The Dive Down

Latest Episodes:

Episode 75: Pioneer Jeskai Lukka: Superfriendly Fires May 29, 2020

Show notes

We dive into one of the most powerful and popular decks in Pioneer - Jeskai Lukka Yorion Sharknado Fires Control! Or whatever it's called!
The Break Down: The latest Pioneer SQ
The Dive Down: TapouT
The Dive Down, continued: Agents of Snap Concessions

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Timestamps:
2:35 - Housekeeping
6:25 - The Break Down begins - the Pioneer Super Qualifier
6:50 - PSQ Top 32 Meta
16:44 - PSQ Top 8
18:17 - Interesting Decks
27:27 - The Dive Down Begins - Yorion Superfriends!
30:30 - What is tapout control?
35:40 - Fires of Invention and tapout control
43:26 - The gameplan of Yorion Superfriends
53:01 - Enabling Lukka
56:40 - The yorion advantage
1:09:50 - Closing out games
1:12:30 - The supporting elements
1:18:51 - Getting the most out of Fires
1:32:55 - Sideboarding and matchups
1:47:30 - Some thoughts on the deck
1:50:20 - Closing out

Links from this week's episode:
Tapout Control / PV's Playhouse / Paulo Vitor Damo Da Rosa: https://www.channelfireball.com/all-strategy/home/pvs-playhouse-control/
The Pioneer SQ: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/pioneer-super-qualifier-2020-05-23
Jeskai Superfriends: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/wur-20302994-c1b8-4ede-a1ad-81e213d4b28a#paper
More Superfriends: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/3047732#paper

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

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Episode 74: Complicated Companion Questions ft. Aspiring Spike May 22, 2020

Show notes

This week Aspiring Spike is back to help us understand the Companion metagame in Pioneer and Modern. What's good, what's not so good, and how to next-level your opponents!

The Break Down: Lotus Box Modern
The Dive Down: Shane Has Facts
The Dive Down, pt. 2: A Love/Hate Relationship

Timestamps:
2:55 - Housekeeping
4:37 - The Break Down sorta begins - Another B&R annoucement
10:48 - The Break Down really begins - The Team Lotus Box modern 1k
13:25 - The 1k metagame
31:52 - Companion stats and the top 8
33:30 - Tournament takeaways
36:36 - The Dive Down begins - the Companion metas
41:43 - Why has the metagame coalesced around Companions?
47:06 - Who's having fun?
51:28 - How is this metagame different than before?
58:55 - How are you getting an edge?
1:09:01 - Playing against Companions
1:29:03 - What do we think will happen to Companions?
1:34:25 - What are WOTCs long-term plans for Companions?
1:36:45 - Why might WOTC change Companions?
1:41:41 - Full-time Aspiring Spike
1:45:30 - The Sorta Wind Down - questions for Aspiring Spike
1:53:22 - Closing out

Links from this week's episode:
The Team Lotus Box Modern 1K: https://mtgdecks.net/Modern/lotus-box-league-season-1-modern-1k-team-lotus-box-tournament-62866
Ari Lax: How to Exploit Every Companion in Constructed: https://articles.starcitygames.com/premium/how-to-exploit-every-companion-in-constructed/
Aspiring Spike on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MoughonEvart
Aspiring Spike on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/aspiringspike

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

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Episode 73: Diving Deeper: How Do I Know If I'm Winning? May 15, 2020

Show notes

This week we tackle a level-up prompt from a Patron of The Dive Down Nation - what does it mean to have advantage in a game of Magic? We explore what advantage can look like in different aspects of the game, how to use it in your game play, and how to play when you are ahead or behind.
The Break Down: Cool decks from recent challenges
The Dive Down: The Unified Theory of Magic
The Dive Down, pt. 2: Debunking the Unified Theory of Magic

Timestamps:
6:27 - The Break Down begins: Cool decks!
6:59 - May 11 Pioneer Challenge
20:42 - May 11 Modern Challenge
26:44 - UW Miracles ft. Counterbalance
31:52 - The Dive Down begins: Advantage in Magic
42:50 - What’s the first thing that comes to mind with advantage?
49:32 - Is there a way to talk about advantage in a single cohesive way?
57:58 - Thinking about actions instead of turns.
1:06:22 - Are some decks more sensitive to advantage?
1:09:39 - Does it all come down to deck plans?
1:12:05 - What about advantage in combo?
1:14:50 - How fragile is having an advantage in Magic?
1:23:45 - Does a format’s power level make advantage more important?
1:27:17 - Taking your plan to the next level with advantage.
1:30:14 - What to do with your knowledge of in-game advantage.
1:33:05 - How do you regain advantage?
1:41:02 - What to down you already have the advantage.
1:46:38 - How do we get from advantage to intuition?

