The Dive Down

Latest Episodes:

Episode 138: Evaluating the Impact of Modern Horizons 2, ft. Mishra's Babble Aug 25, 2021

Show notes

With Stan and Dave out this week, Shane recruited the hosts of Mishra's Babble for another crossover episode. They spend time evaluating the metagame and decks from the Hunter Burton Memorial Open, then head into The Dive Down to evaluate the impact of MH2 on the meta, their deck selection, and how they think about the format.

The Break Down: Meet The Babblers
The Break Down Pt.2: HBMO
The Dive Down: MH2 is Still Crushing It

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 "thedivedown2021"

Timestamps:
3:07 - Housekeeping
4:30 - Introducing our guest hosts
16:25 - The Break Down: The Hunter Burton Memorial Open
19:10 - The Top 300 Meta
29:35 - The Top 128 Decks
38:47 - The Top 32 Decks
46:35 - The Top 8
1:12:15 - The Dive Down: The Impact of MH2
1:13:10 - Efficiency
1:21:32 - Flexibility
1:24:45 - What strategies and mindsets have shifted?
1:37:22 - What opportunities are there in Modern?
1:47:30 - How can we learn from our experiences?
1:55:02 - Where to find our guests and closing out

Links from this week's episode:
Mishra's Babble Podcast: https://anchor.fm/francisco-pawluszek/
Fran on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/fpawlusz
Evan on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/evaros
Gabe on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/spiderspace
HBMO Decks: https://www.mtgel.com/deck/1

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

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Bonus 14: My Other Hammer is Also Red ft. MHayashi Aug 20, 2021

Show notes

MTGO grinder and deck designer, Matt Hayashi, aka MHayashi, joins Stan to talk about Mono Red Obosh, Hammer of Bogardan, and some of Matt's other favorite strategies in Modern.

MHayashi's Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHayash55780121
MHayashi's YouTube channels:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvVnz4iBRxBtVI2oe80S3kg?view_as=subscriber
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVnBRe8ri0glLI0_5G-L11g
MHayashi's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MagicMatt

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

Support The Dive Down

Episode 137: Does Stoneblade Cut It in This Meta? Aug 11, 2021

Show notes

This week we tackle a top-tier Patreon request! Sean D asked us to look at Stoneforge Mystic in Modern, and we were more than happy to oblige. We each played a deck featuring Stoneforge in very different ways, and of course are happy to bring you our takes. Before that, we take a look at two wild Modern challenges that give us a lot of hope! And don't miss Housekeeping for some very important announcements!

The... Housekeeping??: A Can't Miss Housekeeping
The Break Down: More Modern Challenges
The Dive Down: Rock, Paper, Stoneblades

Timestamps:
2:39 - Housekeeping
8:26 - The Break Down: More Modern Challenges
26:20 - The Dive Down: Revisiting Stoneforge
29:00 - Stoneforge's History in Modern
37:27 - The Decks We Tested
42:06 - Nettlecyst Non-Blade
59:34 - Esper Blade
1:11:39 - Orzhov Griefanimatorblade
1:37:10 - Our Takes on Stoneforge in Modern Today
1:42:00 - Closing Out

Links from this week's episode:
Saturday's Challenge: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/tournament/modern-challenge-12326162#paper
Sunday's Challenge: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/tournament/modern-challenge-12326167#paper
Orzhov Nettle-non-blade: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4197511#paper
Esper Blade: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4206684#paper
Orzhov Griefanimateblade: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4212787#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

Support The Dive Down

Episode 136: Historic Horizons: New Cards Same as the Old Cards Aug 04, 2021

Show notes

Jumpstart: Historic Horizons is upon us, and we are contractually obligated to have takes for you. So here they are. We go over the new mechanics, the economy issues, and, most importantly, the stand-out cards in the set. Before that, we look at some of the most recent high-level Historic tournaments to take a look at the current meta before it gets shaken up.

