Difference between revisions of "Sphinx"

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(Removed untrue statement that Andro and Teleia are dead draws without Pyramid of Light. Also elaborated on the strengths and weaknesses of the Sphinxes and on strategy. Also cleaned up grammar and style in the Great Sphinx section.)
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The first group consists of [[LIGHT]]-[[Attribute]], [[Beast]]-[[Type]] monsters. These are "[[Andro Sphinx]]", "[[Sphinx Teleia]]" and "[[Theinen the Great Sphinx]]". They were released in an [[Exclusive Pack|exclusive pack]] after the release of ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light]]''.  
 
The first group consists of [[LIGHT]]-[[Attribute]], [[Beast]]-[[Type]] monsters. These are "[[Andro Sphinx]]", "[[Sphinx Teleia]]" and "[[Theinen the Great Sphinx]]". They were released in an [[Exclusive Pack|exclusive pack]] after the release of ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light]]''.  
  
"[[Pyramid of Light]]" quickly Summons the former two at a [[cost]] of 500 [[Life Points]] each, creating strong beat-sticks for no tribute (they can't attack the turn they are summoned though). These monsters cannot be [[Special Summon]]ed from the [[Graveyard]], so you will need to stop them from getting [[destroy]]ed by your opponent's card effect (most preferably by using the effect of "[[Stardust Dragon]]"). Or, if they are destroyed, return them to your hand using "[[Monster Reincarnation]]".  
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"[[Pyramid of Light]]" allows Andro and Teleia to be Special Summoned at a [[cost]] of 500 [[Life Points]] each, creating strong beat-sticks for no tribute. While they can't attack the turn they are Summoned, they are strong enough to weather most attacks and survive until they can. Their effects allow them to inflict additional damage as well as that incurred by their sizeable ATK points. These monsters cannot be [[Special Summon]]ed from the [[Graveyard]], so you will need to stop them from getting [[destroy]]ed by your opponent's card effect (for instance by using the effect of "[[Stardust Dragon]]") or, if they are destroyed, return them to your hand using "[[Monster Reincarnation]]". You can also [[Normal Summon]] these two monsters, so Pyramid of Light is not essential.
  
The reliance that these monsters have on "Pyramid of Light" can also be a disadvantage for two reasons: they are [[Dead Draw]]s in case you don't get, and it can be easily destroyed, specially with cards like "[[Nobleman of Extermination]]", which  can remove all three copies from play at once. However, even if cards like "[[Jinzo]]" or "[[Royal Decree]]" [[negate]] "Pyramid of Light", "Andro Sphinx" and "Sphinx Teleia" can still be Special Summoned because they do so through their own effects.
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The reliance that these monsters have on "Pyramid of Light" can be a disadvantage: it can be easily destroyed, especially with cards like "[[Mystical Space Typhoon]]" or "[[Nobleman of Extermination]]", which  can remove all three copies from play at once. However, even if cards like "[[Jinzo]]" or "[[Royal Decree]]" [[negate]] "Pyramid of Light", "Andro Sphinx" and "Sphinx Teleia" can still be Special Summoned because they do so through their own effects.
  
"Theinen", the Triumph card, can be Summoned only by [[pay]]ing 500 Life Points when "Andro" and "Teleia" are removed from the [[field]] at the same time, making him a life saver in case your opponent destroys your monsters with [[Dark Hole]] or destroys the "[[Pyramid of Light]]" (which destroys both of them). One big problem with "Theinen" is that even with his one time boost, his attack is not enough to OTK the opponent (6500, 1500 points short). Also, he is one big [[Dead Draw]] in a Deck that already has problems with drawings.
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"Theinen", the Triumph card, can be Summoned only by [[pay]]ing 500 Life Points when "Andro" and "Teleia" are [[destroy]]ed at the same time, making him a useful backup if your opponent destroys your monsters with [[Dark Hole]] or destroys the "[[Pyramid of Light]]" should it be on the field. His effect allows his ATK to be boosted to by 3000 points during the turn he is Summoned. While this boosted attack is not enough to OTK the opponent, it is enough to either destroy most powerful monsters or wipe out most of the opponent's Life Points. He is, however, a [[Dead draw]], so cards that bring out Andro, Teleia and the Pyramid of Light are helpful.
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The effects of Andro and Teleia make them very powerful in offense. Not only do they have very high ATK points, but they inflict either half of a destroyed monster's DEF or ATK as additional damage. This is especially useful when they are used to destroy Defense-position monsters when no damage would normally be inflicted. Theinen's effect allows either an greatly improved offense or an impenetrable defense (if he is Summoned during your opponent's turn).  
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While the combined powers of Andro and Teleia are greater than that of Theinen - the two monsters are able to inflict much more damage together than Theinen can in most cases - Theinen is a useful tool to call upon should your opponent have an extremely high-powered monster (like "[[Malefic Rainbow Dragon]]") which the other Sphinxes cannot destroy. Theinen's boosted ATK is enough to destroy almost all monsters in the game, and as he can be Summoned from the Deck he does not have to be in the hand for you to use this option. This means it can be advisable to sacrifice the power of Andro and Teleia by destroying them yourself, either with Dark Hole or by destroying your own Pyramid of Light in order to bring out Theinen from the Deck.  
  