Links from this week's episode:
The May 11th Pio Challenge: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/pioneer-challenge-2020-05-11#decklists
The May 11th Modern Challenge: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/modern-challenge-2020-05-11#decklists
The May 10th Modern Challenge: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/modern-challenge-2020-05-10

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

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Episode 72: Sleeve/Believe/Heave: Constant Companions, v.2 May 08, 2020

Show notes

We take three more Companions and three new decks through the S/B/H process, and let you know what we thought about them! Maybe we even used that hippo one! (We didn't.)
The Break Down: The Lotus Box is a League
The Dive Down: Yorion, Lurrus (Again?), and Gyruda
The Wind Down: 3 Minutes About Hobbies

Timestamps:
2:34 - Housekeeping
6:03 - The Break Down - The Team Lotus Box Pioneer Tournament top 8
11:28 - Closer looks at the new Companion decks of Pioneer
22:15- Winrate stats
24:20 - Takeaways from the tournament
31:00 - The Dive Down begins - Companion S/B/H, pt.2
32:29 - Bant Snow Control ft. Yorion
59:40 - Pioneer Boros Burn ft. Lurrus
1:21:05 - Sultai Gyruda Combo ft.... Gyruda
1:46:01 - The Wind Down - what we're doing during Social Distancing
1:49:26 - Closing out

Links from this week's episode:
The Team Lotus Box tournament series: https://www.lotusboxleague.com/
Bant Snow Control: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2982916#paper
Boros Burn: https://mtgdecks.net/Pioneer/boros-burn-lurrus-decklist-by-piper-powell-965744
Gyruda combo: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2974794#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

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Episode 71: Sleeve/Believe/Heave: Constant Companions, v.1 May 01, 2020

Show notes

This week The Dive Down boys test out some of the latest decks in Modern and Pioneer, all featuring Companions! Love them or hate them, they are certainly here for now. Listen and learn what we think about 3 of the newest popular Companions!
The Break Down: 2 Challenging Modern Challenges
The Dive Down: Our New Friends Lurrus, Obosh, and Zirda
The Wind Down: Funeral For a Friend

Timestamps:
2:26 - Housekeeping
6:03 - The Break Down: 2 Modern Challenges
15:26 - The second Modern Challenge!
26:56 - The Dive Down begins: Ever hear of Companions?
29:15 - Grixis Death's Shadow ft. Lurrus in Modern
49:33 - Some tips with and against Lurrus
57:03 - Gruul Aggro ft. Obosh in Pioneer
1:20:04 - Beating Obosh
1:23:24 - Zirda Elves in Modern
1:33:15 - Stoneforge Mystic Zirda!
1:41:08 - Our takes on Companions
1:51:41 - The Wind Down: RIP DCI

LInks from this week's episode:
Lurrus Shadow: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2958819#paper
Obosh Gruul: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2940733#paper
Zirda Elves: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2948760#paper
Zirda SFM Elves: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2958129#paper
Izzet Lutri: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2961717#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

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Episode 70: Ponza: Sprawling Out Apr 24, 2020

Show notes

We hang out with our old friend Klothys and her minions as we do a deck dive into the latest tier 1 Modern deck, Ponza!
The Break Down: Challenge of the Companions
The Break Down, cont: The Takes You're Looking For
The Dive Down: 2 Glorybringers on Turn 3

Timestamps:
2:45 - Housekeeping
5:42 - The Break Down begins: a Pioneer super qualifier
6:28 - The top 8 (with maybe some Companion talk)
22:42 - The rest of the meta
25:48 - The immediate impact of Companions and our hot takes
39:25 - The Dive Down: Gruul Midrange/RG Ponza
45:10 - Our initial thoughts
48:40 - What this deck is trying to do
53:15 - The early game
58:22 - The midgame
1:00:58 - A special focus on Klothys
1:06:43 - Back to the ramp targets and midgame plays
1:13:20 - Closing out the game
1:21:01 - The Companion Variant
1:31:45 - Why is Ponza good now?
1:36:30 - Some good and kinda bad matchups
1:41:30 - Some helpful thoughts
1:45:30 - How to stop Ponza
1:48:50 - The future of Ponza in the meta
1:50:28 - Closing out

Links from this week's episode:
The Pioneer Super Qualifier: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/pioneer-super-qualifier-2020-04-18
The “Classic” Ponza list: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2878672#paper
The Companion list: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2941115#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

