4/4 Flyer for 4, with a negligible "drawback". Plays well with top deck manipulation and cards like Courser or Oracle. Passes the bolt test, can slot into multiple archetypes, and matches up nicely against other four-drops in its color.
So why does no one play it?
Currently, I'm running him in my Modern Banlist Cube to great results. Newer members of my playgroups are often pleasantly surprised by him.
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...matches up nicely against other four-drops in its color.
This is the point of contention. The blue 4cc creature slot is filled with nothing but amazing stuff, and I don't think this creature comes close to any of them.
The Sphinx has been fine, its mostly been good because of the high density of topdeck manipulation I run. Probs not as blatantly good as Sower or Venser, but the clones haven't been amazing in my meta because of how much low curve aggro runs rampant. I don't run cards like Glen Elendra Archmage that are geared to control mirrors. I'm also running a very unpowered environment without support for artifacts as a theme which rounds off some options like Whirler Rogue. Sphinx becomes the next best thing pretty quickly.
Sphinx has the potential to draws cards consistently alongside Sensei's Divining Top, Sylvan Library, Crystal Ball, etc. 4/4 flyer for 4 is just a fine average case scenario, and the downside of the opponent drawing cards is going to be rare if you were grabbing those cards enough. It probably isn't for every cube and maybe I'll replace it eventually, but definitely run it if it works in your environment.
...matches up nicely against other four-drops in its color.
This is the point of contention. The blue 4cc creature slot is filled with nothing but amazing stuff, and I don't think this creature comes close to any of them.
I'd love to see the cards you consider better. That's not meant in a "Screw you. Come at me, bro" way, either. I'm honestly curious.
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I would run Glen Elendra Archmage, Venser, Sower of Temptation, Clever Impersonator, Dungeon Geists, Sakashima's Student, and Talrand before Conundrum Sphinx.
...matches up nicely against other four-drops in its color.
This is the point of contention. The blue 4cc creature slot is filled with nothing but amazing stuff, and I don't think this creature comes close to any of them.
I'd love to see the cards you consider better. That's not meant in a "Screw you. Come at me, bro" way, either. I'm honestly curious.
And then there's a 3rd tier with things like Talrand, Sky Summoner and the next-level clones (Sakashima's Student, etc) ...and those cards are probably better too.
And if what you want is a tempo curve-topper for bashing face, try out Serendib Djinn in that slot.
So I'd say that the competition is far, FAR too steep for the Sphinx. Sphinx is a good card, but all the other options are great cards.
And how many blue 4-drops do you need? Somewhere in the 3-5 range, even for bigger cubes? There's simply no room.
Just look at his list. All of those cards are *easily* better than conundrum sphinx.
Whirler is meta-dependent. (Nothing wrong with that per se, but I definitely feel it's harder to support it in my Modern cube than in a good with more random artifacts laying about, such as a generic goodstuff format.)
I'm not sold on Venser, but I may reconsider. (I'm generally a much tougher judge of bounce cards than most.)
I run the other two, and I'll even allow that they generally better (despite their more fragile bodies).
I would run Glen Elendra Archmage ... Sakashima's Student, and Talrand before Conundrum Sphinx.
Is the Archmage better or just (drastically) different? I would strongly argue the latter, particularly since it's awful as a beater/threat and requires constant U available. It also fits into fewer archetypes (basically a control-exclusive). It's certainly playable, but hard to argue that it's better.
Student's great, but more because of its ability to do a solid Phantasmal Image impersonation. In general, the current consensus is that most Clone-variants suck. The exceptions are those that are markedly unique in some way, such as being undercosted and/or being able to copy other types of permanents than creatures.
And Talrand? Isn't the consensus generally that he's bad? (Even if he may have been/seemed good at release.) Currently, we've got plenty of options for this type effect. Young Pyromancer comes in at half the cost, making it better for tempo (rather than the slower, more controlling shell that Talrand needs). And, of course, the recent Mentor of the Mentor practically obsoletes both the Sky Summoner and the Pyromancer, frankly. I'm just not seeing how Talrand is good in cube overall, let alone better than Conundrum.
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I would run Glen Elendra Archmage ... Sakashima's Student, and Talrand before Conundrum Sphinx.
Is the Archmage better or just (drastically) different? I would strongly argue the latter, particularly since it's awful as a beater/threat and requires constant U available. It also fits into fewer archetypes (basically a control-exclusive). It's certainly playable, but hard to argue that it's better.
