Sphinxes

Goliath Sphinx card art

I conclude tribal month by looking at Sphinxes (is that the plural?).

Introduction
Sphinxes first appeared in Legends (1994); 75 unique ones have been printed to date. Though the first was white, they are almost always mono-blue or multi-colored:
- mono-white (1 card)
- mono-blue (53 cards)

- multi-colored (20 cards)

- colorless (1 card)

Probably due to high mana value, Sphinx cards have never been heavily featured in any one set; the Zendikar and Amonkhet blocks had the most, with four each. I don't know of a sphinx tribal deck (in 60-card formats). But these beasts can shake things up once they come out late in the game.

Staple/Sample Cards
Sphinxes generally care about cards: scrying/drawing cards (for you) or milling cards (for your opponent). They can also lock down opponents' creatures or spells. Mono-blue examples below (multi-colored will get their day in the Commander section).

Deck Ideas

For Commander, there are several great options for Sphinx commanders, almost all of them as WU or WUB-colored. For the latter, Sphinx of the Steel Wind would be an obvious "include."

For casual (or other 60-card formats), the only sphinxes I recall seeing heavy play are Raffine, Scheming Seer and Dream Trawler. The former is great for sifting through your library; the latter, for card draw.

Sphinxes may not come out early, but when they do, they can knock the wind out of your opponent . . . dare I say, asphinxiating them?