MTG cards designed to manipulate time and phases.

Medomai the Ageless - MTG Card versions
Paradox Haze - MTG Card versions
Medomai the Ageless - Theros (THS)
Paradox Haze - Time Spiral (TSP)

Cards similar to Sphinx of the Second Sun by color, type and mana cost

Deep Spawn - MTG Card versions
Benthic Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Denizen of the Deep - MTG Card versions
Tidal Kraken - MTG Card versions
Avatar of Will - MTG Card versions
Cognivore - MTG Card versions
Brinelin, the Moon Kraken - MTG Card versions
Scornful Egotist - MTG Card versions
Qumulox - MTG Card versions
Hoverguard Sweepers - MTG Card versions
Greater Morphling - MTG Card versions
Tidespout Tyrant - MTG Card versions
Slipstream Serpent - MTG Card versions
Kederekt Leviathan - MTG Card versions
Lorthos, the Tidemaker - MTG Card versions
Stormtide Leviathan - MTG Card versions
Trench Gorger - MTG Card versions
Tidal Force - MTG Card versions
Elder Deep-Fiend - MTG Card versions
Vexing Scuttler - MTG Card versions
Deep Spawn - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Benthic Behemoth - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Denizen of the Deep - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Tidal Kraken - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Avatar of Will - Prophecy (PCY)
Cognivore - Odyssey (ODY)
Brinelin, the Moon Kraken - Commander Masters (CMM)
Scornful Egotist - Scourge (SCG)
Qumulox - Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Tezzeret (DDF)
Hoverguard Sweepers - Commander 2014 (C14)
Greater Morphling - Unhinged (UNH)
Tidespout Tyrant - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Slipstream Serpent - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)
Kederekt Leviathan - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Lorthos, the Tidemaker - Commander Masters (CMM)
Stormtide Leviathan - Commander Legends (CMR)
Trench Gorger - The List (PLST)
Tidal Force - Commander 2013 (C13)
Elder Deep-Fiend - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)
Vexing Scuttler - Eldritch Moon (EMN)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sphinx of the Second Sun MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and The List, 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 Sphinx of the Second Sun and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sphinx of the Second Sun Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2020-11-20 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by Antonio José Manzanedo.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 859922015normalblackAntonio José Manzanedo
22020-09-26The ListPLST CMR-992015normalblackAntonio José Manzanedo
32020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 992015normalblackAntonio José Manzanedo
42020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 6432015normalblackAntonio José Manzanedo
52023-05-08From Cute to BrutePCTB 142015normalblackAntonio José Manzanedo
62024-02-09Murders at Karlov Manor CommanderMKC 1182015normalblackAntonio José Manzanedo

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sphinx of the Second Sun has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sphinx of the Second Sun card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2020-11-10 After the additional beginning phase, the game proceeds to the ending phase (unless something has added even more phases; see below.)
2020-11-10 Even if you don't attack with any creatures during combat, you'll still get a postcombat main phase and Sphinx of the Second Sun's ability will still trigger.
2020-11-10 If multiple phases are added to the same point in your turn, the most recently created phase happens first. For example, say you control Sphinx of the Second Sun and its ability triggers during your postcombat main phase. Later during that same main phase, another effect gives you an additional combat phase after this main phase. The additional combat will happen first, followed by the additional beginning phase.
2020-11-10 If you somehow have more than two main phases in a turn, each main phase other than the first one is a postcombat main phase, and Sphinx of the Second Sun's ability triggers at the beginning of each of them.
2020-11-10 The additional beginning phase all happens during the current turn. Any effects that last "until your next turn" or similar won't expire just because you'll go through an additional beginning phase.
2020-11-10 The additional beginning phase will be a lot like your normal beginning phase. During the untap step, permanents will phase in or out as appropriate and you'll untap your tapped permanents. Anything that triggers "at the beginning of your upkeep" or similar will trigger during the upkeep step, and you'll eventually draw a card for your draw step.

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