Sphinx Sovereign MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	8
Rarity	Mythic
Type	Artifact Creature — Sphinx
Abilities	Flying
Released	2008-10-03
Set symbol
Set name	Shards of Alara
Set code	ALA
Power	6
Toughness	6
Number	196
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Chippy

Key Takeaways

Sphinx Sovereign offers strategic card advantage, but its effect may demand a card discard, a potential downside.
It thrives in artifact-centered decks, despite a specific and high mana cost that could limit deck flexibility.
Although expensive, it’s a resilient meta-relevant card that provides dual utility in both offense and defense.

Text of card

Flying At the end of your turn, you gain 3 life if Sphinx Sovereign is untapped. Otherwise, each opponent loses 3 life.

"What rises without legs, whispers without a voice, bites without teeth, and dies without having life?"

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sphinx Sovereign shines in delivering card advantage as its presence on the board compels opponents to adapt their strategies, often leading to resource depletion on their part while you maintain or grow your hand quality.

Resource Acceleration: As a high-cost creature, Sphinx Sovereign isn’t directly a tool for resource acceleration. However, it’s a powerful addition to decks built around artifact synergies where it may warrant ramp spells or accelerants to be played earlier, setting the stage for this imposing flyer to take the field.

Instant Speed: While Sphinx Sovereign itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its ability to put immediate pressure on an opponent can influence the pace of gameplay. The opponent is forced to keep mana open for answers, instead of committing to their own board, showcasing an indirect influence on the tempo of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sphinx Sovereign demands that you discard a card for its ability activation. In game states where your hand is sparse, this requirement could prove to be a hindrance rather than a benefit, leaving you at a strategic disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Deck building around Sphinx Sovereign involves a heavy commitment to both blue and white mana. This specific mana requirement might constrict deck versatility, forcing players to focus more on mana fixing than they may prefer.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that ranks on the higher end of the mana curve, Sphinx Sovereign can be a late arrival on the battlefield. Other creatures or spells could be cast much earlier to create an immediate impact on the game, making this card a potentially less efficient choice in fast-paced matches.

Reasons to Include Sphinx Sovereign in Your Collection

Versatility: Sphinx Sovereign is an exceptional card that can be a game-changer in many deck builds. It serves multiple roles, from being a formidable flying threat to a life-gaining mechanism, suitable for both offensive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: This card can be the linchpin in artifact-centric decks, synergizing with cards that care about artifact creatures. Its ability to impact the board upon both attacking and defending creates dynamic interactions with various card effects.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where longer games and powerful finishers are common, Sphinx Sovereign shines by providing a resilient threat that can sway the game’s outcome. Its relevance in the meta is dictated by its ability to outmatch other options at similar mana costs through its impactful presence on the board.

How to beat Sphinx Sovereign

Confronting the Sphinx Sovereign in MTG can be daunting given its potential for life gain and direct damage. This artifact creature shines in the late game, leveraging its sizable flying presence to sway the match in your favor. The ideal strategy against the Sphinx Sovereign lies in disrupting your opponent’s plans before they reach the mana to cast it. Targeted removal spells, such as Path to Exile or Doom Blade, can be effective tools to manage the Sphinx once on the battlefield.

Another method to counteract it is through the art of counter spells. Blue players can rely on counters like Cancel or Negate to prevent the Sphinx Sovereign from making an entrance altogether. Additionally, cards that impose sacrifice – think Diabolic Edict – sidestep its sturdy defenses. If its lifelink ability is a major concern, remember, artifacts can be fragile. Shatterstorm or Creeping Corrosion can remove Sphinx Sovereign and any other artifacts your opponent controls all at once, leveling the playing field.

Finally, consider the speed of your deck. An aggressive strategy that aims to finish the game early will limit the chances of facing this formidable adversary. By prioritizing the tempo and applying constant pressure, you can keep an opponent’s resources too stretched to stabilize with Sphinx Sovereign.

Cards like Sphinx Sovereign

Sphinx Sovereign stands tall among MTG’s iconic creatures, offering a unique blend of abilities that command attention on the battlefield. Similar to other high-impact creatures in the game, Sphinx Sovereign provides both a formidable flying presence and life-gain strategy, akin to its kin, the Sphinx of the Steel Wind. While the Steel Wind variant requires a specific color combination for its lifelink ability, Sphinx Sovereign activates its life-gain during your end step, allowing for a more flexible approach in any blue and white deck.

Another peer in this elite group of sphinxes is the Magister Sphinx. With a game-swinging entrance that sets an opponent’s life total to 10, the Magister Sphinx can be a surprise play that disrupts the battlefield dynamics. However, unlike the Sovereign, it lacks the recurring life-gain feature. Then we have Sharuum the Hegemon, which thrives on artifact synergy, bringing back powerful artifacts from the graveyard—an ability Sphinx Sovereign doesn’t share but instead offers consistent life swings and aerial dominance.

The insights gathered from these comparisons position Sphinx Sovereign in a unique spot in MTG’s vast card ecosystem, celebrated for its dual utility in defense and controller strategies, making it a card that’s not just about power but also about tactical advantage.

Sphinx of the Steel Wind - MTG Card versions

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

Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sphinx Sovereign 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 Sphinx Sovereign 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	The ability checks whether Sphinx Sovereign is tapped or untapped at the time the ability resolves. If Sphinx Sovereign is no longer on the battlefield by then, the ability checks whether Sphinx Sovereign was tapped or untapped at the time it left the battlefield.