Sphinx of the Second Sun MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sphinx of the Second Sun provides a significant boost in card draw by granting an additional beginning phase to its controller, essentially letting you draw an extra card each turn. This ability is central to ensuring a steady flow of options and resources, keeping you ahead in the game.

Resource Acceleration: With the Sphinx of the Second Sun in play, you benefit from an additional untap step, which can be a game-changer. The untap step gives you access to all of your mana sources for a second time in your turn, functioning like a turbo-charge for your mana resources and enabling more substantial plays or multiple spells in a single turn.

Instant Speed: While the Sphinx itself doesn’t cast at instant speed, it uniquely allows its controller to benefit from instant-speed spells more effectively. With the additional main phase awarded by the card, you have more opportunities to utilize your mana and cast spells at the right moment, making your instant-speed interactions even more potent.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Despite not having a discard requirement itself, Sphinx of the Second Sun might compel players to discard due to maximum hand size if its ability triggers excessive card draw. This can be especially problematic if you’ve reached your draw limit and need to maintain a full grip of strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: The precise mana cost of this sphinx includes two blue mana symbols, which could restrict deck-building options. This might force players to invest more in mana fixing or to play this card only in blue-heavy decks where its cost can be consistently met without straining the mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing eight mana, Sphinx of the Second Sun demands a significant amount of resources. This steep cost means it competes with other impactful high-mana spells and can be challenging to play in faster-paced games where earlier threats and responses are crucial.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sphinx of the Second Sun offers unique flexibility across various decks. Its ability to grant an additional beginning phase can enable a myriad of strategies, be it for untapping permanents, accruing extra draw, or exploiting time-related triggers.

Combo Potential: With its potential to mesh seamlessly with strategies that care about the beginning phase – think extra upkeep triggers or doubling age counters – this card opens up a swath of combo avenues. Additionally, its ability to ensure consistent land drops can be a game-changer.

Meta-Relevance: As the MTG landscape continually shifts, having a card that can adapt to a slower, more cunning game plan is invaluable. Sphinx of the Second Sun can be a key component in a control or combo-centric environment, providing that much-needed edge over opponents.

How to beat

Sphinx of the Second Sun is a unique addition to the realm of powerful cards in Magic: The Gathering. This card stands out with its ability to grant its controller an additional beginning phase after their postcombat main phase, essentially doubling the opportunities for untapping, upkeep, and drawing. Dismantling this advantage can be challenging, but not impossible.

To counter Sphinx of the Second Sun’s effects, strategic removal spells are effective. Direct damage spells such as Shock or Murderous Rider’s Swift End can remove the Sphinx before its benefits compound over several turns. Permission strategies can also play a key role; countering the spell with Negate or Essence Scatter before it even touches the battlefield stops the threat in its tracks. Moreover, employing enchantment-based removal like Banishing Light can neutralize the Sphinx without triggering death effects that some creatures have.

Overall, while Sphinx of the Second Sun can be a formidable force on the battlefield, there are various strategies to mitigate its impact. Well-timed removals, robust counterplays, and proactive board control are essential when facing this celestial behemoth in a game.

BurnMana Recommendations

Embark on a journey of strategic depth with Sphinx of the Second Sun, a card that offers more than meets the eye. Its unique ability to grant an extra beginning phase can revolutionize your gameplay, providing card advantage and resource acceleration critical for overwhelming your opponents. However, remember to wield its power wisely; the high mana cost demands careful planning. At BurnMana, we dive deep into such intricate strategies and the ever-evolving metagame. Explore with us as we delve into advanced playstyles, uncover synergies, and optimize decks. Enhance your MTG collection and gameplay—unlock the full potential of your cards with our expert insights.