Sphinx-Bone Wand MTG Card
2010-04-23 - Number 225
2012-09-07 - Number 29
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, you may put a charge counter on Sphinx-Bone Wand. If you do, Sphinx-Bone Wand deals damage equal to the number of charge counters on it to target creature or player.
Its host's final curse lies captured within.
Cards like Sphinx-Bone Wand
The Sphinx-Bone Wand is a unique artifact in the world of Magic: The Gathering, offering a ramping damage mechanism that can turn the tide of a match. This card shares conceptual space with the likes of Aetherflux Reservoir, which also gains power as spells are cast, accumulating a potential for a significant payoff. However, unlike the reservoir, the Sphinx-Bone Wand deals incremental damage with each cast spell, offering a steady threat over time.
Comparatively, there is the Pyromancer’s Goggles, which while not directly damaging opponents, magnifies the power of red instants and sorceries by providing a copy. This can synergize with the Sphinx-Bone Wand, doubling the spells cast and hence the damage dealt. Lastly, we tap into the essence of Sentinel Tower, which shares similar functionality but operates on per spell basis per turn, capable of inflicting damage to multiple opponents in multiplayer formats.
These artifacts each bring a dynamic edge to gameplay, but the Sphinx-Bone Wand’s consistent damage output can make it a formidable piece in decks that cast numerous spells, ensuring its place as a pivotal threat in a spell-caster’s arsenal.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Sphinx-Bone Wand is a potent artifact that ramps up damage with every spell you cast, effectively turning your spells into dual threats. Not only do you get the immediate effects of your spells, but also the incremental damage adds up, potentially dominating the board and depleting your opponent’s life total.
Resource Acceleration: This card can serve as a powerful win condition, especially in decks designed to cast multiple spells. Each new spell cast builds upon the last, accelerating the damage output. This works exceptionally well in control or combo decks where spells are continuously churned out, making the Wand an ever-increasing threat.
Instant Speed: Using spells at instant speed works synergistically with the Wand, which tallies every cast regardless of timing. This means you can weave in spell-casting during both your turn and your opponent’s, maximizing the damage dealt by the Wand and taking full advantage of its benefits.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Deploying Sphinx-Bone Wand requires a steep setup with no immediate impact on the battlefield. Each use is predicated on casting another spell, making it less effective in hand-emptying scenarios.
Specific Mana Cost: With a demanding cost of {7} mana that is colorless, Sphinx-Bone Wand may not seamlessly fit into multi-colored decks requiring a heavy investment in mana resources, restricting its adaptability.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The investment for its activation is lofty. Compared to other cards at a lower cost, the initial seven mana investment for the Wand can be too slow against faster, more aggressive strategies that demand immediate responses or impacts on the game state.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Sphinx-Bone Wand offers a wide range of utility for spell-slinger decks. Every instant or sorcery you cast builds up its incremental damage potential, making it adaptable to various playstyles and strategies.
Combo Potential: This artifact accumulates charge counters, allowing for explosive turns where you can chain spells and deal significant damage. It’s a perfect piece for combo decks looking to capitalize on casting numerous spells in a single turn.
Meta-Relevance: Against decks that lean heavily on creature-based strategies or those that bring games to a longer conclusion, Sphinx-Bone Wand can turn the tide by providing an unstoppable source of damage with each casted spell.
How to beat
Sphinx-Bone Wand stands out in MTG as a unique artifact, progressively doling out damage with each instant or sorcery spell you cast. Over time, this damage can become significant and potentially overwhelming. To effectively counter Sphinx-Bone Wand, strategic removal of artifacts is key. Consider incorporating spells such as Naturalize or Disenchant, which let you destroy target artifacts or enchantments directly, mitigating the accruing threat by removing the Wand from play promptly.
Another effective strategy is to deny your opponent the opportunity to cast those spells that fuel the Wand’s ability. Counterspells or discard effects can disrupt their game plan, ensuing in a less threatening Wand. Duress or Thoughtseize can pluck key spells right from your opponent’s hand, while Counterspell or Mana Leak can stop them as they attempt to cast. Finally, maintaining a swift pace and focusing on reducing your opponent’s life total quickly can outpace the incremental damage of Sphinx-Bone Wand, providing you with another route to victory.
Adapting your game plan to handle this artifact ensures that you maintain the upper hand, regardless of the relentless potential it has to shape the battlefield. A meticulous approach to dismantling the mechanics around Sphinx-Bone Wand will help secure your path to success in the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sphinx-Bone Wand MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari, 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-Bone Wand and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Sphinx-Bone Wand Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2012-09-07. Illustrated by Franz Vohwinkel.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-04-23 | Rise of the Eldrazi | ROE | 225 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Franz Vohwinkel | |
| 2 | 2012-09-07 | Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari | DDJ | 29 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Franz Vohwinkel |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sphinx-Bone Wand 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-Bone Wand card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2010-06-15 | If Sphinx-Bone Wand leaves the battlefield before its ability resolves, you won’t be able to put a charge counter on it. As a result, it won’t deal damage. |
| 2010-06-15 | If the targeted permanent or player is an illegal target by the time the ability resolves, the ability doesn’t resolve. You won’t put a charge counter on Sphinx-Bone Wand and it won’t deal damage. |
| 2010-06-15 | If you cast an instant or sorcery spell, Sphinx-Bone Wand’s ability triggers and goes on the stack on top of it. The ability will resolve before the spell does. |