Sphinx by gcotter1

Format: Commander

Commander: The Ur-Sphinx

Bracket: 4

DeckCheck Threat Index: 44

Deck overview

This deck is an Esper kindred control build centered on Sphinx creatures, led by The Ur-Sphinx. It uses the commander's Eminence ability to reduce the cost of all Sphinx spells by one generic mana from the command zone, allowing expensive flyers to land ahead of curve. The early game focuses on deploying efficient mana artifacts and cost reducers like Urza's Incubator and Herald's Horn. By Turn 4, the deck establishes dominant card-draw engines through Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign, Kindred Discovery, or Consecrated Sphinx. The mid-to-late game applies heavy aerial pressure using game-ending threats like Magister Sphinx, Medomai the Ageless, and Tivit, Seller of Secrets, supported by a custom suite of 10 Sphinx's Approach spells for velocity and tutoring. It defends its board with premier counterspells and asymmetric sweepers such as Raise the Palisade and Cyclonic Rift, closing out games through overwhelming flying combat damage.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 An Offer You Can't Refuse
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Azor, the Lawbringer
  • 1 Azorius Signet
  • 1 Bojuka Bog
  • 1 Brainstorm
  • 1 Cavern of Souls
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Consecrated Sphinx
  • 1 Counterspell
  • 1 Cyclonic Rift
  • 1 Dark Ritual
  • 1 Defiler of Dreams
  • 1 Demonic Tutor
  • 1 Deserted Beach
  • 1 Dimir Signet
  • 1 Dovin's Veto
  • 1 Dream Trawler
  • 1 Elenda and Azor
  • 1 Enigma Sphinx
  • 1 Enlightened Tutor
  • 1 Ethersworn Sphinx
  • 1 Fierce Guardianship
  • 1 Flooded Strand
  • 1 Hallowed Fountain
  • 1 Herald's Horn
  • 10 Island
  • 1 Isperia, Supreme Judge
  • 1 Kindred Discovery
  • 1 Magister Sphinx
  • 1 Mana Drain
  • 1 Marsh Flats
  • 1 Medomai the Ageless
  • 1 Meticulous Archive
  • 1 Mystical Tutor
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 1 Pearl Medallion
  • 7 Plains
  • 1 Polluted Delta
  • 1 Propaganda
  • 1 Raise the Palisade
  • 1 Reanimate
  • 1 Reliquary Tower
  • 1 Rhystic Study
  • 1 Roaming Throne
  • 1 Sapphire Medallion
  • 1 Shattered Sanctum
  • 1 Shipwreck Marsh
  • 1 Smothering Tithe
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Sphinx of Foresight
  • 1 Sphinx of the Final Word
  • 1 Sphinx of the Second Sun
  • 1 Sphinx of the Steel Wind
  • 10 Sphinx's Approach
  • 5 Swamp
  • 1 Swan Song
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Talisman of Dominance
  • 1 Talisman of Hierarchy
  • 1 Talisman of Progress
  • 1 The Ur-Sphinx
  • 1 Thought Vessel
  • 1 Tivit, Seller of Secrets
  • 1 Undercity Sewers
  • 1 Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign
  • 1 Urza's Incubator
  • 1 Vampiric Tutor
  • 1 Void Rend
  • 1 Watery Grave
  • 1 Windreader Sphinx
  • 1 Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign