Talk:Sphinx/@comment-33287020-20181104003255

I wonder if the Sphinx is supposed to be the alpha form of a Manticore. They share a lot of design similarities, and even have the same fireball ability. Sphinxes and Manticores are also very similar in mythology.

Maybe Miles and Kerry decided to name the alpha “Sphinx” instead of trying to come up with a noun or adjective to place in front of manticore to signify its alpha status that would also make sense? Alpha Beowolves makes sense because wolves have that structure irl. Queen Lancer makes sense similarly. Ursa Major is a play on the constellation. Giant nevermore speaks for itself.

Manticores are much harder because there’s no natural order to pull from, no easy wordplays, and they can’t just call it “Big Manticore” because they already did that for nevermores. They couldn’t call it a King Manticore either because another Grimm already has King in its name, and they don’t like to repeat Grimm names if they can help it.(Calling the Sea Dragon a Sea Feilong specifically because there was already a Grimm Dragon for example)