Sphinx Riddles for D&D, Dragon's Dogma, and Assassin's Creed

Download Article

Test your wits against a Sphinx with these tricky questions

Co-authored by Hunter Rising

Last Updated: May 12, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

• Sphinx Riddle from Myth
|
• D&D Sphinx Riddles
|
• Dragon’s Dogma 2 Sphinx Riddles
|
• Assassin’s Creed Sphinx Riddles
|
• Video

|Show more |Show less

What has the body of a lion, the wings of an eagle, and the head of a man? Sphinxes are mythological creatures known for telling challenging riddles to trick other people, and they’re a perfect addition to D&D campaigns to puzzle your players. Keep reading, and we’ll cover the original sphinx riddle as well as easy and hard riddles for D&D. Sphinxes also appear in many video game, so we’ll also cover solving their riddles from Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey!

Example Riddles of the Sphinx

• Q: What goes on 4 feet in the morning, 2 feet at midday, and 3 feet in the evening? A: Human *Q: There are 2 sisters: one gives birth to the other and she, in turn, gives birth to the first. Who are the sisters? A: Day and night
• Q: I am part of a bird that is not in the sky; I swim in the ocean but always stay dry. A: A shadow
• Q: My seas are dry, my coast has no sand. My towns have no people and my mountains no land. A: A map
• Q: When they meet, you see nothing. When they’re apart, you can see everything. A: Eyelids
• Q: Thirty white horses on a red hill. First they champ, then they stamp, and then they stand still. A: Teeth

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

The Sphinx Riddle in Mythology

Download Article

1. 
   In Greek mythology, the Sphinx sat on the walls of Thebes and challenged passers-by to answer a riddle, or be eaten. While many others failed, Oedipus guessed the correct answer to defeat the Sphinx and became the new King of Thebes.

   • Question: What goes on 4 feet in the morning, 2 feet at midday, and 3 feet in the evening?
     • Answer: Human
     • Explanation: Morning, day, and evening represent a person’s life. At the start of their life, a baby crawls on hands and legs (4 feet). When they’re an adult, they stand on 2 feet. As they get even older, they use a cane to walk (3 feet).
Advertisement

Section 2 of 4:

Sphinx Riddles for Dungeons & Dragons

Download Article

1. 
   Challenge your PCs with sphinx riddles during your campaign. If you want to include a sphinx in your Dungeons & Dragons campaign, test your players with a battle of wits instead of going into combat. Make sure the riddles are difficult so the players have to think about the answers, but easy enough where they won’t get stuck.

   • Question: There are 2 sisters: one gives birth to the other and she, in turn, gives birth to the first. Who are the sisters?
     • Answer: Day and night
     • In some versions of the Greek myth, the Sphinx asks this riddle after the first one.
   • Question: Once it is spoken, it is immediately broken. What is it?
     • Answer: Silence
   • Question: I am part of a bird that is not in the sky; I swim in the ocean but always stay dry. What am I?
     • Answer: A shadow
   • Question: Even though it belongs to you, your friends and enemies use it more. What is it?
     • Answer: Your name
   • Question: When they meet, you see nothing. When they’re apart, you can see everything.
     • Answer: Eyelids
   • Question: I’m the beginning of the end, the root of evil, and the end of life. I am at the origin of eternity, yet still appear when time is finished.
     • Answer: The letter E
   • Question: A city of stone where no one lives, yet many visit every day. You’ll come by to see old friends, eventually for a place to stay.
     • Answer: A graveyard
   • Question: A white box without clasp, hinge, or lid; inside, a golden treasure is hid.
     • Answer: An egg
   • Question: Feed me more, and I will live. Give me a drink, and surely I will die. What am I?
     • Answer: Fire
   • Question: Lighter than a feather, but no one can hold it for long. What is it?
     • Answer: Your breath
   • Question: When you look, you can always see me, but you can never touch me. Walk toward me and I stay the same distance away. What am I?
     • Answer: The horizon
   • Question: My seas are dry, my coast has no sand. My towns have no people and my mountains no land. What am I?
     • Answer: A map
   • Question: Thirty white horses on a red hill. First they champ, then they stamp, and then they stand still.
     • Answer: Teeth
   • Question: I lie behind stars and under hills, empty holes are what I fill. I can’t be seen, can’t be felt, can’t be heard, can’t be smelt. What am I?
     • Answer: Darkness
   • Question: It is greater than the gods and worse than the devils. Poor people have it and rich people need it. If you eat it, you will die.
     • Answer: Nothing
   • Question: The one who made it sold it. The one who bought it doesn’t need it. The one who needs it doesn’t know it. What is it?
     • Answer: A coffin
   • Question: I can be thrown out, but not locked away; I cannot exist with extremes in play. If you lose me, you’ll surely fall. What am I?
     • Answer: Balance
   • Question: My leaves do not grow, they are bound. I contain worlds, but have no ground.
     • Answer: A book
   • Question: My sides are firmly laced about, yet nothing is within. When I’m struck, I make a boom, from a head just made of skin.
     • Answer: A drum
   • Question: Looks like water, but it’s heat, sits on sand and concrete. People follow it everywhere, but when they come closer, I disappear.
     • Answer: A mirage