The Break Down: Historic Insights
The Dive Down: Seeking Perpetual Conjuration
The Dive Down, cont: Just a Whole Lot of Cards

Timestamps:
2:20 - Housekeeping
8:31 - The Break Down Begins!
10:14 - The Historic Tournament Metagame
20:59 - The Winning Decks in Historic
25:49 - What We're Looking for in Historic Horizons
34:12 - The Dive Down Begins! Introducing Historic Horizons
38:44 - The Digital Mechanics of Historic Horizons
50:50 - Our Takes on Digital Mechanics
1:02:19 - Finally Talking About the Cards
1:04:13 - The White Cards
1:12:00 - The Blue Cards
1:20:25 - The Black Cards
1:26:00 - The Red Cards
1:34:30 - The Green Cards
1:37:40 - The Gold Cards
1:40:05 - The Artifacts
1:40:54 - Takes on Historic Horizons Cards
1:44:38 - Closing Out

Links from this week's episode:
Historic Horizons Announcement: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-digital/what-mtg-arenas-jumpstart-historic-horizons-2021-07-26
The New-to-Magic Cards: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/card-image-gallery/jumpstart-historic-horizons
The Packet Lists: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-digital/jumpstart-historic-horizons-packet-lists-2021-07-26

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

Support The Dive Down

Episode 135: Modern ManaTraders and Metagamers Jul 28, 2021

Show notes

This week we do a deep dive into some STATS. We look at the big ManaTraders event from last weekend - what decks made it to the swiss, and how did they perform? We even get a tournament report from the one host who qualified! Following that, we take a look at the evolving Modern metagame from the last 3 weeks of tournament data to see how the format is shaking out.

The Break Down: Historic What?
The Dive Down: Crashing ManaTraders
The Dive Down, cont: Hammer Seems Good

Timestamps:
2:31 - Housekeeping
3:35 - The Break Down begins - Historic Changes are Afoot!
15:15 - The Historic Horizons leak
28:45 - The ManaTraders Modern Event
30:50 - The ManaTraders Modern Meta
44:44 - The MT Top 8
51:40 - Fighting HammerTime
53:40 - Stan's Footfalls Tournament Report
1:08:57 - A Look at the Competitive Modern Meta
1:17:15 - Looking More Closely at the Top Modern Decks
1:31:40 - What's Not at the Top?
1:34:35 - Takes on the Meta
1:41:40 - Closing Ou

Links from this week's episode:
Bamzing's ManaTraders breakdown: https://www.reddit.com/r/ModernMagic/comments/oqhs4y/manatraders_series_modern_decklists_july_2021/
WIll Krueger's HammerTime writeup: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13NtaEE5xyhElk68kxcI9XYteWw6Je-hlXzik64otj3U/edit

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

Support The Dive Down

Episode 134: Five Cards You Want Banned in Modern Jul 21, 2021

Show notes

In this weeks ep, we reveal the results of The Dive Down Nation's Modern Ban survey. What are the five cards you voted on to be removed from Modern, and more importantly.... what are our takes on the results?! Before that, we go over some Tasha's Hideous Laughter math that citizen of the Nation Stefan generated, and briefly discuss Sunday's Modern Challenge Top 8!

The Break Down: Tasha's Hideous Mathter
The Dive Down: The Nation Decides
The Dive Down, cont: What if Nothing?

Timestamps:
2:45 - Housekeeping
7:10 - The Break Down - Tasha's Hideous Math
17:33 - Breaking News! The Sunday Challenge Top 8
22:22 - The Dive Down Begins
23:46 - Lurrus of the Dream-Den
25:57 - The case for banning Lurrus
38:02 - The case against banning Lurrus
44:40 - The final verdict on Lurrus
47:57 - Mishra's Bauble
51:40 - The case for banning Bauble
58:31 - The case against banning Bauble
1:04:36 - The final verdict on Bauble
1:07:22 - Primeval Titan
1:08:55 - The case for banning Titan
1:13:20 - The case against banning Titan
1:15:20 - The final verdict on Titan
1:18:37 - Teferi, Time Raveler
1:19:28 - The case for banning Teferi
1:24:05 - The case against banning Teferi
1:27:29 - The final verdict on Teferi
1:29:45 - Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
1:30:40 - The case for banning Ragavan
1:36:40 - The case against banning Ragavan
1:38:10 - The final verdict on Ragavan
1:39:15 - Should we ban... Nothing?
1:41:10 - The Wind Down - what didn't make the top 5?
1:48:38 - Closing out