 
== Rocks ==
 
== Rocks ==

Revision as of 13:59, 5 August 2013

Sphinx
"Andro Sphinx" and "Sphinx Teleia".
Japanese
  • スフィンクス
  • Sufinkusu (romanized)
Sets
Anime appearances
Lists

"Sphinx" (スフィンクス Sufinkusu) is an archetype of cards consisting of Beast-Type and Rock-Type monsters. The Beast-Types were used by Anubis in Yu-Gi-Oh! the Movie: Pyramid of Light

Beasts

The first group consists of LIGHT-Attribute, Beast-Type monsters. These are "Andro Sphinx", "Sphinx Teleia" and "Theinen the Great Sphinx". They were released in an exclusive pack after the release of Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light.

"Pyramid of Light" allows Andro and Teleia to be Special Summoned at a cost of 500 Life Points each, creating strong beat-sticks for no tribute. While they can't attack the turn they are Summoned, they are strong enough to weather most attacks and survive until they can. Their effects allow them to inflict additional damage as well as that incurred by their sizeable ATK points. These monsters cannot be Special Summoned from the Graveyard, so you will need to stop them from getting destroyed by your opponent's card effect (for instance by using the effect of "Stardust Dragon") or, if they are destroyed, return them to your hand using "Monster Reincarnation". You can also Normal Summon these two monsters, so Pyramid of Light is not essential.

The reliance that these monsters have on "Pyramid of Light" can be a disadvantage: it can be easily destroyed, especially with cards like "Mystical Space Typhoon" or "Nobleman of Extermination", which can remove all three copies from play at once. However, even if cards like "Jinzo" or "Royal Decree" negate "Pyramid of Light", "Andro Sphinx" and "Sphinx Teleia" can still be Special Summoned because they do so through their own effects.

"Theinen", the Triumph card, can be Summoned only by paying 500 Life Points when "Andro" and "Teleia" are destroyed at the same time, making him a useful backup if your opponent destroys your monsters with Dark Hole or destroys the "Pyramid of Light" should it be on the field. His effect allows his ATK to be boosted to by 3000 points during the turn he is Summoned. While this boosted attack is not enough to OTK the opponent, it is enough to either destroy most powerful monsters or wipe out most of the opponent's Life Points. He is, however, a Dead draw, so cards that bring out Andro, Teleia and the Pyramid of Light are helpful.

The effects of Andro and Teleia make them very powerful in offense. Not only do they have very high ATK points, but they inflict either half of a destroyed monster's DEF or ATK as additional damage. This is especially useful when they are used to destroy Defense-position monsters when no damage would normally be inflicted. Theinen's effect allows either an greatly improved offense or an impenetrable defense (if he is Summoned during your opponent's turn).

While the combined powers of Andro and Teleia are greater than that of Theinen - the two monsters are able to inflict much more damage together than Theinen can in most cases - Theinen is a useful tool to call upon should your opponent have an extremely high-powered monster (like "Malefic Rainbow Dragon") which the other Sphinxes cannot destroy. Theinen's boosted ATK is enough to destroy almost all monsters in the game, and as he can be Summoned from the Deck he does not have to be in the hand for you to use this option. This means it can be advisable to sacrifice the power of Andro and Teleia by destroying them yourself, either with Dark Hole or by destroying your own Pyramid of Light in order to bring out Theinen from the Deck.

Rocks

The second group consists of EARTH-Attribute, Rock-Type monsters. These include "Hieracosphinx", "Criosphinx" and "Guardian Sphinx".

They mainly enhance Deck which use the "Once per turn, you can flip this card into face-down Defense Position" effect. Though it has to be Tribute Summoned, "Hieracosphinx" prevents your face-down monsters from being attacked. "Criosphinx" forces your opponent to discard card(s) from his/her hand after the same number of monster(s) on his/her side of the field return to his/her hand. Therefore "Criosphinx" and "Guardian Sphinx" form a combination which can prevent your opponent from viably Summoning anything.

"Exxod" is not a "Sphinx", but can only be Special Summoned by Tributing a "Sphinx". "Exxod"combined with "Hierarcosphinx" makes a lethal force; every time an earth monster is Flip Summoned, "Exxod" inflicts 1000 points of direct damage to your opponents Life Points. With "Hierarcosphinx" on the field, your face-down cards cannot be attacked. The cards except "Hieracosphinx" are especially vulnerable to "Gaap the Divine Soldier" and "Final Attack Orders".

Also, "Dark Simorgh" and "Light of Intervention" can kill the effects of "Guardian Sphinx" and "Exxod, Master of the Guard" because a player will be unable to Set their monsters face-down, therefore monsters cannot be Flip Summoned.

"Clear World" seems like a good addition to this Deck, since cards in this Deck have the effect of being flipped face down, and face down cards cannot be targeted by "Clear World". However, the effect of "Clear World" for EARTH attribute monsters destroys a face-up defense position monster you control during your Standby Phase. Your opponent can take advantage of this, and attack your face down monsters, even if they know they cannot destroy them, because "Clear World" will