Sphinx of Clear Skies MTG Card
2022-09-09 - Number 396
2022-09-09 - Number 67
2022-09-09 - Number 67s
2022-09-09 - Number 67p
2002-06-24 - Number 103400
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Creature — Sphinx |
| Abilities | Domain,Flying,Ward |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Key Takeaways
- Scrying and drawing cards with Sphinx of Clear Skies significantly boosts your strategic options each turn.
- While the Sphinx aids in card advantage, its discard requirement can be a late-game challenge.
- Its relevance in the current metagame makes Sphinx of Clear Skies a valuable asset for control decks.
Text of card
Flying, ward Domain — Whenever Sphinx of Clear Skies deals combat damage to a player, reveal the top X cards of your library, where X is the number of basic land types among lands you control. An opponent separates those cards into two piles. Put one pile into your hand and the other into your graveyard.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sphinx of Clear Skies offers a compelling advantage by allowing you to scry two cards then draw a card whenever it attacks. This steady flow of card selection and draw can significantly aid in outpacing your opponent by ensuring you have access to the right resources at the right time.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting resources, the value generated over time by Sphinx of Clear Skies can indirectly lead to resource acceleration. As you draw into more lands or ramp spells, your ability to deploy threats rapidly increases, keeping the pressure high in the late game.
Instant Speed: Although Sphinx of Clear Skies does not act at instant speed itself, it harmonizes well with instant-speed spells. Holding up mana for counterspells or interaction will be less punishing when you can confidently commit to the board knowing your Sphinx will replenish your hand as you attack, keeping options open even if you tap out.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Sphinx of Clear Skies’ ability may sometimes necessitate discarding a card which could deplete your hand, especially during the late game when every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires both blue and white mana, making it less flexible and more suited to decks built around these colors. Players running multicolor or colorless decks might find it challenging to meet the mana requirements.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes two specific mana types, Sphinx of Clear Skies demands significant resources which could delay playing it until the mid to late game when players may already be establishing dominant board positions.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Sphinx of Clear Skies is a welcome addition to any collection due to its flexibility on the battlefield. This card can seamlessly integrate into various blue-focused decks, acting as both a formidable flyer and a source of card advantage.
Combo Potential: With Sphinx of Clear Skies, you have the perfect piece to synergize with strategies that revolve around large hand sizes or drawing cards. This innate ability to mesh with combos that capitalize on drawing or scrying makes it a strategic asset in numerous deck builds.
Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to offer insight into an opponent’s hand while providing a constant threat in the air, Sphinx of Clear Skies has genuine relevance in the current metagame. It can challenge opponents on multiple axes and is particularly effective in blue-based control or midrange decks.
How to beat
The Sphinx of Clear Skies emerges in the world of Magic the Gathering as a formidable presence in the sky, challenging players to devise strategies to overcome its aerial supremacy. With its ability to grant card advantage each time it attacks, shutting it down quickly becomes imperative. Prioritize control spells that can neutralize or remove flying creatures, such as doom blade or essence scatter, to ensure the sphinx doesn’t have the chance to dominate the board.
Board wipes like wrath of god or damnation also serve as effective measures to clear the skies and reset the playing field. Additionally, don’t overlook the potential of enchantments that can reduce its power or strip away flying capabilities, making it vulnerable to ground forces. The key to defeating the Sphinx of Clear Skies lies in preparation and swift action; let it soar unchecked, and it could be the harbinger of your defeat.
Ultimately, facing the Sphinx of Clear Skies is a true test of a player’s ability to adapt and respond to powerful threats. It’s a challenge that requires foresight, tactical removal, and perhaps a bit of luck, but with the right approach, this lofty adversary can be grounded permanently.
Cards like Sphinx of Clear Skies
The Sphinx of Clear Skies brings an intriguing option to the roster of flying creatures in MTG. It bears some similarity to other sphinxes such as Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign, which also offers a form of card advantage. Unesh lowers the cost of other sphinxes and provides a pseudo card-drawing effect that can lead to powerful plays. Nevertheless, where Sphinx of Clear Skies excels is in its straightforward ability to draw cards whenever it attacks, with no further conditions.
Looking at other comparable creatures, we find Keiga, the Tide Star, a dragon legendary creature that ensures a continuous advantage by taking control of an opponent’s creature when it dies. Although the Sphinx of Clear Skies doesn’t possess such control elements, it compensates with direct card draw and maintaining a strong board presence in the air.
Another peer in the skies is the Dream Trawler, which becomes nearly unbeatable in long matches thanks to its ability to draw cards and gain life. While the Sphinx of Clear Skies doesn’t bolster life totals, it consistently offers additional cards, making it a valuable asset for players seeking to sustain their options throughout the game.
Through careful examination, Sphinx of Clear Skies is a considerable choice for any MTG player valuing dependable card draw and a resilient flying threat.
Cards similar to Sphinx of Clear Skies by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sphinx of Clear Skies MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Dominaria United, 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 Clear Skies and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 of Clear Skies Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2022-09-09 and 2022-09-09. Illustrated by Valera Lutfullina.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 103400 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Valera Lutfullina | ||
| 2 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United | DMU | 396 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Valera Lutfullina | |
| 3 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United | DMU | 67 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Valera Lutfullina | |
| 4 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United Promos | PDMU | 67s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Valera Lutfullina | |
| 5 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United Promos | PDMU | 67p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Valera Lutfullina |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sphinx of Clear Skies has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sphinx of Clear Skies card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-09-09 | Domain abilities count the number of basic land types among lands you control, not how many lands you control or how many of any type. |
| 2022-09-09 | That opponent may choose to put all of the cards into one pile and leave the other pile empty. In that case, the ability’s controller chooses whether to put the revealed cards into their hand or into their graveyard. |
| 2022-09-09 | The basic land types are Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest. Land types other than basic land types (such as Desert) don’t contribute to domain abilities. |
| 2022-09-09 | The player who controls the triggered ability chooses which opponent separates the cards into two piles. This choice is made after revealing those cards. |