Resist Energy is good spell for Duskblades; it's a handy buff that they get as a level 1 spell (instead of 2) and they have many 1st level spells per day. True Strike is useful in conjunction with Quick Cast and Power Attack. Pick one of Shocking Grasp or Chill Touch for 1st level spells to channel; shock offers more spike damage, while Chill Touch grants extra endurance. Touch of Fatigue is by far the best cantrip on their list, but they can probably get all of them anyway.
Second level spells have good utility and buffs. Scorching Ray provides an effective ranged attack. With a high INT or spell focus, Ghoul Touch could be effective. Touch of Idiocy is a good spell for channeling.
Vampiric Touch is THE Duskblade spell. The ability to deal damage via melee attacks plus the channeled spell while healing one's self is huge. Don't pass this one up. Other 3rd level spells pale in comparison; the best of the lot seem to be Regroup, Dispeling Touch, GMW, and Keen Edges. Depending on the campaign, Doom Scarabs may also be very effective. Really though, every other 3rd level spell you use is one less Vampiric Touch. I used some 3rd level spells to pick more 2nds.
Fireshield is another winner at 4th level since it works best in melee. Enervation and DD are other good 4th level spells. None of the level 5 spells really stand out, but they do offer some long range options.
Battlecaster from CAr is useful for gaining access to heavy armor earlier, but rich characters could just use Mithril Plate and save themselves a feat. The Whirlwind feat chain seems very interesting for Duskblades, because of the way Whirlwind interacts with the full round arcane channeling power. A Duskblade that's surrounded and badly injured could reap some massive healing with a whirling Vampiric attack. I almost went that route, but went warforged instead of human.
Depending on DM interpretation, Extra Spell may be the best thing ever - if you can get a spell that's not on your list, then pick up Wraithstrike. Polymorph would also be a handy thing to have.
If you take True Strike, then Power Attack could produce some nasty hits, especially versus energy or spell resistant foes. True Strike would also work well with Improved Disarm or Sunder. True Strike can be leveraged to trivialize attack penalties or opposed attack rolls.
Most Duskblade spells are self buffs or don't have saves, so Spell Focus probably won't be too good. Naturally, since so few of their spells require saves, the ones that do are spread throughout several schools; spell focus probably works on like 1 spell. Ghoul Touch may the exception though, but I haven't tried it out. Spell Penetration or Arcane Mastery might be good though.
I was thinking of going for some Sudden Metamagic feats, but haven't had a chance to try them out yet.
