The Dive Down

Latest Episodes:

Episode 273: High Res MH3 Spoilers & A Wild West Pro Tour May 02, 2024

Show notes

Shout out to Wizards of the Coast for seeing some poor quality card pictures in the wild and letting us see them in high definition instead. Official MH3 spoilers dropped this week, on the heels of the latest Pro Tour. Stan and D00mwake discuss!

Do Pro Tours still mean anything? Perhaps when the format they feature is fresh and exciting! We don't talk about Standard often, but enough innovations emerged at PT Thunder Junction, we were pumped to chat about the latest cards and winning decks.

Speaking of latest cards. MH3 spoilers came early, despite the somewhat awkward circumstances. The Dive Down doesn't discuss leaks, but official spoilers have started to roll out and we chat about some standouts, including Flare of Denial, Winter Moon, Kappa Cannoneer, and Wight of the Reliquery.

The Break Down: A Pro Tour for the Cowboy In All Of Us
The Dive Down: A Look, A New Free Counterspell

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:
01:40 - Intro
02:00 - Holding a Heavy Play Heart
04:10 - A d00mwake-style Omelette
07:30 - This aggression will not stand
09:20 - This week’s show/housekeeping
16:05 - PT Seattle: What does it mean now?
19:40 - Overall Metagame
27:10 - Winrates
35:25 - Top 8
43:10 - Final thoughts on Standard
48:20 - Modern Horizons 3 early spoilers
49:05 - Nethergoyf
53:50 - Chthonian Nightmare
59:15 - Ugin’s Labyrinth
1:04:16 - Flare of Denial
1:09:22 - Kappa Cannoneer
1:12:45 - Winter Moon
1:16:25 - Wight of the Reliquary
1:21:21 - Wrapping Up

Links from this week's episode:

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/thedivedown

Support The Dive Down

Episode 272: Slickshot Trick Shots Apr 25, 2024

Show notes

A new spellslinger's in town — goes by the name Slickshot Show-Off. This week we focus on the most hyped card coming into OTJ season, where it's fitting across formats, and talk about a few tricks to making sure the show off goes off without a hitch... off. Is there anything we can do to keep Dave from falling into a deep Prowess hole again? Probably not, but we're going to try — and just in case you're trying to avoid catching Prowess, too, we also talk about a few other decks Devon is having success with in Pioneer. But first — before all that — we dive into the Modern main event at this weekend's NRG Minneapolis tournament.

• NRG Minneapolis
• The Show Off Rides Again
• It's Basically Demonic Tutor

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:
4:30 - Heavy Play has clout
6:42 - This week's show/housekeeping
11:32 - The Break Down begins: NRG Minneapolis
24:34 - The top 8
28:55 - Cool Decks, Inc
33:04 - The Dive Down begins: We played some cool decks!
34:10 - Slickshot Showoff - does it live up to the hype in Modern?
56:45 - Does it live up to the hype in Pioneer?
1:09:05 - Golgari Vampires in Pioneer
1:16:35 - Azorius Mentor Zombies in Pioneer
1:25:18 - Wrapping up

Links from this week's episode:
NRG Modern Open Decklists: https://melee.gg/Tournament/View/51194
Alex Poulosky, Modern Temur Prowess: https://melee.gg/Decklist/View/388962
Nathan VanDinter, Modern Temur Prowess: https://melee.gg/Decklist/View/388996
Ryan Overturf, Modern Gruul Prowess: https://melee.gg/Decklist/View/387842
Devon O'Donnell, Pioneer Gruul Prowess: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6332355#paper
d00mwake, Pioneer Golgari Vampires: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6338707#paper
Devon O'Donnell (aka d00mwake), Pioneer UW Zombie Mentor: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6339425#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/thedivedown

Support The Dive Down

Episode 271: Casual Spiking RCQ Junction Apr 18, 2024

Show notes

On this week’s show, we manage to fill that awkward week between spoilers and set release by preparing for the upcoming RCQ season, which conveniently kicks off this weekend. We take a look at the Pioneer metagame going into the season, and some possible upgrades from Outlaws of Thunder Junction that could shake up the format too.

Everything but the water and Clif Bars
New season old decks
D00m has prepared some new decks

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:
5:42 - Barenaked Heavy Play
7:35 - This week's show/housekeeping
11:17 - The Dive Down begins: Prepping for Pioneer RCQ season
22:21 - The current Pioneer meta - Tier 1
42:07 - The Tier 2 decks
56:31 - Some Cool Decks
59:50 - d00m's hot new decks for Pioneer
1:22:01 - Wrapping up

Links from this week's episode:
Anael Yahi's Data: https://twitter.com/anaelyahi/status/1779962905099665648
Metagame Mentor: https://magic.gg/news/metagame-mentor-the-pioneer-decks-to-defeat-at-april-2024-rcqs
MTGDecks.net Pioneer Winrates: https://mtgdecks.net/Pioneer/winrates
D00m's Dimir Proft: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6322644#paper
D00m's Slickshot Heroic: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6322647#paper
D00m's Azorius Geralf: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6322650#paper
D00m's MonoB Bronco: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6322652#paper
D00m's Bant Plot: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6322653#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/thedivedown

Support The Dive Down

Episode 270: The BIG Lie: We Talk About More Cards Apr 11, 2024

Show notes

We said we'd never lie to you, but maybe... maybe we'd forget that there were another 30 mythics left to talk about in this set. So we did it for you — more cards! This week Dave, Devon, and Shane talk about what might happen with some of these weird, weird cards from The Big Score. Do we tell a certain Jitte to stay lost? What happens when we break out the Synthesizer? What card that Devon loves left Dave and Shane quaking in their boots?