It's true that Archmage plays on a different axis from Conundrum, but overall it's a better card. There are certainly aggro/tempo decks where I'd rather have Conundrum, but probably 90% of the time you want Archmage.
Student's great, but more because of its ability to do a solid Phantasmal Image impersonation. In general, the current consensus is that most Clone-variants suck. The exceptions are those that are markedly unique in some way, such as being undercosted and/or being able to copy other types of permanents than creatures.
I wasn't aware of that consensus, but I'm kind of a sucker for clone effects. Any Clone+ will at least get a temporary spot in my cube. So I may be a little biased there, but Student has done some real work in my group.
And Talrand? Isn't the consensus generally that he's bad? (Even if he may have been/seemed good at release.) Currently, we've got plenty of options for this type effect. Young Pyromancer comes in at half the cost, making it better for tempo (rather than the slower, more controlling shell that Talrand needs). And, of course, the recent Mentor of the Mentor practically obsoletes both the Sky Summoner and the Pyromancer, frankly. I'm just not seeing how Talrand is good in cube overall, let alone better than Conundrum.
Talrand hasn't been great for us but it's still a solid card and generally does more for your board than a near-vanilla 4/4 flyer would. I'd rather have a little more support for spells matter than a near-vanilla flyer in the 4 slot.
I don't really think Whirler Rogue is meta-dependent, it's a pretty stellar card in a vacuum. And the other three are absolutely better.
I'm not as hot on random token generators as others. (I don't run Cloudgoat Ranger, for example.) Perhaps Rogue is worth reconsidering, but I really don't like the idea of running it in a deck where it's activated ability won't be relevant (or will require the tokens be tapped).
It's true that Archmage plays on a different axis from Conundrum, but overall it's a better card. There are certainly aggro/tempo decks where I'd rather have Conundrum, but probably 90% of the time you want Archmage.
Outside of a control shell, a small (but persistent) flier with a Negate ability doesn't seem super useful. If I'm playing midrange, it's just okay. If I'm playing aggro, it's awful. If I'm playing tempo, it's too expensive (or an awkward top-ender at best). If I'm playing one of the various combo-esq goodstuff/coolthings decks that often pop up in cube, this is just roleplayer at best. Again, I'm not saying it's bad; I just don't see how it's objectively better in a vacuum.
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Cloudgoat Ranger is so insane. I would have a hard time not cubing with that card. I think it's the best 5-drop creature in white.
And if you don't think Glen Elendra is useful outside of a control deck, you should probably play with it first. Glen Elendra is a pretty nutty card, and definitely doesn't need to stick to a control shell. It turns out that tempo builds like keeping their creatures alive, and blanking most of the removal for that deck is pretty good, especially since Glen Elendra can eat one herself no problem.
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It would probably be easier to determine what your meta was like if we had a list, cause I have a hard time believing that these cards could underperformed in a weaker environment where value creatures carry so much more weight. (Weaker not as a slight, but in comparison to non-Modern only cubes, it's definitely a lower power level.)
/\ /\ /\ I also can't see any links to a cube in his sig. Maybe it's just us? It just says "Cubes:" with no content after it.
Oh, and Whirler Rogue doesn't need anything other than itself to be great. The thopters it produces are enough to trigger the ability (and with haste too!) and it's 4-power and 3 threats and evasion wrapped up into a card. It also leads to card advantage on defense, as it can trade away with multiple attackers, it can be blinked and bounced for value, it's absurd with a bunch of token support cards and other things that have synergy with it. Just tap a Thopter and the Sword something is carrying to make the sword-bearer unblockable for busted combat. No "work" required.
tl;dr - Whirler Rogue is better than the Sphinx. Both on its own and in decks where there's synergy.
Fake Edit: Also, Cloudgoat Ranger is a complete beast of a card.
It's pretty much what it says on the tin. I'm still in the process of powermaxing, though I tend to be skeptical of certain "staples," as this discussion has demonstrated.
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I see where you're coming from. I can definitely see cutting the more dependent cards (like Falcon and Elite), especially if there are comparable substitutes. I'm not of the mind to cut any of the Knights yet. I feel like the consensus which threw them out was blinded partly by the more justified discontent toward guys like Paladin en-Vec and/or the Samurais. A 2 mana Firststriker with protection from one of the prime removal/creature colors seems totally fine, IMHO. I'm also more bullish on color-intensive cards in general. Thank you, though. I'll continue to challenge my own biases.
