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Pojo's Magic The Gathering Card of the Day
Daily Since November 2001!

Conundrum Sphinx
Image from Wizards.com

Conundrum Sphinx
M11

Reviewed July 30, 2010

Constructed: 3.67
Casual: 4.00
Limited: 3.90
Multiplayer: 3.90

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.  3 ... average.  
5 is the highest rating

Click here to see all our 
Card of the Day Reviews 

BMoor

It's a 4/4 flyer for four. Blue doesn't usually get those without drawbacks. And if you know the top card of your library, like with Scry, Jace the Mind Sculptor, or Sphinx of Jwar Isle, it's a 4/4 for four that draws you a card whenever it attacks. That's not a downside, that's an upside! Sure, it could also let your opponent draw some extra cards, maybe, but you're the guy playing blue! You've got all the Scry cards!  The other guy won't draw as often as you will, and you're not taking 4 damage every time you do, now are you?

Constructed- 4
Casual- 4.5
Limited- 4
Multiplayer- 4.5

David Fanany

Player since 1995

Conundrum Sphinx
 
I've mentioned before how I like Sphinxes and how I like the attempts to implement their fondness for riddles in their rules text. I like that Conundrum Sphinx has an idea for the second point that hasn't been done before, per se. It also seems like an amazingly powerful ability to give a card, especially when you consider that this card is only a couple of expansions away from Jace the Mind Sculptor and in the same set as all those card with scry.
 
Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 3/5
Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno

Today's card of the day is Conundrum Sphinx which as a four mana 4/4 with Flying for Blue is surprisingly efficient though the effect has a potential drawback.  For Blue it should be relatively easy to arrange the top cards of your own library to know what is coming and add the extra card to your hand fairly often.  Your opponent may not be so fortunate which will likely give you an added advantage beyond just having a four mana 4/4 with Flying.  With the support Blue has available this is a very solid card that will be seeing play as part of library manipulation themes next to Augury Owl, Preordain, Skill Borrower, or Sphinx of Jwar Isle.
 
For Limited the effect is a bit weakened by the nature of the format producing fewer duplicates and less opportunities to see your library, but is strengthened by the overall power of just being a 4/4 with Flying.  The odds of your opponent correctly guessing the top card of their own library are drastically reduced minimizing the biggest potential drawback.  There is little reason not to play this card were it to be in your Sealed pool especially if the aforementioned Augury Owl and Preordain are present as well.  In Booster this is a very solid first pick and can be supported with additional Flying and Scry cards being drafted with higher priority.
 
Constructed: 4.0
Casual: 4.0
Limited: 4.5
Multiplayer: 4.0

Josh Conundrum Sphinx
 
One of the more interesting Blue cards from M11. It'll see a fair amount of play in some competitive decks and more in Casual decks or Sphinx related decks. All around decent effect and price. Though I personally would not play it, I'm sure some people will. I'd like to see this hit hard in more decks but that's more than likely wishful thinking. Cool late game Draft/Sealed
 
Competitive: 2.5/5
Casual: 3.5/5
Pauper Magic: 3/5
Sealed/Draft: 4/5

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