I hope no good cards get printed with the Role mechanic. It's such a clunky keyword and there's more and more of these headaches popping up lately. Tempted by the Ring is another recent example.
Rakka Mar
...There are few creatures that survive a double block by two 3/1’s, which is something Rite of the Raging Storm can’t do. I think this is the more versatile card and it should replace it in most cubes.
I get what you're saying with Rakka Mar but I think Rite of the Raging storm is a much more difficult threat to deal with. I think Rakka needs to be left alone for a few turns to get value out of your 4drop but I'm happy to be proven wrong.
Isareth - yeah looks pretty mediocre to me.
Squee - This card is a do-nothing trap. I suspected as much but I know it's shown up in powered cubes over the years so I did some homework and the consensus seems to be that it was the kind of card where you'd have your deck and go "man this deck would be great with Squee, too bad I didn't pick it" or if you had Squee you'd say "man Squee didn't add anything to this deck".
The threat of activation on Slaughter-Priest of Mogis seems to read "I sac a creature to make the Slaughter-Priest kill one creature it's fighting with toughness <=4". I'd feel like a real goober if I activated the Priest and got it bolted it in response.
Meanwhile Fireblade Artist lets you occasionally live the dream of swinging for 4 on turn 2. I do not think the upkeep trigger is the reason anybody plays it, but it may push it slightly above alternatives in the slot.
Personally I think they're both weak options in a stacked guild. For example, I think Rakdos Headliner dunks on both of them in terms of raw power as a 2drop. Then as signposts for Rackdos Aristocrats you have great options like Lagomos, Hand of Hatred and Garna, Bloodfist of Keld.
I swear there used to be a Peasant This or That thread, but I couldn't find it either when I looked a few months back. If it existed, I suspect it was purged with the Twitch migration when it's authors account was deleted.
Also - very cool post Leelue. It's given me a bit to think about.
Spitemare moved from red to white. Gimli's OK but the showcase art pushed him over the line.
I didn't realise how out of fashion Cloistered Youth is these days. Not in love with that swap but I consider it a free slot now. Errant Ephemeron also seems to be past its prime (and honestly I never liked it much) so I'm happy with that swap. Blessed Alliance was always a pet card but real must recognise real.
Malone needs to re-read how Tempted works. It's an emblem and will keep its abilities regardless of whether or not you have a ring bearer.
Not something you'd expect to trigger very often but even getting the looter mode is good enough upside. Regardless, I'd ignore it when evaluating cards and just be aware that it's not a downside effect (which flavorwise is a bit of a fail but whatever).
Long List of the Ents is just below cubeable I think but people who are deep into counters may find a home for it.
I'd be down to play but preferably over cockatrice since it's A - free and B - you can import decklists from Cubecobra to Cockatrice directly (I've done playtesting this way a bit).
Usually online most nights from 8:30pm - 11ish Australian EST if that works for anyone.
With the mechanic spoiled; Samwise is obviously great and Gollum is cubeable too.
This set is already better than MOTM and I mind it a lot less than the 40K one since magic (and fantasy generally) is pretty heavily Tolkien-esq anyway.
I haven't played with my cube in years, and I haven't ordered cards for it since Ixalan so I've got over 100 cards in the box that haven't been in my online list in a long time.
I just unsleeved Darkthicket Wolf tonight (opened a Streetwise Negotiator at the prerelease). Pretty funny to imagine playing that in the present day.
Careless Celebrant > Khenra Spellspear - "NO YOU GUYS IT'S GOT SACRIFICE SYNERGY DON'T YOU SEE IT'S COOL IF YOU SAC IT..." Swapping my worst 2 drop for quite a good one. Considered swapping Heartfire Immolator but decided even though they're similar I disliked Celebrant more. Reclusive Taxidermist > Streetwise Negotiator - Swapping my least interesting 2 drop for a better one which plays into a synergy I'd like to pretend I'm supporting (certainly more than the GB grave deck). Jubilant Skybonder > Xerex Strobe-Knight - I don't really need to push "flyers" as a theme do I? Strobe-Knight is on a short leash and I considered swapping out Sea Gate Oracle instead but honestly it's a pet card of mine at this point. Omenspeaker > Oracle of Tragedy - Leelue made a compelling argument. I've kept Omenspeaker this long because it's another pet card but this is close enough that I'm OK with it.