Section 3 of 4:

Dragon’s Dogma 2 Sphinx Riddles & Solutions

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Riddle of Eyes Our eyes are our allies, yet oft they betray, for eyes tell lies, so I advise, and thence do lead astray. Yet how will your eyes advise you? Venture through yonder door, and retrieve that which is of greatest value.

   • Solution: Go downstairs to the door the Sphinx directs you to. When you enter the room, turn around and look for the chest above the doorway. Take the Sealing Phial from the chest and deliver it to the Sphinx.
   • Reward: 1 Wakestone
2. 
   2
   Riddle of Madness Love is as twin to madness, they say. They are bound fast, as night is to day. So bring forth your most beloved to me, that I might gauge the depth of your insanity.

   • Solution: Carry your main pawn or an NPC that you have a high affinity with to the Sphinx and place them on the pedestal.
     • You can tell if you have a high affinity with an NPC is they start blushing when you interact with them.
   • Reward: 1 Portcrystal
3. 
   3
   Riddle of Wisdom The parent knows the child, yet the reverse is far from true. The child knows not the parent; such is the parent’s due. I am a lost child, for kinship do I yearn. So bring to me my parent, that I may learn.

   • Solution: Go to a Grand Riftstone or Riftstone of Fellowship, and recruit a pawn named “SphinxParent,” “SphinxMother,” or “SphinxFather” that’s made by CAPCOM. Carry the pawn back to Sphinx and set them on the pedestal.
   • Reward: 1,200 Rift Crystals
4. 
   4
   Riddle of Conviction Life is an enigma—a lender of mortal debt. Yet lighter pack makes fleeter foot and challenge nimbly met. So grant to me what you most prize, and hence elude your ponderous demise.

   • Solution: Give the Sphinx any item from your inventory. While it’s not required, pick a high-valued or rare item.
   • Reward: A duplicate of the item you gave
5. 
   5
   Riddle of Rumination You know of Seeker’s Tokens, I trust? Those keepsakes of a fondly remembered journey? Yet where was it that you found your first? Retrace your steps, if you can—you might make a new discovery.

   • Solution: Go to the area on the map where you picked up your first Seeker Token, and pick up the Finder’s Token. Bring the Finder’s Token back to the Sphinx within 7 in-game days.
     • Usually, you’ll pick up your first Seeker Token somewhere between the Borderwatch Outpost and Melve because it’s the path you take when you start the game.
   • Reward: 3 Ferrystones
6. 
   6
   Riddle of Reunion After you solve the first 5 riddles, the Sphinx flies to a different location on the map. Rather than having to solve an actual riddle, just find where the Sphinx went.

   • Solution: Locate the Sphinx at the Frontier Shrine.
     • Go to the Checkpoint Rest Town.
     • Follow the river west and go into the cave.
     • Climb the rocks on the right side of the cave to reach an upper platform.
     • Walk across the fallen tree and the wooden bridge.
     • Head south towards the large pillar blocking the way, and destroy the barrels.
     • Continue along the path past broken pillars until you reach the Sphinx.
     • Alternatively, climb onto the Sphinx and hold on while it’s flying to the new location.
   • Reward: 100,000 Gold
7. 
   7
   Riddle of Differentiation I seek this man. If men are so distinct, I’m sure you’ll find him in a trice.

