This weekend was the annual Hunter Burton Memorial Open, the first large paper Modern tournament since the recent B&R. We dive into the tournament results to see where the format is headed, try out some of the latest versions of Rhinos to see if Cascade still works, and enjoy a little Goryo's Vengeance as a treat.
Thanks to smarter people than us, we've reviewed a ton of Modern results and win percentages to get a sense for who's beating who in the latest Modern format. We review some of the expected strategies to rise in popularity in a post-Rhino Modern tournament, admire some possible up and comers to the metagame, and pontificate about where Modern can go from here.
Then Stan and Shane fire up some Rhino decks to see if the Cascade hits keep coming without Violent Outburst, and Stan finally wraps up his Goryo's Vengeance league and experiences some Scam flashbacks.
The Break Down: Hunter Burton Memorial Open results to chew on.
The Dive Down: Rainbow Rhino and Goryo's Vengeance decks to stew on.
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
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And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
4:20 - Heavy Play gets a thumbs up
6:53 - This week's episode/housekeeping
10:16 - The Break Down begins: The HBMO Modern Event
53:34 - Stan plays Goryo's Vengeance
1:06:05 - Stan and Shane played the new Rainbow Rhinos
1:32:39 - Wrapping up
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
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twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedownSupport The Dive Down
Mar 20
1 hr 34 min
The mad lads did it, they banned our beloved Violent Outburst in Modern. We're not particularly happy about the outcome or its communication, but we discuss what it means for Cascade decks and the format moving forward.
In today's episode, we delve into the somewhat surprising B&R announcement and discuss the survivability of Cascade strategies moving forward. We assess some potential winners and losers from the news, including some decks to watch out for in the coming weeks, including Yawgmoth, Titan, Reaninator, Creativity, and more. We also express our concerns about the ban announcement lacking detailed data, as we had hoped for more transparent communication from Wizards of the Coast. The absence of bans in Pioneer also caught our attention, and we critiqued the announcement for its perceived shortcomings, urging for greater detail and insight in future communications.
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_P6W
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
2:15 - Heavy Play will not be banned
4:52 - This week's episode/housekeeping
7:32 - The Dive Down begins: Violent Outburst is banned!
32:33 - How we feel about the actual ban
45:00 - Where does Rhinos go?
50:50 - Where does Modern go?
1:02:25 - What about Pioneer?
1:13:45 - Yes, we talked about Balatro again
1:29:47 - Wrapping up
Links from this week's episode:
March 11 B&R: https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/march-11-2024-banned-and-restricted-announcement
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: thedivedown@gmail.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedownSupport The Dive Down
Mar 13
1 hr 31 min
A discourse is brewing on this week's Dive Down, as the rhino boyz reflect on some of the issues Modern players seem to have with the current format and metagame. Can we close Pandora's box of free spells and triomes? Will MH3 save us? Or could WOTC do something more... drastic..?
The Break Down: Devon asked, you answered.
The Dive Down: Eight Hateful Hypotheses
The Wind Down: Love that joker... for about 20 minutes.
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_P6W
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
4:30 - Heavy Play: easy to open
8:09 - This week's episode/housekeeping
11:50 - The Dive Down begins: Modern's Hate Hypotheses
21:25 - Grief.
27:55 - Cascade.
39:15 - Free spells.
49:35 - The mana.
58:37 - The One Ring/Bowmasters.
1:07:51 - Modern is stale.
1:12:16 - Did a perfect Modern ever exist?
1:19:50 - The Wind Down: It's Balatro time!
1:38:18 - Wrapping up
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: thedivedown@gmail.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedownSupport The Dive Down
Mar 6
1 hr 40 min
Last weekend was MagicCon Chicago — and wow are we tired, friends. Join the Rhino Boyz as we recap the main event, side events, and small events that made up what was a great weekend in the Motor City! Shane give a metagame breakdown of the PT. Stan takes a shot at the cup. D00m plays the hero. Dave falls in love with a bunch of real Jokers.
• They Broke It
• Rats, Assassins, Villians, and Free Spells
• We Tried It
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_3YO
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
3:38 - Heavy Play is not on a PIP
6:18 - This week's show/housekeeping
10:42 - The Break Down begins: MagicCon Chicago!
