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Killian, Decisive Mentor

SOC · mythic · Released 2026-04-24

Power

brawl
tier-2tier-1Build-around bomb
commander
tier-2tier-1Build-around bomb

Tier shown as baseline → best-case (in its ideal shell).

Derived from the 7 atoms below.

on

on rate

incremental

minor value alone

build around

needs a shell

takes over

can take over a game

rigid

one mode

broad

broadly useful

fragile

easily answered

Commander Bracket

1Precon2Core3Upgraded4Optimized5cEDH

Archetypes

positive:
aura-voltronvoltronenchantment-matters
negative:
controlstax-prison

Roles

repeatable-card-drawmass-tapetb-triggerattack-triggerenchantment-payoffaura-payoff

Risks

requires-aura-densityrequires-enchantment-densitycommander-dependentslow-setup

Mechanics

Typal

synergy:
humanwarlock
anti:

Structural

triggered-ability

Rationale

Killian is a 3cmc Orzhov legendary that rewards both playing enchantments (tap+goad a creature on each enchantment ETB) and attacking with aura-enchanted creatures (draw a card per combat). He's a premier commander and engine piece for aura-voltron and enchantment-matters shells, generating card advantage and table disruption simultaneously. Heavily dependent on aura/enchantment density and suffers if the enchantment package doesn't come together.

Learnings (3)

  • Killian's draw trigger fires once per combat step whenever one OR MORE aura-enchanted creatures attack together — not once per creature — so a wide aura build doesn't get exponential draws but a single creature with multiple auras still draws one card.

    tagging · claude-sonnet-4-6

  • The goad trigger on enchantment ETB includes any enchantment entering (not just Auras), so enchantment-matters builds with sagas, non-aura enchantments, etc. also generate free goad effects on opponents' creatures every turn.

    tagging · claude-sonnet-4-6

  • In aura-voltron, Killian acts as both a card-refill engine (attacking enchanted creature draws) and soft removal/politics (tap+goad keeps the scariest blocker busy), letting the deck grind through removal-heavy pods better than typical voltron commanders.

    tagging · claude-sonnet-4-6

Popularity

  • EDHREC rank: #8,758