Links from this week's episode:
How Hideous is Tasha's Laughter: https://www.reddit.com/r/ModernMagic/comments/omalkc/how_hideous_is_tashas_laughter_what_the_numbers/
Sunday's Challenge: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/modern-challenge-2021-07-19

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

Support The Dive Down

Episode 133: Izzet You Glad We Played Murktide? Jul 14, 2021

Show notes

First up this week, we take a quick spin through last week's Modern Leagues and pick out a few extremely cool decks to chat about. After that it's an Izzet world and we just delve right into it. That's right, it's UR week on The Dive Down (again) as we take a deep look at one of the latest best decks of Modern Horizons 2 Modern — Izzet Murktide. We discuss why we think the deck is suited to the meta right now, how to play it, and how to beat it (we think). Tune in to find out if this is a control deck, a midrange deck, or a tempo deck — we have a definitive answer! (Warning: We do not have a definitive answer.)

Shane loves Counterspell. Dave loves Garden State. Stan loves 8-2s.

The Break Down: Some Cool Decks We Saw
The Dive Down, pt 1: An 8/8 for Two
The Dive Down, pt 2: Izzet Just Death's Shadow?

Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Get 15% off your first 3 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use code "thedivedown2021"

Timestamps:
4:00 – Housekeeping
8:36 – The Break Down begins – Cool Decks, Inc!
10:15 – 4C Carth the Lion Superfriends
17:30 – Sultai Tokens
22:00 – Izzet Phoenix
25:49 – Hammertime ft. Ingenious Smith
32:38 – The Dive Down begins – Izzet Murktide!
39:00 – The Spells
42:50 – A Mishra’s Bauble digression
47:07 – The Sideboard
49:40 – The fundamental strategies of Murktide
1:00:15 – Is this a Control deck?
1:07:41 – A Murktide Regent digression
1:12:00 – Is this a Graveyard deck?
1:20:33 – A Counterspell digression
1:23:20 – Tactics & Sequencing
1:33:50 – Our experiences playing
1:44:41 – Closing out

Links from this week's episode:
4C Carth Superfriends, as trophied by Greenhide1
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4136337#paper
BUG Tokens, as trophied by Litledude123
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4129352#paper
MODERN Izzet Phoenix, as trophied by AspiringSpike
https://twitter.com/MoughonEvart/status/1413522001583554568
Hammertime with Ingenious Smith by Hamuda
https://twitter.com/hamudao3/status/1413998949728411648?s=20
2nd Place Izzet Murktide deck from Saturday’s Modern Challenge from DO0MSWITCH
https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/modern-challenge-2021-07-11?xd2#domswitch_nd_place

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

Support The Dive Down

Episode 132: Venture Into the Adventure: MTG n' D&D Spoilers v1 Jul 07, 2021

Show notes

Well, we've finally arrived at The Forgotten Realms, and talk about what mechanics and cards from the latest set we think have the potential to impact Historic, Modern, and Pioneer. Before that, we talk about the weekend's Modern Challenges to continue to keep up with the dynamic Modern meta.

The Break Down: Another Heartfelt Thanks//It's Darcy B's World
The Dive Down: Spoiled by Spoilers
The Wind Down: Venture Bros.

Timestamps:
3:08 - Housekeeping
6:09 - The Break Down begins- Modern Challenges
9:37 - A Murktide Regent and Izzet diversion
15:27 - The Cascade decks
22:18 - More thoughts on the Challenge
27:56 - The Challenge top 8
29:29 - The Sunday Challenge
33:29 - What We're Buying
39:10 - The Dive Down begins - Venture into the Adventure!
41:12 - Our History with D&D
50:44 - Dungeons
58:21 - D20s
1:05:34 - Creature Lands
1:10:13 - Classes
1:15:25 - Pack Tactics
1:18:06 - Cards that Inspire Us
1:18:58 - Treasure Vault
1:21:08 - Portable Hole
1:23:15 - Demilich
1:26:12 - Flameskull
1:29:14 - Circle of Dreams Druid
1:31:46 - Oswald Fiddlebender
1:34:59 - Grim Wanderer
1:36:52 - Yuan-Ti Malison
1:38:31 - Hand of Vecna
1:40:40 - Sphere of Annihilation
1:41:54 - Devour Intellect & Eye of Vecna
1:44:35 - The Wind Down - Venture Bros.

