Didn't they just remake Akroma with the Devil/Divine set?
dgregory
★★☆☆☆ (2.4/5.0)(4 votes)
I still don't quite get why Esper needed a non-legendary, (minion reflector anyone?) artifact version of Akroma. Looks like master transmuter just got a new best friend...
Demonic_Angel13
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(6 votes)
Artifact sphinx Akroma, you need trample.
Cenelder
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(8 votes)
wow, not even a legandary card? 0 cast artifact + master transmuter = pain
Inkwell is better when your opponent has islands, otherwise, I would pick up this sphinx
MasterOfEtherium
★☆☆☆☆ (1.4/5.0)(9 votes)
Oh Baby I Love Sphinxs Plus The Artwork Is Great! Id Prefer Her A 7/7 But Hey No Biggie She Has Mother*** LifeLink
asmallcat
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I love the artwork and flavor text on this one. That thing looks like it would rip your face off as soon as look at you.
grundledib
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
It's an Esper Akroma!
Shame on you, Wizards!
Although I do like the attempt to make Akroma more viable for tournament play with Master Transmuter. 5th turn Akroma? Yes please.
TwistedNsanity
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Nothing in my Jund deck to stop this abomination :(
xStrikerx
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I added Bone Splinters to my Jund sideboard simply because of this card.
CrimsonFury82
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Akroma is still better. Giving the sphinx lifelink and protection from green doesn't doesn't make up for the loss of haste, trample and protection from black. Edit: Just realised it doesn't need protection from black to stop doom blade because it is a black creature.
Fictionarious
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(8 votes)
So that I may spare yours.
Balhaza
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Now, that vulgarity filter is just being silly... You guys know what I'm talking about. 2B, destroy target tapped creature.
Duriele
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(9 votes)
Dont you all realise... ive played against this card and it is uttmost annoying,
1. It is BLACK, so much for killing it with black.
2. as an artifact its protection from green and red make it immune to shatter/naturalise
3. let alone any dual colour card.. terminate? nope Maelstrom pulse? nope... you cant even burn it :(
i swear its more annoying than you think...
Donovan_Fabian
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Probably one of the best cards there is, but by the time you can play it will be almost pointless. An ultimatum at 7 mana is more likely to win you the game than the sphinx can at 8. Also, despite the sphinx's protection and being splash black, there are still several removals that can take her out, including a righteousness on a flyer, divine verdict, path to exile, oblivion ring, unmake, profane command, consume spirit, etc. Blue color players can also just opt to mind control it. Master transmuter can help with the high cost, but then having to be reliant on one card just to get out another is not always the best option, because neither one will function their best without the other. The issue with all cards of this nature is it has to have some sort of great protection like shroud or indestructibility, or it's a win more card. Played to late in the game when you have the disadvantage the build up or momentum that the opponent has reached is better stunted by playing multiple low cost cards, like removals and efficient creatures.
Oh and in case anyone hasn't noticed.. elvish piper is better than master transmuter, as it doesn't have to be artifact, and it doesn't have to bounce another artifact. Also, being in green, could potentially play elvish piper turn 2 -3, where as master transmuter will never be available until turn 5.
Daesik
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(8 votes)
Dropping these in with a Master Transmuter during your opponents attack phase when they're flying in with a Baneslayer Angel is priceless.
selamaleth
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
this is the best creature bomb in esper since you can repeatably rebounce it with the master transmuter forcng their spell to fizzle, it's immune to anything but white in standard, and can take on the biggest creatures in the game without fear, oh and Of course akroma's better she legendary, but i'll have 4 of these on the field thank you,akroma dies
ShredwayToHeaven
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
This card dies to Deathmark.
MrMetalMan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(4 votes)
WHY DID THEY PRINT THIS!?
GruesomeGoo
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(9 votes)
Cool, a blue artifical Akroma.
Gaussgoat
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(4 votes)
Between the artwork, flavor text, and awesomeness of the card itself, I am more than prepared to ignore the endless stream of "big deal, x card destroys it". No kidding. Every card in the game has an X card that can deal with it.
Awesome creature, 5/5
Ava_Adore
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I like it alot, they have tried to make it an artifact that cant be destroyed so easy,
but it means people will just pack cards especially for these kinds of cards,
still i give it 5/5 as it is the card i wanted the most out of the entire set
also they should change edh to alara dragon highlander, the amount of leaders that have come out are amazing
Kurhan
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(8 votes)
For all you "special" ones out there claiming this card isn't good because it can be taken out with path to exile, mind control, oblivion ring, unmake, deathmark, etc, etc...
