The Ur-Sphinx by Drippythimble

Format: Commander

Commander: The Ur-Sphinx

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 33

Deck overview

This Esper Sphinx Tribal deck leverages The Ur-Sphinx in the command zone to reduce the mana cost of all tribal spells by {1} via Eminence. The deck combines artifact cost-reducers like Urza's Incubator and Medallions with high-impact legendary Sphinxes to build a dominant board presence. Its central engine revolves around Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign, which turns every Sphinx into a mini Fact or Fiction to dig through the library rapidly. Once a critical mass of evasive flying threats is established, the deck closes games through massive combat damage enhanced by Coat of Arms, life-total manipulation via Magister Sphinx, or late-game value engines like Portal to Phyrexia and kicked Rite of Replication. While the deck excels at compounding card advantage and establishing formidable aerial blockers, it runs limited instant-speed spot removal and requires careful management against opposing mass-removal spells.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Adarkar Wastes
  • 1 An Offer You Can't Refuse
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Azor, the Lawbringer
  • 1 Black Market Connections
  • 1 Bloodline Pretender
  • 1 Brightclimb Pathway // Grimclimb Pathway
  • 1 Caves of Koilos
  • 1 Chromatic Lantern
  • 1 Chrome Mox
  • 1 Clearwater Pathway // Murkwater Pathway
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Consecrated Sphinx
  • 1 Court of Vantress
  • 1 Crypt Ghast
  • 1 Cyclonic Rift
  • 1 Dark Ritual
  • 1 Dazzling Sphinx
  • 1 Defiler of Dreams
  • 1 Demonic Consultation
  • 1 Demonic Tutor
  • 1 Dream Trawler
  • 1 Drowned Catacomb
  • 1 Enlightened Tutor
  • 1 Esper Sentinel
  • 1 Fetid Heath
  • 1 Fierce Guardianship
  • 1 Flooded Strand
  • 1 Force of Negation
  • 1 Force of Will
  • 1 Geier Reach Sanitarium
  • 1 Glacial Fortress
  • 1 Godless Shrine
  • 1 Grand Abolisher
  • 1 Hallowed Fountain
  • 1 Hengegate Pathway // Mistgate Pathway
  • 1 Imperial Seal
  • 6 Island
  • 1 Isolated Chapel
  • 1 Jet Medallion
  • 1 Land Tax
  • 1 Lotus Petal
  • 1 Mana Vault
  • 1 Marsh Flats
  • 1 Master of Winds
  • 1 Mindbreak Trap
  • 1 Mox Diamond
  • 1 Mystic Gate
  • 1 Mystic Remora
  • 1 Mystical Tutor
  • 1 Pact of Negation
  • 1 Pearl Medallion
  • 4 Plains
  • 1 Polluted Delta
  • 1 Quantum Riddler
  • 1 Raffine's Tower
  • 1 Raffine, Scheming Seer
  • 1 Ranger-Captain of Eos
  • 1 Reliquary Tower
  • 1 Rhystic Study
  • 1 Roaming Throne
  • 1 Sapphire Medallion
  • 1 Sea of Clouds
  • 1 Secluded Courtyard
  • 1 See Double
  • 1 Sharuum the Hegemon
  • 1 Silence
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Spark Double
  • 1 Sphinx Summoner
  • 1 Sphinx of Forgotten Lore
  • 1 Sphinx of Lost Truths
  • 1 Sphinx of the Final Word
  • 1 Sphinx's Revelation
  • 1 Strionic Resonator
  • 1 Sunken Ruins
  • 3 Swamp
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Tainted Pact
  • 1 Thassa's Oracle
  • 1 The One Ring
  • 1 The Ur-Sphinx
  • 1 Toxic Deluge
  • 1 Unclaimed Territory
  • 1 Underground River
  • 1 Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign
  • 1 Urza's Incubator
  • 1 Vampiric Tutor
  • 1 Watery Grave
  • 1 Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign