Hi, I am reletively new to magic, having only played for 1 to 1 1/2 yrs. I am working on an Esper Sphinx Deck, & would like some input please. Here is the deck below.
I have the refuges in there because I currently do not have the money for the M10 lands (the 2 I have listed I got in booster packs or fat packs). I am also not sure if I should have a few more creatures or not. I definitely want this to be control rather than aggro thought. Any thoughts would be greatly be appreciated.
I think one fun card you may like for this is Sphinx Ambassador. If you can swing with her, then it can ruin their bombs. Though she's not very competitive.(Just hope they aren't playing creatureless.)
Also, you may wanna go with something other than Sharuum, since you don't really have many good things to bring back.(And if you want a sphinx that comes back, try Enigma Sphinx) I think you might wanna try Magister Sphinx in this slot. It's an immediate impact, and sets a 2-turn clock.
So, you're saying I should play Enigma Sphinx? And, if I were to play Magister Sphinx, would 2 be enough (as that's all I have)? If I replace Sharuum with Magister, should I be adding another couple of creatures?
If I can get some Day to Judgement's - would 3 be sufficient do you think? Also, how many Into the Roil's - again would 3 be enough? I do have extra Esper Charms, so I can easily up those to 4. If I make these changes, what should I take out; considering that my lands are at 25, and the deck is currently at 61.
Thanks again for the suggestions.
-The Doctor
If I replace the 3 Shauum's w/ 2 Magister Sphinx's; then would adding 2 Sharding Sphinx's help to not only give me blockers, but keep the creature count up?
i think Sphinx Summoner might be a great addition to the deck. my opinion is that the deck should be more of a "tap-out" control deck than a permission based counter control deck. i'd favor something more like this:
i actually really like the lifegain mana base available for this deck. you can easily be gaining 4 or 5 life from just your land with this deck, and that can make a huge difference in surviving against an aggro deck.
the pacing of this deck is slow and deliberate. hopefully the fact that many of your lands come into play tapped won't be a big problem because of that. it wasn't a big deal for the 5 color control deck last season, so this deck might be able to get away with it also.
there are no counterspells at all. your plan is to bury your opponent with card advantage and win with Sphinxes that he can't deal with. your walls, board removal, and lifegain should keep you alive long enough to pull that off, hopefully.
In my brief time playing, I don't think I have ever, played a `control' deck (especially these colours) w/o having counterspells. It sounds intriguing, and I'd like to try it out, its just that I don't know if I can afford to get all of this now, or soon. The main problem would be the Day of Judgment, the Marsh Flat and the other Elspeth, Knight-Errant.
But, I would like to give this a try sometime. Any other suggestions about how to improve what I already have (i.e. in the realm of what it actually is - a countrspell deck) - and then later on [when I get the cash, I suppose[ I would like to try this version.
I've been meaning to put my Sphinx's to work in a deck but it really never seemed worth it until Sphinx of Jwar Isle came along. Anyways my version is slightly more expensive but should work verily well.
Sphinx control looks good. I would personally use Path to Exile/Silence as control. Day of Judgement/Scourglass for board sweeping. Even Ethersworn Shieldmage to slow aggro turn 3 would work. Follow that up with 3 Sharuum for recursion of Shieldmage/Scourglass, 1 Platinum Angel and and 2 Sphinx of Steel Wind to keep you alive. You could even add Master Transmuter for more fun.
I have been trying to find more Day of Judgment but my local store does not have any yet. I know, however, that I can get more 2 more of Scourglass. Should I try to do that, or go online to buy more of DAy of Judgement???
I am having trouble with the control aspect of this deck. I really miss the blue `permission' spells. I won once the other day, but my life was down to 2 . I should be able to get a few of Enigma Sphinx's tommorow at the magic shoppe and add them. I guess I still need some help with this deck.
I have been trying to find more Day of Judgment but my local store does not have any yet. I know, however, that I can get more 2 more of Scourglass. Should I try to do that, or go online to buy more of DAy of Judgement???
I am having trouble with the control aspect of this deck. I really miss the blue `permission' spells. I won once the other day, but my life was down to 2 . I should be able to get a few of Enigma Sphinx's tommorow at the magic shoppe and add them. I guess I still need some help with this deck.
4x Arcane Sanctum
2x Rupture Spire
2x Sejiri Refuge
2x Jwar Isle Refuge
1x Glacial Fortress
1x Drowned Catacomb
2x Kabira Crossroads
1x Plains
6x Island
4x Swamp
1x Elspeth, Knight-Errant
2x Jace Beleren
Creatures
1x Sphinx of the Steel Wind
3x Sharuum the Hegemon
2x Wall of Denial
2x Sphinx of Jwar Isle
Spells
1x Luminarch Ascension
3x Path to Exile
3x Oblivion Ring
3x Courier's Capsule
3x Essence Scatter
3x Negate
3x Executioner's Capsule
3x Countersquall
3x Esper Charm
I have the refuges in there because I currently do not have the money for the M10 lands (the 2 I have listed I got in booster packs or fat packs). I am also not sure if I should have a few more creatures or not. I definitely want this to be control rather than aggro thought. Any thoughts would be greatly be appreciated.