   • Solution: Locate the unique NPC shown on screen, and carry them back to the Sphinx. There are 2 possible NPCs, and they have slight differences in their appearance.
     • Dante: Straight hair with a straight scar on the Vermund side of Checkpoint Rest Town
     • Vergil: Wavy hair with a jagged scar on the Battahl side of Checkpoint Rest Town
   • Reward: Whimsical Daydream weapon
8. 
   8
   Riddle of Contest Though ours is a battle of wits, tests of mettle are more to your strength. Bear this ring into battle, that I might gauge your true strength.

   • Solution: Defeat the enemy the Sphinx spawns while the Ring of Derision is equipped.
     • The Ring of Derision makes your attacks extremely weak, so try running around the opponent and grabbing them so they fall off the cliff’s edge.
   • Reward: Ring of Ambition - a ring that increases the amount of XP you earn for defeating enemies
9. 
   9
   Riddle of Futility Here I have an amphora destine for Ser Maurits in Bakbattahl. Deliver it to him, but beware, it’s rather fragile.

   • Solution: Bring the amphora jar to Ser Maurits in Bakbattahl, or leave the amphora and bring Ser Maurits to the Shrine.
     • The amphora immediately breaks when it’s hit by an enemy, which causes you to fail the questline. Because you can’t fast travel with the amphora, it’s easier to carry Ser Maurits to the Sphinx’s shrine.
   • Reward: Eternal Bond - a ring that increases your affinity or relationship with any NPC you give it to
10. 
    10
    Riddle of Recollection My memory fails me, you see. Remind me, and make it plain. Let yonder statues be your means. For every question aptly answered, bring one here before me.

    • Solution: Place the same number of statues on the pedestal as the number of riddles you’ve answered so far.
      • Because the Sphinx may ask the last 4 riddles in any order, the answer may vary between 5-9 statues.
    • Reward: Unmaking Arrow - an arrow that kills an enemy with one hit
      • After you finish the last riddle, use the Unmaking Arrow to fight and defeat the Sphinx
Advertisement

Section 4 of 4:

Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey Sphinx Riddles

Download Article

1. 
   Solve 3 of the Sphinx’s riddles to complete a questline. In order to complete the Gates of Atlantis questline in the game, you first need to get the Prize of the Sphinx by solving 3 of her riddles. However, there are 12 possible riddles that she may ask. Once she asks the riddles, touch the matching symbols on nearby pillars to confirm your answers.

   • Question: What can bring back the dead; make you cry, make you laugh, make you young; is born in an instant, yet lasts a lifetime?
     • Answer: Memories
     • Symbol: A head with a star inside it
   • Question: This thing all things devour: birds, beasts, trees, flowers; gnaws on iron, bites steel; grinds hard stones to meal.
     • Answer: Time
     • Symbol: An hourglass
   • Question: Never resting, never still; moving silently from hill to hill; it does not walk, run, or trot; all is cool where it is not.
     • Answer: The sun
     • Symbol: A sun
   • Question: What is always old and sometimes new; never sad, sometimes blue; never empty, but sometimes full; never pushes, always pulls?
     • Answer: The moon
     • Symbol: A circle with a crescent moon
   • Question: At night they come without being fetched, and by day they are lost without being stolen.
     • Answer: Stars
     • Symbol: 3 stars in a triangle pattern
   • Question: What can run, but never walks; has a mouth, but never talks; has a head, but never weeps; has a bed, but never sleeps?
     • Answer: A river
     • Symbol: 3 wavy horizontal lines
   • Question: What is large, yet never grows; has roots that cannot be seen; and is taller than trees?
     • Answer: A mountain
     • Symbol: A mountain peak
   • Question: Some try to hide, some try to cheat; but time will show, we always will meet. Try as might to guess my name; I promise you’ll know, when you I do claim.
     • Answer: Death
     • Symbol: A skull
   • Question: I’m alive, but without a breath; I’m cold in life as in death; I’m never thirsty, though I always drink.
     • Answer: A fish
     • Symbol: A fish
   • Question: In spring I am gay in handsome array; in summer more clothing I wear; when colder it grows, I fling off my clothes; and in winter quite naked appear.
     • Answer: A tree
     • Symbol: A tree
   • Question: I create my lair with earthen string, and dispatch my prey with a biting sting.
     • Answer: A spider
     • Symbol: A spider
   • Question: As small as your thumb, I am light in the air. You may hear me before you see me, but trust that I’m here.
     • Answer: A hummingbird
     • Symbol: A hummingbird

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Video

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!