{"ops":[{"insert":"Hello!\nIf you stumble upon this primer, thank you for your interest!\n\nThis is the upgraded version of the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"\"Silverquill Influence\""},{"insert":" precon from "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Secrets of Strixhaven"},{"insert":", and oh boy, do I love this deck!\n\nI played the precon at my LGS for a while in order to correctly match the power level of newer players' decks, and I immediately felt that the original deck had a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"very strong foundation"},{"insert":".\nSo, when I decided to upgrade it, I gave myself a little challenge: "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"a maximum of 10 card swaps"},{"insert":", in order to preserve the original aura and identity of the deck.\n\nOf course, they are 10 pretty powerful swaps. But what can I say? They're good cards for a reason!\n\nThe cards I've added are listed in the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"\"Aggiunte\""},{"insert":" category, while the cards I've removed are in the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"\"Maybeboard\""},{"insert":" category.\n\nThe idea behind this upgrade wasn't to completely rebuild the deck or turn it into something unrecognizable. I wanted to keep the original "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Silverquill feeling"},{"insert":", while making the deck more consistent and giving Killian's game plan a little more punch.\n\nSo, let's start!\n\nMULLIGAN"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"My ideal opening hand is actually pretty simple.\n\nI want to see:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"3 lands"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"1 Aura"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"…and that's pretty much it.\n\nThe Aura is extremely important because it is what allows Killian to start doing his thing.\n\nWhenever an enchantment you control enters the battlefield, Killian "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"taps and goads a creature"},{"insert":". This means that even a simple Aura can become a political tool: you can remove a blocker, force a threatening creature to attack, or simply make two opponents fight each other instead of you.\n\nBut there's another very important part of Killian's ability:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The creature you enchant doesn't have to be yours."},{"insert":"\n\nIn fact, one of the most fun things you can do with this deck is put your Auras on your opponents' creatures.\nIf that creature attacks, Killian rewards you by drawing a card.\n\nSo ideally, I want my opening hand to contain the tools to start putting "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"my opponents' creatures to work for me"},{"insert":".\nAnd this deck is "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"very political"},{"insert":". \n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"RAMP"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"If there is ramp in my opening hand, there is one very important thing to remember:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"You need both black and white mana to cast Killian."},{"insert":"\n\nKillian costs "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"{1}{W}{B}"},{"insert":", so getting the correct colors is more important than simply having access to a lot of mana.\nIdeally, I want to have Killian on the battlefield as soon as possible, because every enchantment I play afterwards becomes another opportunity to manipulate combat.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"PLAYING AROUND REMOVAL"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"There is, however, one important exception.\n\nIf your playgroup runs a lot of creature removal, you may want to "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"delay casting Killian until you can also get some value from him immediately"},{"insert":".\n\nPlaying Killian on turn three, only to have him removed before you can play an enchantment, can leave you with a fairly unimpressive 2/3 creature and very little to show for your investment.\n\nIf possible, wait until you can cast Killian "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"and an Aura in the same turn"},{"insert":".\n\nThis way, even if Killian gets removed afterwards, you've already:\ntapped a creature;"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"goaded it;"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"potentially opened an attack for yourself"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Killian needs to make the table do what you want before he leaves."},{"insert":"\n\nEARLY GAME — Set up the farm"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe early game is all about setting up.\n\nI want to develop my mana, get Killian onto the battlefield when possible, and start putting Auras on creatures that can actually help me generate value.\nI'm not necessarily looking for an aggressive start. Quite the opposite: "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"I want the other players to build their boards."},{"insert":"\n\nEvery creature they play can potentially become a future target for one of my Auras, a future attacker, and ultimately another card for me.\n\nThe ideal early game is therefore pretty quiet:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"ramp → Killian → Aura → start farming."},{"insert":"\n\nI just need to make sure I have enough resources to survive until the table starts fighting among itself.\n\nMID GAME — Let them fight"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This is where the deck really starts doing what it was built to do.\n\nMy priority during the mid game is "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"not to control the entire table"},{"insert":". That's impossible, and honestly, it's not what I want.\n\nInstead, I want to:\nuse my removal to keep the most problematic permanents under control;"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"use Killian's goad ability to manipulate combat;"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"encourage the strongest player to attack "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"anyone but me"},{"insert":";"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"help the two players who are falling behind to unite against the leader;"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"and stay safely in the backlines while continuously generating value."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe politics are extremely important here.\n\nIf one player is clearly ahead, I want their creatures attacking the other players rather than me.\nAt the same time, I want the players who are behind to realize that they have a common enemy.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"I just need to make sure everyone else understands that they should attack the strongest player."},{"insert":"\n\nThis is where Killian becomes incredibly annoying for the table.\n\nEvery enchantment I play can potentially manipulate combat, while my Auras can turn opposing creatures into card-drawing machines.\nMeanwhile, I'm sitting in the back, drawing cards and quietly accumulating resources.\n\nCards like "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Queen of Dale"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Archon with his"},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Pegasi"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Spectral Dancer"},{"insert":", and my other engines allow me to turn this constant flow of enchantments into an increasingly large advantage.