The Dive Down
The Dive Down
The Dive Down
Support podcast
The Dive Down is a Magic: The Gathering podcast focused on the latest decks, trends, and strategies for the casual spikes in Modern, Pioneer, Explorer, and more! Each week your hosts Dave, Shane, and Stanislav discuss the latest innovations, competitive events, and level-up topics for paper and online players. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Proudly sponsored by Heavy Play, a new card gaming accessories brand that'll improve your gameplay and game day. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2023 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com/ We're also sponsored by ManaTraders, the best Magic card rental service for both Magic Online and paper! Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown or use Manatraders coupon code THEDIVEDOWN23 We're additionally sponsored by Barrister & Mann — shaving supplies, bath and body products, and fragrances for people with uncompromising taste. Get 15% off your first order at https://www.barristerandmann.com/ with the code THEDIVEDOWN23
Episode 267: Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Post-Ban Modern Results & Testing
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 Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_K4L 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? email us: thedivedown@gmail.com twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedownSupport The Dive Down
Mar 20
1 hr 34 min
Episode 266: Violent Reactions to a Modern Outburst
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
Episode 265: Why Does Everyone Hate Modern Now?
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
Episode 264: Rippin’ Veins & Takin’ Names at MagicCon Chicago
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
Episode 263: What Are We Playing in Chicago? Plus NRG... Chicago
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
Episode 262: Rainbow Rhinos and 19,442 Matches of Modern
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
Episode 261: SCGCON Hartford & MKM Cards Appear!
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
Episode 260: Modern RC in Ghent & MKM Previews pt.2
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
Episode 259: Only Murders in the Guilding (Previews, v1)
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
Episode 258: What is Standard Right Now?
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
Load more