After we discuss The Big Score, we take a quick trip through Pure Modern 5 — the most recent installment of Devon's "What if there was a simpler Modern?" tournaments.

• Congrats, Tanner
• The Spoils of the Vault
• Pure Modern: Stormwing is Back, Baby

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:
1:40 - Heavy Play is not impacted by the eclipse
5:52 - This week's show/housekeeping
9:03 - The Dive Down begins: The Big Score
12:20 - Lost Jitte
19:08 - Worldwalker Helm
23:00 - Simulacrum Synthesizer
27:01 - Bristlebud Farmer
30:22 - Torpor Orb
32:26 - Pest Control
36:26 - Generous Plunderer
39:13 - Sandstorm Salvager
41:25 - Harvester of Misery
44:20 - Grand Abolisher
46:35 - Legion Extruder
48:42 - Memory Vessel
49:58 - Esoteric Duplicator
53:24 - Greed's Gambit
57:16 - Sword of Wealth and Power
59:55 - Loot, the Key to Everything
1:02:52 - d00mwake's 5th Pure Modern tournament
1:17:08 - Wrapping up

Links from this week's episode:
d00m's Pure Modern 5 Meta: https://melee.gg/Tournament/View/70042

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/thedivedown

Support The Dive Down

Episode 269: Cowboy Hats Will Be Worn Until Morale Improves Apr 04, 2024

Show notes

Our friends from across the Multiverse have flooded the desert sands of Thunder Junction, and brought a host of exciting new spoiler cards with them. We recap some of our favorite cards and other notable arrivals in Magic's 100th set.

Are all the Spree cards great or merely good? Is the emphasis on Crime cards the latest symptom of Magic's moral decline? Have we lost the Plot or simply found a new way to cast spells for free?

D00mwake likes Duelist of the Mind. Dave likes Requisition Raid. Shane likes Magda, the Hoardmaster. Stan likes Calamity, Galloping Inferno.

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:
6:39 - Heavy Play is not an April Fool's joke
8:54 - Housekeeping/this week's episode
11:15 - The mechanics of Outlaws of Thunder Junction
20:07 - Aven Interrupter
23:58 - Final Showdown
27:05 - Fortune, Loyal Steed
29:07 - High Noon
31:30 - Claim Jumper
33:15 - Requisition Raid/Bovine Intervention
37:16 - Getaway Glamour
37:17 - Oltec Matterweaver
41:15 - Archmages Newt
44:28 - Duelist of the Mind
48:24 - Jace, Reawakened
51:22 - Geralf, the Fleshwright
53:35 - The Key to the Vault
56:49 - Three Steps Ahead
59:10 - Kaervek, the Punisher
1:10:59 - Hollow Murauder
1:04:30 - Lively Dirge
1:07:06 - Insatiable Avarice
1:09:09 - Pitiless Carnage
1:10:40 - Magda, the Hordemaster
1:13:22 - Magebane Lizard/Reckless Lackey
1:14:40 - Slickshot Showoff
1:19:01 - Calamity, Galloping Inferno
1:20:40 - Aloe Alchemist/Bristly Bill, Spine Sower
1:22:40 - Collosal Rattlewurm
1:24:14 - Smuggler's Surprise
1:27:10 - Railway Brawler
1:29:05 - Ornery Tumblewagg/Trash the Town
1:32:40 - Akul the Unrepentant
1:34:30 - Assimilation Aegis
1:36:40 - Doc Aurlock, Grizzled Genius/Ghired, Mirror of the Wilds/Intimidation Campaign
1:38:04 - Oko, the Ringleader/Obeka, Splitter of Seconds
1:40:36 - Satoru, the Infiltrator
1:44:35 - Pillage the Bog
1:46:54 - Lavaspur Boots
1:50:08 - Wrapping up

Links from this week's episode:
https://scryfall.com/sets/otj?order=set&as=grid

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/thedivedown

Support The Dive Down

Episode 268: A Trip to Prague, the Zoo, and an RCQ Mar 28, 2024

Show notes

Results are in from LMS Prague and we break down the top decks at the 265 player event. Then chat about our experiences playing a couple versions of Domain Zoo. And D00mwake shares the secret to winning an RCQ.

The Break Down: Legacy European Tour Master Series Prague, Grand Open Qualifier (Modern)
The Dive Down: Takeaways - A Domain Zoo Experience Discussion
The Wind Down: D00mwake won an RCQ!

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:
5:35 - Heavy Plan is not from Khans era
7:33 - This week's episode/housekeeping
11:35 - The Break Down begins: The Legacy European Tour Prague Modern Open!
23:18 - The top 8 results
30:27 - Winrates and matchups
48:20 - How are we feeling about Modern?
53:04 - The Dive Down begins: It's all happening at the zoo
1:17:05 - Devon won another RCQ!
1:29:51 - Wrapping up

Links from this week's episode:
https://melee.gg/Tournament/View/59235
https://twitter.com/MTGdecks/status/1772028283762192725
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6272273#paper
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6273416#paper
https://twitter.com/d00mwake/status/1771203670236909886

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/thedivedown

Support The Dive Down

Episode 267: Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Post-Ban Modern Results & Testing Mar 21, 2024

Show notes

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/thedivedown

Support The Dive Down

Episode 266: Violent Reactions to a Modern Outburst Mar 14, 2024

Show notes

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/thedivedown

Support The Dive Down

Episode 265: Why Does Everyone Hate Modern Now? Mar 07, 2024

Show notes

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/thedivedown

Support The Dive Down

Episode 264: Rippin’ Veins & Takin’ Names at MagicCon Chicago Feb 29, 2024

Show notes

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/thedivedown

Support The Dive Down

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected