The Dive Down

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Bonus 18: How to Win a Pro Tour ft. Eli Kassis Mar 16, 2022

Show notes

Shane and Stan sit down with the newly crowned Neon Dynasty Set Champion, Eli Kassis! We talk about Eli's deck selection and preparation for the Set Championship, the role of a testing team, and more.

Check out our NEW SPONSOR, Barrister and Mann! https://www.barristerandmann.com/ Use code THEDIVEDOWN2022 for 15% off your first order of some incredible fragrances, soaps, beard oils, and more.

Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Get 15% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use code "THEDIVEDOWN2022"

Links from this week's episode:
https://twitter.com/Eli_Kassis

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

Watch us stream our episodes every Sunday night at 8pm Central: https://www.twitch.tv/thedivedown_shane

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Leave us an audio message: https://www.podinbox.com/thedivedown

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Episode 164: The Dream(-Den) is Over Mar 08, 2022

Show notes

Well they finally went and did it. Wizards of the Coast (kinda) surprised the entire Magic Non-Rotating Format World by sending everyone's favorite Nightmare Cat back to her den to think about what's she's done. In case that previous sentence isn't clear, I'm trying to say that they banned Lurrus of the Dream-Den in Modern and Pioneer. After (tearfully) throwing away an entire month of episodes we had planned out before this news, the three friends gather their composure and do what you pay (or don't pay) them to do — make predicitions about what will happen in Magic and just generally react to the news. Stan seems excited for Murktide. Dave seems excited for Obosh. Shane seems excited for things to stay mostly the same.

The Break Down: What Happened
The Dive Down: What We Think Will Happen
The Wind Down: What We Hope Will Happen

Check out our NEW SPONSOR, Barrister and Mann! https://www.barristerandmann.com/ Use code THEDIVEDOWN2022 for 15% off your first order of some incredible fragrances, soaps, beard oils, and more.

Timestamps:
4:48 - Housekeeping
7:39 - The Break Down - Bye Bye Lurrus
8:43 - The rationales of the banning
22:10 - Did this go far enough?
31:24 - What's the impact of the Lurrus ban?
40:02 - Some hot takes
42:35 - A smelly diversion
45:50 - Stan's Monthly Meta Report
54:28 - The impact of losing Lurrus for the best decks
1:17:36 - The month-to-month change since Jan
1:19:58 - What the loss of Lurrus unlocks - Liliana(s)
1:25:56 - Seasoned Pyromancer
1:28:20 - Bedlam Reveler
1:30:09 - Lightning Skelemental
1:31:38 - Nettlecyst
1:32:40 - Asmo
1:33:43 - Plague Engineer
1:34:59 - Ranger-Captain of Eos
1:38:03 - Showdown of the Skalds
1:39:03 - Grist
1:39:41 - General Ferrous Rockerick
1:40:18 - What does Jund look like now?
1:43:14 - Dark Confidant
1:44:21 - Our final thoughts

Links from this week's episode:
The B&R: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/march-7-2022-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?

Watch us stream our episodes every Sunday night at 8pm Central: https://www.twitch.tv/thedivedown_shane

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Leave us an audio message: https://www.podinbox.com/thedivedown

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Episode 163: Talking Magic in Trying Times Mar 02, 2022

Show notes

It's been a trying week. We needed a break. So this week, we're going to keep it positive by taking some time to discuss what we've been enjoying in Magic and beyond. It's a bit of a grab bag — we talk about the MOCS, Slogurk, Creativity, Oni-Cult, paper magic, hanging with Stan, hanging with Shane, and more. Stan gets a trophy. Dave loses creatively. Shane finds a deck he thinks is cool.

We'll also be donating the proceeds of this week's episode to Trans Lifeline (https://translifeline.org/) and the UN Refugee Agency (https://www.unhcr.org/).

The Break Down: Good Things in MOCS
The Dive Down: Good Things in Modern
The Dive Down, pt2: Good Things in Magic

Check out our NEW SPONSOR, Barrister and Mann! https://www.barristerandmann.com/ Use code THEDIVEDOWN2022 for 15% off your first order of some incredible fragrances, soaps, beard oils, and more.

Timestamps:
5:39 - Housekeeping
9:41 - The Break Down: The MOCS
15:29 - What makes GDS so good?
21:36 - The power of Lurrus
29:29 - Saturday's Modern Challenge
34:12 - The top 8
38:40 - The Super Qualifier top 8
42:40 - Are we banning Lurrus?
46:00 - A brief diversion
48:52 - The Dive Down begins - Stan likes Standard
54:10 - Dave plays Limited
1:00:31 - A mini deck tech on Aspiringspike's Rakdos Anvil in Modern
1:09:41 - Other Aspiringspike thoughts on Modern
1:11:20 - Stan 5-0's with Temur Slogurk
1:19:38 - Dave playing Indominatable Creativity
1:28:10 - Stan getting better at Magic
1:35:25 - Non-Magic things that bring us joy
1:43:40 - Closing out

Links from this week's episode:
The MOCS: https://magic.gg/events/2021-magic-online-champions-showcase-season-3
Saturday's Challenge: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/tournament/modern-challenge-12392345#paper
The PTQ: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/tournament/modern-super-qualifier-12392317#paper
Spike's Oni-Cult VOD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jlf1Ay6bWI&ab_channel=Aspiringspike
Stan's Slogurk Deck: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4647667#paper

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

Watch us stream our episodes every Sunday night at 8pm Central: https://www.twitch.tv/thedivedown_shane

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Leave us an audio message: https://www.podinbox.com/thedivedown

Support The Dive Down

Episode 162: Sleeve/Believe/Heave: Neon Dynasty pt.2 Ed. Feb 24, 2022

Show notes

Turns out that sleevin' neon is so fun we had to do it for a second week. So here it is — three or four or maybe more new decks that feature cards from Neon Dynasty including Modern Assault Loam with Boseiju (and Slogurk!), Modern Death & Taxes with Boseiju, Pioneer Auras with Light-Paws, and Pioneer Burn with Reinforced Ronin. But before we state them and rate them, we first go through last weekend's Modern Showcase Challenge and discover many shades of innovation in... red... and... white? Dave has boeuf sweats. Stan believes it's slime time now. Shane plays a deck he hates... again.

The Break Down: A Spicy Showcase
The Dive Down: Boseiju Loam, Boseiju Taxes, Light-Paws, Pio Burn, and Others
The Wind Down: 5 Minutes about Shane and Flesh and Blood

Check out our NEW SPONSOR, Barrister and Mann! https://www.barristerandmann.com/ Use code THEDIVEDOWN2022 for 15% off your first order of some incredible fragrances, soaps, beard oils, and more.

Timestamps:
3:32 - Housekeeping
6:40 - The Break Down: Modern Challenge Funtime
21:03 - The top 8
31:10 - A small diversion
34:50 - The Dive Down begins: S/B/H, Cool Cards Ed.
36:45 - Stan on Slogurk Oozing time
51:10 - Stan on Liquimetal Ponza
54:13 - Shane on Selesnya Taxes ft. Yorion
1:11:51 - Dave on Light-Paws Auras
1:28:35 - Shane on Shrapnel Blast Burn
1:34:35 - Shane's Flesh and Blood ProQuest
1:41:25 - Closing out

Links from this week's episode:
Modern Showcase Challenge: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/modern-showcase-challenge-2022-02-20
Temur Slogurk: Assault Loam: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4614095#paper
Temur Liquidmetal Ponza: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4616201#paper
Selesnya Taxes: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4621930#paper
Light-Paws Auras: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4620131#paper and https://twitter.com/masoneclark/status/1493478580940156928?s=20&t=UEobUZhWlLmEQeVdwxQbZQ
Ronin Burn: https://twitter.com/FelixSloo/status/1492313643962281989?t=blBSVeie85VXmdWpiRgErw&s=19

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

Watch us stream our episodes every Sunday night at 8pm Central: https://www.twitch.tv/thedivedown_shane

