Sphinx's Disciple MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Wizard |
| Abilities | Flying,Inspired |
| Released | 2014-02-07 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Born of the Gods |
| Set code | BNG |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 51 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Ryan Alexander Lee |
Text of card
Flying Inspired — Whenever Sphinx's Disciple becomes untapped, draw a card.
Few dare to brave the Dakra Isles. Those who return are forever changed.
Cards like Sphinx's Disciple
Sphinx’s Disciple is an intriguing card in MTG, catching the attention of players who appreciate cards that draw upon casting. A card to consider in relation to Sphinx’s Disciple is Inspiration. Inspiration, at a comparable converted mana cost, allows players to draw two cards at instant speed, providing flexibility to react during an opponent’s turn. While Sphinx’s Disciple draws a card each time you cast a noncreature spell, Inspiration delivers its card draw in one go, meaning Sphinx’s Disciple could potentially draw more over time, but with the requirement of further spellcasting.
Comparing Sphinx’s Disciple with Jace’s Ingenuity reveals the potential for more significant card draw with Jace’s Ingenuity, dishing out three cards instantly. However, Jace’s Ingenuity comes with a higher mana cost, which might make Sphinx’s Disciple a more managable option for some. Yet, Jace’s Ingenuity doesn’t require additional spells to be played, making it a guaranteed source of card advantage on casting.
Overall, while Sphinx’s Disciple possesses a unique ability that could yield a stream of cards, other similar cards offer immediate impacts. The card’s value is evident in strategies that can cast multiple noncreature spells, turning each spell into a potential card advantage.
Cards similar to Sphinx's Disciple by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sphinx’s Disciple can be a key asset in your deck as it offers the potential for continuous card advantage. Once on the battlefield, its ability, often triggered by flying, can net you extra cards, ensuring you consistently have options available during play.
Resource Acceleration: Although Sphinx’s Disciple doesn’t generate resources directly, the additional cards drawn can lead to faster accumulation of lands and spells, speeding up your overall gameplay strategy. This can be particularly impactful in longer games where resource advantage becomes critical.
Instant Speed: The prowess of Sphinx’s Disciple often lies in its interactions with instant-speed spells. Each spell cast at instant speed not only counters or disrupts your opponent’s strategy but can also enhance Sphinx’s Disciple’s ability, further tipping the scales in your favor as the game progresses.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Sphinx’s Disciple necessitates discarding a card to activate its abilities, which might not be ideal when your hand is already running thin.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost requires blue mana, potentially restricting the card to blue-centric or multicolored decks, thereby limiting its flexibility across various deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s on the higher side for its in-game utility, players may find that it competes unfavorably against other cards that could provide more impactful effects for the same or lesser investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Sphinx’s Disciple offers a unique skill set that suits a variety of decks. Its ability to draw cards and exert control can be invaluable, especially in decks that require a steady flow of options and prefer to dictate the pace of the game.
Combo Potential: With its prowess in card advantage, Sphinx’s Disciple fits seamlessly into combos that capitalize on large hand sizes or that utilize spells that are drawn later in the game. It’s an excellent piece for setups that hinge on card synergies.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment filled with versatile and adaptive cards, Sphinx’s Disciple holds its ground by providing strategic depth and flexibility. In a meta that rewards foresight and planning, harnessing Sphinx’s Disciple can give players an edge over their opponents.
How to Beat Sphinx’s Disciple
Sphinx’s Disciple is one of those creatures in Magic: The Gathering that can pose a real headache for opponents when it gets going. Thanks to its inspired ability, which lets you draw a card when it becomes untapped, it can quickly turn the tide of the game by amassing an array of options for the player controlling it. Its flying ability also makes it an evasive threat, capable of chipping away at an opponent’s life total while staying out of reach from ground-based creatures.
The key to defeating Sphinx’s Disciple is managing it before the card advantage becomes overwhelming. Removal spells are the most straightforward way to handle this creature—anything from a simple Lightning Strike to more comprehensive removal like Murder will do the trick. Counter spells are also effective at ensuring Sphinx’s Disciple never hits the battlefield in the first place. If direct removal isn’t an option, restricting the creature’s ability to untap is a solid tactic. Cards that tap opponents’ creatures, such as Frost Lynx or enchantments like Claustrophobia, can mitigate the card advantage generated by Sphinx’s Disciple’s inspired mechanic.
Overall, dealing with Sphinx’s Disciple promptly is crucial. Allowing this creature to remain active on the battlefield can lead to a card advantage that might be difficult to overcome as the match progresses.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sphinx's Disciple MTG card by a specific set like Born of the Gods, 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's Disciple and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sphinx's Disciple has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sphinx's Disciple card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-02-01 | If an inspired ability triggers during your untap step, the ability will be put on the stack at the beginning of your upkeep. If the ability creates one or more token creatures, those creatures won’t be able to attack that turn (unless they gain haste). |
| 2014-02-01 | If the inspired ability includes an optional cost, you decide whether to pay that cost as the ability resolves. You can do this even if the creature leaves the battlefield in response to the ability. |
| 2014-02-01 | Inspired abilities don’t trigger when the creature enters the battlefield. |
| 2014-02-01 | Inspired abilities trigger no matter how the creature becomes untapped: by the turn-based action at the beginning of the untap step or by a spell or ability. |