The second set in the second return "block" of Innistrad is upon us, and it's looking promising!
Additions
Lantern Bearer & Voldaren Epicure:
WotC are finally printing some interesting 1/1's for 1. While not quite as fine as Thraben Inspector, I expect some pleasing results from Voldaren Epicure. Blue has been missing an effective early 1-drop. Lantern Bearer comes in early for some chip damage and then turns future creatures into evasive threats, elevating blue aggressive strategies.
Persistent Specimen & Rot-Tide Gargantua:
Persistent Specimen will be a highly sought after sacrifice fodder in the black based aristocrat style decks. It's one of the first creature cards that can keep returning to the battlefield making it stick out over the other powerful single shot fodder targets. Rot-Tide Gargantua belonging to the same style of deck is very similar to Predatory Nightstalker. The key difference here is the larger body which can easily turn the tides of combat. It also has potential upsides for decks that want access to another sacrifice enabler.
Reckless Impulse:
Temporary card draw in red! While usually not the greatest play on turn 2, this card helps with the disparity in card advantage spells accessible to colours other than blue and black.
Bloody Betrayal:
Stop! Act of Treason is already dead!
Spore Crawler:
Despite it's name this card has an enormous body. It can trade up and attacks well against large defensive blockers.
Blood Fountain:
This coming down with a blood token really gives life to this card. There is an overflow of creature recursion cards, but this really sets itself out with the ability to help with card filtering, and then to be cashed in later for the recursion.
Ceremonial Knife:
Much like Goldvein Pick this equipment provides utility to aggressive decks outside of an increase stat line, with card selection. I foresee this card being rarely cut from creature decks that do want equipment.
With the cube moving away from heavy handed archetype design and moving into a space that offers more variety as newer sets are looking to push what things can do at common rarity, a lot of cards that served as redundancies are being placed into the bench. They served a purpose of a previous cube design and should the cube require more of these effects they can be brought back in.
Vulpikeet:
As adorable as this card is, this is by far the weakest mutation card of the cycle. Despite turning tokens into evasive attackers, this card just did not quite deliver the punch that trumpet effects have in aggressive token decks.
Ill-Tempered Cyclops:
It's time out for Ill-Tempered Cyclops. While having the ability to sink your mana and turning this Hill Giant into a much menacing body, there are just far more interesting creatures in the 4MV slot that I didn't want to narrow red's identity to be just an aggressive colour.
Krenko's Command & Thatcher Revolt:
There's plenty of token generators.
(because theyre new)
Skywarp Skaab & Stitched Assistant:
Card draw for the blue based sacrifice decks.
Toxic Scorpion:
Pairs really well with Crypt Rats for a big board wipe.
Hookhand Mariner:
One of the few DFC where the front-side is not powered down to make the backside more appealing. A 4/4 for 4 is on rate with a nasty psuedo-evasion on the backside makes it a nice one-two.
Cruel Witness:
A cool effect to be seen in pauper. Surveil to see whats ahead and potentially helping graveyard matters decks.
Repository Skaab:
Another Archaeomancer effect with the exception that aristocrat style decks can abuse this.
Kessig Flamebreather:
A more defensive Firebrand Archer that is harder to shoot down with incidental damage.