Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign MTG Card


Unesh’s ability offers substantial card advantage, enabling smarter play with increased hand options. Mana cost specificity necessitates blue-focus but rewards with sphinx cost reduction and combo potential. Countering Unesh requires calculated removal or disruption to hinder its game-changing abilities.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Sphinx
Abilities Flying
Power 4
Toughness 4

Text of card

Flying Sphinx spells you cast cost less to cast. Whenever Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign or another Sphinx enters the battlefield under your control, reveal the top four cards of your library. An opponent separates those cards into two piles. Put one pile into your hand and the other into your graveyard.


Cards like Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign

Unesh Criosphinx Sovereign enjoys a revered spot among unique MTG cards that offer more than just a boost to your flying creature contingent. The card parallels the functionality of cards such as Sphinx of Uthuun, which brings a similar “Fact or Fiction” reveal effect into play. Where Unesh stands out is in its cost reduction for Sphinx spells, making it not just a creature to be reckoned with but also an enabler for Sphinx-heavy decks.

Further comparisons can be drawn with Consecrated Sphinx which, while differing in its immediate board impact, provides a consistent draw mechanism that can quickly overwhelm an unprepared opponent. Yet, Consecrated Sphinx doesn’t reduce the cost of your spells, an advantage reserved for Unesh. Then we have Arbiter of the Ideal, a card that also interacts playfully with card libraries and taps into the potential of the top deck. Nevertheless, Arbiter lacks the immediate divide and choose mechanic that makes Unesh a formidable choice for triggering multiple selections.

Reflecting on these comparisons, Unesh Criosphinx Sovereign asserts its dominance in the sphinx-centered synergies, paving the way for a dynamic and proactive gameplay experience that is hard to replicate with any other single card. Its blend of strategic depth and cost reduction makes it a staple in any Sphinx-based strategy.

Sphinx of Uthuun - MTG Card versions
Consecrated Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Arbiter of the Ideal - MTG Card versions
Sphinx of Uthuun - MTG Card versions
Consecrated Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Arbiter of the Ideal - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign by color, type and mana cost

Sea Serpent - MTG Card versions
Sibilant Spirit - MTG Card versions
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Skyline Predator - MTG Card versions
Isperia's Skywatch - MTG Card versions
Sphinx of the Chimes - MTG Card versions
Sea Serpent - MTG Card versions
Sibilant Spirit - MTG Card versions
Drifting Djinn - MTG Card versions
King Crab - MTG Card versions
Sea Monster - MTG Card versions
Sun Quan, Lord of Wu - MTG Card versions
Sliptide Serpent - MTG Card versions
Mahamoti Djinn - MTG Card versions
Deepfathom Skulker - MTG Card versions
Shoreline Ranger - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Dismisser - MTG Card versions
Novijen Sages - MTG Card versions
Draining Whelk - MTG Card versions
Arcanis the Omnipotent - MTG Card versions
Frost Titan - MTG Card versions
Deadeye Navigator - MTG Card versions
Harbor Serpent - MTG Card versions
Skyline Predator - MTG Card versions
Isperia's Skywatch - MTG Card versions
Sphinx of the Chimes - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Playing Unesh Criosphinx Sovereign in your deck provides a distinct edge in drawing cards. Every time you cast a Sphinx, the ‘Fact or Fiction’ ability triggers, potentially netting you a hefty selection to add to your hand and maintain a full grip of options.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly a mana ramp card, Unesh’s ability to sift through your deck and put unnecessary cards into the graveyard can indirectly speed up your game by getting to your key pieces quicker. Additionally, the reduced cost for Sphinx spells can lead to playing high-impact cards earlier than usual.

Instant Speed: Unesh itself may not be an instant, but its potential to churn through your deck can help you hit those instant speed interactions more consistently. This enhances your ability to react during opponent’s turns and keep threats at bay while setting up for a pivotal turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign brings a distinct advantage with its “Fact or Fiction” ability whenever another Sphinx enters the battlefield under your control, it also forces a choice that may lead to the discard of beneficial cards. This requirement can be detrimental when your hand is filled with high-value cards you’d prefer to keep.

Specific Mana Cost: Unesh has a very specific mana cost that necessitates two blue mana. This requirement can be restrictive, confining the card to blue-centric or Sphinx-themed decks, and making it less versatile for decks that operate on a diverse color wheel.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, of which two must be blue, Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign comes with a high investment. Although its effect can be powerful, some players might opt for creatures with lower mana costs that provide immediate impact on the game without the substantial mana commitment.


Reasons to Include Unesh Criosphinx Sovereign in Your Collection

Versatility: Unesh Criosphinx Sovereign isn’t just another creature card, it has the potential to fit into various blue-centric decks. It can bolster strategies that rely on Sphinx synergies or even generic strategies that benefit from card advantage and selection.

Combo Potential: This card enables thrilling combos, particularly in Commander, triggering multiple ‘fact or fiction’ effects. These can cascade into more Sphinxes cast, further digging through your deck for key pieces to clinch the game.

Meta-Relevance: Unesh has its place in the current meta, especially against slower, grindy matchups. The ability to repeatedly generate card advantage can outpace control decks and provide the tools needed to respond to an ever-changing battlefield.


How to beat

Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign demands a strategic approach to counteract its potent ability in the game of Magic: The Gathering. This card functions not only as a formidable flying creature but also offers a significant advantage by reducing the casting cost of your sphinx spells. It can quickly overwhelm an unprepared opponent, given its ability to churn through your library and manifest an impressive sphinx army.

Effective strategies to conquer Unesh include employing instant-speed removal spells such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, which can eliminate this threat before its ability triggers. Counterspells like Counterspell or Negate are also potent tools in your arsenal, helping you prevent Unesh from ever hitting the battlefield. In cases where Unesh is already in play, board wipes like Wrath of God or Blasphemous Act can clear out multiple sphinx creatures spawned by its influential presence.

It’s imperative to manage your resources wisely and keep removal or counterspells ready to interrupt Unesh’s momentum. Doing so helps you maintain control of the game and eventually navigate towards a win against opponents utilizing this commanding MTG card.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’ve been captivated by the strategic depth and the raw power of Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign within the MTG realm, there’s undoubtedly more for you to uncover. Unesh’s unique blend of card advantage and deck filtering capabilities render it a potent force in blue-centric or Sphinx-themed decks. To seamlessly slip this card into your collection or wield its advantages in your next match, understanding its synergies and potential interactions is paramount. We’re here to guide you through every step of that journey. Ready to unearth the synergistic power of Unesh and elevate your MTG gameplay? Come join us and unlock the full potential of your deck.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation and Hour of Devastation Promos, 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 Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Adrian Majkrzak.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-07-14Hour of DevastationHOU 522015NormalBlackAdrian Majkrzak
22017-07-15Hour of Devastation PromosPHOU 52s2015NormalBlackAdrian Majkrzak
32020-08-13Amonkhet RemasteredAKR 852015NormalBlackAdrian Majkrzak

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2017-07-14 A pile can have no cards in it. In this case, you’ll choose whether to put all the revealed cards into your hand or into your graveyard.
2017-07-14 In multiplayer games, you choose an opponent to separate the cards when the ability resolves. This doesn’t target that opponent. Because the cards are revealed, all players may see the cards and offer opinions.
2017-07-14 To determine the total cost of a Sphinx spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you’re paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The converted mana cost of the creature remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was.
2017-07-14 Unesh’s cost-reduction ability doesn’t reduce the cost to cast itself.
2017-07-14 You (not your opponent) choose which pile to put into your hand and which to put into your graveyard.