SOC · 2026-04-24 · Auras and Goad
Silverquill Influence Upgrade Guide
Commander: Killian, Decisive Mentor
Killian goads creatures when enchantments enter and draws when enchanted creatures attack. Cheap Auras and protection keep the engine running.
Out-of-the-box list sourced from MTGJSON SilverquillInfluence_SOC <https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/secrets-of-strixhaven-commander-decklists>.
Where to start upgrading
Deck-specific one-for-one ideas. Check current prices before buying; the budget plans below use live card data when available.
Cut Eldrazi Conscription → Add Light-Paws, Emperor's Voice
Finds extra Auras when you cast one, making Killian’s enchanted attackers more consistent.
Cut Forum Filibuster → Add Kaya's Ghostform
A cheap Aura turns on Killian’s draw and protects a key creature from removal.
Upgrade plans
$4.09 of $25.00 · 15 swaps · $20.91 left over
- "Exotic Orchard" has no known price; deck price cannot be computed.
- "Fellwar Stone" has no known price; deck price cannot be computed.
- "Path of Ancestry" has no known price; deck price cannot be computed.
- 1
InkshieldThe Spear of Bashenga$0.27Removal & Interaction · MV 5 — adds removal & interaction in place of a low-impact card; shares 5 synergy tags with Killian, Decisive Mentor; $0.27 (was $4.96 in the box).
- 2
Promise of LoyaltyNick Fury, Spymaster$0.32Card Draw · MV 5 — adds card draw in place of a low-impact card; shares 4 synergy tags with Killian, Decisive Mentor; shares Human kinship with Killian, Decisive Mentor; $0.32 (was $0.30 in the box).
- 3
Eldrazi ConscriptionImperial Subduer$0.17Support · MV 3 — replaces a low-synergy support; shares 4 synergy tags with Killian, Decisive Mentor; shares Human kinship with Killian, Decisive Mentor; lowers the curve by 5 MV; $0.17 (was $1.52 in the box).
- 4
Angelic DestinyAradesh, the Founder$0.29Card Draw · MV 3 — adds card draw in place of a low-impact card; shares 4 synergy tags with Killian, Decisive Mentor; shares Human kinship with Killian, Decisive Mentor; lowers the curve by 1 MV; $0.29 (was $0.39 in the box).
- 5
Forum FilibusterHopeful Initiate$0.36Removal & Interaction · MV 1 — trades graveyard & recursion for removal & interaction; shares 3 synergy tags with Killian, Decisive Mentor; shares Human kinship with Killian, Decisive Mentor; lowers the curve by 4 MV; $0.36 (was $0.25 in the box).
- 6
Doomwake GiantHeliod's Emissary$0.19Support · MV 4 — replaces a low-synergy support; shares 4 synergy tags with Killian, Decisive Mentor; lowers the curve by 1 MV; $0.19 (was $0.26 in the box).
- 7
Chains of CustodyStrategic Intervention$0.23Support · MV 2 — replaces a low-synergy support; shares 4 synergy tags with Killian, Decisive Mentor; lowers the curve by 1 MV; $0.23 (was $0.29 in the box).
- 8
Fallen IdealDistracting Geist // Clever Distraction$0.26Support · MV 3 — replaces a low-synergy support; shares 4 synergy tags with Killian, Decisive Mentor; $0.26 (was $0.29 in the box).
- 9
Ghostly PrisonGrasp of the Hieromancer$0.33Support · MV 2 — replaces a low-synergy support; shares 4 synergy tags with Killian, Decisive Mentor; lowers the curve by 1 MV; $0.33 (was $6.28 in the box).
- 10
Gift of ImmortalityStormbeacon Blade$0.21Card Draw · MV 2 — adds card draw in place of a low-impact card; shares 4 synergy tags with Killian, Decisive Mentor; lowers the curve by 1 MV; $0.21 (was $0.34 in the box).
- 11
Shielded by FaithFey Steed$0.35Card Draw · MV 4 — adds card draw in place of a low-impact card; shares 4 synergy tags with Killian, Decisive Mentor; costs 1 more MV for a stronger effect; $0.35 (was $0.41 in the box).
- 12
Archon of Sun's GraceWeb-Shooters$0.23Support · MV 2 — replaces a low-synergy support; shares 4 synergy tags with Killian, Decisive Mentor; lowers the curve by 2 MV; $0.23 (was $0.32 in the box).
- 13
Combat CalligrapherGreatsword of Tyr$0.30Support · MV 2 — replaces a low-synergy support; shares 4 synergy tags with Killian, Decisive Mentor; lowers the curve by 2 MV; $0.30 (was $0.29 in the box).