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I would run all the cards listed by wtwlf before even think about Conundrum Sphinx. And I would personally classified Tradewind Rider also ahead of it. Very sweet, old school and powerful card.
Is the Archmage better or just (drastically) different? I would strongly argue the latter, particularly since it's awful as a beater/threat and requires constant U available. It also fits into fewer archetypes (basically a control-exclusive). It's certainly playable, but hard to argue that it's better.
I guess I'm wrong, but it seems like you've never played with or against it to state something like that. Glen Elendra Archmage is so annoying to play against. Yes it's not the best body ever, but it comes with two uncouterable Negate with it. I would say that facing this is sometimes really backbreaking. It's definitely a great control card, because it survive your wraths add let you properly decide when you want to use its ability, but it's also a good midrange and combo card. Fitting into 3 archetypes is just awesome. It also let you activate any dead trigger, something that is rare and that become more and more needed in actual cube environment. Good sword carrier too. Not close to being on the chump block for me.
4/4 Flyer for 4, with a negligible "drawback". Plays well with top deck manipulation and cards like Courser or Oracle. Passes the bolt test, can slot into multiple archetypes, and matches up nicely against other four-drops in its color.
So why does no one play it?
Currently, I'm running him in my Modern Banlist Cube to great results. Newer members of my playgroups are often pleasantly surprised by him.
Are we missing something? Are YOU GUYS missing out?
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This is the point of contention. The blue 4cc creature slot is filled with nothing but amazing stuff, and I don't think this creature comes close to any of them.
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The Sphinx has been fine, its mostly been good because of the high density of topdeck manipulation I run. Probs not as blatantly good as Sower or Venser, but the clones haven't been amazing in my meta because of how much low curve aggro runs rampant. I don't run cards like Glen Elendra Archmage that are geared to control mirrors. I'm also running a very unpowered environment without support for artifacts as a theme which rounds off some options like Whirler Rogue. Sphinx becomes the next best thing pretty quickly.
Sphinx has the potential to draws cards consistently alongside Sensei's Divining Top, Sylvan Library, Crystal Ball, etc. 4/4 flyer for 4 is just a fine average case scenario, and the downside of the opponent drawing cards is going to be rare if you were grabbing those cards enough. It probably isn't for every cube and maybe I'll replace it eventually, but definitely run it if it works in your environment.
I'd love to see the cards you consider better. That's not meant in a "Screw you. Come at me, bro" way, either. I'm honestly curious.
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Glen Elendra Archmage, Venser, Shaper Savant, Sower of Temptation and Whirler Rogue are all better. Not just a little bit better, but like leagues better. Not to mention Phyrexian Metamorph if you slot it there.
And the next wave of "on deck" 4-drops in blue, like Dungeon Geists, Clever Impersonator and Master of Waves are all better too, and they're not even in the cube anymore.
And then there's a 3rd tier with things like Talrand, Sky Summoner and the next-level clones (Sakashima's Student, etc) ...and those cards are probably better too.
And if what you want is a tempo curve-topper for bashing face, try out Serendib Djinn in that slot.
So I'd say that the competition is far, FAR too steep for the Sphinx. Sphinx is a good card, but all the other options are great cards.
And how many blue 4-drops do you need? Somewhere in the 3-5 range, even for bigger cubes? There's simply no room.
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Whirler is meta-dependent. (Nothing wrong with that per se, but I definitely feel it's harder to support it in my Modern cube than in a good with more random artifacts laying about, such as a generic goodstuff format.)
I'm not sold on Venser, but I may reconsider. (I'm generally a much tougher judge of bounce cards than most.)
I run the other two, and I'll even allow that they generally better (despite their more fragile bodies).
Is the Archmage better or just (drastically) different? I would strongly argue the latter, particularly since it's awful as a beater/threat and requires constant U available. It also fits into fewer archetypes (basically a control-exclusive). It's certainly playable, but hard to argue that it's better.
Student's great, but more because of its ability to do a solid Phantasmal Image impersonation. In general, the current consensus is that most Clone-variants suck. The exceptions are those that are markedly unique in some way, such as being undercosted and/or being able to copy other types of permanents than creatures.
