Ethersworn Sphinx MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost9
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Sphinx
Abilities Affinity,Cascade,Flying
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Cascade offers a card advantage by potentially casting a spell for free during play.
  2. Affinity for artifacts can significantly reduce the Sphinx’s casting cost.
  3. Instant speed synergies allow strategic plays, altering the game at critical moments.

Text of card

Affinity for artifacts (This spell costs less to cast for each artifact you control.) Flying Cascade (When you cast this spell, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card with lesser mana value. You may cast it without paying its mana cost. Put the exiled cards on the bottom of your library in a random order.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ethersworn Sphinx is known for its cascade ability, which when you cast it, allows you to play another card with a lower mana cost from your deck for free, often resulting in significant card advantage over your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Affinity for artifacts reduces the cost of Ethersworn Sphinx for each artifact you control, potentially accelerating your resources as you can deploy this high-cost card earlier than usual, leaving mana available for other strategic plays.

Instant Speed: While the Ethersworn Sphinx itself does not have an instant speed, it can synergize with instant speed spells due to its artifact nature. Playing such instants on your opponent’s turn can unexpectedly reduce the Sphinx’s mana cost and allow for a surprising shift in the game state when your turn comes.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ethersworn Sphinx demands that you discard another card to deploy it using its Prowl ability. This can be a considerable setback when your hand is already running on empty, leaving you with fewer options to counter your opponent’s moves.

Specific Mana Cost: To summon Ethersworn Sphinx without its alternative Prowl cost, you need both white and blue mana which may not always be readily available, especially if your mana base isn’t perfectly tuned to accommodate multi-colored cards with precision.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial casting cost that skews towards the higher end, Ethersworn Sphinx may arrive a tad too late in the game. While other cards could offer swifter board presence or tactical advantages early on, the seven mana required for a 4/4 flyer might not always justify its slot in your deck, especially considering the fast-paced nature of the current meta.


Reasons to Include Ethersworn Sphinx in Your Collection

Versatility: The Ethersworn Sphinx can adapt to various decks, notably those favoring artifacts or looking to exploit its affinity for artifacts mechanic. Its ability to be cast for a reduced cost can smooth out your curve and provide a strong board presence in the mid to late game.

Combo Potential: With its cascade ability, the Sphinx can kick off chains of spells, uncapping the potential for game-swinging plays. It fits well with decks that are built around synergizing with this mechanic or any strategy that seeks to maximize spellcasting.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where artifact strategies are prominent or cascade mechanisms are beneficial, Ethersworn Sphinx shines. Its cost reduction paired with the cascade feature can pivotally impact the board, making it a force against a variety of meta decks.


How to beat

Ethersworn Sphinx presents itself as a considerable challenge on the battlefield in MTG. Known for its cascade ability, this artifact creature can potentially turn the tide by offering an additional spell cast for free. The key to countering an Ethersworn Sphinx lies in disrupting its synergies and timing your removals. Counterspells are particularly effective before the Sphinx hits the board, ensuring the cascade trigger is averted.

Removal spells are vital against the Sphinx once it’s in play. Instant speed options like Path to Exile or Terminate allow you to deal with it before the opponent can benefit from the extra spell. Artifact destruction spells or effects that exile can also be useful to target Ethersworn Sphinx directly, given its artifact nature. Finally, keep an eye on your opponent’s board state, and take preemptive action if you sense a cascade strategy building up. Board wipes can reset the playing field if things get too crowded.

Strategy and foresight are indispensable when dealing with powerhouse cards like Ethersworn Sphinx. Proper planning and timely responses not only neutralize the immediate threat but also protect from the ripple effects of its powerful cascade ability.