14:11 - A Pro Tour MKM breakdown
39:08 - The PT Top 8
41:46 - Final thoughts on the PT
45:04 - 4 new sets from the MC Preview Panel
1:10:53 - An interview with Blake Rasmussen and Roy Graham from WOTC
1:32:30 - The Dive Down begins: Rakdos Vampires takes a bite out of Pioneer
1:52:48 - Wrapping up
Links from this week's episode:
PT Meta on Melee: https://melee.gg/Tournament/View/52679
Frank Karsten's WR%s: https://twitter.com/karsten_frank/status/1761570878737748061/photo/1
Preview card reference: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/articles/future-sets-spoilers-february-23-modern-horizons-3-thunder-junction-bloomburrow-and-assassin-s-creed
Seth Manfield's/CFB's RB Vampires Decklist: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6211825#paper
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: thedivedown@gmail.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedownSupport The Dive Down
Feb 28
1 hr 54 min
The MagicCon is finally upon us. We prepare for a weekend full of side events by looking at the most exciting innovations for our favorite formats, and figure out how to win the most tickets for the coveted prize wall.
We take a look at Modern and Standard results since the release of Murders, plus whatever Pioneer results we can get our hands on, to share our favorite decks in each format and what strategies appear to be performing best too.
We also stop by the first NRG Series Open of the year in beauitiful Elmhurst, Illinois to chat with Dom Harvey, Misplaced Ginger, and Christian Calcano!
Don't forget, sign up for the officicial Dive Down afterparty at thedivedown.com/chicago!
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_3YO
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
3:56 - Heavy Play: not complicated
6:04 - This week's show/housekeeping
12:37 - The Break Down begins: The NRG Chicago Pioneer $10k
19:05 - An interview with Derek Pite (aka Misplaced Ginger)
27:27 - Back to NRG Chicago
39:38 - The NRG Chicago Standard $5k
42:50 - The Dive Down begins: Planning for Magiccon Chicago!
48:58 - What we're playing in Modern
1:07:55 - What we're playing in Pioneer
1:18:58 - An interview with Dom Harvey
1:29:21 - Some Standard thoughts
1:42:04 - An interview with Christian Calcano
1:48:10 - Some final stuff about Magiccon Chicago
1:50:11 - Wrapping up
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: thedivedown@gmail.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedownSupport The Dive Down
Feb 21
1 hr 51 min
Join us this week as we discuss how Modern has gone rainbow. The full compliment of Rhino Boys — Dave, Devon, Shane, and Stan — are together for the first time this year. We're talking about Modern in upheaval and the results from all the RCs this last weekend.
• thedivedown.com/chicago
• Rhino Supremacy, Part XXIV
• Lifelink, Hexproof, Trample, First Strike, Vigilance
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_3YO
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
0:01 - A big announcement!
5:05 - Heavy mise en Play-ce
7:56 - This week's episode/housekeeping
14:51 - The Dive Down: Modern Upheaval, and not the card
17:40 - The Dallas RC meta and Leyline Rhinos
25:30 - Dallas winrates and conversion rates
38:15 - The Dallas top 8 and other Modern events
44:29 - A giant winrate matrix
56:10 - Up-and-coming decks from the past weekend
1:08:41 - Dave played Leyline Zoo
1:16:02 - Stan played Leyline Rhinos
1:23:40 - Devon played Goryo's Vengeance Asmo stuff
1:30:02 - Some brief Pioneer NRG prep chat
1:33:05 - Wrapping up
Links from this week's episode:
Denver RC listsing: https://melee.gg/Tournament/View/54549
@AzoriusI's data: https://twitter.com/AzoriusI/status/1757036428674891821?t=eUvsssljH2AZZ0U3SmOWpA&s=19
Typical Rainbow Rhinos List (from Mack Endress): https://melee.gg/Decklist/View/363672
Modern Matrix from MtgDecks.net: https://mtgdecks.net/Modern/winrates/range:custom_2024-02-09_2024-02-12
d00mwake's Goryo's Vengeance list: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6173859#paper
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: thedivedown@gmail.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedownSupport The Dive Down
Feb 14
1 hr 34 min
RC Denver is coming up. MagicCon Chicago is coming up. As a bit of an amuse bouche for these giant upcoming events, this week Dave and Shane take a look at SCGCON Hartford — Modern $10ks, Pioneer Events — and talk about MKM cards that we've seen pop up across our formats. Leyline? Surveil? More?
• SCGCON Hartford's Modern $10ks
• Surveiling the Landscape
• Leyline is where?
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_3YO
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
3:01 - Heavy Play is out of sight
4:50 - This week's episode/housekeeping
12:17 - SCG Hartford Modern 10k(s) check-in
23:15 - Saturday's Top 8 and general performance chat
36:28 - Sunday's Modern 10k
49:50 - New cards in Hartford's Pioneer events
53:55 - New decks from our favorite streamers
1:11:49 - Wrapping up
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: thedivedown@gmail.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedownSupport The Dive Down
Feb 7
1 hr 13 min
This week Shane returns, and in celebration we take a quick trip to Ghent to recap the Modern RC this week. What's going on in Modern as we make our way towards the next RC in Denver? But first (well, second, actually) — the last cards we like from MKM, and our top 5 lists!