Thanks
-The Doctor
Also, you may wanna go with something other than Sharuum, since you don't really have many good things to bring back.(And if you want a sphinx that comes back, try Enigma Sphinx) I think you might wanna try Magister Sphinx in this slot. It's an immediate impact, and sets a 2-turn clock.
Also, how do my spells look?
-The Doctor
However, I think you may want to see if you can somehow procure some Day of Judgment... If you can get them...(Maybe some more Luminarch Ascension?)
Enigma Sphinx was merely a suggestion. He could be good, but I'm not quite sure, but I really like Magister here.
Also, Into the Roil?
If I can get some Day to Judgement's - would 3 be sufficient do you think? Also, how many Into the Roil's - again would 3 be enough? I do have extra Esper Charms, so I can easily up those to 4. If I make these changes, what should I take out; considering that my lands are at 25, and the deck is currently at 61.
Thanks again for the suggestions.
-The Doctor
If I replace the 3 Shauum's w/ 2 Magister Sphinx's; then would adding 2 Sharding Sphinx's help to not only give me blockers, but keep the creature count up?
-The Doc
If I replace the 3x Sharuum the Hegemon w/ 2x Magister Sphinx; then would adding 2x Sharding Sphinx help to not only give me blockers, but keep the creature count up?
-The Doc
Do not triple post. Please use the Edit button instead of posting multiple times in a row. Warning issued.
- SC
4 Day of Judgment
4 Path to Exile
4 Oblivion Ring
3 Esper Charm
3 Courier's Capsule
planeswalkers - 4
2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
2 Jace Beleren
4 Wall of Denial
4 Sphinx Summoner
1 Enigma Sphinx
1 Sharuum the Hegemon
1 Sphinx of the Steel Wind
1 Platinum Angel
land - 26
4 Kabira Crossroads
4 Jwar Isle Refuge
4 Sejiri Refuge
4 Arcane Sanctum
3 Marsh Flats
1 Swamp
2 Plains
4 Islands
notes:
i actually really like the lifegain mana base available for this deck. you can easily be gaining 4 or 5 life from just your land with this deck, and that can make a huge difference in surviving against an aggro deck.
the pacing of this deck is slow and deliberate. hopefully the fact that many of your lands come into play tapped won't be a big problem because of that. it wasn't a big deal for the 5 color control deck last season, so this deck might be able to get away with it also.
there are no counterspells at all. your plan is to bury your opponent with card advantage and win with Sphinxes that he can't deal with. your walls, board removal, and lifegain should keep you alive long enough to pull that off, hopefully.
But, I would like to give this a try sometime. Any other suggestions about how to improve what I already have (i.e. in the realm of what it actually is - a countrspell deck) - and then later on [when I get the cash, I suppose[ I would like to try this version.
Thanks again
-The Doc
2x Sphinx of Jwar Isle
2x Sphinx of the Steel Wind
3x Baneslayer Angel
4x Wall of Denial
Spells
2x Spell Pierce
4x Negate
4x Path to Exile
3x Esper Charm
3x Mindbreak Trap
3x Courier's Capsule
3x Jace Beleren
3x Day of Judgment
2x Arcane Sanctum
4x Marsh Flats
3x Drowned Catacomb
2x Glacial Fortress
7x Island
4x Plains
3x Swamp
2x Spell Pierce
4x Flashfreeze
1x Mindbreak Trap
1x Day of Judgment
1x Esper Charm
4x Tidehollow Sculler
2x Duress
4x Seriji Refuge
1x Glacial Fortress
4x Jwar Isle Refuge
1x Drowned Catacomb
2x Arcane Sanctum
3x Kabira Crossroads
6x Island
4x Swamp
1x Elpeth, Knight-Erant
2x Jace Beleren
Creatures
1x Sphinx of the Steel Wind
3x Enigma Sphinx
2x Magister Sphinx
2x Sphinx of Jwar Isle
1x Platinum Angel
3x Wall of Denial
3x Path to Exile
3x Obilivion Ring
2x Day of Judgement
2x Scourglass
3x Courier's Capsule
4x Negate
4x Esper Charm
2 x Arcane Sanctum
4 x Sejiri Refuge
4 x Jwar Isle Refuge
1 x Drowned Catacomb
1 x Glacial Fortress
3 x Plains
6 x Island
4 x Swamp
2 x Jace Beleren
1 x Elspeth, Knight Errant
1 x Tezzeret the Seaker
Creatures (12)
1 x Sphinx of the Steel Wind
1 x Magister Sphinx
2 x Sharuum the Hegemon
1 x Sharding Sphinx
1 x Sphinx Summoner
3 x Tidehollow Sculler
2 x Etherium Sculptor
1 x Platinum Angel
4 x Path to Exile
1 x Luminarch Ascension
3 x Oblivion Ring
1 x Day of Judgement
2 x Scourglass
3 x Courier's Capsule
4 x Esper Charm
I have been trying to find more Day of Judgment but my local store does not have any yet. I know, however, that I can get more 2 more of Scourglass. Should I try to do that, or go online to buy more of DAy of Judgement???
I am having trouble with the control aspect of this deck. I really miss the blue `permission' spells. I won once the other day, but my life was down to 2 . I should be able to get a few of Enigma Sphinx's tommorow at the magic shoppe and add them. I guess I still need some help with this deck.
Thanks,
The Doctor
Tezzy looks out of place in that build.
-The Doctor