\n\nTreasures, card draw, tokens and repeated value all start to pile up.\n\nAnd that's exactly where I want to be.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"I want to become the threat while everyone is busy fighting someone else."},{"insert":"\n\nCLOSING THE GAME — The hard part"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Getting to a 1v1 is the easy part.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Winning the 1v1 is where things get difficult."},{"insert":"\n\nThis deck is exceptionally good at surviving a multiplayer game because Killian lets me manipulate combat and encourage my opponents to spend their resources fighting each other.\nBut once there is only one opponent left, the political aspect of the deck becomes much less useful.\n\nThere is nobody left to goad into attacking somebody else.\n\nSo now I actually have to "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"kill them myself."},{"insert":"\n\nLuckily, the deck has several different ways to close the game.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"1. Board & Hand Dominance"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The most straightforward way to win is simply to become overwhelmingly ahead.\n\nBy this point, my various draw engines have hopefully generated a huge amount of cards, while cards such as "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Queen of Dale"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Spectral Dancer"},{"insert":", the various "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Archons"},{"insert":", and the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Cats"},{"insert":" allow me to turn that card advantage into a board presence.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"more cards + more mana + more creatures + more resources than my opponent can realistically deal with."},{"insert":"\n\nAt this point, the game becomes a matter of converting the advantage I've accumulated throughout the game into lethal damage.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"2. Eriette — Drain them out"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The second way to close the game is "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Eriette"},{"insert":".\n\nIf I've already accumulated a significant number of Auras on creatures, Eriette can turn the board I've built during the game into a direct life-drain engine.\nThis is particularly nasty because many of the Auras I've been using throughout the game were never intended to simply make my own creatures bigger.\nThey were there to "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"farm value from my opponents' creatures"},{"insert":".\n\nEriette gives all those Auras another purpose:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"every creature I've enchanted becomes another source of damage."},{"insert":"\n\nAt this point, the battlefield can become a clock that my opponent simply cannot afford to ignore.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"3. The Infinite Combo"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"And finally, there is the nuclear option.\n\nThe deck contains an infinite combo involving:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The Meathook Massacre"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Ghostly Dancers"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Screams from Within"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe basic loop works like this:\nCast "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Screams from Within"},{"insert":", targeting a creature with thoughness = 1."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Ghostly Dancers"},{"insert":" creates a 3/1 creature."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The creature targeted dies."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The Meathook Massacre"},{"insert":" triggers deals 1 damage to each opponent or healing you for one depending on the target."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Because the enchanted creature died, Screams from Within returns to the battlefield."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Ghostly Dancers creates another 3/1."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Now target the token created by the dancers."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The Meathook Massacre"},{"insert":" triggers deals 1 damage to each opponent "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Repeat."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Each iteration deals another point of damage to every opponent.\n\nIt is worth pointing out that this isn't the primary game plan of the deck.\nIt's simply a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"very convenient emergency exit"},{"insert":" when the game has gone long enough and I need a way to turn all the value I've accumulated into an immediate win.\n\nA ode on Goad"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"One of the things I particularly enjoy about this deck is how relevant "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"goad"},{"insert":" can be in the current Commander environment.\n\nA lot of decks are built around ramping as quickly as possible, assembling their engines, and eventually racing towards a combo or another powerful way to close the game.\nGoad gives me a way to disrupt that plan "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"without necessarily having to remove the threat myself"},{"insert":".\nIt puts player in a position they were not prepared to be, maybe attacking with a combo piece that they need to preserve or using important protection spell to avoid loosing key cards.\n\nIn the end, Commander it's a 4 players game, it's not meant to be played alone :D\n\nWHY I LOVE THIS DECK"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"So, after all this talk about Auras, politics, goading, card draw and making my opponents fight each other…\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Why do I actually love this deck so much?"},{"insert":"\n\nBecause it feels different.\n\nI'm not trying to be the fastest player at the table. I'm not trying to combo off as soon as possible, and I'm definitely not trying to play solitaire.\n\nI love the feeling of sitting back, looking at the board and thinking:\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"\"Who do I want to attack whom?\""},{"insert":"\n\nEvery game feels like a little puzzle.\nSometimes the best play is removing a threat. Sometimes it's enchanting an opponent's creature. Sometimes it's goading the biggest creature at the table and convincing its controller that attacking someone else is actually a great idea.\n\nAnd while everyone is busy fighting, "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"I'm farming Auras."},{"insert":"\n\nCards become Treasures, Treasures become more cards, Auras become attackers, attackers become more cards, and somehow the whole thing keeps feeding itself.\n\nThere isn't always one obvious correct play. The board state, the personalities at the table, and even the deals you make with your opponents can completely change how you should play the next turn.\nAnd that's exactly what I want from a Commander deck.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"It's powerful, it's political, it's a little bit evil, and most importantly, it's fun."},{"insert":"\n\nNow go farm some Auras. ❤️\n"}]}