Links from this week's episode:
Saturday's Challenge: https://www.reddit.com/r/ModernMagic/comments/odmf2t/modern_showcase_challenge_results_jul_3_2021/
Sunday's Challenge: https://www.reddit.com/r/ModernMagic/comments/oeac16/sunday_modern_challenge_results_jul_4_2021/
Adventures in the Forgotten Realms: https://scryfall.com/sets/afr

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

Support The Dive Down

Episode 131: Still Crushing on Modern Horizons 2 Jul 01, 2021

Show notes

SPECIAL NOTE: We had issues with Dave's audio this week, so he sounds bad! We are sorry!
In this week's episode we continue to explore the developments and decks of the Modern Horizons 2 metagame. We first explore 4 Modern events that took place over the last weekend, then talk about our experiences playing some of the latest contenders in Modern. Is Stan converting to a full-time Enchantress player? Did Shane purchase another set of Stoneforge Mystics? Did Dave.... oh wait Dave always loves Rakdos.

The Break Down: Together Again
The Dive Down: 68 Degree Basement
The Dive Down, cont: Rakdos, Hammer, Enchantress

Timestamps:
3:40 - Housekeeping
7:35 - The Break Down begins - the evolving Modern meta
8:58 - The MOCS Showcase
15:40 - Insight Modern 5k
29:42 - Modern Challenges
31:09 - Takes on the Meta
37:23 - The Dive Down begins - S/B/H MH2v2
38:18 - Rakdos ft. Lurrus
1:02:39 - Mono-W Hammertime ft. Lurrus
1:21:00 - Selesnya Enchantress

Links from this week's episode:
MOCS Champions Showcase: https://magic.gg/decklists/2021-magic-online-champions-showcase-season-1-modern-decklists
Insight Esports Modern 5k: https://mtgmelee.com/Tournament/View/6888
6/27 Modern Challenge: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/tournament/modern-challenge-12309177#paper
6/28 Modern Challenge: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/tournament/modern-challenge-12309183#paper
Rakdos Rock: https://www.streamdecker.com/deck/6W2Hiwbm_
_Mono-White Hammer: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4109042#paper
Selesnya Enchantress: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4100268#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

Support The Dive Down

Episode 130: Sleeve/Believe/Heave Modern Horizons 2 Blue Decks ed. Jun 24, 2021

Show notes

Stan and Shane played a whole lot of blue spells for the latest installment of Sleeve/Believe/Heave, featuring some emerging Modern Horizons 2 strategies. We chat about our findings with the Izzet Delver decks, Izzet Food, Jeskai Monkey Blade, and more!

The Break Down: Modern Challenges
The Dive Down: Sleeve/Believe/Heave Modern Horizons 2 Blue Decks ed.

Timestamps:
3:35 - Housekeeping
5:38 - The Break Down - Two Modern Challenges
19:38 - Sunday's Challenge
28:31 - Challenge Trends
37:33 - The Dive Down Begins - Jeskai Tempo
43:55 - A Prismatic Ending Sidebar
49:05 - A Ragavan Sidebar
59:04 - A Kaldra Compleat Sidebar
1:05:41 - Izzet Urza Food Midrange
1:13:39 - Stan Quizzes Shane on Urza Food
1:23:44 - Delver in Modern
1:27:06 - Izzet Delver v2
1:30:39 - A Dragon's Rage Channeler Sidebar
1:32:30 - Back to the Deck
1:37:06 - Delver vs. Stoneblade
1:40:05 - An Urza's Saga Sidebar
1:48:30 - Closing Out

Links from this week's episode:
Saturday's Challenge: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/modern-challenge-2021-06-20
Sunday's Challenge: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/modern-challenge-2021-06-21
Jeskai Control/Tempo: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4070264#paper
Izzet Urza Food: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4089146
Izzet Delver variants:
V1: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4074067#paper
V2: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4089149
Stan version: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4074197#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

Support The Dive Down

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