A　novel　seed-mediated　strategy　was　employed　to　synthesize　high-performance　silver-coated　magnetic　nanoparticles　(Fe3O4@SiO2@Ag　MNPs).　Ag　seeds　were　produced　on　an　inner　SiO2　shell　with　an　electroless　plating　method.　These　seeds　served　as　nucleation　sites　for　the　growth　of　the　outer　Ag　shells.　The　morphological　characteristics　of　the　Ag　shells　were　shown　to　be　easily　controlled　by　varying　the　concentration　of　AgNO3.　Moreover,　the　shell-coating　process　was　completed　within　a　few　seconds　and　the　resulting　product　was　highly　uniform　in　size　and　shape　with　monodispersity　and　good　magnetic　responsivity.　Considering　the　synergistic　effect　of　the　target　enrichment　property　and　interparticle　hotspots　created　by　magnetism-induced　aggregation,　we　propose　that　the　Fe3O4@SiO2@Ag　MNPs　could　function　as　a　versatile　Surface-enhanced　Raman　scattering　(SERS)　substrate.　The　SERS　ability　was　verified　by　detecting　the　Raman　probe　4-aminothiophenol　(PATP)　and　pesticide　thiram　with　detection　limits　of　as　low　as　10(-11)　M　and　10(-9)　M,　respectively.　The　simple　process　and　high　sensitivity　make　the　Fe3O4@SiO2@Ag　MNP　a　promising　tool　for　SERS　detection.　(C)　2016　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.