Silverquill Apprentice MTG Card


Enhances creatures by utilizing instant-speed spells, allowing surprise boosts in power. Demands specific mana colors; white and black mana is essential for optimal use. Works best in decks that cast numerous spells, increasing combo potential significantly.
Silverquill Apprentice - Strixhaven: School of Mages
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Warlock
Abilities Magecraft
Released2021-04-23
Set symbol
Set nameStrixhaven: School of Mages
Set codeSTX
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number231
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byMike Bierek

Text of card

Magecraft — Whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, target creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn.

She had spoken the words a hundred times, but under the spotlight, in front of everyone, something new emerged. And the crowd went wild.


Cards like Silverquill Apprentice

Silverquill Apprentice stands out in the landscape of spell-boosting creatures of Magic: The Gathering. It mirrors the abilities of cards like Kiln Fiend, which also gains power with each instant and sorcery spell cast during your turn. However, Silverquill Apprentice offers a strategic twist with its power extending to boosting another target creature — a solid choice for synergizing with White’s creature-focused tactics or Black’s removal spells.

Examining Lorehold Apprentice, another recent card with a similar magecraft mechanic, we notice it leans into generating elemental tokens, contrasting Silverquill Apprentice’s direct creature buff. Whereas Lorehold Apprentice can slowly build your board presence, Silverquill Apprentice could provide immediate game-changing results in combat by enhancing creatures already on the field.

In the wide array of MTG creature cards, Silverquill Apprentice offers a unique toolbox for player strategies, adept at both aggressive and midrange decks that want to capitalize on casting multiple spells in a turn. When evaluating similar spell-synergistic cards, Silverquill Apprentice certainly holds its ground with its immediate and versatile combat tricks that can shift the tides in your favor.

Kiln Fiend - MTG Card versions
Lorehold Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Kiln Fiend - MTG Card versions
Lorehold Apprentice - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Silverquill Apprentice shines in decks that focus on casting a lot of spells, rewarding you with card advantage. Every spell you cast not only nets you a benefit but also potentially improves your board state with Apprentice’s prowess-like ability.

Resource Acceleration: While Silverquill Apprentice itself doesn’t accelerate resources directly, it complements strategies that do. It’s an excellent addition to decks that use resource acceleration, as it becomes a more substantial threat with every mana you pour into your spells.

Instant Speed: This card aligns well with instant-speed spells. Thanks to its ability that boosts power and toughness, it promotes an interactive playstyle, allowing you to cast instants on your opponent’s turn and surprise them with a bolstered Apprentice ready to attack on your next turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Silverquill Apprentice demands that you part with another card from your hand to activate its ability. This stipulation could hinder your gameplay if your hand is dwindling or if the cards you hold are crucial for your strategy ahead.

Specific Mana Cost: This apprentice calls for a precise combination of white and black mana. This requirement means that your mana base must be tailored to accommodate these colors, potentially restricting the card’s integration into a more diverse or color-fluid deck.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature that aids in bolstering your spells’ potency, Silverquill Apprentice comes with a mana value that on the surface might not match its impact on the battlefield. This cost may compete unfavorably with other options available in the two colors it represents, which could offer more immediate or powerful effects.


Reasons to Include Silverquill Apprentice in Your Collection

Versatility: Silverquill Apprentice is a flexible addition, comfortably fitting into aggressive strategies or decks capitalizing on +1/+1 counters. Its ability to bolster other creatures makes it a valuable contender in a variety of deck builds.

Combo Potential: As a spellcraft enabler, it works exceptionally well with low-cost spells, potentially turning every spell you cast into a significant boost for your creatures on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that leans towards creature-based tactics or where spellslinging is prominent, Silverquill Apprentice’s ability to quickly escalate the power of your creatures can give you a critical edge during gameplay.


How to beat

Silverquill Apprentice in Magic: The Gathering is a creature card that can create challenges on the battlefield with its ability to empower other creatures. To overcome this card, it’s crucial to understand its strengths and strategize accordingly. For instance, instant speed removal spells can be an effective approach to eliminate Silverquill Apprentice before its ability boosts other creatures during combat. Consider using efficient removal like Fatal Push or Heartless Act that can take out the Apprentice without expending too many resources. Also, be mindful of combat tricks that can turn the tides by utilizing spells that negate or counter such actions, providing a safe route to maintain control over the game.

Furthermore, sweepers or cards that affect the whole board, like Doomskar or Extinction Event, provide a comprehensive solution to clear out Silverquill Apprentice along with other creatures. In the end, the key to vanquishing Silverquill Apprentice hinges on anticipation and timely response, ensuring that its passive ability does not get a chance to tip the balance in your opponent’s favor.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Silverquill Apprentice MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Silverquill Apprentice and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Silverquill Apprentice has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Silverquill Apprentice card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2021-04-16 Each magecraft ability has a different effect, although they all have the same trigger condition, whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell.
2021-04-16 For example, if you control Archmage Emeritus and cast an instant or sorcery spell, Archmage Emeritus’s magecraft ability will trigger and you will draw a card.
2021-04-16 If an effect creates a copy of an instant or sorcery spell, this will also cause the magecraft ability to trigger.
2021-04-16 If an effect creates multiple copies of an instant or sorcery spell, magecraft abilities trigger once for each copy created by the effect.
2021-04-16 Some effects instruct you to copy an instant or sorcery card in a zone other than the stack. These copies do not cause magecraft abilities to trigger. However, most effects that do this also allow you to cast the copy, and casting the copy will cause magecraft abilities to trigger.