Forum:Deck Guide/Sphinx (Rock)

Sphinx Guide
By BF2

The "Sphinx" monsters premiered in Pharaonic Guardian with "Guardian Sphinx", while "Criosphinx" and "Heiracosphinx" arrived shortly after. Later on, a Structure Deck built around defensive Rock-Type monsters was released, with "Exxod, Master of the Guard", a variation of "Exodia" that relied on "Sphinx" monsters. While the deck isn't as potent in a fast metagame, in a slower one it can be very powerful.

Ratings
Power: 7/10 They have decent stats for Tribute Monsters.

Consistency: 5/10 Tribute Summoning makes the deck lose consistency.

Speed: 4/10 By nature, the deck is slow and defensive.

Draw/Search Power: 0/10 Nonexistent.

Overall: 4/10 "Sphinx" decks will remain on the bottom of the metagame unless it dramatically slows down.

Monsters

 * Criosphinx: "Criosphinx" only has 1200 ATK although its 2400 DEF IS passable. Whenever a monster is returned to its owner's hand, they have to discard a card.
 * Exxod, Master of the Guard: "Exxod" has 4000 DEF but since you have to tribute a Tribute Monster to Special Summon him he's worse than he could be. His effect inflicts 1000 points of damage every time an EARTH monster is flipped face-up (supporting "Guardian Sphinx")
 * Guardian Sphinx: Currently the best "Sphinx" monster, "Guardian Sphinx" has a passable 2400 DEF and returns all monsters your opponent controls to their hand when it's Flip Summoned.
 * Heiracosphinx: "Heiracosphinx" has 2400 ATK, which falls just short of "the ATK score to beat (2500)". It protects your set monsters.

Monsters

 * Des Lacooda: Used in defensive Flip Effect builds.
 * Gigantes: Provides tribute fodder for "Sphinx" monsters.
 * Medusa Worm: Used in defensive Flip Effect builds.
 * Stone Statue of the Aztects: Used in defensive "Sphinx" builds.
 * Swarm of Locusts: Used in defensive Flip Effect builds.
 * Swarm of Scarabs: Used in defensive Flip Effect builds.

Spells

 * Canyon: Doubles all Battle Damage inflicted by Defense Position Rock-Type monsters.

Flip Effect Deck
A Flip Effect Deck has ample card removal, allowing you to destroy many cards, and draw power, but is vulnerable to cards such as "Heavy Storm" and "Mystical Space Typhoon".

Defensive Rock Deck
Defensive Rock Decks use "Sphinx" monsters and "Canyon" to deal massive damage when your opponent attacks them.