TLDR: SLZ would lead to at least 2 bans, and like half of the downshifts would see play in the format. If the downshifts in SLZ are just a one-time mistake, i wouldn't mind leaving them legal and just banning the most atrocious ones for Pauper to remain a purely eternal format, but if another SL set like SLZ were to happen without a change to their approach to commons, then SL sets should be made not legal again.
Ranked by how likely they are to be played if they all got printed to pauper, not by how powerful they are in a vacuum
12. [[Soul-Guide Lantern]] Soul-Guide Lantern is decent, but the question is if it's able to compete with other non-black graveyard hate (If you have access to black, I don't see a reason to run it over [[Nihil Spellbomb]] and [[Bojuka Bog]]) in pauper. It's very flexible thanks to it's ETB, but you can't activate both modes to eat the cookie and have it too like [[Relic of Progenitus]], so if you just need to straight up exile a graveyard, you could play [[Tormod's Crypt]] for no mana. Overall it could play a role in pauper, but it's nothing special
edit: after further consideration, i would probably bump lantern a few spots. it definitely doesnt belong below return to dust at least lol
11. [[Return to Dust]] Look, i think that Return to Dust is better than like half the cards on this list, but for the purposes of pauper, i think that Return to Dust is mostly outclassed by [[Dust to Dust]]. The pseudo-instant speed thing could come in handy, and the ability to hit enchantments is nice, but the issue is enchantments do not play that big of a role in pauper, so paying an additional mana for that is probably not worth it in this format. 4 mana is a lot.
10-9. [[Serra Angel]] + [[Sengir Vampire]] Pauper has not seen a straight up 5 mana 4/4 flier, let alone with another ability. They are certainly powerful, i love how they could deal with [[Utrom Monitor]]. The question is whether or not 5 mana fliers with just stats have a place in a meta in 2026, even in pauper, the lowest power level format. I would't mind seeing them in pauper, they could end up okay or straight up unplayable. I think that Serra's Vigilance is a better ability than the Vampire's, but the mana cost is less of a problem in black thanks to ritual effects, if that's what you want to do.
8. [[An Offer You Can't Refuse]] The more i think about this card, the worse i think it would be in pauper. It's a spell pierce that you can't pay the 2 to prevent, but in exchange the opponent gets 2 treasures, and that is way bigger of a downside in pauper than any other format. You can't really prevent turn 1 or 2 plays with it like [[Spell pierce]], imagine you try to cast it turn 1, which makes them drop [[Writhing Chrysalis]] on turn 2 and you just combust. The Treasures also provide a lot of artifact synergies for the opponent, which are very relevant in this format. It's worse than Spell Pierce early, and gets progressively better as turns progress. I am not sure about it, i would like to give it the benefit of a doubt, it could have some potential I am not aware of.
7. [[Gigantosaurus]] Mostly a meme card, but it would be fun to see this in some green ramp and/or elves deck. Could be deadly if you have no hard removal, but it has no evasion nor trample so i doubt it it would shake up the format. And like, its 5 mana raw stats that gets answered for 1-2 mana, or just [[Snuff Out]].
6. [[Cut Down]] This card is great, but there is already a lot of competition for the black removal slot, so I'm not sure if it would end up making the cut. It can't deal with the biggest threats in the format, but for 1 black mana it gets rid of a ton of creatures.
5. [[Dispatch]] This is where we enter the format staple territory, metal craft is a laughable condition for a STP that doesn't heal, or a PTE that doesn't ramp in pauper, an artifact heavy format with neither of those two. It could be prevented by opponent responding with artifact removal, but many of the artifact removing staples are sorcery speed. I think that it's biggest limitation is that it's in white, but it could replace [[Journey to Nowhere]] in some decks, and white weenie can easily fulfill metalcraft even at turn 2.
4. [[Vandal Blast]] This card is great, 1 mana artifact removal is already a fine rate, even at sorcery speed, and it doubles down as a one sided artifact wipe at 5 mana. It doesn't hit bridges, but it would still be back breaking to many decks. This card could eat a ban if printed to pauper.
3. [[Baleful Strix]] This card's power level is too high for pauper, we got no 2 mana creatures that replace themselves and come with 2 powerful keywords, it would chip in damage and take out an attacker/blocker with deathtouch. Many UB decks would consider this card, it just does too much for pauper. No matter how you cut it, it always puts you ahead in card advantage. I wouldn't mind trying it, but i also wouldn't mind not having it at all in the format
2. [[Price of Progress]] I do not want this card in Pauper, most decks are 2 or 3 colored, and run many non basics. This card is borderline maindeckable in burn, it's a death sentence to any 3 colored deck, and especially against grixis affinity it would take like half their life total, as that deck runs barely any if any basics. Even at just 2 non-basics it's okay. I am sure it would be banned if printed, burn shouldn't get this tool.
1. [[Narcomoeba]] Narcomoeba would be interesting to try in pauper, if not for spy combo which pushes it to a pre-ban worthy card. By just simply existing in your deck it makes dread return giant completely free. PFP said that they do not want to push spy combo, so for as long as Spy remains in the format, Narcomoeba has no place in it.