• The More Modern Stays the Same, the More it Changes
• Rhino Supremacy, Part XVI
• More Orrible Murder
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_3YO
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
3:54 - We can talk about Heavy Play
5:34 - This week's show/housekeeping
12:07 - The Break Down: Legacy European Championship Ghent
16:27 - Dave's Cool Decks, Inc diversion
22:52 - Deck performances
27:37 - The top 8
31:00 - Takes and takeaways
37:37 - The Dive Down: Week 2 of Murders at Markov Manor spoilers!
40:44 - Reenact the Crime
46:16 - Insidious Roots
50:49 - Break Out
57:55 - Gleaming Geardrake
57:56 - Tomik, Wielder of Law
1:01:21 - Pick Your Poison
1:05:16 - Assemble the Players
1:17:15 - Case of the Gorgon's Kiss
1:10:01 - Forensic Researcher
1:15:16 - Case of the Uneaten Feast
1:19:45 - Our Top 5 lists
1:39:26 - Wrapping up
Links from this week's episode:
Ghent matchup grids: https://mtgdecks.net/Modern/legacy-european-championship-ghent-legacy-european-tour-tournament-150715/winrates
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: thedivedown@gmail.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedownSupport The Dive Down
Jan 31
1 hr 40 min
It's a simple show this week... or is it? Dave and Devon dive into the previews to date of the latest set — Murders at Karlov Manor! Tune in as we discuss Disguises, Cloaks, and whether the Mole God lives up to the hype (spoiler: it does).
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_3YO
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
1:10 — Getting Heavy
4:00 — Tell Us If You’re Coming to Chicago!
4:45 — Spoiler: We’re Talking About Cards!
5:45 — Housekeeping
7:00 — It’s Cards!!
8:00 — It’s Rules!!
9:18 — Disguise
13:11 — Cloak
16:49 — Investigate
18:28 — Collect Evidence
23:01 — Suspect
23:17 — Cases
27:56 — Split Cards
30:40 — Just Random Cards
30:55 — Lightning Helix
33:24 — No More Lies
36:15 — Warleader’s Call
39:41 — Proft’s Eidetic Memory
43:25 — Krenko, Baron of Tin Street & Crime Novelist
47:37 — Fugitive Codebreaker
51:10 — Treacherous Greed
55:20 — Intrude on the Mind
58:52 — Massacre Girl, Known Killer
1:02:25 — Doorkeeper Thrull
1:05:53 — Leyline of the Guildpact
1:10:34 — Delney, Streetwise Lookout
1:13:28 — Anzrag the Quake-Mole
1:17:28 — Archdruid’s Charm
1:21:58 — Urgent Necropsy
1:25:36 — Kylox’s Voltstrider
1:30:08 — Sharp-Eyed Rookie
1:32:32 — Long Goodbye
1:33:04 — Surveil Lands
1:36:00 — One More Thing
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: thedivedown@gmail.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedownSupport The Dive Down
Jan 24
1 hr 37 min
Join Shane and Devon as they embark on an epic journey through the realm of... Standard. Yes, Standard. With RCQ season in full swing, it's time to look over all the decks you need to know to be prepared. The boys look at the recent history of standard, how WOTC is trying to revitalize it, and provide insight on basically all the decks in the format. With everything from hyper-aggro to over-the-top ramp, this format has something for everyone!
The Dive Down: It's Standard.
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_3YO
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
4:22 - Heavy Play: not bad
5:45 - This week's show/housekeeping
10:24 - Standard then and now
22:09 - So what IS Standard?
27:28 - What does Standard look like right now?
28:11 - Domain Ramp
32:19 - Esper Midrange
34:32 - Rakdos Discover
37:54 - Golgari Midrange
43:00 - Azorius Soldiers/Flash
48:14 - Mono-Red Aggro
54:57 - Azorius Tokens
1:00:26 - The other midrange decks
1:10:06 - Big Rakdos
1:12:45 - Azorius Craft
1:16:30 - Bant Toxic
1:21:34 - Azorius Tempo
1:24:19 - How to approach Standard in the RCQ season
1:33:54 - Wrapping up
Links from this week's episode:
Frank's Metagame Mentor article: https://magic.gg/news/metagame-mentor-everything-you-need-to-win-your-early-2024-standard-rcq
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: thedivedown@gmail.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedownSupport The Dive Down
Jan 18
1 hr 35 min
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