BurnMana Recommendations

Whether you’re an MTG veteran or a newcomer to the strategic depths of the game, Ethersworn Sphinx can offer intriguing flexibility to your deck. Its cascade ability can shift the momentum of the game in your favor, leaving your opponents scrambling as you capitalize on the wealth of new spells at your disposal. Tailoring your deck to make the most of this artifact creature’s strengths, you can maximize resource acceleration and adapt to the meta. If you’re curious about integrating Ethersworn Sphinx into your collection, dive deeper with us for insights that could refine your deck’s dynamics and elevate your gameplay.


Cards like Ethersworn Sphinx

Ethersworn Sphinx stands out in the world of artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It holds a resemblance to cards like Sharuum the Hegemon, which similarly offers utility beyond being a mere creature. Ethersworn Sphinx shines with its cascade ability, allowing you to potentially cast another spell for free. Sharuum doesn’t provide this, but it does have the ability to return an artifact from your graveyard to the battlefield, creating a different strategic advantage.

Looking at Metalwork Colossus, we notice another kinship in the form of mana reduction mechanics. Ethersworn Sphinx’s affinity for artifacts reduces its cost by revealing artifacts from the top of your library, whereas Metalwork Colossus considers the total cost of noncreature artifacts you own in play. However, it lacks the cascade benefit and is more straightforward in its approach to simply achieving a lower casting cost.

Ultimately, while Ethersworn Sphinx may share similar traits with other powerful artifact creatures, its blend of cost reduction and the cascade ability renders it a distinctive choice for players crafting decks in the affinity archetype, offering a versatile approach in Magic: The Gathering gameplay.

Sharuum the Hegemon - MTG Card versions
Metalwork Colossus - MTG Card versions
Sharuum the Hegemon - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Metalwork Colossus - Kaladesh Promos (PKLD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ethersworn Sphinx // Ethersworn Sphinx MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2 Art Series and Modern Horizons 2, 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 Ethersworn Sphinx // Ethersworn Sphinx and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ethersworn Sphinx // Ethersworn Sphinx Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2021-06-18. Illustrated by Irina Nordsol.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-06-18Modern Horizons 2 Art SeriesAMH2 50s2015art_seriesborderlessIrina Nordsol
22021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 1952015normalblackIrina Nordsol
32021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 3642015normalblackIrina Nordsol
42021-06-18Modern Horizons 2 Art SeriesAMH2 502015art_seriesborderlessIrina Nordsol

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ethersworn Sphinx has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-06-18 A spell's mana value is determined only by its mana cost. Ignore any alternative costs, additional costs, cost increases, or cost reductions.
2021-06-18 Affinity can reduce only the generic mana in a spell's total cost. It can't reduce colored mana requirements.
2021-06-18 Cascade triggers when you cast the spell, meaning that it resolves before that spell. If you end up casting the exiled card, it will go on the stack above the spell with cascade.
2021-06-18 Due to a recent rules change to cascade, not only do you stop exiling cards if you exile a nonland card with lesser mana value than the spell with cascade, but the resulting spell you cast must also have lesser mana value. Previously, in cases where a card's mana value differed from the resulting spell, such as with some modal double-faced cards or cards with an Adventure, you could cast a spell with a higher mana value than the exiled card.
2021-06-18 If a spell with cascade is countered, the cascade ability will still resolve normally.
2021-06-18 If the card has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.
2021-06-18 If there are any additional costs or cost increases that would apply to Ethersworn Sphinx, apply those before applying any cost reductions.
2021-06-18 If you cast a card “without paying its mana cost,” you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those to cast the card.
2021-06-18 The cost reduction is set before you pay any of the spell's costs. Specifically, you could lock in a discount for an artifact you control and then sacrifice that artifact to activate a mana ability.
2021-06-18 The mana value of a split card is determined by the combined mana cost of its two halves. If cascade allows you to cast a split card, you may cast either half but not both halves.
2021-06-18 When the cascade ability resolves, you must exile cards. The only optional part of the ability is whether or not you cast the last card exiled.
2021-06-18 You exile the cards face up. All players will be able to see them.

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