I think Amethyst Dragon will replace Shower of Coals for me. The upside Coals has, in my experience, is usually that it does 2 damage face instead of killing two two-toughness creatures. Yes, it has Threshold, but I feel it usually deals three times 2 damage. the dragon on the other hand has a lot more options, which makes it the more attractive card to cube with.
Crystal Dragon is too slow in my opinion, and will too often just be sitting there in hand.
Beckoning Will-o'-Wisp is also pretty interesting, I think. I'm considering cutting Accorder Paladin, because both cards can give the team a +1/+0 boost, and lately there have been more white 3/1's added to my list that I feel Accorder's time has come.
The newly spoiled Bonecaller Cleric (name pending) also seems solid. Sorcery speed is a bummer, though, and its body may prove too weak. Maybe it is also a bit overcosted?
I also think I will run Mahadi, Emporium Master. I have a Rakdos slot which is a bit in flux, and this fellow seems good for more midrange Rakdos decks. If you can drop this turn 3, it is not unheard of for the turn 3 combat to result in a trade, which gives 2 treasures, which enables a 6-drop turn 4 (if you hit the landdrops). Other than that, it provides some fixing for the non-green Rakdos decks, most notably Mardu.
I think I really like Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward for the blink archtype. It can reset planeswalkers or used Sphere of the Suns-like cards, which is pretty nice. I imagine you also wouldn't feel too bad about putting 2/2's such as Civic Waywinder or a Phyrexian Rager variant under it.
The background text is a bit unfortunate, but we have been cubing with Halana, Kessig Ranger for a while now, and it may be a little bothersome but it is not a dealbreaker for me.
Threnody Singer has been an okay card for us in midgame blue decks. When it lands, devotion is often at 2 or 3. It often helps for a turn in staving off aggression, and can either chip in for damage or be a relatively big blocker.
Dawnbringer Cleric has also seen much play as a good filler type card. All modes have been used, I think, even though the enchantment destruction has been the most prevalent. A 1/3 is still often a roadblock, albeit a temporary one.
As for sweepers... I feel Drown in Sorrow and Pyroclasm are pretty good, even though in some matchups they can feel pretty dead. We also run Volcanic Torrent, which has been great for slower red decks. it is often possible to sneak in a spell before the Torrent, and wiping all opponents for 3 can be backbreaking.
As of late, aggro decks in my cube have been red, white and black, and any combination found within these colours, usually with a graveyard or equipment subtheme.
Illuminator Virtuoso: I like this a lot more than Twinblade Geist. I feel as if the backside on Geist was rarely relevant, and if you're not planning to target your 1/1 double striker with spells then I'm not sure why he's in your deck in the first place.
The thing with heroic in cube is that a lot of boost is either in the form of equipments, or blanket upgrades such as Goblin Oriflamme or Thraben Watcher. Yes, sometimes you'll be able to cast a Gryff's Boon and win big, but I feel the upside of Twinblade Geist is in its ability to make another creature into a threat when it has been outclassed.
So far, I think A Little Chat and Rumor Gatherer are the only maybes I have. Chat is kind of similar to Village Rites, and that one has become a favourite amongst my drafters very quickly. Granted, it is in a worst colour of finding a suitable sacrificial lamb, but I still think it has merit. It having a floor of getting a singular copy is ok.
I think the WW cost on Rumor Gatherer may be a bit too rough, but it reminds me most of Abzan Beastmaster, but for go wide decks instead of go tall. I suspect it will experience similar survival rates, which might make it good enough. I also play a couple of cards that synergise very well with it, such as Maja, Bretagard Protector and Oketra's Monument, and not to speak of cards that enter with a friend.
I think Mage's Attendant is interesting, but it is fairly slow. Needing 1 mana to activate the token probably kills it for me, but it is interesting to see a novel take on Attended Knight-esque cards.
Maybe we'll get cycling, and the shard Triomes. Strixhaven did not have a unique named mechanic for each of its factions, so that may be an indication that this won't, either.
I also think investigate is a likely candidate for a mechanic, since that plays well into the noir theme.