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Leave us an audio message: https://www.podinbox.com/thedivedown

Support The Dive Down

Episode 161: Sleeve/Believe/Heave: Fun With Artifacts ed. Feb 17, 2022

Show notes

Turns out that Neon Dynasty may have had a little more impact on our formats than we originally anticipated. The reason why? Why, it's (mostly) thanks to Magic's favorite no-downside card type: Artifacts. Tune in as we try out builds of Urzaful/Urzaless Affinity and UW Hammer in Modern, Vehicle Tribal in Historic, and a whole new Ensoul Artifact build in Pioneer. But first, we take a look across 3 high level Modern MTGO events from the weekend. Dave asks for forgiveness. Shane withholds a harsh judgement. Stan gets chipped.

The Break Down: Not many NEO cards in the Challenges
The Dive Down: NEO cards in Leagues: Vehicles, Affinity, and Ensoul
The Dive Down, cont: Stan's New Love: 4-0in' Prelims

Check out our NEW SPONSOR, Barrister and Mann! https://www.barristerandmann.com/ Use code THEDIVEDOWN2022 for 15% off your first order of some incredible fragrances, soaps, beard oils, and more.

Timestamps:
2:56 - Housekeeping
7:30 - The Break Down begins - Saturday's Challenge with NEW cards!
18:13 - The Sunday Challenge
25:25 - The Modern PTQ
30:25 - Some tournament takeaways
35:34 - A fun diversion
38:10 - The Dive Down begins - S/B/H Artifacts Ed.
40:20 - Shane with Historic Vehicles
57:02 - Dave on Modern Affinity
1:09:44 - Dave on Modern Vehicles
1:18:04 - Stan on Azorius Hammertime
1:31:34 - Stan on Ensoul Artifact
1:40:55 - Oni-Cult Anvil, briefly
1:43:15 - Closing out

Links from this week's episode:
Saturday's Challenge: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/tournament/modern-challenge-12387446#paper
Sunday's Challenge: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/tournament/modern-challenge-12387452#paper
Sunday's PTQ: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/tournament/modern-premier-12387425#paper
Historic Vehicles: https://twitter.com/jaredfarris/status/1491972071404052481?s=20&t=ITEHIewCd0CHmRVSBee6Xg
Spike's Consulate Dreadnaught Affinity: https://www.streamdecker.com/deck/ou3s6zIwy
SpiderSpace Affinity: https://twitter.com/SpiderSpaceMTG/status/1492623539773394944?s=20&t=qGj6nPhmn6AhDrLdDAknNw
Azorius Hammertime: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4613330#paper
Pioneer Ensoul Artifact: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4614011#paper

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

Watch us stream our episodes every Sunday night at 8pm Central: https://www.twitch.tv/thedivedown_shane

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Leave us an audio message: https://www.podinbox.com/thedivedown

Support The Dive Down

Episode 160: A Dynasty of Neon Spoilers, Vol. 2 Feb 10, 2022

Show notes

In the epic conclusion of our Neon Dynasty picks to click, we scan the complete set spoiler and shout out our favorite dragon, counterspell, samurai, and skyturtle. Before that, we kick off the show with break down of January's Modern MTGO metagame with another installment of the monthly report, and wrap up with a brief love letter to Legacy.

The Break Down: Monthly Modern Metagame: January
The Dive Down: Mode Cards Than You Could Ever Reconfigure
The Wind Down: Stan's New Love: Legacy

Check out our NEW SPONSOR, Barrister and Mann! https://www.barristerandmann.com/ Use code THEDIVEDOWN2022 for 15% off your first order of some incredible fragrances, soaps, beard oils, and more.

