Guardian Sphinx

 This monster appears in the artwork of Impact Flip and Ordeal of a Traveler.

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In addition, it would appear to have a more powerful version of Ordeal's effect; whereas Ordeal can return an attacking monster to the hand if the opponent does not call a card correctly, this card can return all of the opponent's monsters to the hand once per turn.

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This particular sphinx is based on the Great Sphinx of Giza in a more exaggerated and undamaged appearance.

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In keeping with its theme as a guardian, this card effectively protects you by eliminating, for the turn, any monsters your opponent might attack you with. In addition, its DEF are significantly higher than its ATK, further accentuating its bias towards defending itself or its player.

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This card is similar to Byser Shock.  Both cards are Level 5 Effect Monsters that return cards on the Field to the Hand when Summoned a certain way; they also made their TCG debut in the same Booster Pack (in this case, Pharaonic Guardian.)

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This card has a upgraded counterpart Pharonic Guardian Sphinx

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OCG Rulings

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While the effect of "Dark Simorgh" is active, your opponent cannot activate the effect of a card like "Guardian Sphinx" or "Stealth Bird" which switches the monster to face-down Defense Position. Also, if the effect of "Guardian Sphinx" is activated and an effect like "Call of the Haunted" is chained so that "Dark Simorgh" is Special Summoned from the Graveyard, then your opponent can no longer Set, so the effect of "Guardian Sphinx" is not applied and the monster is not switched to Defense Position.: While "Dark Simorgh" is on the field, how do you resolve the effect of "Guardian Sphinx" which makes it face-down?

The effect "Once per turn, you can change this card to face-down Defense Position." of cards like "Guardian Sphinx" or "Stealth Bird" can only be activated during your turn's Main Phase.: At what time can you activate the effect of cards like "Guardian Sphinx" which makes it face-down?

You can activate the "Once per turn, you can change this card to face-down Defense Position." effect of cards like "Guardian Sphinx" or "Stealth Bird" even if you cannot change the monster's Battle Position

Previously Official Rulings

Mentions in Other Rulings

Ancient Gear Castle: For “Ancient Gear Castle”, “Set” means to Set from the hand. It does not include using “Guardian Sphinx” to flip a monster face-down

Arsenal Summoner: You can add a card to your hand with "Guardian" in its name as long as it's not listed on "Arsenal Summoner", such as "Guardian Sphinx".

Criosphinx: If multiple monsters are sent to the hand simultaneously (such as with “Guardian Sphinx”), the effect of “Criosphinx” only activates once, so only 1 card is sent to the Graveyard.

Dramatic Rescue: You can activate "Dramatic Rescue" when an Amazoness on your side of the field is targeted But not when cards like "Guardian Sphinx" are used.

Final Attack Orders: While "Final Attack Orders" is active, you can change monsters like "Guardian Sphinx" to face-down Defense Position, and while they are face-down, "Final Attack Orders" has no effect on them.

Guard Penalty: You draw 1 card even if the selected monster is changed from face-up Attack Position to face-down Defense Position. If you select "Guardian Sphinx" you could use its effect to flip itself face-down and draw 1 card.

Return from the Different Dimension: If a monster Special Summoned by this card is flipped face-down before the End Phase, it will not be removed from play during the End Phase. This includes using a monster's effect to flip itself face-down, such as "Guardian Sphinx".

Shadow of Eyes: "Shadow of Eyes" can be activated when "Guardian Sphinx" is flipped face-down by its effect.