Name a single card that is immune to all forms of removal. Oh wait, that's right. There isn't one.
At least this has pro green and red so that shatter and naturalize won't take it out.
Every single card has some way it can be taken out. If you think a card is bad because it is capable of not staying in play, then you had better fill your entire deck with lands because they can't be countered, have a limited number of ways of being destroyed, and they have mana abilities that can't be responded to.
For the rest of us, there are good cards out there. They may be a bit pricey, but they have their strengths, and just like any other card, they have their weaknesses.
thezanet
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
If this guys hits the table, ain't no way he is leaving until the game is over.
DonRoyale
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Lifelink = An ability you never combine with vigilance, let alone first strike.
Adding Flying and protection from the biggest colors in Standard?
The only reason I can see it not being uber-bomb in Standard is because its only real way of getting into play, Master Transmuter, dies to everything this doesn't. Still, you get this out, Jund players will cry/scoop. Probably both. It's just that unkillable.
StuartHamilton
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
As devastating as this robot is in standard, the real reason this card is amazing is in type 1. This guy is immune to Goblin Welder, is difficult to race, and is difficult to throw speed bumps at. (Because of flying) Thus, it makes an amazing Tinker target.
LTJZamboni
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(4 votes)
Couldn't they just have given this guy "Protection from Jund?"
Stray_Dog
★★☆☆☆ (2.3/5.0)(5 votes)
"Why should I spare YOURS?"
*Sphinx of the Steel Wind's head explodes*
I WIN.
Ezenthar
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(4 votes)
Lifelink is just amazing on this card, I mean, you're versing a Jund or Naya player and you can freely attack each turn, deal 6 damage and gain 6 life back. Then, when they attack it isn't tapped, so you block their heaviest green/red creature, neutralising all the damage and gaining another 6 life :D
Tezz
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(9 votes)
Protection from green is rare isnt it?
Colossus_of_Darkstee
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Oh man, love this card with heart and soul. play one in my transmuter deck. the other day, it died to a double exalted baneslayer and made me sad. i think thats the only time i've ever seen one die
@Saxophonist: Day of Judgment and Wrath of God both get rid of progenitus, as will Sadistic Sacrament once its in the deck.
Smithney
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Oh, great, the third Akroma, let's call it:
Akroma of the Steel Wind
Gilder_Bairn
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
Sphinx: "Why should I spare your life?" You: "I'm Pestilent Kathari. I'm a fying, first strike, deathtoucher." Sphinx: "Oh, okay. You may proceed." You: "Irresistible Prey." Sphinx: "Arrrgh..."
Johnald
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Fancy meeting you again, Akroma. You look a little different. Did you do something with your colors and abilities?
Tezzeret1
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
Awesome Tinker target. Its better than Akroma, Angel of Wraith because its non legendary, Lifelink can't be burned, can't be Doom Bladeed. Combo this with Akroma's Memorial, and laugh uncontrolably ;)
Enchantment_Removal
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(1 vote)
No one runs red artifact removal. However, there are dragons. This chick will rough 'em up. Can't be hurricaned. Your opponent only has four paths, run more than four good creatures in your deck. Your opponent has four O-rings. Run Esper Charm. You and your opponent are in a sanctioned standard tournament- spendmoremoney.
Kamishini
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@salemaleth I'm sorry, but against a Sphinx of the Steel Wind, Akroma still wings. Pro Black, what is Sphinx of the Steel Wind? Black. thus, Akroma wins. Just thought I'd point that out, though you can have more Sphinixs, Mirror Gallery fixs that. Oh and Solemn Offering.
Now, this card is ridiculously good, no denying that. vigilance and lifelink should never be on the same card, but it's fun. A 5/5 easily. And getting eight mana out isn't so hard with esper colors, as those are great control colors, duh.
Reflect-O-Burn
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(2 votes)
I love to counter these things... the one sure method to get rid of em'.
XD
tom_hero
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Evil reanimate target. Evil evil evil.
Laguz
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Akroma, Angel of Wrath is so much better than this thing that it isn't even funny and comparing the two is honestly kind of silly. Hmm, protection from black, haste and trample, or protection from green? If it takes longer than .0000001 seconds to see the unimaginable difference between the two, you need to go back to magic school.
Also, inkwell leviathan is a much better transmuter target based on shroud alone.