The Choked Estuary cycle looks like a great addition if you want more duals. I wouldn't fault anyone for playing it along with the Strixhaven enemy cycle. I'm not sure if I'll add it. If I did, I think I'd swap the Vivid lands out before the Thriving ones. Being able to ETB untapped is solid but I'm not sure how it compares to the Vivids being playable in any C/x deck.
Imprison in the Moon is definetly playable, but I'm not going to add it for the colour-screw issue Phitt77 mentioned.
I could see a certain kind of cube having a use for Stromkirk Occultist. Anguished Unmaking is obviously good but I'm not wasting a guild slot on a removal spell.
I could be talked down if you wanted to renegotiate but 2WW for a card that does not affect the board is a big sell.
I get what you're saying with Rakka Mar but I think Rite of the Raging storm is a much more difficult threat to deal with. I think Rakka needs to be left alone for a few turns to get value out of your 4drop but I'm happy to be proven wrong.
Isareth - yeah looks pretty mediocre to me.
Squee - This card is a do-nothing trap. I suspected as much but I know it's shown up in powered cubes over the years so I did some homework and the consensus seems to be that it was the kind of card where you'd have your deck and go "man this deck would be great with Squee, too bad I didn't pick it" or if you had Squee you'd say "man Squee didn't add anything to this deck".
Meanwhile Fireblade Artist lets you occasionally live the dream of swinging for 4 on turn 2. I do not think the upkeep trigger is the reason anybody plays it, but it may push it slightly above alternatives in the slot.
Personally I think they're both weak options in a stacked guild. For example, I think Rakdos Headliner dunks on both of them in terms of raw power as a 2drop. Then as signposts for Rackdos Aristocrats you have great options like Lagomos, Hand of Hatred and Garna, Bloodfist of Keld.
I swear there used to be a Peasant This or That thread, but I couldn't find it either when I looked a few months back. If it existed, I suspect it was purged with the Twitch migration when it's authors account was deleted.
Also - very cool post Leelue. It's given me a bit to think about.
Spitemare moved from red to white. Gimli's OK but the showcase art pushed him over the line.
I didn't realise how out of fashion Cloistered Youth is these days. Not in love with that swap but I consider it a free slot now.
Errant Ephemeron also seems to be past its prime (and honestly I never liked it much) so I'm happy with that swap.
Blessed Alliance was always a pet card but real must recognise real.
Not something you'd expect to trigger very often but even getting the looter mode is good enough upside. Regardless, I'd ignore it when evaluating cards and just be aware that it's not a downside effect (which flavorwise is a bit of a fail but whatever).
Long List of the Ents is just below cubeable I think but people who are deep into counters may find a home for it.
Usually online most nights from 8:30pm - 11ish Australian EST if that works for anyone.
This set is already better than MOTM and I mind it a lot less than the 40K one since magic (and fantasy generally) is pretty heavily Tolkien-esq anyway.
I just unsleeved Darkthicket Wolf tonight (opened a Streetwise Negotiator at the prerelease). Pretty funny to imagine playing that in the present day.
Reclusive Taxidermist > Streetwise Negotiator - Swapping my least interesting 2 drop for a better one which plays into a synergy I'd like to pretend I'm supporting (certainly more than the GB grave deck).
Jubilant Skybonder > Xerex Strobe-Knight - I don't really need to push "flyers" as a theme do I? Strobe-Knight is on a short leash and I considered swapping out Sea Gate Oracle instead but honestly it's a pet card of mine at this point.
Omenspeaker > Oracle of Tragedy - Leelue made a compelling argument. I've kept Omenspeaker this long because it's another pet card but this is close enough that I'm OK with it.
Other cards of interest:
Halo Forager - Nothing I want to cut for Snapcaster At Home.
Invasion of Mercadia - Probably the best Battle but frankly I don't like them.
Mirran Banesplitter - Pretty cool but nothing I want to swap.
Skyclave Aerialist - OK but I don't want more 2/1 for 1U and less flip cards the better honestly (logistical issue)
Sunder the Gateway - I'd consider it if I was in the market for a Disenchant variant.
Kami of Whispered Hopes - I want to like it but I know it's over-costed.
I like Flametongue Yearling better than Scourge Wolf and there's no way I'm playing 2 RR creatures.
Imprison in the Moon is definetly playable, but I'm not going to add it for the colour-screw issue Phitt77 mentioned.
I could see a certain kind of cube having a use for Stromkirk Occultist.
Anguished Unmaking is obviously good but I'm not wasting a guild slot on a removal spell.
Hard pass on the rest.