Ondu War Cleric is my favorite example because it doesn't look like much, a 2/2 for two mana. But EVERY white deck was thrilled to run it as it was pretty solid on the Quadrant Theory with reasonable utility late. OTG rewarded reliable two-drops, so as such seeing an War Cleric available in pick four or pick five is a 'signal'. Similar story with the Saddleback Lagac, almost any deck with forests would jam it in happily. Essence Depleter is a little narrower of a card (demanding the colorless mana) but given how it is pretty close to a win-condition, people should snap that up especially in the first few picks.
So what do these universal loves look like in Shadows?
A) Have to be non-rare (obviously)
B) SoI rewards speed, as you can't just casually miss 2/3 drops and not get punished by Vampire Madness, Werewolves, even red/white humans.
C) The Investigate cards are an interesting source of 'free' 2-for-1
D) Quality removal is always lovable.
E) Cards that say 'win the game' (or a variant thereof) are always worth a close look.
The Cathar and Chaplin are just solid value for the mana (4 power for three mana and 5 power for four mana) that fit just fine in any deck. The Inspector is a free 1/2 that cantrips and any deck will run that. Bound by Moonsilver and Angelic Purge are both as reliable as removal gets in this format.
The Pious Evangel and Gryff's Boon are shockingly powerful. While they don't always go in EVERY deck the power level is real.
The Illuminator is just ridiculous value, being a Makindi Aeronaut that also improves all your other investigate cards. Jace's Scrutiny surprised me on this list but far be it for me to question LSV. He claims it's a 2-for-1 often enough (e.g. you block a 4/4 with two 2/2s and cast this). Also, the price is right. Ghostly Wings is flexible (can be cast on their creatures too) and a Madness outlet. Speaking of, the Scholar plays the same role, since looting is incredibly powerful (especially with Madness out there)
Since I'm yet to place blue, or even really understand what blue does in the format, here's the 'second tier' list of cards
People sound down on Sleep Paralysis, bemoaning the cost. I'm not sure if Uninvited Geist and Stichwing Skaab are win conditions or not.
The Kindly Stranger, Murderous Compulsion, Dead Weight and Sinister Concoction are all quality removal. The Grotesque Mutation is a solid combat trick that even slow decks would play for the lifegain (and for a playable instant, rare in black Delirium decks). The Tooth Collector is solid value even if non-delirium decks, the Heir is absurd (turning into a 3/2 flier at the non-cost of discarding a card). The Accursed Witch plays well in both fast and slow decks.
Pretty good, cheap removal is no surprise. The power level of Spiteful Motives is surprising, being both a quality combat trick and a very real board presence. I also can't see any combination of red colors turning down the Act of Treason with both instant-speed availability AND additional power upside.
I'm less sure about these. Tormenting Voice and Ravenous Bloodseeker's universal applicability depends on how needed madness outlets are and I think that's only really R/B and R/U. The Skin Invasion is more interesting, a fluid card that can swing as both semi-removal (forcing a small creature of theirs into your board) or accelerating your own curve if they choose to trade.
Just some great, solid value creatures. Vessel of Nascency smooths out draws for even non-delirium decks, the Byway Courier replaces himself as well as being a reasonable body for the mana and Rabid Bite is decent-ish removal.
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