That doesn't mean that this isn't a great card though, in fact its absolutely amazing (and most importantly, standard-legal), but it still doesn't even begin to compare with Akroma. 4.5/5
Novox_Prayer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
When I got this card from the pack it went straight into my esper based artifact deck. I have yet to play it, but people I play know it's in the somewhere
Pandapwnium
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
This is a very resitant card. No black kill or red burn, and first stike + lifelink is amazing, but vigilance adds that nice free attack without worrying about red or green uber fatties
This is one of my favorite cards like ever. Clearly the best sphinx out their and has really cool flavor text. The only thing that gets it off the board generally is Path to Exile. If you bounce it master transmuter make sure it comes back quickly and if its sent to the graveyard there are tons of ways to bring artifacts back. Its so superior to Akroma and plus its not legendary.
Guest513736147
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(9 votes)
I hate MasterOfEtherium. That is all.
dragonking987
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
hey look it is a artifact akroma.
FouCapitan
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
For anyone thinking Progenitus is a good creature to trump this with, think a bit harder on it.
Progenitus is all colors, so Sphinx of the Steel Wind would have protection from it. With that, neither creature could block each other.
However, with lifelink the Sphinx is healing it's controller 6 life each unblocked attack. So with Progenitus and Spinx of the Steel Wind both out and trading unblocked blows, you'll have the Sphinx side doing 6 total damage each set of turns, but the Progenitus side only doing 4 total.
Now assuming that you aren't completely limited to just your respective bruisers in this match, Progenitus does have the advantage of not being able to be blocked by any cheap, damage mitigating fodder, so he has the advantage as long as he has a valid flying or reaching blocker to help limit the damage/lifelink. But toe to toe, I'd have to award victory to the Sphinx.
Blackworm_Bloodworm
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Esper's Baneslayer. Yeah, I can't see myself ever being able to beat that thing with my colors. Just have to hope I never run into someone who uses it.
midnightvenom
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Favorite creature from my favorite tribe.
Pipikako
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Amazing creature. It costs 8 mana ? Who cares, burry it alive and get it out via Ressurection or Zombify.
Kickass in white/black lifelink deck using "any mana" lands.
feeble2002
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Best of the best. Everyone has a favorite re-animator, and this makes a few lists. This could have been the next Akroma, it is that good (though Akroma Angel of Fury gives Akroma a bad name). As a matter of fact, this is everything Akroma SHOULD be.
Akroma Angel of Wrath, Hellkite Overlord, Iona, and Sphinx of the Steel Wind are all superb. This card is too great in the graveyard with goblin welder. A lotus petal traded for a 6/6 lifelink, vigilance, flying beastie, ohh, I shouldn't have. It's so good with welder, I feel guilty...
SuperSphinx
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Do you think 8CC is a bit daunting? Try Grand Arbiter Agustin IV to bring it down to size. ;D Or two... no one's judging. I also love how Isperia the Inscrutable will fetch this for you.
Aun
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I consider this better than Akroma:
1st: Not legendary.
2nd: Since it has flying and protection, it really does not need trample.
BlueRock
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
not just 8 mana, but spread across 3 colours. if you have an awesome deck that can cheat artifacts into play... then invest in a blightsteel colossus. if you can't cheat artifacts into play... well playing 3 colours is normally seen as disadvantageous because of early mana problems, and i don't think this guys worth it. a good card, definitely, but 3/5 for lack of practical application.
Shadoflaam
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
This is what Mythic should be: An insane, expensive, game-ending force that might not work in standard but nukes EDH and casual. Alara did everything right, why did they go and make Walletslayer Angel, Jace, the Wallet Ra.per, Tezzeret, Agent of MasterCard and Utility Cobra?
ROBRAM89
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
"Because I know the answer to your riddle."
Bass1987
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Just think the newest awesome black removal still cant touch it. Go For The Throat.
bijart_dauth
★★☆☆☆ (2.6/5.0)(4 votes)
yet another card you look at, say that its great, mabey even rate it high. But then you put it on the shelf and never use it. Right in the middle range of things too big to play normally and too small to be worth cheating for.
GrimjawxRULES
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(7 votes)
This dodges an impressive amount of removal. It's black, so Doomblade won't work. Go for the Throat? Sorry, it's an artifact. Naturalize? Not today. Burn? Nope. It even dodges Maelstrom Pulse!
