The Ur-Sphinx Test by PrinceAElfhere

Format: Commander

Commander: The Ur-Sphinx

Bracket: 4

DeckCheck Threat Index: 44

Deck overview

The Ur-Sphinx leads an Esper midrange kindred deck that combines high-stat flying Sphinxes with powerful card engines, reanimation, and flexible removal. The deck leverages the commander's eminence ability to discount all Sphinx spells by one generic mana from the command zone, allowing early acceleration into impactful four- and five-mana value engines like Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign, Tivit, Seller of Secrets, and Consecrated Sphinx. Once established on turn four, the deck buries opponents under overwhelming card advantage through repeated Fact or Fiction triggers and tax effects like Rhystic Study and Smothering Tithe. The primary win route develops by assembling a formidable air force of flying threats, reducing opposing life totals with Magister Sphinx, and closing games through decisive combat steps backed by Akroma's Will or a mass reanimation via Rise of the Dark Realms. Broad interactive spells and resilient graveyard lines ensure strong recovery against sweepers.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Adarkar Wastes
  • 1 Akroma's Will
  • 1 Ancient Tomb
  • 1 Anguished Unmaking
  • 1 Animate Dead
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Azor, the Lawbringer
  • 1 Azorius Signet
  • 1 Black Market Connections
  • 1 Bojuka Bog
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Consecrated Sphinx
  • 1 Curator of Destinies
  • 1 Cyclonic Rift
  • 1 Damn
  • 1 Dark Ritual
  • 1 Dazzling Sphinx
  • 1 Defiler of Dreams
  • 1 Demonic Tutor
  • 1 Denzilore Fatehold
  • 1 Dimir Signet
  • 1 Dream Trawler
  • 1 Drowned Catacomb
  • 1 Elenda and Azor
  • 1 Enigma Sphinx
  • 1 Enigma Thief
  • 1 Esper Sentinel
  • 1 Exotic Orchard
  • 1 Farewell
  • 1 Fell the Profane // Fell Mire
  • 1 Fellwar Stone
  • 1 Firdoch Core
  • 1 Flooded Strand
  • 1 Gathering Stone
  • 1 Glacial Fortress
  • 1 Gloomlake Verge
  • 1 Godless Shrine
  • 1 Hallowed Fountain
  • 7 Island
  • 1 Isolated Chapel
  • 1 Isperia, Supreme Judge
  • 1 Kindred Discovery
  • 1 Magister Sphinx
  • 1 Mana Drain
  • 1 Mana Vault
  • 1 Medomai the Ageless
  • 1 Meticulous Archive
  • 1 Morphic Pool
  • 1 Mystic Remora
  • 1 Otawara, Soaring City
  • 1 Path of Ancestry
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 3 Plains
  • 1 Polluted Delta
  • 1 Quantum Riddler
  • 1 Raffine's Tower
  • 1 Raffine, Scheming Seer
  • 1 Reanimate
  • 1 Rhystic Study
  • 1 Rise of the Dark Realms
  • 1 Sapphire Medallion
  • 1 Sea Gate Restoration // Sea Gate, Reborn
  • 1 Sea of Clouds
  • 1 Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs
  • 1 Sky Diamond
  • 1 Smothering Tithe
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Sphinx of False Conclusions
  • 1 Sphinx of Foresight
  • 1 Sphinx of Forgotten Lore
  • 1 Sphinx of the Second Sun
  • 1 Sphinx of the Steel Wind
  • 2 Swamp
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
  • 1 Talisman of Dominance
  • 1 Talisman of Hierarchy
  • 1 Talisman of Progress
  • 1 Teferi's Protection
  • 1 The Ur-Sphinx
  • 1 Tivit, Seller of Secrets
  • 1 Toxic Deluge
  • 1 Uldaros Theorix
  • 1 Unburial Rites
  • 1 Undercity Sewers
  • 1 Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign
  • 1 Vault of Champions
  • 1 Void Rend
  • 1 Watery Grave
  • 1 Wayfarer's Bauble
  • 1 Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign