So, this is my take on a Sphinx horde deck.
For those that don't know what a Horde deck/game is, I'll refer you to this link: http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Horde_Magic
Suffice it to say it's a multiplayer EDH variant where normal EDH decks play against a "godlike" horde deck that is (sort of) without a pilot.
The "Tokens" of this deck are the
Serra Sphinx
s, but that's not the real tokens. I used MTG cardsmith to make custom sphinx tokens. The real tokens of this deck are 2/4 artifact Sphinx's with vigilance. They also have Esper (W/U/B) color identities.
The way I like to play (and how this deck is designed) breaks a few of the rules. For instance, not every decision the Horde makes is random. This one just uses general judgement. For instance, if a spell played by a survivor (The name of the people fighting the Horde) tells the horde to sacrifice a creature, the horde (or me, or the "pilot") will sacrifice a creature at random. However, if an effect like
Harsh Mercy
tells me to pick a creature type, the horde picks the logical answer, Sphinxes. It's a judgement call, but it's not normally that hard. Also, if the horde gets a scry effect (
Prognostic Sphinx
), that scry is done to the best interest of the horde (which is basically moving the nontoken things to come after the tokens, so as to have more productive turns).
There are some creature/Horde specific rules, which I will go over:
This is a 90 card deck, therefore having 90 health, with 2:1 token to nontoken ratio. The reason for the low card count is because of the powerful tokens, and the large ratio of power nontoken creatures.
Serra Sphinx
is a placeholder for the deck's token, which are custom cards I made on mtgcardsmith. The tokens in this deck are: 2/4 Artifact Creature - Sphinx with vigilance as an ability.
The tokens and everything with vigilance block sort-of strategically. Let the little guys through if there are bigger fish to fry, chump if it's worth it, try to kill two-toughness creatures, etc. Or you can have the block randomly, if you want the Horde to be a bit easier.
Chancellor of the Spires The first (mill) ability is triggered if it is revealed as the nontoken card on the Horde's first turn. The ETB ability triggers and cast the instant or sorcery card with the highest CMC out of all the opponent's graveyards. If there is a tie, the card is picked randomly. This ability will not target cards that not relevant to the Horde, such as land-finding spells.
Consecrated Sphinx works as you would expect. The only difference is cards drawn by the horde are played on the horde's next precombat main phase. The Horde must draw these cards, and therefore can kill itself with this effect.
Enigma Sphinx
Cascade finds the next cmc-appropriate non-token card.
Isperia the Inscrutable
The player is picked at random, then either the horde pilot or another player gives their best guess as to a card in their hand. If a card was bounced and is known to be in the hand, the card is guessed. Basically try your best to get this one, it's not "random card". If the guessed card is revealed, play a random nontoken sphinx from the library.
Magister Sphinx The actual effect of this card would be overpowered if left along, therefore it instead causes the survivors to lose half of their life-total, or if the Survivor's life was below 10 at the start of this ability, the survivors life total becomes 10. This effect cannot target the horde. (An enemy Magister Sphinx can still mill the horde to 10 though)
Master of Predicaments This one is a bit weird. The effect is fun, but for Horde I decided to change the "hand" part to selecting a random non-token sphinx from the library. Also, this effect is not very good because of the high CMC average of this deck, so I normally change the 4 to a 6, but that's just preference.
Prognostic Sphinx
Scry works as described above. The horde, if it has a token in hand, will discard to token if doing so will save Prognostic Sphinx from any targeted effect, even if the effect is positive. (So, the horde discards to give hexproof if the survivors use a Lightning Bolt, Giant Growth, or a
Serene Master
)
Sphinx Ambassador Search for a powerful card. This effect isn't random, because the Horde doesn't want a land or a mana elf, so just choose a powerful card. Can be the best card in their deck, or a mediocre, but it should be beneficial.
Sphinx of Lost Truths
Because the horde has infinite mana, the kicker cost is always paid.
sphinx of the magosi Play the ability each turn according to this formula: (Turns taken by horde)/2 rounded down = number of times the ability is played during the precombat main phase. Cards drawn are played on the horde's next precombat main phase.
Sphinx Summoner Randomly grab one of the five other artifact sphinxes. The list:
Sphinx of the Steel Wind
Sharding Sphinx Magister Sphinx
Enigma Sphinx
Sphinx Sovereign
Windreader Sphinx the Horde always draws a card. For everything, including flying creatures opponents control. So again, this effect can makee the horde kill itself. Also, I should add that the way I play the horde has no maximum hand size, but that's preference.
So, that's my sphinx horde deck, hope you guys think it is interesting.
