MTG Pro Tutor - Insights, Tips & Advice from Magic: The Gathering Pros

Latest Episodes:

278: Eric Froehlich - From Hall of Fame to Having Fun and Following Your Heart Mar 30, 2018

Show notes

Eric Froehlich has an impressive 17 Grand Prix top 8s and 11 Pro Tour top 16s including 5 finishes in the top 8! He's a member of the Magic Hall of Fame class of 2015. Eric is from Las Vegas, NV.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Eric Froehlich when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep278

First Set

Revised

Favorite Set

Invasion

Favorite Card

Shivan Dragon

Dedication

Pursue what makes you happy.

Early Challenge

Eric struggled with being too cocky as a kid. He was really good, he knew it and let everyone knew it. He realized this and through good examples, he matured and got better.

Worst Magic Moment

Playing Caw blade at Pro Tour Paris and finishing 9th after losing 2 win-and-ins.

Proudest Magic Moment

Inducted into the Magic Hall of Fame.

What Have You Learned From Magic

Being able to stay cool and collected under stress. Eric took a lot of Magic skills to poker.

On Sportsmanship

Eric recognizes that good sportsmanship includes how you act and treat other people. He reached out to others to learn how they deal with losses and slowly Eric got better at seeing the game from the other side.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Players don't do enough to maximize their win percentage. Stay focused. Actively think every turn.

Parting Guidance

Follow your heart. Have fun and Magic can be as much of your life as you want it to be.

Magic Resource

CFB, TCG Player

Connect With Eric Froehlich

Twitter:@efropoker ‏

Check Out Magic Story

Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.

Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com

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277: Brian Braun-Duin Talks Sportsmanship, Dedication and Respect Mar 23, 2018

Show notes

Brian Braun-Duin is the 2016 World Champion, has 1 Pro Tour top 16 and 11 Grand Prix Top 8s, with 2 Grand Prix wins. He also writes articles at TCGplayer.com. Brian lives in Roanoke, Virginia.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Brian Braun-Duin when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep277

2016 World Champion Recap

Brian shifted to playing the best deck for an event instead of a pet deck.

How to Determine the Best Deck

Look at results from tournaments and Magic online events as a starter.

Sportsmanship

Treat your opponent with respect and handle yourself with class.

Advice

Relationships and people are more important than Magic. Take time to think about what others might think about you and the situation.

Lose With Class

Look at the big picture. If you consider the one game of Magic to be the end-all be-all then it will be hard to swallow. By having a big picture perspective, you'll realize it's not the only match that matters.

Graceful Winner

Feel free to celebrate but be mindful you don't "rub it in".

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Tunnel Vision. Some players have a plan and execute that plan no matter what often to their detriment.

Parting Guidance

Have fun!

Magic Resource

Being Right Instead of Being Correct; On Kindness

Connect With Brian Braun-Duin

Twitter:@BraunDuinIt ‏

Check Out Magic Story

Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.

Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com

Sponsors

276: Happiness and Self-Worth with Ben Ragan Mar 16, 2018

Show notes

Ben Ragan began playing Magic with Magic 2010 after quitting competitive chess in middle school. He top 8ed GP Toronto and has multiple SCG Tour Open Top 8s, as well as a heartbreaking ninth-place finish at an SCG Invitational.He has a minor addiction to casting Collected Company in Modern and firmly believes that Magic is about maximizing your options. When he isn't competing, you can find him re-watching Game of Thrones or cook Italian food. Ben lives in Greenville.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Ben Ragan when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep276

First Set

Zendikar

Favorite Set

Zendikar

Favorite Card

Collected Company

Early Challenge

Ben struggled with not playing fast enough and having no idea what his opponents were doing.

Worst Magic Moment

When Ben was 13, he won a match at an event and his opponent was rude to him. Ben lost his cool and got angry too. He has since learned to not let others opinion bother him.

Proudest Magic Moment

Top 8 at GP Toronto and getting respect from his friends.

What Have You Learned From Magic

Even when you're unhappy with some part of life, you can find happiness.

Advice To New Players

Read everything you can about Magic.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Not playing sideboard games. Players don't practice with their sideboard.

Tournament Preparation

Ben studies the meta and reads articles on the decks he wants to play. Then, he practices a ton. Ben did 20 Leagues leading up to the Grand Prix.

Parting Guidance

Find a group of people you can go to events with people who can grow with you.

Magic Resource

SCG, CFB, Ari Lax articles, Jim Davis stream, TCG Player

Connect With Ben Ragan

Twitter:@castingcoco

Check Out Magic Story

Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.

Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com

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275: How to Tell if Your Opponent Has an Answer with Josh Taylor Mar 09, 2018

Show notes

Josh Taylor is a long time Magic: The Gathering grinder and is a feared Limited aficionado in the North East. Some of his notable finishes include Top 8 of Grand Prix New Jersey, 3rd and 9th at SCG invitationals, Multiple old school PTQ wins, and 40th at Pro Tour Atlanta 2014. Josh lives in Henryville, PA.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Josh Taylor when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep275

First Set

Invasion

Favorite Set

Tempest block / Urza's block

Favorite Card

Bronze Sable

Early Challenge

Josh didn't know what he was bad at and couldn't improve. During a Ravnica event, Josh had an eye-opening experience that helped him see he had a lot to learn.

Worst Magic Moment

Josh went 1-4 at his first Pro Tour and decided to take a break from Magic. Looking back he realized he didn't prepare enough and was cocky.

Proudest Magic Moment

Top 8 at Grand Prix New Jersey 2018.

What Have You Learned From Magic

No one is perfect at Magic. Even the best players make mistakes. Keep a level head and don't let mistake overwhelm you.

Advice For New Players

Play every event round by round, game by game. Have a support group you can turn to.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Players don't control their emotions and give away how the game is going for them.

How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event

Playing a ton of sealed events and paying attention to the commons and uncommons that he lost to.

Parting Guidance

Enjoy the highs of Magic and don't beat yourself up during the lows.

Magic Resource

Read articles and watch videos, SCG, CFB

Connect With Josh Taylor

Josh can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.

Check Out Magic Story

Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.

Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com

Sponsors

274: Playing Lands and Making Friends with Galan Falakfarsa Mar 02, 2018

Show notes

Galan Falakfarsa has been grinding competitive Magic for about 6 years. His first exciting finish was in 2012 with an SCG Open top 8. Since then he's made top 8 at several PTQs and PPTQs and played in a couple RPTQs. His GP Santa Clara finish was his biggest so far & he's very stoked to play in Pro Tour Magic 25 in Aug. Galan is from Davis, CA.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Galan Falakfarsa when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep274

First Set

Mirrodin

Favorite Set

Innistrad

Favorite Card

Kolaghan's Command

Early Challenge

Galan didn't feel like he was very good. He would miss obviously good lines of play. Galan learned from older players and slowed down his play.

Worst Magic Moment

At a Modern event, Galan played a Splinter Twin mirror match and made some huge misplays. He fell prey to making the common play instead of the less common one that would have helped him win.

Proudest Magic Moment

Top 4 at GP Santa Clara.

What Have You Learned From Magic

Decision-making. Magic is all about making the best decision on limited information.

Advice To New Players

Find players you know are better than you and play with them as much as possible.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Players make not playing lands. A lot of the time people hold lands trying to bluff when they would be better off with the land on the board.

Parting Guidance

It's very helpful to play Magic with better players. Become their friends and seek their honest feedback.

Magic Resource

MTG Top 8 (compare deck function)

Connect With Galan Falakfarsa

Galan can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.

Check Out Magic Story

Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.

Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com

Sponsors

273: How Belief Affects Your Win Rate with Daniel Mabee Feb 23, 2018

Show notes

Daniel Mabee is a semi-competitive Magic player from Sacramento, California who has been playing since 2000. He made his first Grand Prix top 8 at GP Santa Clara.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Daniel Mabee when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep273

First Set

Ice Age

Favorite Set

Innistrad

Favorite Card

Opposition

Early Challenge

Dan was intimidated by going to events. Everyone knew each other and he felt like the new kid. Over time the community was a whole has become more welcoming and Dan learned how to make friends. This helped him feel more comfortable at events.

Worst Magic Moment

At a Theros Grand Prix in Sacramento Dan practiced a lot. He had high expectations but got smashed 4 rounds in a row. Dan was disappointed but learned it's important to remember that Magic is a game. Don't get attached to a single event.

Proudest Magic Moment

Grand Prix Santa Clara when Dan made top 8 with his team.

What Have You Learned From Magic

Dan knows you can't change the past. It's easy to obsess over past decisions, but know that you can't change how you got there. You can decide how to act now.

Advice to New Players

Don't be afraid of going up and talking to people.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Not trusting your own intuition.

Parting Guidance

Most people struggle believing they can win. Explore your confidence and hold on to it. You have to believe you can win.

Magic Resource

SCG, CFB, MTG Salvation, The Source, Twitch

Connect With Daniel Mabee

Dan can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.

Check Out Magic Story

Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.

Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com

Sponsors

272: Admitting Your Mistakes with John Martin Feb 16, 2018

Show notes

John Martin is a long time MTG grinder who started playing in Scars of Mirridon/Innistrad block. He has 2 PPTQ wins, made top 20 at GP SA, and is the champion of GP Santa Clara. John lives in Austin, Texas.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from John Martin when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep272

First Set

Onslaught

Favorite Set

Return to Ravnica

Favorite Card

Restoration Angel

Early Challenge

John is very proud of his accomplishments and is competitive. It was tough to realize he wasn't the best in the room. He made a conscious effort to learn from others.