I really like Gravelighter, but am not sure whether it is strictly better than Plaguecrafter. Plaguecrafter always removes, whether this does not remove if you boardwipe and have 1 big guy left. I think I will be cutting Hypnotic Specter, even though that card is very dear to me, it has not performed as well as I would like lately.
The thing with Okiba Reckoner Raid is that the scenario in which you play it t1 is the best case for it. Every turn after that it will just be a 2/2 menace with what basically amounts to a more fragile suspend 3 with marginal upside, with no way of hardcasting it should you really need the body. I think these sagas should be valued on their steps, too, and I think this one falls short.
What do we think of You Are Already Dead? this effect is usually pretty mediocre, but this is the first time it appears on a cantripping instant with cmc 1. I think it's an interesting card for black aggressive decks, but what is your guys' take on it?
Crystal Dragon is too slow in my opinion, and will too often just be sitting there in hand.
Beckoning Will-o'-Wisp is also pretty interesting, I think. I'm considering cutting Accorder Paladin, because both cards can give the team a +1/+0 boost, and lately there have been more white 3/1's added to my list that I feel Accorder's time has come.
Ghost Lantern also caught my eye. Order of Midnight is one of my cubers' favourite cards, so does this also cut it?
Pegasus Guardian and Guardian Naga may be too slow, but they are here. Thoughts?
I also think I will run Mahadi, Emporium Master. I have a Rakdos slot which is a bit in flux, and this fellow seems good for more midrange Rakdos decks. If you can drop this turn 3, it is not unheard of for the turn 3 combat to result in a trade, which gives 2 treasures, which enables a 6-drop turn 4 (if you hit the landdrops). Other than that, it provides some fixing for the non-green Rakdos decks, most notably Mardu.
The background text is a bit unfortunate, but we have been cubing with Halana, Kessig Ranger for a while now, and it may be a little bothersome but it is not a dealbreaker for me.
Other than that, I like Noble's Purse. We have been playing with Forsaken Statue but it has been horrendously slow. better Sphere of the Suns is a very welcome addition.
Dawnbringer Cleric has also seen much play as a good filler type card. All modes have been used, I think, even though the enchantment destruction has been the most prevalent. A 1/3 is still often a roadblock, albeit a temporary one.
We're also running Tireless Provisioner and The Underworld Cookbook, and both of these have been really good at keeping a healthy life total.
As for sweepers... I feel Drown in Sorrow and Pyroclasm are pretty good, even though in some matchups they can feel pretty dead. We also run Volcanic Torrent, which has been great for slower red decks. it is often possible to sneak in a spell before the Torrent, and wiping all opponents for 3 can be backbreaking.
As of late, aggro decks in my cube have been red, white and black, and any combination found within these colours, usually with a graveyard or equipment subtheme.
The thing with heroic in cube is that a lot of boost is either in the form of equipments, or blanket upgrades such as Goblin Oriflamme or Thraben Watcher. Yes, sometimes you'll be able to cast a Gryff's Boon and win big, but I feel the upside of Twinblade Geist is in its ability to make another creature into a threat when it has been outclassed.
I think the WW cost on Rumor Gatherer may be a bit too rough, but it reminds me most of Abzan Beastmaster, but for go wide decks instead of go tall. I suspect it will experience similar survival rates, which might make it good enough. I also play a couple of cards that synergise very well with it, such as Maja, Bretagard Protector and Oketra's Monument, and not to speak of cards that enter with a friend.
I think Mage's Attendant is interesting, but it is fairly slow. Needing 1 mana to activate the token probably kills it for me, but it is interesting to see a novel take on Attended Knight-esque cards.
I also think investigate is a likely candidate for a mechanic, since that plays well into the noir theme.
Rabbit Battery seems exciting, maybe I will cut Boots of Speed or some other haste enabler.
Invigorating Hotsprings is nice, but I am not sure I like it more than the existing options.
I do like the Reinforced Ronin, between it and Twinshot Sniper, seems like red is getting a lot of love!