Sphinx of the Second Sun

Creature — Sphinx

Flying

At the beginning of your postcombat main phase, you get an additional beginning phase after this phase. (The beginning phase includes the untap, upkeep and draw steps.)

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (50)

JoltsOfEnergy on How does Sphinx of the …

2 months ago

Hi, can anybody help me figure out exactly how Sphinx of the Second Sun works in general?

I find the wording on this card very confusing. First of all, does the second beginning phase this creature gives you come before or after your postcombat main phase? In other words, can you still cast cards at sorcery speed with the mana that you get from going through another untap step?

Secondly, I am really confused how this interacts with sagas. Sagas gain a lore counter "after your draw step". Since Sphinx of the Second Sun gives me another draw step, do my sagas also gain another lore counter?

I am really curious if this is a good addition to my saga deck, but I would need clear rulings on how this card works.

Thank you in advance.

ASalesman on Unesh, Ultimate Guide (Tribal)

3 months ago

One more Tweak

• Replaced Sphinx of the Second Sun with Phantasmal Image. Sphinx of the Second Sun is expensive mana-wise and this deck doesn't make great use of the text on Second Sun anyway. Phantasmal image is a cheap sphinx, and adds versatility to the early game by being able to copy an opponents creature.

AND WITH THAT Strong Unesh is finally at an average CMC of 3.0! This feels like a great turning point for the deck! I am sure there are ways to continue to improve, but this average CMC is nothing to scoff at.

ASalesman on Unesh, Ultimate Guide (Tribal)

4 months ago

BIG REVISION HERE

Here is all the big changes I've made to this list, and an explanation for each. Guide edits will come in a little bit!

• Replaced Burnished Hart with Mistwalker. Burnished Hart feels too slow, Mistwalker is a cheap sphinx that makes the deck go fast. Mistwalker is a nice addition because it benefits from the full 2 cmc reduction from Unesh. 1/3 and flying on Mistwalker makes it the best changeling when it comes to combat.
• Replaced Guardian of Tazeem with Aetherflux Reservoir. Aetherflux Reservoir is a new win condition in this deck. With all of the added changelings and ability to bounce changelings to your hand, it is easier than ever to play a lot of spells on your turn. In addition to being a 50 lifepoint cannon at instant speed, it is the only lifegain in the deck. It can make up for all the health you lost from Mana Crypt and Ancient Tomb. Guardian of Tazeem's effect is underwhelming most of the time. Having the other cheaper sphinxes there is still 20% sphinx, and are easier to play.
• Replaced Leyline of Anticipation with Narset's Reversal. Leyline's effect is honestly underwhelming at 4 CMC. It's great if it starts in your opening hand, but it is Force of Will fodder otherwise. Debatably it is worth for synergy with Sphinx of the Second Sun, but adding emergence zone (description below) gives you a cheaper Leyline effect at the cost of it only being one turn. One turn with the effect is all you need to win the game though, or to get very far ahead with Sphinx of the Second Sun. Narset's Reversal is a great card because it can be great in a counterspell war, but it can also be used to augment your other cards such as Frantic Search or High Tide or Ghostly Flicker. I love Narset's Reversal because it is great on it's own, but also sees some great synergy.
• Replaced Myriad Landscape with Emergence Zone. Myriad landscape is noticably too slow, similar to burnished hart. The utility from Emergence Zone can be outstanding. Emergence Zone is a more easily accessible Leyline of Anticipation essentially. It is less mana to use at the price of using it for only a turn. Presumably the turn that you would use it you would also win the game, so you don't need it more than once anyway.
• Replaced Treachery with Cloudstone Curio. Treachery is a clunky card that rarely resolves. If the mana doesn't untap after this card is played, it feels very bad. Cloudstone Curio is an engine in this deck. It really keeps the BFOF's coming. Playing this card with Universal Automaton on the field means you get to double all of your BFOF's that you play. Additionally, it works particualrly well with the newly added Aetherflux Reservoir.
• Replaced Long-Term Plans with Chain of Vapor. If you are playing the deck right you are seeing enough of your deck to get your game winning cards without using long term plans. Long term plans also scuffs one of your BFOF's because your opponent knows which card it is. Chain of vapor has many uses. As well as being spot removal, it can be used to protect Unesh, and to return other cheap sphinxes to your hand to be played again which grants additional synergy with the Aetherflux Reservoir win condition.
• Replaced Sphinx of Uthuun with Sakashima of a Thousand Faces. Sphinx of Uthuun is expensive for what it does. It will normally be chaper to play Sakashima, and it becomes a second Unesh which doubles all of your BFOFs rather than getting you an extra regular FOF. Having a second Unesh on the field also grants you protection from spot removal targetting only one Unesh.
• Replaced Riddlemaster Sphinx with Bloodline Pretender. Riddlemaster Sphinx's ETB isn't as good as the others (Enigma Thief and Dream Eater). Bouncing one creature isn't super great because your sphinxes already have combat superiority most of the time. It feels expensive for what it does, which means it is too slow. Another cheap sphinx in this slot speeds up the deck, and provides extra synergy with the other added cards.
• Replaced Island with Lotus Field. I want to try this out. I am skeptical that it is actually better than an Island, but we will see! Let me know what you think here.
• Replaced Island with Sea Gate Restoration  ^Flip. Becasue why not really? Worst case scenario, you pay 3 life to have it enter as an untapped island. Having it your hand later game can get you a lot of cards in a pinch.
• Replaced Imprisoned in the Moon with Gilded Drake. Gilded drake is 1 mana cheaper. It not only takes your opponents creature away from them, it also gives it to you, at the cost of them having a 3/3 flyer. In cEDH this trade is insanely good for you. Imprisoned in the moon can be removed to return the creature back to their side. Nothing happens when Gilded Drake dies. He can also be easily blocked by one of your sphinxes, which means it might be chip damage to a different opponent. To me Gilded Drake is a no brainer here.

Fog06 on "At the beginning of your upkeep" Tribal

4 months ago

Have you considered adding Sphinx of the Second Sun?

Jonny994 on Ā̶̐͂͛̕̕ Sͨ͌ͭ̏paceT̶͛̿̈́͆̈́ime Sͨ͌ͭ̏tory [Primer]

5 months ago

Yo Krugz! Thanks for your nice words, I appreciated.

About Paradox Haze I can tell you it works very well in this kind of deck, matter of facts I used to run it time ago, but it needs a turn before it can do something and if you draw it in late game it could be a dead card. In the end I cutted it for Clockspinning cause I prefer istant-speed time-counter removal. However, actually I am considering Sphinx of the Second Sun, similar but stronger, as an Ultimate to be played with Jhoira ability

forneyt on A Bridge to Heaven

7 months ago

Have you considered Paradox Haze or Sphinx of the Second Sun? Extra upkeeps means more Angels!

Hybrow on Volo's Pan and Harmonicon

9 months ago

I just recently added Lord of Change to mine.. 7 CMC, but get 2 flyng 6/6's and draw 6...

I would also trade out your sphinx for Sphinx of the Second Sun, if you get two you get to draw two and 2 untap steps.... You could cast instances on that first untap step, or if you have Selesnya Eulogist out, you can populate a bunch.

Love Volo, he has become my new favorite deck to play.. I might recommend some dry erase playing cards from amazon as well.. have found them handy for all the tokens. It also lets me draw fun little creatures when i play. :)

bushido_man96 on Spore Galore with Atraxa

10 months ago

I'm glad you liked it, agentrex. I do have Paradox Haze in my list. I'll have to consider Sphinx of the Second Sun. Thanks for taking a look, and I hope it inspires your deck!