Argent Sphinx
Creature — Sphinx
Flying
Metalcraft — 
: Exile this creature. Return it to the battlefield under your control at the beginning of the next end step. Activate only if you control three or more artifacts.
- CMC
- 4
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia
- Price
- —
- EDHREC rank
- #18584
Argent Sphinx gives you a repeatable, instant-speed phasing effect that protects itself for the cost of tapping your metalcraft fuel — the catch is you need three or more artifacts in play to turn it on. In Mairsil, the Pretender builds it pulls serious weight, but outside dedicated artifact shells it's too conditional to rely on.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Mairsil, the Pretender
Mairsil, the Pretender cages Argent Sphinx to borrow its activated ability, then phases itself out at instant speed whenever removal or exile effects come down — it's one of the cleanest self-protection tools Mairsil can cage, which explains the 22% inclusion rate.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Commander is where Argent Sphinx actually sees play, specifically in artifact-heavy decks that can reliably hit metalcraft and want a flying threat with built-in protection. In Legacy and Vintage it's legal but irrelevant — the format speed and power ceiling leave a conditional 4/3 flier with no immediate impact nowhere near competitive. Modern is the same story: the metalcraft requirement is achievable but the payoff doesn't compete with what artifact shells are already doing at four mana. Argent Sphinx is a Commander card through and through, and even there it earns its slot only in the right shell.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
unknown tier
Price data for Argent Sphinx isn't currently available, so check Scryfall or TCGPlayer for a live number. Given its narrow Commander role and limited competitive demand, it has historically been an inexpensive pickup — worth confirming before you trade for one.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.