It's an enigma because it keeps coming back and you don't know why. Thus, it is an inexplicable occurrence, or an enigma.
Posted By:
Master_of_Evocation
(3/6/2010 4:00:28 PM)
Whilst I have only been playing casually myself, I do have one in my artifact deck that I rarely ever lose with. His cost gets drastically reduced if you have multiple Etherium Sculptors out, reaching a minimum of 3 mana to play if you manage to get 4 out (not to mention that on that alone it's possible to play it by turn 4). And of course, even if you get the reduced mana cost cascade is still based off its converted mana cost of 7.
Admittedly, it isn't as useful as a lot of other artifacts in the deck, and it will never be the first one I search for with a Sphinx Summoner, Fabricate or Tezzeret, but it's not entirely bad. Its big cascade lets you put more artifacts into play and increase your utility and power, and it's still a flier which makes it a decent thopter producer if you get a Sharding Sphinx out.
All in all, I'd say the 3.6 rating is about where it's at, but don't underestimate his cascade power when you combine him with those sculptors!
Posted By:
JaxsonBateman
(10/23/2009 12:52:56 PM)
there are better creatures for esper but still later in the game with esperzoa it can be....well u know
Posted By:
Iiory
(7/26/2009 3:58:58 AM)
This, along with the other cascade cards, is a MAJOR reason that they brought the "cast" terminology back in M10, as well as created the "battlefield." People confuse "play" (the equivalent of cast) with "put into play," which trigger at different times. "Play" denoted an ability that went on the STACK with the spell, like cascade, storm, or replicate. In contrast, "comes into play" will trigger no matter how the card got to the battlefield, be it casting or transmuting or reanimating or search-your-library-and-plop-on-the-battlefield effects.
Also, another reason exile effects are becoming more common. How are you supposed to beat this in draft without a Path to Exile or Celestial Purge?
And hey, why is it an enigma??? That makes so little sense.
Posted By:
Selez
(1/6/2010 9:40:44 PM)
I personally like this Sphinx better than some of the other more expensive ones in the Shards block. Its more practical and reliable to me to have a big sphinx that cascades for six,and is really hard to get rid of than the other more flashy abilities.
Posted By:
niallcmurray86
(7/7/2010 1:31:24 AM)
This
Enlisted Wurm
Deny Reality
Bloodbraid Elf
plus
Mirror of Fate
Relic of Progenitus
Add in a few ponders and such and you got yourself a really fun casual deck. (Also, the only deck I can get Mirror of Fate to somewhat work in...)
Posted By:
OmegaSerris
(7/7/2011 5:32:06 PM)
@krikkitwars
Even if cascade doesn't trigger with Master Transmuter, she can still be transmuted back to your hand. That's still synergy.
Posted By:
CuriousThing
(10/18/2011 5:41:23 PM)
@Selez: The enigma is why it's enigmatic.
Posted By:
Axelle
(2/4/2012 11:43:20 PM)
Expensive Cascade effects are, paradoxically, the most irregular, since you're bound to end up finding one of your mana dorks (Silver Myr, for example) instead of the game-ending combo piece.
Not exactly a bargain, although if you find your big fatty it's always fun.
Posted By:
Jannissary
(2/7/2012 2:48:49 PM)
cascade will not trigger if you use master transmuter's ability to bring this card into play
Posted By:
krikkitwars
(5/16/2009 3:48:03 PM)