Timestamps:
4:19 - Housekeeping
9:00 - The Break Down: The January Meta Breakdown
23:40 - The most popular cards of January
30:46 - The Dive Down: Neon Dynasty spoilers!
32:43 - Blade of the Oni
36:52 - Eater of Virtue
38:34 - Mnemonic Sphere
41:39 - March of Burgeoning Life
44:48 - Colossal Skyturtle/Mirrorshell Crab
46:41 - Otawara, Soaring City
49:21 - Atsushi, the Blazing Sky
52:45 - Mukotai Soulripper
54:44 - Invoke the Ancients
56:44 - Reinforced Ronin
1:00:25 - Hidetsugu Consumes All
1:05:43 - Experimental Synthesizer
1:08:08 - Enthusiastic Mechanaut
1:09:40 - Mech Hanger/Greasefang, Okiba Boss
1:13:09 - March of Wretched Sorrow
1:14:30 - Containment Construct
1:18:11 - Silverfur Master
1:19:45 - Light-Paws, Emperor's Voice
1:22:42 - March of Swirling Mist
1:25:27 - Mechtitan Core
1:27:52 - Explosive Singularity
1:30:12 - Generous Visitor
1:31:20 - Disruption Protocol
1:33:56 - Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire/Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
1:38:09 - What are we most excited to play with?
1:40:55 - The Wind Down: Stan <3 Legacy
1:46:20 - Closing out

Links from this week's episode:
Full spoilers: https://scryfall.com/sets/neo?as=grid

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

Watch us stream our episodes every Sunday night at 8pm Central: https://www.twitch.tv/thedivedown_shane

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Leave us an audio message: https://www.podinbox.com/thedivedown

Support The Dive Down

Episode 159: A Dynasty of Neon Spoilers, Vol. 1 Feb 03, 2022

Show notes

It's time to head back to Kamigawa in the latest set... our Neon Destiny. I mean Density. I mean Dynasty. We take a look at cards from the first batch of spoilers we think are good in Modern, Historic, Pioneer, or just plain good! Before that, we break down the ManaTraders January Pioneer tournament.

Intro: Green Socks Filled With Money
The Break Down: Closing the Book on Pioneer
The Dive Down: You're My Density

Check out our NEW SPONSOR, Barrister and Mann! https://www.barristerandmann.com/ Use code THEDIVEDOWN2022 for 15% off your first order of some incredible fragrances, soaps, beard oils, and more.

Timestamps:
2:23 - Housekeeping
8:02 - The Break Down - Manatraders Pioneer January!
17:32 - The Top 8 and our thoughts on Pio
28:00 - The Dive Down begins - the mechanics of Kamigawa
39:07 - Let's talk cards! Boseju, Who Endures
50:28 - Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance
53:00 - Lion Sash
59:40 - The Reality Chip
1:04:26 - The Wandering Emperor
1:12:08 - Invoke Calamity
1:16:06 - March of Otherworldly Light
1:20:53 - Azusa's Many Journeys
1:23:58 - Secluded Courtyard
1:26:10 - Hotshot Mechanic
1:27:33 - "Procession of Joy"
1:31:19 - Lizard Blades
1:32:28 - Life of Toshiro Umezawa
1:35:11 - Mooncircuit Hacker
1:36:40 - Closing out

Links from this week's episode:
The decks and metagame of the ManaTraders Pioneer Tournament: https://pastebin.com/A6P4Dzs9
The Mechanics of Neon Dynasty: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/kamigawa-neon-dynasty-mechanics-2022-01-27
Neon Dynasty spoilers: https://scryfall.com/sets/neo?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?

Watch us stream our episodes every Sunday night at 8pm Central: https://www.twitch.tv/thedivedown_shane

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Leave us an audio message: https://www.podinbox.com/thedivedown

Support The Dive Down

Episode 158: We Thought There Would Be Bans, ft. SpiderSpace Jan 27, 2022

Show notes

With Dave off this week, we are joined by streamer, former guest, and co-host of Mishra's Babble, SpiderSpace! In the Break Down we talk about the (lack of) bans in Modern, then dive deep into the Modern Super Qualifier and SpiderSpace's second place finish. We then head into the Dive Down to discuss our recent play experiences, and in the Wind Down talk about the somber announcement from SCG of their ceasing their competitive content coverage.

The Break Down: Companions Live On
The Dive Down: And Spider Made the Finals!
The Wind Down: But Star City Though...

