Sphinx of Lost Truths — ruling 1

If you put a permanent with a kicker ability onto the battlefield without casting it, you can't kick it.

Sphinx of Lost Truths — ruling 2

If a spell's kicker cost was paid, the spell is "kicked."

Sphinx of Lost Truths — ruling 3

The kicker ability doesn't let you pay a kicker cost more than once.

Sphinx of Lost Truths — ruling 4

To determine a spell's total cost, start with the mana cost (or an alternative cost if another card's effect allows you to pay one instead), add any cost increases (such as kicker), then apply any cost reductions. The spell's mana value remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was.

Sphinx of Lost Truths — ruling 5

If you copy a kicked spell on the stack, the copy is also kicked. If the copied spell is a permanent spell, the token the copy of that spell becomes when it enters is also kicked.

Sphinx of Lost Truths — ruling 6

If a card or token enters as a copy of a permanent, the new permanent isn't kicked, even if the original was.

Sphinx of Lost Truths — ruling 7

Sphinx of Lost Truths behaves differently than other cards with kicker. Its "enters" ability always triggers, and it checks whether it *wasn't* kicked. The two possible results are as follows: -- When an unkicked Sphinx of Lost Truths enters, you draw three cards, then discard three cards. -- When a kicked Sphinx of Lost Truths enters, you draw three cards.

Sphinx of Lost Truths : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Sphinx of Lost Truths is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

Kicker (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell.) Flying When this creature enters, draw three cards. Then if it wasn't kicked, discard three cards.

How it works : Sphinx of Lost Truths

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1November 8, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
If you put a permanent with a kicker ability onto the battlefield without casting it, you can't kick it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2November 8, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
If a spell's kicker cost was paid, the spell is "kicked."
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3November 8, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
The kicker ability doesn't let you pay a kicker cost more than once.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4November 8, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
To determine a spell's total cost, start with the mana cost (or an alternative cost if another card's effect allows you to pay one instead), add any cost increases (such as kicker), then apply any cost reductions. The spell's mana value remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5November 8, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
If you copy a kicked spell on the stack, the copy is also kicked. If the copied spell is a permanent spell, the token the copy of that spell becomes when it enters is also kicked.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6November 8, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
If a card or token enters as a copy of a permanent, the new permanent isn't kicked, even if the original was.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7October 1, 2009· Wizards of the Coast
Sphinx of Lost Truths behaves differently than other cards with kicker. Its "enters" ability always triggers, and it checks whether it *wasn't* kicked. The two possible results are as follows: -- When an unkicked Sphinx of Lost Truths enters, you draw three cards, then discard three cards. -- When a kicked Sphinx of Lost Truths enters, you draw three cards.
No other card is named in this ruling.