Deck Name: Unesh-pected Sphinxes
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Format: Casual
Deck Type: Tribal-Control
Colors: Blue (Mono-U)
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Description

Unesh-pected Sphinxes is a mono-blue tribal-control deck built around the incredible synergy of Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign and a fleet of flying Sphinxes. Combining aerial dominance, clever clone interactions, and consistent card advantage, the deck excels at overwhelming opponents through resource superiority and inevitability.

The deck plays a hybrid role: defending with control tools while gaining incremental value from each Sphinx cast. With cloning spells like Spark Double and utility cards like Dig Through Time and Windreader Sphinx, you generate powerful momentum and drain your opponent’s options until you deliver the final blow.

This deck shines in both multiplayer and 1v1 casual formats, particularly against midrange and creature-heavy strategies. Whether protecting your board with Aetherize or unleashing a game-ending Cyclonic Rift, you’re always one riddle away from victory.
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How to Play

Early Game:
Ramp with mana rocks like Everflowing Chalice and Guardian Idol.
Use counterspells (Negate, Lofty Denial) to disrupt threats.
Filter your draws with Ponder and Serum Visions to find Unesh or bounce tools.

Mid-Game:
Play Unesh and begin generating massive value through his pseudo-Fact or Fiction ability.
Deploy Sphinxes or clone Unesh with Spark Double for double triggers.
Control the battlefield with bounce spells like Wash Out and Dig Through Time to find answers.

Late Game:
Dominate the air with high-impact threats like Sphinx of the Second Sun and Windreader Sphinx.
Lock out your opponent’s board with Cyclonic Rift or Flood of Tears.
Win through overwhelming flyers, recursive draw, and tempo advantage.
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How the Tribal Strategy Works

Sphinx Synergy:
Each Sphinx costs less due to Unesh and provides card selection when cast.
Cloning Unesh increases triggers, exponentially improving your hand quality.

Tempo + Control:
Efficient counterspells and bounce spells protect your board while slowing opponents.
Spot removal like Reality Shift and Rapid Hybridization deal with single threats cleanly.

Draw and Finish:
Cards like Dig Through Time, Future Sight, and Windreader Sphinx provide relentless value.
You close games with aerial power, unanswered draw engines, and well-timed board wipes.
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Sideboard Strategy

Against Aggro Decks:
Aetherize: Bounce wide boards and buy time.
Engulf the Shore: Reset creatures based on your land count.
Silent Arbiter: Restricts wide attacks and slows swarming decks.

Against Control/Blue Decks:
Mystical Dispute: Cheap counter against blue-heavy control.
Dispel: Protect your spells from interaction.
Narset, Parter of Veils: Disrupts opponents’ card draw and combo lines.

Against Graveyard/Combo Decks:
Relic of Progenitus: Removes graveyard advantage and recursion.
Ravenform: Versatile exile for creatures or artifacts.

Against Tokens or Problem Permanents:
Echoing Truth: Flexible bounce for all copies of any problematic permanent.
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Skill Level and Playability

Unesh-pected Sphinxes rewards players who enjoy clever plays, tempo control, and card advantage through sequencing. Knowing when to counter or bounce, and how to maximize Unesh triggers, will make or break each game.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Playstyle: Card advantage, tempo control, tribal synergy
Best For: Multiplayer or 1v1 Casual playgroups
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Quote:
"One Sphinx asks the question. The others already know the answer."

Last Update: 12/05/2025