Ominous Sphinx MTG Card
2017-07-14 - Number 41
2020-08-13 - Number 72
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Sphinx |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Flying Whenever you cycle or discard a card, target creature an opponent controls gets -2/-0 until end of turn.
The sphinxes began to speak only after the Second Sun aligned. They whispered dire warnings, though no one listened.
Cards like Ominous Sphinx
Ominous Sphinx brings a unique aspect to flying creatures within the realms of Magic: The Gathering. It stands shoulder to shoulder with other notable flyers like Air Elemental, both soaring over the battlefield with a formidable power of 4. Nevertheless, Ominous Sphinx comes with a tactical advantage; whenever you cycle or discard a card, a creature your opponent controls gets -2/-0 until end of turn. This subtle control aspect isn’t found in the straightforward brawn of Air Elemental.
On another wing, there’s Windreader Sphinx, which carries a higher mana cost but rewards you with card draw every time a creature with flying attacks. Both of these Sphinxes provide aerial dominance, yet they serve different strategic roles. Ominous Sphinx excels at diminishing the opponent’s offensive capabilities, whereas Windreader Sphinx can help you outpace your opponent through card advantage.
Considering the intricacies of each card’s abilities and the strategies they enable, Ominous Sphinx holds its own against these counterparts by offering a mix of offense and tactical suppression, making it a pivotal card in decks that capitalize on cycling and discarding tactics.
Cards similar to Ominous Sphinx by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ominous Sphinx has a powerful ability that triggers when you cycle or discard a card, giving you the strategic upper hand by allowing you to weaken an opponent’s strongest creature with a -2/-0 debuff. This can be a game-changer in maintaining control over the board and can tilt the card advantage in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: While not a direct tool for producing additional mana, the cycling mechanism of the Ominous Sphinx can help sift through your deck to find the resources you need more efficiently. This acceleration of your game plan ensures that you’re not missing a beat as you advance towards victory.
Instant Speed: Ominous Sphinx’s ability to affect creatures at instant speed when you cycle or discard a card is a significant tactical advantage. This instant-speed interaction allows you to surprise your opponent during combat or at the end of their turn, potentially disrupting their strategy and keeping you one step ahead in the race for supremacy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Ominous Sphinx comes with a condition where discarding a card is necessary to activate its prowess. This can place a strain on your hand, particularly when you don’t possess a surplus of cards to afford such a cost without sacrificing your strategic edge.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature requires a precise combination of mana to cast—two islands and three generic mana. For players running multicolored decks or those dependent on mana flexibility, this can pose a challenge in seamlessly summoning the Sphinx to the battlefield.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Ominous Sphinx might not make the cut in decks that favor a low mana curve or those that require more immediate board impact. This is especially pronounced when considering other creatures or spells that offer similar or greater value for the same or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include Ominous Sphinx in Your Collection
Versatility: Ominous Sphinx is a unique addition to any blue-based deck, offering both a flying threat and a way to control the flow of combat. Its ability to weaken opposing creatures can turn the tide in your favor, making it suitable for a variety of strategies from tempo to control.
Combo Potential: The Sphinx’s ability to reduce the opponent’s creature strength with each card you cycle or discard allows for creative combinations with cycling decks and discard mechanics, potentially unlocking new avenues for synergy within your deck.
Meta-Relevance: Being able to interact with and disrupt creature-based strategies is always pertinent in numerous MTG metagames. Ominous Sphinx provides an elegant tool for dealing with decks that rely heavily on creature combat, maintaining its relevance in an ever-shifting playing field.
How to beat
Ominous Sphinx is a card that can impact the game significantly, especially in limited formats or in a flyer-heavy deck in Magic: The Gathering. The Sphinx’s ability to weaken attacking creatures presents a strategic obstacle. To effectively counteract this, consider incorporating spells or creatures that can remove or neutralize it without triggering its ability. Cards such as Doom Blade or Cast Out are excellent choices as they deal with it directly and bypass the combat debuff mechanism. Furthermore, focus on building a board presence that can either overwhelm the Sphinx or handle it through non-combat means.
Alternatively, applying pressure with a diverse range of threats can dilute the Sphinx’s influence. It’s typically unable to block effectively against large ground creatures, so ramping up with bulky creatures or increasing your offensive tempo can force your opponent to make tough choices, possibly trading off their Sphinx in the process. Lastly, flying or reach creatures can provide the aerial support necessary to contend with it, aligning your forces to take down Ominous Sphinx efficiently when it takes to the skies.
Understanding the dynamics of gameplay and your opponent’s potential strategies when an Ominous Sphinx is in play will guide you towards the best approach, ensuring you maintain control of the battlefield and edge closer to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ominous Sphinx MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation and Amonkhet 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 Ominous Sphinx and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
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- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Ominous Sphinx Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Lars Grant-West.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-07-14 | Hour of Devastation | HOU | 41 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lars Grant-West | |
| 2 | 2020-08-13 | Amonkhet Remastered | AKR | 72 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lars Grant-West |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ominous Sphinx has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ominous Sphinx card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2017-04-18 | An ability that triggers whenever you discard a card doesn’t give you permission to discard cards. You’ll need another effect that instructs or allows you to discard them. |
| 2017-04-18 | An ability that triggers whenever you “cycle or discard” a card triggers only once if you cycle a card. The ability “Whenever you discard a card” is functionally identical to this ability; cycling is mentioned for clarity. |
| 2017-04-18 | If a player discards a card during their cleanup step due to having too many cards in hand, any appropriate abilities that trigger on discarding that card trigger. If this happens, those triggered abilities are put onto the stack and players receive priority in that cleanup step to cast spells or activate abilities (normally, no players may take actions during a cleanup step). Another cleanup step is created following that one. |
| 2017-04-18 | Some cards have an ability that triggers whenever you cycle any card. These triggered abilities resolve before you draw from the cycling ability. |