Rescuer Sphinx MTG Card
2019-05-03 - Number 65
2024-02-23 - Number 95
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Sphinx |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Rescuer Sphinx excels in card advantage, resetting creatures for repeated enter-the-battlefield benefits.
- It imposes a discard cost and has specific mana needs, potentially hampering flexibility.
- The Sphinx’s ability to adapt and combo with enter-the-battlefield effects makes it a valuable collection addition.
Text of card
Flying As Rescuer Sphinx enters the battlefield, you may return a nonland permanent you control to its owner's hand. If you do, Rescuer Sphinx enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
"Now, little fighter, show me you deserved this second chance."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Rescuer Sphinx is a unique asset for card advantage, as it allows you to return another creature you control to your hand upon entering the battlefield. This not only protects a key piece from being removed but also enables you to replay creatures with valuable enter-the-battlefield effects.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, the rescuer Sphinx can indirectly accelerate your resources. By returning a creature to your hand, you can reuse mana abilities or other effects that generate additional in-game advantages.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, Rescuer Sphinx synergizes well with instant-speed spells. You can play tricks on your opponent by bouncing a creature in response to their actions, then recast it for more benefits, keeping your play dynamic and flexible.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Rescuer Sphinx demands a significant sacrifice upon entry. Players are compelled to discard another creature they control, which can be a harsh penalty in a tight game where every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a precise blend of mana, including two blue. This constrains deck-building options and can lead to color fixing complications in multi-colored decks, potentially delaying its play.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana including two that must be blue, this creature can be slower on the draw compared to other flyers or value creatures in the same cost bracket. Considering the tempo of the game, this could put players at a disadvantage.
Reasons to Include Rescuer Sphinx in Your Collection
Versatility: Rescuer Sphinx provides flexibility in gameplay, allowing you to adapt to various situations. With its ability to return another creature you control to your hand, it enables you to reuse enter-the-battlefield effects or save a key creature from removal.
Combo Potential: This card opens up opportunities for combo plays. Pairing Rescuer Sphinx with creatures that have powerful enter-the-battlefield effects can create consistent value engines within your deck, leveraging those effects multiple times throughout the game.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creatures and tempo play a significant role, Rescuer Sphinx’s impact can be quite profound. It’s a solid mid-game flyer that can shift the balance of board control while preserving your creature assets against opponents’ strategies.
How to beat
Rescuer Sphinx proves to be a versatile flyer within the skies of the Magic: The Gathering battlefield. This card allows players to reset their board presence by returning a permanent they control to their hand and then bolstering the board again with its 4/3 flying body. It’s a solid tempo play that can recycle valuable enter-the-battlefield effects.
Navigating against this airborne Amonkhet native requires strategic measures. One effective way is by using instant speed removals when the Sphinx is recast, reducing the chance for your opponent to gain value. Similarly, cards that restrict the casting of spells or creature abilities can also limit the impact of the Sphinx’s powerful return-to-hand ability. Moreover, enchantments that pacify or prevent creatures from attacking and blocking greatly diminish the Rescuer Sphinx’s effectiveness in game.
Mastering the art of timing and controlling the board state enables players to mitigate the impact of Rescuer Sphinx. By carefully planning removals and imposing restrictions on the opponent’s creatures, players can secure an advantage and neutralize the potential threat posed by this resilient winged wonder.
Cards like Rescuer Sphinx
Rescuer Sphinx serves as an intriguing piece in the puzzle of creature-based strategies in Magic: The Gathering. The card can be viewed alongside ephemeral creatures like Man-o’-War or Aether Adept, both known for their enter-the-battlefield effects that return creatures to their owner’s hands. Unlike these options, Rescuer Sphinx’s strength lies in its flexibility, allowing the return of any nonland permanent you own—not just creatures—to then amass a +1/+1 counter, a subtle but meaningful upgrade in creature resilience.
Another card falling into this scope is Exclusion Mage, with a likeliness centered around bouncing creatures upon entry to the battlefield. However, Rescuer Sphinx takes advantage over Exclusion Mage by potentially growing stronger upon its return flight from an adventure, which can be a pivotal move in the ebb and flow of battle where sizing up creatures matters. Whilst Exclusion Mage focuses on controlling the opponent’s board, Rescuer Sphinx offers a more self-synergistic build-up for longer-term plans.
To sum it up, those who dabble in MTG deckbuilding will find Rescuer Sphinx a commendable option for its blend of strategic flexibility and growth potential, adding an advantageous dynamic to the skies and beyond.
Cards similar to Rescuer Sphinx by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rescuer Sphinx MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark and Ravnica: Clue Edition, 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 Rescuer Sphinx 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Rescuer Sphinx Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Jesper Ejsing.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-05-03 | War of the Spark | WAR | 65 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 2 | 2024-02-23 | Ravnica: Clue Edition | CLU | 95 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rescuer Sphinx has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Rescuer Sphinx card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-05-03 | If Rescuer Sphinx somehow enters the battlefield at the same time as another permanent, you can’t return that permanent. You may choose only permanents that are already on the battlefield. |
| 2019-05-03 | If the returned permanent had an ability that would otherwise have triggered when Rescuer Sphinx enters the battlefield (such as that of Kronch Wrangler), that ability won’t trigger. |
| 2019-05-03 | You choose whether to return a nonland permanent and which one to return for Rescuer Sphinx’s ability while it’s entering the battlefield. No player may take actions between the time you choose which permanent to return and the time Rescuer Sphinx is on the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter. |
