In need of some help: Sphinx Tribal(?)
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on Aug. 4, 2023, 8:54 a.m. by Rprm
Sphinx Memes
Commander / EDH
44 VIEWS
So I had the idea of not just upgrading a precon this time.
I wanted something... odd. Nah this is the only odd joke, I promise.
So I didn't want to just do a popular deck and something that could have some surprise interactions, queue Yennett.
The idea to do a tribal sphinx deck was born! It's a weird tribe and I noticed why there weren't many tribal sphinx decks. They really need some help from outside of the tribe and don't interact too well.
Themes I came up with, as did many before me, were copies, free casts, some stealing and top-deck control. But I feel everything together won't be possible outside of a janky-ish deck.
I'm not sure which direction to go from here, I don't want to rely on drawing specific cards, but I feel like this deck is missing some protection, counter and interaction, probably mill, revival, real finishers.
If it works out when the stars align, I can imagine it to be a fun deck, but in this state, most of the time it probably won't be fun for anyone at the table.
I only tried it in Forge, or drew some hands, so I have no idea how it would play out. I'd rather not order cards I won't have any use for in the end.
But there's just so many bad draws, at times there's too much mana reduction, then again there's too many big asses clogging my hand, all while the deck seems to be a tad slow.
I'm thinking a cheaper deck with lots of counters, Yennett removal, or just some Goblin zerg will have it far too easy against this deck, while there's nothing I could do about it.
I don't want to change it up completely if it can be helped, but change is what it needs. To me it's feeling very tame considering the price range?
What I'm looking for is a direction in general playstyle for this deck and maybe some cuts for cards that won't make sense in such a deck anytime soon.
Sorry for the ramblings.
Oh I totally would love some more flavour for the deck! I wouldn't even mind if it's a coin flip like Fact or Fiction (bummer it's not odd lol), but I feel I'd have to integrate more graveyard play with this card. I mean the cloning still fits sphinxes somewhat, because as guardians they mostly appeared in pairs. But what I'm getting from you is that I should look for more flavourful cards and then maybe go back to what I have already and see what I keep for the flavourful version?
August 4, 2023 3 p.m.
FormOverFunction says... #4
I always start by making a list of cards that fit the theme, and then inside of that restrictive list I try to make something that sort of works lol. I really enjoy that challenge of forcing something semi-functional out of what ends up being almost completely random set of cards.
FormOverFunction says... #2
As a player with a stupid fixation on flavor I would start by making a list of things about sphinxes: riddles, eagles, lions, ladies, mystery, eating people, treachery, etc. (for the Greek version, that is, as the Egyptian is basically the opposite). With those topics (and whatever else you come up with, like shooting eye beams at Atreyu lol) in mind just scroll through the odd-cost cmc spells that have some sort of connection to them. Most of it will be sort of a mishmash, but you’ll likely end up with some pleasant surprises!
August 4, 2023 11:27 a.m.