And Talrand? Isn't the consensus generally that he's bad? (Even if he may have been/seemed good at release.) Currently, we've got plenty of options for this type effect. Young Pyromancer comes in at half the cost, making it better for tempo (rather than the slower, more controlling shell that Talrand needs). And, of course, the recent Mentor of the Mentor practically obsoletes both the Sky Summoner and the Pyromancer, frankly. I'm just not seeing how Talrand is good in cube overall, let alone better than Conundrum.
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I wasn't aware of that consensus, but I'm kind of a sucker for clone effects. Any Clone+ will at least get a temporary spot in my cube. So I may be a little biased there, but Student has done some real work in my group.
Talrand hasn't been great for us but it's still a solid card and generally does more for your board than a near-vanilla 4/4 flyer would. I'd rather have a little more support for spells matter than a near-vanilla flyer in the 4 slot.
I'm not as hot on random token generators as others. (I don't run Cloudgoat Ranger, for example.) Perhaps Rogue is worth reconsidering, but I really don't like the idea of running it in a deck where it's activated ability won't be relevant (or will require the tokens be tapped).
Outside of a control shell, a small (but persistent) flier with a Negate ability doesn't seem super useful. If I'm playing midrange, it's just okay. If I'm playing aggro, it's awful. If I'm playing tempo, it's too expensive (or an awkward top-ender at best). If I'm playing one of the various combo-esq goodstuff/coolthings decks that often pop up in cube, this is just roleplayer at best. Again, I'm not saying it's bad; I just don't see how it's objectively better in a vacuum.
I'm officially proposing we retire the word "insane" from the MtG vocabulary.
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And if you don't think Glen Elendra is useful outside of a control deck, you should probably play with it first. Glen Elendra is a pretty nutty card, and definitely doesn't need to stick to a control shell. It turns out that tempo builds like keeping their creatures alive, and blanking most of the removal for that deck is pretty good, especially since Glen Elendra can eat one herself no problem.
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It would probably be easier to determine what your meta was like if we had a list, cause I have a hard time believing that these cards could underperformed in a weaker environment where value creatures carry so much more weight. (Weaker not as a slight, but in comparison to non-Modern only cubes, it's definitely a lower power level.)
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I'm officially proposing we retire the word "insane" from the MtG vocabulary.
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Cubes:
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Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
Oh, and Whirler Rogue doesn't need anything other than itself to be great. The thopters it produces are enough to trigger the ability (and with haste too!) and it's 4-power and 3 threats and evasion wrapped up into a card. It also leads to card advantage on defense, as it can trade away with multiple attackers, it can be blinked and bounced for value, it's absurd with a bunch of token support cards and other things that have synergy with it. Just tap a Thopter and the Sword something is carrying to make the sword-bearer unblockable for busted combat. No "work" required.
tl;dr - Whirler Rogue is better than the Sphinx. Both on its own and in decks where there's synergy.
Fake Edit: Also, Cloudgoat Ranger is a complete beast of a card.
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My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
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It's pretty much what it says on the tin. I'm still in the process of powermaxing, though I tend to be skeptical of certain "staples," as this discussion has demonstrated.
I'm officially proposing we retire the word "insane" from the MtG vocabulary.
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Cubes:
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I see where you're coming from. I can definitely see cutting the more dependent cards (like Falcon and Elite), especially if there are comparable substitutes. I'm not of the mind to cut any of the Knights yet. I feel like the consensus which threw them out was blinded partly by the more justified discontent toward guys like Paladin en-Vec and/or the Samurais. A 2 mana Firststriker with protection from one of the prime removal/creature colors seems totally fine, IMHO. I'm also more bullish on color-intensive cards in general. Thank you, though. I'll continue to challenge my own biases.
I'm officially proposing we retire the word "insane" from the MtG vocabulary.
"The best way to be different is to be better" - Gene Muir
Cubes:
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Monocolor Budget Cube
I guess I'm wrong, but it seems like you've never played with or against it to state something like that. Glen Elendra Archmage is so annoying to play against. Yes it's not the best body ever, but it comes with two uncouterable Negate with it. I would say that facing this is sometimes really backbreaking. It's definitely a great control card, because it survive your wraths add let you properly decide when you want to use its ability, but it's also a good midrange and combo card. Fitting into 3 archetypes is just awesome. It also let you activate any dead trigger, something that is rare and that become more and more needed in actual cube environment. Good sword carrier too. Not close to being on the chump block for me.
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