Silverquill Influence Upgrade Guide: Powering Up Killian, Decisive Mentor
Silverquill Influence is one of the five Commander precons from Secrets of Strixhaven, and it delivers a uniquely political gameplan. Your commander, Killian, Decisive Mentor, turns every enchantment into a control tool: each one that enters taps and goads a creature, and every Aura-enchanted creature that attacks draws you a card. The result is a deck that weaponizes your opponents' boards against each other while you build an insurmountable advantage.
The precon is solid out of the box with over 25 enchantments and strong new cards like Scriv, the Obligator and Forum Filibuster. However, some slots are filler that can be swapped for cards that better synergize with Killian's aura-and-goad strategy. Below we break upgrades into three budget tiers, each with 10 cards to add and 10 to cut.
Budget Tier (~$25 total)
These affordable swaps dramatically improve the deck's consistency and power without breaking the bank. Focus on cheap, impactful auras and card draw engines.
Cards to Add:
- Ethereal Armor (~$0.50) - Grows massive with your enchantment count and grants first strike. A one-mana threat that turns any creature into a lethal attacker.
- Visions of Brutality (~$0.25) - A negative aura that punishes the enchanted creature's controller whenever it deals damage. Perfect politics with goad.
- Vampiric Link (~$0.50) - Attach to an opponent's creature to gain life every time it connects. Triggers Killian's card draw and keeps you alive.
- Minion's Return (~$0.50) - When the enchanted creature dies, you steal it. Put this on the biggest threat at the table and wait.
- Nurgle's Rot (~$1.00) - A cheap curse aura that recurs itself from the graveyard, giving you repeated enchantment-enters triggers for Killian.
- Dead Weight (~$0.25) - Cheap removal that doubles as an enchantment trigger for Killian's goad ability.
- Heliod's Pilgrim (~$0.25) - A 1/2 for three mana that tutors any Aura directly to your hand. Essential for finding your best pieces.
- Mesa Enchantress (~$1.50) - Draws a card whenever you cast an enchantment. Redundant draw alongside Killian.
- Hyena Umbra (~$0.50) - Cheap aura with totem armor that protects your key creatures from removal.
- Unquestioned Authority (~$1.00) - Grants protection from creatures and draws a card on entry. Excellent on Killian himself.
Cards to Cut: Secret Rendezvous, Transcendent Envoy, Firemane Commando, Starfield Mystic, Coercive Impetus, Martial Impetus, Parasitic Impetus, Fallen Ideal, Promise of Loyalty, Talisman of Hierarchy.
Mid-Range Tier (~$50 total)
Step up the power level with tutors, stronger enchantresses, and pillowfort protection. These cards provide the consistency and resilience that competitive pods demand.
Cards to Add:
- All That Glitters (~$3.00) - Gives +1/+1 for each artifact and enchantment you control. With 25+ enchantments, this is often a +10/+10 or more.
- Open the Armory (~$2.00) - Tutors for any Aura or Equipment. Finds your best answer or threat every time.
- Sphere of Safety (~$4.00) - Opponents must pay mana for each enchantment you control per attacking creature. With your enchantment count, this locks the board.
- Ondu Spiritdancer (~$3.00) - When an Aura enters attached to an opponent's creature, goad two creatures and tap them. Doubles Killian's disruption.
- Retether (~$5.00) - Returns ALL Auras from your graveyard directly to the battlefield. A massive late-game swing that can end the game.
- Visions of Duality (~$1.00) - A flexible draw spell that lets you choose between card advantage modes, perfect for an enchantment-heavy deck.
- Sigarda's Aid (~$7.00) - Flash for all your Auras and auto-attach on cast. Turns every Aura into an instant-speed trick.
- Timely Ward (~$2.00) - Flash aura that grants indestructible. Protects Killian or any key piece at instant speed.
- Hateful Eidolon (~$1.50) - Already in the precon for some builds, but if you cut it, add it back. Draws cards when enchanted creatures die.
- Swords to Plowshares (~$2.00) - The best white removal spell in Commander. Clean answer to any creature threat.
Cards to Cut: Doomwake Giant, Eiganjo Dynastorian, Keen Duelist, Breena the Demagogue, Animate Dead, Chains of Custody, Ghostly Prison, Ghoulish Impetus, Intermediate Chirography, Winds of Rath.
High-End Tier (~$100+ total)
For the ultimate Silverquill experience, these premium upgrades push the deck into high-power territory with explosive combos and ironclad protection.
Cards to Add:
- Smothering Tithe (~$20.00) - The best white ramp card in Commander. Generates Treasure tokens every time opponents draw. Fuels your entire strategy.
- Idyllic Tutor (~$8.00) - Three mana to find ANY enchantment in your deck. Finds your win condition, protection piece, or removal.
- Hall of Heliod's Generosity (~$10.00) - A land that recurs enchantments from your graveyard to the top of your library. Incredible long-game value at no deck-building cost.
- Enlightened Tutor (~$25.00) - Instant-speed tutor for any artifact or enchantment. The gold standard for finding answers.
- Greater Auramancy (~$15.00) - Gives all your enchantments and enchanted creatures shroud. Makes your entire board nearly untouchable.
- Grasp of Fate (~$5.00) - Oblivion Ring that hits one permanent from each opponent. Three-for-one removal that's also an enchantment trigger.
- Archon of Sun's Grace (~$1.00) - Already in the precon, but worth noting: creates a 2/2 Pegasus with lifelink for each enchantment that enters. Combine with premium enchantments for an army.
- Cabal Coffers (~$12.00) - With enough Swamps, this generates absurd amounts of mana. Pair with Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth for maximum effect.
- Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth (~$10.00) - Turns all lands into Swamps. Fixes your mana and enables Cabal Coffers.
- Teferi's Protection (~$15.00) - The ultimate defensive card. Phases out your entire board and makes you untouchable for a turn cycle.
Cards to Cut: Arcane Lighthouse, Fellwar Stone, Angelic Destiny, Eldrazi Conscription, Screams from Within, Songbirds' Blessing, Sage's Reverie, Flickering Ward, Gift of Immortality, War Room.
Final Tips
Regardless of budget, the key to upgrading Silverquill Influence is leaning harder into what Killian does best: negative auras on opponents' creatures for goad triggers and card draw, and pillowfort enchantments to protect yourself while your opponents fight each other. Cut cards that don't trigger Killian or that work against the goad strategy (like cards that discourage attacking). The more enchantments that enter your battlefield, the more creatures you goad, the more cards you draw, and the faster you take over the game.
Check out the full Silverquill Influence decklist on MTG Picker to plan your upgrades, and browse all five Secrets of Strixhaven Commander precons for more upgrade inspiration.