EpicBroccoli
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Prot from green/red is relevant since this is an artifact. :3 <3
Answer: Because you're such a swell person! Er... Sphinx! =D
pro red/green, leaves W/U/B, Black is pretty much taken care of, large toughness, black, artifact Blue is usually temporary bounce. Just transmute it right back out. That just leaves white. And since this eats BS I dont mind.
Zoltantf
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
This mythic beauty looks good, beats face, and can be cheated into play with some simple combos. Tinker and master transmuter just off the top of my head. Look at all those abilities! She could have a cc of progenitus, and she would still be amazing. 6 abilities, one being a rare protection, on a 6/6 body for 8 mana. Totally worth it!
bassok
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Must have NAO....works well in prismatic, artifact decks and i run both...iz epic (yes i know about the spelling...i dont care :P)
DacenOctavio
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.7/5.0)(3 votes)
Absurdly worse than the one-shot robot.
JFM2796
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I was hoping to pick up one of these once Alara rotated.
@Balhaza VIGILANCE
Arachibutyrophobia
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
it's super-effective
NoobOfLore
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Screw off, BS angel.
Wolfman17
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
This card is the reason I run Celestial Purge in my Side Deck!
Also, I beat my friend by using Mind control on his Sphinx which he summoned on my 2nd Main Phase using Quicksilver Amulet ... his reaction was priceless
@CuriousThing This is an awesome card. However, if you're setting this against a mono white casual (semi or full) control deck it literally has NO chance of surviving. From mass destruction effects, white creature removals, disenchant (such a bummer if your sphinx goes down from just a disenchant...), plus, it dies from Akroma, Angel of Wrath you're falsely comparing it. You kind of underestimate the importance of haste. It's an awesome, awesome card nonetheless.
"Flying, first strike, vigilance, lifelink, protection from Shatter and from Naturalize."
Pick15
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
My playgroup has nicknamed this "Sphinx of the **** you" Aptly named, I'd say.
Majora_13
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ilovealara You can murder it too. :)
DoragonShinzui
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
All hail the mighty Mech-Akroma!
Demonic_Math_Tutor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's quite amusing that this guy dodges so much removal, but dies upon slipping on a banana peel and falling into an open grave (even though it has wings).
Phantasmagorian1
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This was my first mythic rare. It was shiny, too - pity I don't have it anymore. Anyway, this is a great card, but it's a little susceptible to black removal, so I think Akroma is a little better.
ESPRcon
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I really like this card. Its both cool and powerfull, but not overpowered. I think it was one of the first mythics i pulled in a pack. And as other has pointed out its harder to kill than you would think.
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The two protections are very flavorful, and will protect against a lot of artifact removal. Not to mention the poor Red Green decks that pretty much autolose because the lifelink vigilance unblockable makes it very hard to outrace.
Comments (84)
Shame on you, Wizards!
Although I do like the attempt to make Akroma more viable for tournament play with Master Transmuter. 5th turn Akroma? Yes please.
1. It is BLACK, so much for killing it with black.
2. as an artifact its protection from green and red make it immune to shatter/naturalise
3. let alone any dual colour card.. terminate? nope Maelstrom pulse? nope... you cant even burn it :(
i swear its more annoying than you think...
Oh and in case anyone hasn't noticed.. elvish piper is better than master transmuter, as it doesn't have to be artifact, and it doesn't have to bounce another artifact. Also, being in green, could potentially play elvish piper turn 2 -3, where as master transmuter will never be available until turn 5.
Awesome creature, 5/5
but it means people will just pack cards especially for these kinds of cards,
still i give it 5/5 as it is the card i wanted the most out of the entire set
also they should change edh to alara dragon highlander, the amount of leaders that have come out are amazing
Name a single card that is immune to all forms of removal. Oh wait, that's right. There isn't one.
At least this has pro green and red so that shatter and naturalize won't take it out.
Every single card has some way it can be taken out. If you think a card is bad because it is capable of not staying in play, then you had better fill your entire deck with lands because they can't be countered, have a limited number of ways of being destroyed, and they have mana abilities that can't be responded to.
Enjoy your Island, Mountain, Forest, Plains, and Swamp.
For the rest of us, there are good cards out there. They may be a bit pricey, but they have their strengths, and just like any other card, they have their weaknesses.
Adding Flying and protection from the biggest colors in Standard?
The only reason I can see it not being uber-bomb in Standard is because its only real way of getting into play, Master Transmuter, dies to everything this doesn't. Still, you get this out, Jund players will cry/scoop. Probably both. It's just that unkillable.