- 14
Scriv, the ObligatorBola Slinger$0.07Support · MV 4 — replaces a low-synergy support; shares 4 synergy tags with Killian, Decisive Mentor; $0.07 (was $0.62 in the box).
- 15
Animate DeadAngelic Benediction$0.51Support · MV 4 — replaces a low-synergy support; shares 4 synergy tags with Killian, Decisive Mentor; costs 2 more MV for a stronger effect; $0.51 (was $7.49 in the box).
What improves
- Only $4.09 of the $25.00 budget was needed — the rest of the precon holds up without changes.
- 15 one-for-one swaps for $4.09 of a $25.00 budget, adding 2 removal & interaction, 4 card draw.
- Average spell mana value drops from 2.98 to 2.74 — the deck plays faster.
- 15 incoming cards share synergy tags with Killian, Decisive Mentor.
Remaining weaknesses
- Only 3 ramp cards after upgrades (most Commander decks want at least 8). A bigger upgrade budget should target this role first.
- No win conditions after upgrades (most Commander decks want at least 2). A bigger upgrade budget should target this role first.
- 3 cards kept (Exotic Orchard, Fellwar Stone, Path of Ancestry) have no available price, so the plan neither cuts nor values them.
Original decklist
The stock 99 (plus Killian, Decisive Mentor) at current data prices — 3 cards have no available price and are excluded from the total. Estimated box value: $89.58
Other (99)
- Ajani's Chosen$0.29
- Angelic Destiny$0.39
- Anguished Unmaking$1.73
- Animate Dead$7.49
- Arcane Lighthouse$1.80
- Arcane Signet$0.50
- Archon of Sun's Grace$0.32
- Armored Skyhunter$0.45
- Bojuka Bog$1.43
- Breena, the Demagogue$0.86
- Caves of Koilos$0.31
- Chains of Custody$0.29
- Changing Loyalty$1.66
- Coercive Impetus$0.32
- Combat Calligrapher$0.29
- Command Tower$0.28
- Darksteel Mutation$1.10
- Defacing Duskmage // Vandal's Edit$0.34
- Desolate Mire$0.27
- Doomwake Giant$0.26
- Eclipsed Steppe$4.48
- Eidolon of Countless Battles$0.29
- Eiganjo Dynastorian // Replenish$0.70
- Eldrazi Conscription$1.52
- Eriette of the Charmed Apple$0.33
- Exotic Orchardunavailable
- Fabled Passage$0.70
- Fallen Ideal$0.29
- Fellwar Stoneunavailable
- Fetid Heath$0.26
- Firemane Commando$0.98
- Flickering Ward$0.42
- Forum Filibuster$0.25
- Forum of Amity$0.18
- Fracture$0.32
- Ghostly Prison$6.28
- Ghoulish Impetus$0.52
- Gift of Immortality$0.34
- Hateful Eidolon$0.27
- Herald of Amity$0.23
- Inkshield$4.96
- Intermediate Chirography$0.16
- Isolated Chapel$0.21
- Keen Duelist$0.36
- Killian, Ink Duelist$0.31
- Kor Spiritdancer$0.44
- Land Tax$16.31
- Mangara, the Diplomat$0.34
- Martial Impetus$0.34
- Nils, Discipline Enforcer$0.29
- Parasitic Impetus$0.31
- Path of Ancestryunavailable
- Pearl-Ear, Imperial Advisor$0.25
- 8× Plains$0.05
- Promise of Loyalty$0.30
- Raffine's Guidance$0.22
- Redemption Arc$0.27
- Sage's Reverie$0.33
- Screams from Within$0.24
- Scriv, the Obligator$0.62
- Secret Rendezvous$0.33
- Sentinel's Eyes$0.34
- Shadrix Silverquill$0.31
- Sheltered by Ghosts$1.56
- Shielded by Faith$0.41
- Shineshadow Snarl$0.31
- Silverquill Campus$0.27
- Sol Ring$1.48
- Songbirds' Blessing$0.41
- Spirit Mantle$0.39
- Sram, Senior Edificer$1.56
- Starfield Mystic$0.32
- Study Hall$0.21
- Sunlit Marsh$0.28
- 8× Swamp$0.10
- Talisman of Hierarchy$0.58
- Temple of Silence$0.28
- Terramorphic Expanse$0.28
- Tomik, Wielder of Law$0.33
- Transcendent Envoy$0.30
- Turbulent Moor$7.11
- Umbral Expanse$0.43
- Vanishing Verse$0.31
- War Room$5.26
- Winds of Rath$0.32