Really Good feats for a Duskblade?

[Empirate]

Eh, I disagree on the importance of the generally-mandatory caster skills for Duskblades.
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I really like the idea of building a complete character around Knowledge Devotion, rather than simply as a charop exercise. You're going to be hard pressed to convince me of a character concept where a duskblade taking Animal Devotion makes sense.
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And yeah, Blade of Blood is terrible. You should never learn it - Shocking Grasp is better in every way [etc.]

Fair enough. I just think Knowledge Devotion is overrated from a CO perspective (if only for the "flat bonuses instead of ability to do a new awesome stunt" bit). Thematically it's very nice for a Duskblade, I give you that. It just feels wrong to be the guy who knows it all, but can't do anything useful except hurt monsters.

And I could totally build a Duskblade around Animal Devotion with as good fluff-oomph, it really depends on the campaign and the general character concept.

Regarding Shocking Grasp: can you use Channel Spell with metamagicked spells? If so, Energy Sub is useful for a Duskblade, as you pointed out.

 

[Dandu]

It just feels wrong to be the guy who knows it all, but can't do anything useful except hurt monsters.

You could also try to be their friend.

 

[Fuddumz]

Ok, so there is some good stuff here. This game is probably long over, but I want to reply to it in case someone finds it like me.

Precocious Apprentice from "Complete Arcane" is a great feat for your first level feat slot. Use it to take the spell "Heroics". This one really depends on your DM being more for the wording of the feat.. The feat says, "Choose one spell from a SCHOOL of magic you have access to." "Heroics" is of the Transmutation school and thanks to Animalistic Power, you have access to the transmutation school. Having the Heriocs spell gives you access to every single fighter feat. Which is Awesome. Now, if you are playing a human or have access to flaws, another precocious apprentice with the spell "Burning Sword" would not go a miss. Two great spells that would make your duskblade a MONSTER. At least when it hits level 5. They are just nice before then.

After that, in my opinion, the goal is to make your duskblade as stand-alone as possible, while being able to cast spells. SO: Shield Casting. Not provoking an attack every time you cast a spell is outstanding.

Next is the need to use a weapon and a shield at the same time: Somatic Weaponry.

I think that a Caster running around in Full Adamantine armor is hilarious, so: Battle Caster.

If you want to use that awesome Mercurial Greatsword or Jovar you found, but do not want to lose the benefit of having the shield: Monkey Grip.

After that I think you should go with metamagic feats that have a low cost. Enlarge, Widen, and most importantly Energy Substitution. That compliments Burning Sword very nicely. Especially if you can talk you DM into allowing you to have Permanancy cast on it. Goes away in an anti-magic field, but SO awesome.

Feats like Fire Burst are also great. Then you are not tapping into your spell pool to take out minions, and saving it for the big baddie.

Some prestige classes that compliment this class are War Wizard of Cormyr, Arcane Devote, and as mentioned earlier, Abjurant Champion. To increase the Character builds versatility, I would recomend cross classing with one level of wizard at level 14. You have everything the class can really offer at that point. After that use the next levels for Abjurant Chamion. Having a caster level of 17 at level 18 for those wizrd spells is sick. Got to love it.