*Sphinx of the Steel Wind's head explodes*
I WIN.
THAT'S the answer to her riddle.
Also, Kurhan, I can think of one: Progenitus.
Akroma of the Steel Wind
You: "I'm Pestilent Kathari. I'm a fying, first strike, deathtoucher."
Sphinx: "Oh, okay. You may proceed."
You: "Irresistible Prey."
Sphinx: "Arrrgh..."
I'm sorry, but against a Sphinx of the Steel Wind, Akroma still wings. Pro Black, what is Sphinx of the Steel Wind? Black. thus, Akroma wins. Just thought I'd point that out, though you can have more Sphinixs, Mirror Gallery fixs that. Oh and Solemn Offering.
Now, this card is ridiculously good, no denying that. vigilance and lifelink should never be on the same card, but it's fun. A 5/5 easily. And getting eight mana out isn't so hard with esper colors, as those are great control colors, duh.
XD
Also, inkwell leviathan is a much better transmuter target based on shroud alone.
That doesn't mean that this isn't a great card though, in fact its absolutely amazing (and most importantly, standard-legal), but it still doesn't even begin to compare with Akroma. 4.5/5
5/5 P.S. Tinker ftw
Progenitus is all colors, so Sphinx of the Steel Wind would have protection from it. With that, neither creature could block each other.
However, with lifelink the Sphinx is healing it's controller 6 life each unblocked attack. So with Progenitus and Spinx of the Steel Wind both out and trading unblocked blows, you'll have the Sphinx side doing 6 total damage each set of turns, but the Progenitus side only doing 4 total.
Now assuming that you aren't completely limited to just your respective bruisers in this match, Progenitus does have the advantage of not being able to be blocked by any cheap, damage mitigating fodder, so he has the advantage as long as he has a valid flying or reaching blocker to help limit the damage/lifelink. But toe to toe, I'd have to award victory to the Sphinx.
Yeah, I can't see myself ever being able to beat that thing with my colors.
Just have to hope I never run into someone who uses it.
It costs 8 mana ? Who cares, burry it alive and get it out via Ressurection or Zombify.
Kickass in white/black lifelink deck using "any mana" lands.
Akroma Angel of Wrath, Hellkite Overlord, Iona, and Sphinx of the Steel Wind are all superb. This card is too great in the graveyard with goblin welder. A lotus petal traded for a 6/6 lifelink, vigilance, flying beastie, ohh, I shouldn't have. It's so good with welder, I feel guilty...
1st: Not legendary.
2nd: Since it has flying and protection, it really does not need trample.
Because you're such a swell person! Er... Sphinx! =D
pro red/green, leaves W/U/B,
Black is pretty much taken care of, large toughness, black, artifact
Blue is usually temporary bounce. Just transmute it right back out.
That just leaves white. And since this eats BS I dont mind.
@Balhaza VIGILANCE
Also, I beat my friend by using Mind control on his Sphinx which he summoned on my 2nd Main Phase using Quicksilver Amulet ... his reaction was priceless
White does artifact removal too. disenchant, orim's thunder, solemn offering, seed spark, ray of distortion, seal of cleansing.
This is an awesome card. However, if you're setting this against a mono white casual (semi or full) control deck it literally has NO chance of surviving. From mass destruction effects, white creature removals, disenchant (such a bummer if your sphinx goes down from just a disenchant...), plus, it dies from Akroma, Angel of Wrath you're falsely comparing it. You kind of underestimate the importance of haste.
It's an awesome, awesome card nonetheless.
4.5/5
You can't Doom Blade it.
You can't Terror it.
You can't Go for the Throat it.
You can't Naturalize it.
You usually can't Royal Assassin or Assassinate it.
You can't Beast Within it.
You can't Crushing Vines or Plummet it.
You can't Pyrohemia it.
You can't hit it with a Shivan Meteor, Meteor Storm, or Meteor Shower.
You can't send it Into the Maw of Hell
You can't Shatter it.
You can't Dismember it (Well you can, but not to death)
BUT:
You can Wrath of God or Day of Judgement it
You can Path to Exile it, Exile it, or Swords to Plowshares it.
You can Resounding Silence it.
You can Disenchant it.
You can Solemn Offering it.
You can Tragic Slip it.
Aptly named, I'd say.
You can murder it too. :)
And as other has pointed out its harder to kill than you would think.