Commander Thoughts: Think ETBS for Silverquill, the Disputant
WRITTEN BY Devin Richardson
Welcome to the Commander Thoughts series! The goal is to not write a "How to build" or "commander guide" but to give you new or expanded ideas for the commander.
Let's get Started
Change the pace of this commander.
The problem with your deck is relying on creatures with death triggers. I'll convince you to stop!
Secrets of Strixhaven | August 2026 | 8 Min Read
ETBs create immediate impact
Welcome to Commander Thoughts which is a series where we go in-depth on the commander and its game design. I want to challenge the conventional way of deck building for cards. Hopefully, I can help you become a better commander player.
I have seen all types of decklist for Silverquill, the Disputant. They generally have token generators to create sac fodder. Then you sacrifice the creature token for the casualty ability. Most of the token creatures are vanilla or have no effects. Finally, you still need the instant or sorcery spell in your hand.
What I want you to know are these actions take time. If you add more creatures with ETB abilities, you can impact the commander game better. Now, the creature gets even better if it has an ETB and a leave the battlefield ability - that's double impact!
Once you begin your research of which enter the battlefield ablilities, consider what strategy your deck is playing. I've seen Reanimator Silverquill or X spell Silverquiill.
Spellslinger archetype
It's not the coolest but...
Biblioplex Assistant covers a major weakness for the Silverquill Spellslinger - restocking instant or sorcery spells from your graveyard. This is the only creature and spell that can fit into a white and black spellslinger deck. You want to cast him to return the instant or sorcery to the top of your library -think mid game or when an opponent uses a counterspell on a desired card. You can use Biblioplex Assistant as sac fodder. Oh wait, it's an artifact creature and you're playing a Silverquill commander! Reanimate creatures to get its effect again.
Case Studies
Creatures with ETBs
ETB = Creature + Token creature
Haunted Dead
This is a creature giving you immediate value. Its second ability allows it to reanimate itself. Haunted Dead becomes even better for a sacrifice fodder.
ETB = Creature Removal + Creature
Splinter, Aging Champion
The master ninja provides a body and creature removal. Splinter even gives you a pay off as sacrifice fodder - giving you card draw.
ETB = Creature + Ramp
Lobelia Sackville-Baggins
Mana ramp in black always comes with a condition. However Lobelia can be explosive mana ramp depending on the creature's power. Honestly, a creature with flash gives her even more utility.
Selected Works
2023 — 2024
Callous Bloodmage
Creatures are modal spells too. Callous Bloodmage from Strixhaven creates a Pest, card draw, or exile a graveyard.
Canoptek Scarab Swarm
One of my favorite artifact creatures for my Megatron artifact deck. This metallic swarm of bug is graveyard hate and creature token generation!
Chittering Witch
If you play this early, you can get 4 creatures for 4 mana. Also, Chittering Witch provides creature removal targeting creatures with -2/-2.
Summary
Why wait?
Adding creatures with ETBs and using them as sac fodder will change the tempo of Silverquill, the Disputant. ETBs can answer problems right away almost like an instant or sorcery spell. I think this is overlooked on thousands of deck lists. Plus these creatures can have removal effects as ETBs. They can cover up weaknesses on spellslingers.
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