Ur-Sphinx by stepelle

Format: Commander

Commander: The Ur-Sphinx

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 51

Deck overview

This Esper deck is a dedicated Sphinx tribal midrange strategy commanded by The Ur-Sphinx. From the command zone, the commander's eminence ability permanently reduces the casting costs of all other Sphinxes by {1}, enabling the deck to deploy high-cost flying threats well ahead of curve. Early turns focus on establishing mana acceleration through artifacts like Arcane Signet, Talisman of Dominance, and cost reducers such as Urza's Incubator and Herald's Horn. By Turn 4 or 5, the deck transitions into an overwhelming card engine by resolving powerhouses like Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign, Consecrated Sphinx, or Kindred Discovery. The deck closes games through evasive combat damage backed by game-warping bombs such as Magister Sphinx, Medomai the Ageless, and asymmetric board wipes like Raise the Palisade and Kindred Dominance. A dense suite of premium counterspells, spot removal, and defensive pillowfort enchantments ensures the board remains protected while grinding down opponents.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 An Offer You Can't Refuse
  • 1 Anguished Unmaking
  • 1 Arcane Denial
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Atemsis, All-Seeing
  • 1 Bitterthorn, Nissa's Animus
  • 1 Cavern of Souls
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Consecrated Sphinx
  • 1 Counterspell
  • 1 Dark Ritual
  • 1 Dazzling Sphinx
  • 1 Defiler of Dreams
  • 1 Denzilore Fatehold
  • 1 Deserted Beach
  • 1 Dovin's Veto
  • 1 Dream Trawler
  • 1 Elenda and Azor
  • 1 Enigma Sphinx
  • 1 Ethersworn Sphinx
  • 1 Gathering Stone
  • 1 Ghostly Prison
  • 1 Glasspool Mimic // Glasspool Shore
  • 1 Gleaming Splendor
  • 1 Godless Shrine
  • 1 Hallowed Fountain
  • 1 Herald's Horn
  • 7 Island
  • 1 Isperia, Supreme Judge
  • 1 Kindred Discovery
  • 1 Kindred Dominance
  • 1 Kindred Judgment
  • 1 Lightning Greaves
  • 1 Magister Sphinx
  • 1 Mana Drain
  • 1 Master of Predicaments
  • 1 Medomai the Ageless
  • 1 Morphic Pool
  • 1 Mystic Sanctuary
  • 1 Negate
  • 1 Otawara, Soaring City
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 6 Plains
  • 1 Propaganda
  • 1 Raffine, Scheming Seer
  • 1 Raise the Palisade
  • 1 Reanimate
  • 1 Reliquary Tower
  • 1 Rhystic Study
  • 1 Roaming Throne
  • 1 Sea of Clouds
  • 1 Shattered Sanctum
  • 1 Shipwreck Marsh
  • 1 Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs
  • 1 Smothering Tithe
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Sphinx Ambassador
  • 1 Sphinx of False Conclusions
  • 1 Sphinx of Foresight
  • 1 Sphinx of Forgotten Lore
  • 1 Sphinx of the Second Sun
  • 6 Swamp
  • 1 Swan Song
  • 1 Swiftfoot Boots
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Talisman of Dominance
  • 1 Talisman of Hierarchy
  • 1 Talisman of Progress
  • 1 Temple of the False God
  • 1 The Ur-Sphinx
  • 1 The Water Crystal
  • 1 Three Tree City
  • 1 Tivit, Seller of Secrets
  • 1 Toxic Deluge
  • 1 Uldaros Theorix
  • 1 Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign
  • 1 Urza's Incubator
  • 1 Vault of Champions
  • 1 Vault of the Archangel
  • 1 Victimize
  • 1 Void Rend
  • 1 Watery Grave
  • 1 Windreader Sphinx
  • 1 Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign