Killian, Decisive Mentor costs {1}{W}{B}. Whenever an enchantment you control enters, you tap up to one target creature and goad it, and whenever one or more creatures enchanted by an Aura you control attack, you draw a card. Every enchantment is a goad, and every attack with an enchanted creature is a card.

The precon already has the Aura engines, including Kor Spiritdancer, Sram and Eriette of the Charmed Apple. Each swap below pairs a cut with an add, and every card is scored with the same numbers the Oracle uses to build decks: synergy and inclusion from the Killian decks, plus lift, which shows how much more often a card turns up in Killian decks than in decks that could play it.

Looking for the unmodified list first? Read the Silverquill Influence precon guide.

11
Swaps
$17.47
Cost of the adds
37→37
Lands
20→44
Avg Oracle score

What is holding the deck back

Politics cards that feed the table

Secret Rendezvous has you and an opponent each draw three, Keen Duelist makes you and an opponent each take the other's revealed card, Combat Calligrapher gives attackers an Inkling, and Firemane Commando draws cards for opponents who attack someone else. Each gives value to the table as well as to you.

The best Aura cards are missing

Ethereal Armor, All That Glitters, Eye of Nidhogg and Mesa Enchantress are the top-scoring cards the precon leaves out, and each is a cheap way to turn an enchantment into a big, evasive attacker or a card.

Slow lands

Silverquill Campus, Sunlit Marsh, Forum of Amity and Temple of Silence all enter tapped, in a deck with 37 lands.

The 11 swaps

Each pair shows the numbers for the card coming out and the card going in. Click a card image to zoom.

Swap 1 of 11
Secret Rendezvous
Cut
Secret Rendezvous
Sorcery · 1WW
Inclusion13%
Synergy10%
Lift3.4×
Oracle score 11
Ethereal Armor
Add
Ethereal Armor
Enchantment — Aura · W
Inclusion66%
Synergy58%
Lift7.7×
Oracle score 61

Secret Rendezvous has you and an opponent each draw three cards, and it is played in about one Killian deck in eight.

Ethereal Armor costs {W}: enchanted creature gets +1/+1 for each enchantment you control and has first strike. A one-mana Aura that makes a creature huge in a deck with 30 enchantment cards, and it is the highest-scoring card the precon is missing.

Swap 2 of 11
Intermediate Chirography
Cut
Intermediate Chirography
Enchantment — Class · 1B
Inclusion13%
Synergy12%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 12
All That Glitters
Add
All That Glitters
Enchantment — Aura · 1W
Inclusion63%
Synergy54%
Lift6.8×
Oracle score 58

Intermediate Chirography is a Class that makes a 2/1 flying Inkling when it enters, and levels up for more. It is played in about one Killian deck in eight.

All That Glitters costs {1}{W}: enchanted creature gets +1/+1 for each artifact and/or enchantment you control. A two-mana Aura that is nearly as big as Ethereal Armor, and it is played in about 60% of Killian decks.

Swap 3 of 11
Keen Duelist
Cut
Keen Duelist
Creature — Human Wizard · 1B
Inclusion14%
Synergy11%
Lift3.9×
Oracle score 12
Eye of Nidhogg
Add
Eye of Nidhogg
Legendary Enchantment — Aura · 2B
Inclusion61%
Synergy56%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 58

Keen Duelist is a 2/2 that makes you and an opponent each reveal your top card, lose life equal to the other's card, and put your card into your hand. It gives an opponent a free card each turn, and is played in about one Killian deck in seven.

Eye of Nidhogg costs {2}{B}. Enchanted creature becomes a black Dragon with base power and toughness 4/2, flying and deathtouch, and is goaded, and when the Aura goes to the graveyard it returns to your hand. A recurring Aura that goads and keeps coming back.

Swap 4 of 11
Tomik, Wielder of Law
Cut
Tomik, Wielder of Law
Legendary Creature — Human Advisor · 1WB
Inclusion17%
Synergy14%
Lift4.7×
Oracle score 15
Mesa Enchantress
Add
Mesa Enchantress
Creature — Human Druid · 1WW
Inclusion59%
Synergy51%
Lift6.8×
Oracle score 54

Tomik is a 2/4 flying, vigilant creature with affinity for planeswalkers, and the deck has no planeswalkers to cheapen it. His trigger draws only when an opponent attacks you with two or more creatures.

Mesa Enchantress costs {1}{W}{W}: whenever you cast an enchantment spell, you may draw a card. In a deck with 30 enchantment cards, that is a card most turns.

Swap 5 of 11
Combat Calligrapher
Cut
Combat Calligrapher
Creature — Bird Cleric · 3W
Inclusion21%
Synergy17%
Lift4.6×
Oracle score 19
Light-Paws, Emperor's Voice
Add
Light-Paws, Emperor's Voice
Legendary Creature — Fox Advisor · 1W
Inclusion51%
Synergy46%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 48

Combat Calligrapher is a 3/3 flier for {3}{W} that gives an Inkling to any player who attacks one of your opponents. It builds up other players' boards as well as yours.

Light-Paws, Emperor's Voice costs {1}{W}. Whenever you cast an Aura, you may search your library for an Aura with the same or lower mana value and a different name and put it onto the battlefield attached to Light-Paws. A two-drop that turns each Aura into two.

Swap 6 of 11
Firemane Commando
Cut
Firemane Commando
Creature — Angel Soldier · 3W
Inclusion24%
Synergy20%
Lift5.9×
Oracle score 22
Danitha Capashen, Paragon
Add
Danitha Capashen, Paragon
Legendary Creature — Human Knight · 2W
Inclusion35%
Synergy29%
Lift5.8×
Oracle score 31

Firemane Commando is a 4/3 flier for {3}{W} that draws cards for you when you attack with two or more creatures, and for other players who attack someone else. It is played in about one Killian deck in four.

Danitha Capashen, Paragon is a first strike, vigilance, lifelink creature for {2}{W} that makes Aura and Equipment spells cost {1} less. Every Aura you cast is one mana cheaper, and Danitha is a strong body to put them on.

Swap 7 of 11
Nils, Discipline Enforcer
Cut
Nils, Discipline Enforcer
Legendary Creature — Human Cleric · 2W
Inclusion24%
Synergy21%
Lift6.3×
Oracle score 22
Sigil of the Empty Throne
Add
Sigil of the Empty Throne
Enchantment · 3WW
Inclusion32%
Synergy28%
Lift7.3×
Oracle score 30

Nils, Discipline Enforcer puts a +1/+1 counter on one creature for each player at your end step, which means counters for your opponents too. It is played in about one Killian deck in four.

Sigil of the Empty Throne costs {3}{W}{W}: whenever you cast an enchantment spell you create a 4/4 flying Angel. In a deck with 30 enchantment cards, every spell makes a 4/4 flier.

Swap 8 of 11
Mangara, the Diplomat
Cut
Mangara, the Diplomat
Legendary Creature — Human Cleric · 3W
Inclusion30%
Synergy23%
Lift3.5×
Oracle score 26
Spellbook Vendor
Add
Spellbook Vendor
Creature — Human Peasant · 1W
Inclusion31%
Synergy28%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 29

Mangara is a 2/4 lifelinker that draws a card when an opponent attacks you with two or more creatures, or casts their second spell each turn. It is a defensive card that is played in about one Killian deck in three.

Spellbook Vendor is a 2/2 vigilance creature for {1}{W}. At the beginning of combat you may pay {1} to create a Sorcerer Role token attached to a creature you control. A Role is an enchantment, so every combat it triggers Killian, and gives the creature +1/+1 and scry.

Swap 9 of 11
Fallen Ideal
Cut
Fallen Ideal
Enchantment — Aura · 2B
Inclusion28%
Synergy27%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 27
Spirit Link
Add
Spirit Link
Enchantment — Aura · W
Inclusion37%
Synergy32%
Lift6.5×
Oracle score 34

Fallen Ideal gives flying and a sacrifice ability, and returns to your hand when it goes to the graveyard. It is a fine Aura, but it is played in about one Killian deck in four.

Spirit Link costs {W}: whenever enchanted creature deals damage, you gain that much life. A one-mana Aura that is a cheap enchantment for Killian and gains you life with every hit.

Swap 10 of 11
Shadrix Silverquill
Cut
Shadrix Silverquill
Legendary Creature — Elder Dragon · 3WB
Inclusion30%
Synergy23%
Lift3.6×
Oracle score 26
Ondu Spiritdancer
Add
Ondu Spiritdancer
Creature — Kor Cleric · 4W
Inclusion43%
Synergy38%
Lift7.5×
Oracle score 40

Shadrix Silverquill is a 2/5 flying, double strike Elder Dragon for {3}{W}{B} with a choice of modes at the start of combat. It is played in about one Killian deck in three.

Ondu Spiritdancer is a 3/3 Kor Cleric for {4}{W}. Whenever an enchantment you control enters, you may create a token copy of it, once each turn. A copied enchantment is a second goad trigger from Killian.

Swap 11 of 11
Raffine's Guidance
Cut
Raffine's Guidance
Enchantment — Aura · W
Inclusion31%
Synergy30%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 30
Sphere of Safety
Add
Sphere of Safety
Enchantment · 4W
Inclusion41%
Synergy35%
Lift6.5×
Oracle score 38

Raffine's Guidance is a one-mana Aura that gives +1/+1 and can be cast again from the graveyard for {2}{W}. It is played in about one Killian deck in three.

Sphere of Safety is a five-mana enchantment. Creatures can't attack you or your planeswalkers unless their controller pays {X} for each of those creatures, where X is the number of enchantments you control. In an enchantment deck it is a wall, and it enters as another goad trigger.

The full swap list

Cut

  • Secret Rendezvous
  • Intermediate Chirography
  • Keen Duelist
  • Tomik, Wielder of Law
  • Combat Calligrapher
  • Firemane Commando
  • Nils, Discipline Enforcer
  • Mangara, the Diplomat
  • Fallen Ideal
  • Shadrix Silverquill
  • Raffine's Guidance

Add

  • Ethereal Armor
  • All That Glitters
  • Eye of Nidhogg
  • Mesa Enchantress
  • Light-Paws, Emperor's Voice
  • Danitha Capashen, Paragon
  • Sigil of the Empty Throne
  • Spellbook Vendor
  • Spirit Link
  • Ondu Spiritdancer
  • Sphere of Safety

What to keep

These cards are doing the deck's heavy lifting. Do not cut them.

If you want to spend more

These are strong but sit outside a budget upgrade. Prices are the cheapest paper printing.

The verdict

Silverquill Influence already plays the Aura engines and the draw. The upgrade is cheap Auras that make one creature huge, enchantment payoffs that draw cards or make Angels, and fewer politics cards that give the table free value. These eleven swaps cost about $17 in total.

Want a full 100-card list built around Killian, Decisive Mentor from today's data?

Build with The Oracle →

Frequently asked questions

What are the best upgrades for the Silverquill Influence precon?

Using data from 11,376 Killian decks, the highest-scoring additions are Ethereal Armor (for Secret Rendezvous), All That Glitters (for Intermediate Chirography) and Eye of Nidhogg (for Keen Duelist). The full list has 11 swaps, each scored with synergy, inclusion and lift.

How much does it cost to upgrade Silverquill Influence?

All 11 swaps cost about $17.47 at the cheapest paper printings (TCGplayer market prices via Scryfall, 2026-10-27). If you want to spend more, the guide also covers Open the Armory ($2.48) and Timely Ward ($3.66).

What should I cut from Silverquill Influence?

The weakest cards for this commander are Secret Rendezvous, Intermediate Chirography and Keen Duelist. The guide explains the reason for every cut, and swaps each one for a card that scores higher.

Which cards should I keep in Silverquill Influence?

Keep Eriette of the Charmed Apple, Ghoulish Impetus, Kor Spiritdancer, Killian, Ink Duelist and Sram, Senior Edificer. These are the cards doing the deck's heavy lifting.

What does Killian do?

Killian, Decisive Mentor costs {1}{W}{B}. Whenever an enchantment you control enters, you tap up to one target creature and goad it, and whenever one or more creatures enchanted by an Aura you control attack, you draw a card. Every enchantment is a goad, and every attack with an enchanted creature is a card.

More Secrets of Strixhaven Commander upgrade guides

All precon upgrade guides

How the numbers work

Inclusion is the share of Killian, Decisive Mentor decks (11,376 of them when this was written, 2026-10-27) that play the card. Synergy is how much more often they play it than other decks in the same colours. Oracle score is synergy × 0.6 plus inclusion × 0.4, the same blend The Oracle uses to rank cards for a deck. Lift compares how often the card appears in these decks with how often it could, capped at 8× here; it is shown for context and does not change the score.

Two cautions. Players who run the precon unmodified count as Killian decks, which flatters every card the precon contains. Lift is high for many cards here because they are rarely played outside Aura and enchantment decks, so use lift to compare cards, not to judge one in isolation. Prices are the cheapest non-foil paper printing on TCGplayer (via Scryfall), in USD, and move daily.