Sphinx

Sphinx
Creature Type
(Subtype for creature/kindred cards)
Beeble Scale	1
Statistics	77 cards 1.3% 71.4% 10.4% 1.3% 1.3% 11.7% 2.6% 3 Sphinx creation cards 66.7% 33.3% as of Alchemy: Karlov Manor
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type:"Sphinx"

Sphinx is a creature type used on Magic cards that depict large and powerful creatures with lion-like bodies, human faces, and feathered wings. Some rival dragons in size and strength. Notably, Sphinxes are the iconic creature type for the color blue and they can be found in many planes.

Description

Sphinxes (or sphinges) are known for their vast intellect and cunning, and often never speak, save for riddles. They are primarily aligned with blue mana, though some are also aligned with white and/or black mana.

Sphinxes' lifespans are long, likely centuries or more, though the exact figure is unknown. They have hollow bones that can function as organ pipes, so "every phrase is a motif and a speech can be a symphony." Some sphinxes have excellent hearing and apparently can tell truth from lies and separate truth from honesty. This was demonstrated by Sharuum.

Many Sphinxes within the Multiverse were likely influenced by Azor, an ancient Sphinx planeswalker who once traveled between the worlds to bring order.

The first card to bear the creature type was Petra Sphinx in Legends.

Storyline

Alara

Between the Sundering and the Conflux, Sphinxes were found exclusively on Esper. Sphinxes on Esper are highly revered and respected as leaders of their communities because of their vast knowledge. Sphinxes prefer to remain a mystery to the humanoids, making their homes on distant, remote islands shrouded from view by magic. Their visits with humanoids are reasonably frequent, but sphinxes do not form lasting relationships. All sphinxes are vastly knowledgeable and insightful, but beyond that their characters vary widely, from cold and calculating to honorable and beneficent.

The Sphinx Crucius is said to have created the Etherium alloy, which shaped Esper into what it is today. After Crucius‘s disappearance, no new etherium could be synthesized, but Sharuum showed Esper residents how to thin the alloy, making it last longer.

The Leviathans and Krakens that lurk in Esper's seas have been documented to predate even the shard's oldest sphinxes.

Amonkhet

Amonkhet sphinxes have leonine bodies, hawklike wings, and faces resembling humans, framed by great frills or manes of feathers. Their powerful forearms are also feathered, and fans of long feathers form their tails. They were perhaps the only creatures to remain uncorrupted by the influence of Nicol Bolas. Their impenetrable minds proved to be even beyond Bolas's mind control ability, for this reason, he placed them under a curse, banning them from communicating with other creatures in any way. Most citizens of Naktamun believed that the Sphinxes had taken vows of silence until the God-Pharaoh had returned to them. They began to speak only after the Second Sun aligned. They whispered dire warnings, though no one listened.

Criosphinxes

A few rare sphinxes have the heads of rams instead of the humanlike faces of other sphinxes. Though they lie under the same curse as other sphinxes, they are less enigmatic and more aggressive, actively attacking angels, demons and other agents of Nicol Bolas they encounter in the desert. They stay far from Naktamun and care little for its people; their hatred of Bolas is driven by his curse.

Capenna

The Sphinxes of Old Capenna acted as renowned fortune tellers, who often fought shadow-conflicts to ensure their conflicting prophecies came to pass. Of this older generation of sphinx, only the Obscura boss Raffine still lives. Though not extinct, sphinxes are still extremely rare and solitary creatures.

Dominaria

Sphinxes roamed the cold wastes of Dominaria's Ice Age.

Mirrodin

There are a small number of sphinxes on Mirrodin. They are so rare that most believe them to disappear into the aether when seen. It is known that at least the Consecrated Sphinx has been compleated by the Phyrexians and used to fight the Steel Hellkite.

Ravnica

Sphinxes of Ravnica are typically affiliated with the Azorius. They are solitary creatures that value their privacy but are also willing to share their insights with each other in times of need. In fact, the sphinx planeswalker Azor was the main author of the legal system of the plane, creating the Guildpact and guild system. Azor himself was the founder and parun of the Azorius, but he left Ravnica after some time to bring order and guidance to other planes of the Multiverse.

Another notable sphinx on the plane was Isperia, guildmaster of the Azorius during the events of Guilds of Ravnica. She was petrified and killed by Vraska, leader of the Golgari Swarm, under Bolas‘ orders.

A few Sphinxes are aligned with House Dimir and also count as nightmares.

Serra's Realm

In an alternate reality, sphinxes populated the planeswalker Serra's realm instead of angels.

Theros

Theran sphinxes are primordial, mysterious beings with ancient knowledge. They have abstract thought patterns, so even when they are not trying to be enigmatic they still are. One, Medomai, is a prophet at Meletis, going into the city several times to warn of future events.

Zendikar

On Zendikar, Sphinxes are to be found in Sejiri, on the Jwar Isle, and most recently in Magosi and Tazeem as well. Most Sphinxes search remote locations to ponder of Zendikar's mysteries and contemplate what they have learned. They jealously protect their lairs from other sphinxes and large predators, such as dragons, but they pay little attention to smaller visitors. A sphinx's lair is often difficult to reach and typically involves treacherous climbing for creatures without the ability to fly. A visitor who can reach the spot is often rewarded with an audience—but those who come in search of answers are likely to leave disappointed.

Notable sphinxes

Alara

• Crucius
• Sharuum

Amonkhet

• Unesh

Capenna

• Raffine
• Tivit

Ravnica

• Isperia

Theros

• Medomai

Vryn

• Alhammarret

Unknown

• Arjun
• Atemsis
• Azor
• Eligeth
• Ormos
• Yennett

Tokens

Token Name	Color	Type Line	P/T	Text Box	Source	Printings
Sphinx	Blue	Creature — Sphinx	4/4	Flying	Hour of Need
	White/​Blue	Creature — Sphinx	4/4	Flying, vigilance	Warden
Glyph Keeper	White	Creature — Zombie Sphinx	5/3	Flying Whenever Glyph Keeper becomes the target of a spell or ability for the first time each turn, counter that spell or ability.	Glyph Keeper

Gallery

• 

  Alhammarret a sphinx from Vryn.

• 

  Alara (Esper).

• 

  Alara.

• 

  Amonkhet.

• 

  Unesh and the Criosphinxes of Amonkhet.

• 

  Tivit a sphinx rogue from Capenna.

• 

  Raffine a sphinx demon and boss of the Obscura family.

• 

  Dominaria.

• 

  Mirrodin

• 

  New Phyrexia.

• 

  Ravnica.

• 

  Azorius Senate (Ravnica).

• 

  Nightmare Sphinx, House Dimir (Ravnica).

• 

  Artifact Sphinx.

• 

  Theros.

• 

  Nyxborn Sphinx.

• 

  Zendikar.

• 

  Serra Sphinx.

• 

  Master of Predicaments.

• 

  Sphinx Ambassador.

• 

  Compleated New Phyrexian Sphinx concept.

Trivia

• Riddleform is an enchantment that can become a 3/3 sphinx creature with flying.
• Sandstone Oracle and Petra Sphinx are the only non-blue Sphinxes.
  • Sphinx of the Guildpact, by the technicality of its ability, is the only Green sphinx, and otherwise no Green-costed sphinxes exist.
  • Arjun, the Shifting Flame is the only Red-costed sphinx.