Worst Magic Moment

Just before GP Santa Clara, John was about to hang up the hat and stop playing Magic. He recommends having others outlets and knowing when to take a step back.

Proudest Magic Moment

Winning GP Santa Clara with his friends.

What Have You Learned From Magic

Critical thinking. Magic has helped John think at a higher land. It is also increased his mental capacity.

Advice to Early Players

There is no shortcut. Don't be results oriented. Just because you do poorly at a tournament doesn't mean you're a bad player.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Players don't admit when they've made an in-game mistake.

Parting Guidance

If you want the Pro Tour, don't quit. Breaks are okay but don't quit.

Magic Resource

CFB, MTG Goldfish, TCG Player

Connect With John Martin

Twitter:@hardcastnarco

Check Out Magic Story

Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.

Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com

Sponsors

271: Game State IQ and Dealing with Loss with Isaac Sears Feb 09, 2018

Show notes

Isaac Sears has worked in the casino industry for a decade and his Magic accomplishments include 1 Grand Prix top 8, 1 team Grand Prix top 4, and a top 75 at Pro Tour DC. He also has 1 SCG top 8, 2 SCG top 16s, and was a semifinalist at the World Magic Cup. Isaac lives in Santa Rosa, CA.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Isaac Sears when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep271

First Set

Invasion

Favorite Set

Mirrodin / Kamigawa

Favorite Card

Upheaval Balance

Early Challenge

Dealing with loss and tilting has been hard for Isaac.

Worst Magic Moment

Isaac was banned for a time early in his career. It was rough because he didn't know the rule that the broke existed. Always call a judge if you're unsure about anything.

Proudest Magic Moment

Tie between winning a WMCQ and making Top 4 at a team GP in Santa Clara.

Advice for Early Players

If it's cute it's probably wrong. Beware of interactions that are fleshy but don't actually win. Always play test.

Applied to Life

Resource Management. Learning how to manage time and other resources in life.

Daily Habits

Check MTG Top 8, Read everyday

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Players get too comfortable and forget to check the little things. Be aware of the board state, including the graveyard.

Parting Guidance

If you're tilting, it's okay to walk away.

Magic Resource

CFB, Twitch, MTG Top 8

Connect With Isaac Sears

Twitter:@vonducky ‏

Check Out Magic Story

Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.

Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com

Sponsors

270: GP Champion Jeremy Frye Says Don't Give Up - Success Takes Time Feb 02, 2018

Show notes

Jeremy Frye has been playing competitive Magic for 8 years. In that time, he has made 2 Grand Prix top 4s with 1 win, and 1 SCG Open top 8. He has found himself to always need a competitive outlet and Magic has always been first and foremost. Jeremy lives in Austin, TX.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Jeremy Frye when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep270

First Set

Mirrodin

Favorite Set

Rise of the Eldrazi

Favorite Card

Wolfbriar Elemental

Early Challenge

Acquiring cards. Jeremy had to borrow, barter and work to get what he needed.

Worst Magic Moment

Jeremy needed one more win to make day 2 at a GP, he didn't consider all the cards, his opponent could have and didn't play around a counterspell. Now, he considers what's the worst his opponent could do.

Proudest Magic Moment

First GP Top 8. Jeremy mulled to 4 and still won.

Magic Milestones

First GP Day 2, placing high in another format.

Tournament Day Tips

Eating a good breakfast, getting sleep the night before, and take snacks.

Advice To New Players

Magic is a game of variance. Don't let it get you down.

Personal Growth

Jeremy has increased his confidence and social skills through Magic.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Tapping mana incorrectly and playing lands in the wrong order.

Parting Guidance

Don't give up!

Connect With Jeremy Frye

Twitter:@Ghostsonforever ‏

Check Out Magic Story

Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.

Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com

Sponsors

269: Pick One Format and Master It with Jedrek Szmyd Jan 26, 2018

Show notes

Jedrek Szmyd is a powerful magician, who is a dedicated blue mage. He made top 8 at Grand Prix Warsaw 2017. Besides MTG, he's also really into basketball and music. Jedrek lives in Poznań, Poland.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Jedrek Szmyd when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep269

First Set

Onslaught

Favorite Set

Innistrad

Favorite Card

Snapcaster Mage

Early Challenge

Taking down the local "Endboss".

Worst Magic Moment

GP Warsaw 2012. Jedrek was playing well and felt like he had the game under control. In one turn his opponent turned things around and won.

Proudest Magic Moment