Check out our NEW SPONSOR, Barrister and Mann! https://www.barristerandmann.com/ Use code THEDIVEDOWN2022 for 15% off your first order of some incredible fragrances, soaps, beard oils, and more.

Timestamps:
4:34 - Housekeeping
7:20 - The Break Down begins - No bans in Modern!
17:16 - Analyzing the WOTC tea leaves
28:58 - Potential future unbannings
32:40 - What do we want unbanned?
39:25 - Saturday's Modern Showcase Challenge, ft Spiderspace!
1:02:21 - Cool Decks, Inc - Boros Brought Back
1:05:51 - The Dive Down begins - Spiderspace's lamenting
1:17:55 - Stan's smashing
1:23:30 - Shane's losing
1:30:45 - The Wind Down: But Star City Though...

Links from this week's episode:
January 25th B&R Announcement: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/january-25-2022-banned-and-restricted-announcement
Find Gabe on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpiderSpaceMTG
Saturday's Super Qualifier: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/tournament/modern-challenge-12377842#paper

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

Watch us stream our episodes every Sunday night at 8pm Central: https://www.twitch.tv/thedivedown_shane

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Leave us an audio message: https://www.podinbox.com/thedivedown

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Bonus 17: The VML, Sloths, Moose(s), and Linguine ft Carolyn Kavanagh Jan 25, 2022

Show notes

Stan and Dave sit down with the wonderful Carolyn Kavanagh to talk about the latest season of the VML, how we make new friends as adults, and which tree-dwelling mammal is the best animal of all. We also check in on Carolyn's current relationship with Modern and Mono-Green Tron.

Check out our NEW SPONSOR, Barrister and Mann! https://www.barristerandmann.com/ Use code THEDIVEDOWN2022 for 15% off your first order of some incredible fragrances, soaps, beard oils, and more.

Links from this week's episode:
vmlmtg.com
https://twitter.com/VMLMTG
https://twitter.com/MightyLinguine

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

Watch us stream our episodes every Sunday night at 8pm Central: https://www.twitch.tv/thedivedown_shane

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Leave us an audio message: https://www.podinbox.com/thedivedown

Support The Dive Down

Episode 157: Understanding the Pioneer Metagame ft. Dom Harvey Jan 20, 2022

Show notes

The heat is on in Pioneer town. Is the format back from the dead? Seems like everyone is talking about it, and it’s this month’s format for the Manatraders monthly tournament series. So we’ve invited the incredibly wise and skilled Dom Harvey to share his insights and analysis of Pioneer’s most popular decks, including Jeskai Ascendancy, Izzet Phoenix, Boros Heroic, Lotus Field, and more.

The Dive Down, pt1: No Break Down This Week!
The Dive Down, pt2: Because the Whole Ep is Just Decks!
The Dive Down, pt3: Phoenix, Ascendancy, Heroic, Chonks, and More!

Check out our NEW SPONSOR, Barrister and Mann! https://www.barristerandmann.com/ Use code THEDIVEDOWN2022 for 15% off your first order of some incredible fragrances, soaps, beard oils, and more.

Timestamps:
4:24 - Housekeeping
9:10 - The Dive Down begins - Pioneer Time!
11:30 - Izzet Phoenix
25:36 - Jeskai Ascendancy
36:13 - Boros Heroic
46:40 - Lotus Field
55:57 - Chonk-ish Red
1:06:07 - Jund Food
1:13:15 - Rakdos Midrange
1:19:25 - Azorius Control
1:25:41 - What is Pioneer about?
1:47:20 - Dom on Dom
1:53:29 - Closing out

Links from this week's episode:
Dom's Twitter: https://twitter.com/dominharvia?lang=en
Dom's linktree: https://linktr.ee/domhrv
The top decks of Pioneer: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/metagame/pioneer#paper

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

Watch us stream our episodes every Sunday night at 8pm Central: https://www.twitch.tv/thedivedown_shane

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Leave us an audio message: https://www.podinbox.com/thedivedown

Support The Dive Down

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