[CS] StarCityGames Official Preview: Vexing Sphinx

[misterorange]

See attached.

Vexing Sphinx -
Rare

Flying
Cumulative Upkeep: Discard a card.
Whenever Vexing Sphinx is put into the graveyard from play, draw a card for each age counter on it.
4/4

[EDIT]My comments:

I think this is a pretty exceptional creature. The most important aspect is that you can put the age counter on BEFORE deciding whether or not to sac the creature. So if you choose NOT to discard 3 cards, then you draw 3 instead. This is what makes the creature constructed worthy.

Read the SCG article about it here.

[Excise]

Very nice card. An efficient beater with a saftey valve. Or I guess I should say it comes with a nice consolation prize.

[orihsot1]

oh my... three to cast for a 4/4 body? whoa... the problem is the cumulative upkeep... you need to have a large hand when you are playing this... but you can also get all the cards that you have discarded when it dies...

[Alestra]

There doesn't seem to be a real large downside... if you only keep it in play for one turn. Otherwise, you could lose quite a few cards.

[Halcyon]

Not as bad as you'd expect a beefy blue flier to be. I'm impressed R&D. With a format that needs creatures with abilities, this just might see play.

[Angryhydralisk]

just kidding. Persoanlly, I think the discard a card cumulative is neat. Plus you draw back when it dies. And for some reason I'm thinking of mediocre-rare Eon Hub with all these Cumulative Upkeep cards!

[The Cube Master]

I can't say I am too thrilled about this one, although it does have that low cast. and you get to cycle the cards in your had which is pretty neet. I just cant picture it in a competative deck

[Sakrafyce]

I like it, being able to swing for 4 a few rounds will be worth it. Plus, you get to draw your cards back once it's gone. Sounds good to me, I think it will see play as well.

[Shiri]

I'd been looking for something better than peace of mind/searing meditation to support eidolon use with!

EDIT: Note that you don't actually get all your cards back when it dies though.

[Alestra]

Originally Posted by Sakrafyce

Plus, you get to draw your cards back once it's gone.

No, you get to draw some of your cards. Observe:

1 turn/1 counter/-1 cards total
2 turns/2 counters/-3 cards total
3 turns/3 counters/-6 cards total
4 turns/4 counters/-10 cards total
5 turns/5 counters/-15 cards total

So if it dies on the third turn, for instance, you get three cards back, so you lose: three cards! Not counting the Sphinx itself.

EDIT: As pointed out in the original post, yes, you can add the age counters, then sacrifice it. So if you sac it on turn three, you lose four (the Sphinx) and gain three. Still quite meh.

[Angryhydralisk]

Originally Posted by Alestra

No, you get to draw some of your cards. Observe:

1 turn/1 counter/-1 cards total
2 turns/2 counters/-3 cards total
3 turns/3 counters/-6 cards total
4 turns/4 counters/-10 cards total
5 turns/5 counters/-15 cards total

So if it dies on the third turn, for instance, you get three cards back, so you lose: three cards! Not counting the Sphinx itself.

My mistake, but I do get the point of the card at least.

[bradleyforrest]

Originally Posted by Alestra

No, you get to draw some of your cards. Observe:

1 turn/1 counter/-1 cards total
2 turns/2 counters/-3 cards total
3 turns/3 counters/-6 cards total
4 turns/4 counters/-10 cards total
5 turns/5 counters/-15 cards total

So if it dies on the third turn, for instance, you get three cards back, so you lose: three cards! Not counting the Sphinx itself.

EDIT: As pointed out in the original post, yes, you can add the age counters, then sacrifice it. So if you sac it on turn three, you lose four (the Sphinx) and gain three. Still quite meh.

It's not that you MAY put the counter on it first, you MUST put the counter on it first before deciding to pay for it or not. Therefore, if you pay the upkeep once and sac it the next turn, you lose 1 card, the creature, and then draw 2 cards == 0 net.

It's after you pay the upkeep twice do you start losing card advantage.

[MoxManiac]

might be interesting with UG Madness

[Mortal Wombat]

Wombat no likey. It kills the blue control deck's number one theme: card advantage. And blue aggro hasn't been popular since God knows when. Granted, it's better than Indentured Djinn, but it's still no good.

[Alestra]

Originally Posted by bradleyforrest

It's not that you MAY put the counter on it first, you MUST put the counter on it first before deciding to pay for it or not.

I don't see how this is relevant.

Therefore, if you pay the upkeep once and sac it the next turn, you lose 1 card, the creature, and then draw 2 cards == 0 net. It's after you pay the upkeep twice do you start losing card advantage.

Right. Let's revise our chart. For each turn, if you add counters and sac it:

1 turn/1 counter/card parity
2 turns/2 counters/card parity
3 turns/3 counters/-1 cards total
4 turns/4 counters/-3 cards total
5 turns/5 counters/-6 cards total
6 turns/6 counters/-10 cards total

So you can get one swing in before you start to lose card advantage, unless you give it haste with something.

Better, but still not worth it.