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Episode 69: Ikoria: A Lair of Spoilers, Pt. 2 Apr 17, 2020

Show notes

Dave is back and we tackle a second batch of spoilers from Ikoria, and give you our picks to click in Pioneer and Modern! Then we wind things down with The Dive Down Nation's spoiler survey.
The Break Down: The latest Pioneer Super Qualifier
The Dive Down: More Monsters, Fewer Problems
The Wind Down: The Nation's spoiler survey

Timestamps:
1:57 - Housekeeping
4:16 - The Break Down begins: the Pioneer Super Qualifier top 8
14:25 - The top 32 metagame breakdown
21:05 - The Dive Down begins: Ikoria spoilers pt 2
21:27 - Of One Mind
29:22 - Shark Typhoon
34:03 - Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy
40:44 - Slitherwisp
45:58 - Cunning Nightbonder
49:01 - Skycat Sovereign
53:20 - Blitz of the Thunder-Raptor
1:00:16 - Labyrinth Raptor
1:03:54 - Swallow Whole
1:10:01 - The Ozolith
1:14:14 - Neutralize
1:18:27 - Quick Hits!
1:27:18 - The Triomes!
1:36:27 - The Wind Down: The Nation's spoiler survey
1:47:48 - Closing out

Links from this week's episode:
The Pioneer Super Qualifier: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/tournament/pioneer-super-qualifier-12130311#paper
Ikoria spoilers: https://scryfall.com/sets/iko?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

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Bonus 7: Mono-Red Prowess ft. Ryan Overturf Apr 15, 2020

Show notes

In this bonus episode, Dave and Stan got to chat with Ryan Overturf about Mono Red Prowess! Who doesn’t love an explosive Lightning Bolt deck? We chat about the deck’s evolution in Modern, how to evaluate its threats, side boarding and more!

Find Ryan Overturf:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RyanOverdrive
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/ryanoverdrive
Lodestone Games: https://twitter.com/LodestoneCG

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

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

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Episode 68: Ikoria: Lair of the Spoilers, Pt. 1 ft. Aspiring Spike Apr 10, 2020

Show notes

We have Evart Moughon, aka Aspiring Spike, on as a guest host to go over the first batch of Ikoria spoilers!
The Break Down: Modern Showcase!
The Dive Down: Behemoth Spoilers!
The Wind Down: Listener Questions!

Timestamps:
2:28 - Housekeeping
3:35 - The Break Down: Modern Super Qualifier
5:30 - The top 8
14:42 - The top 32 meta
28:07 - The Dive Down begins: how we evaluate cards
32:39 - The mechanics of Ikoria
44:31 - Picks to Click: Lurrus of the Dream Den
52:09 - Heartless Act
57:01 - Vivien, Monsters' Advocate
1:04:06 - Sea-Dasher Octopus
1:07:24 - Fiend Artisan
1:11:29 - Sprite Dragon
1:16:24 - General Kudro of Drannith
1:22:01 - Rielle, the Everwise
1:25:39 - Mythos of Nethroi
1:29:27 - Some quick hits
1:35:12 - The Wind Down - questions for Aspiring Spike
1:45:21 - Where to find Aspiring Spike
1:46:29 - Closing Out

Links from this week's episode:
Modern Super Qualifier: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/modern-super-qualifier-2020-04-05#decklists
The Mechanics of Ikoria: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/ikoria-lair-behemoths-mechanics-2020-04-02?sd
Ikoria spoilers: https://scryfall.com/sets/iko?order=set&as=grid
Aspiring Spike on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/aspiringspike
Aspiring Spike on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MoughonEvart/

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

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Episode 67: Sleeve/Believe/Heave: Pioneer Budget Decks Apr 03, 2020

Show notes

This week we each take a budget deck through the S/B/H process, and share our experiences testing out some novel options in Pioneer!
The Break Down: Talking Two Pioneer Super Qualifiers
The Dive Down: Ox Talk (and some other things)

Timestamps:
3:40 - Housekeeping
6:54 - The Break Down begins - Pioneer Super Qualifiers
8:00 - PSQ#1
14:45 - PSQ#2
21:45 - The top 32x2 metagame
37:45 - The Dive Down begins - Why budget decks in Pioneer?
42:29 - Mono-Red Phoenix
58:04 - Mono-Red Hollow One
1:16:01 - Mono-Blue Fliers and budget UW Spirits
1:34:18 - Do budget decks have a home in Pioneer?
1:41:00 - Closing Out

Links from this week's episode:
Pioneer SQ #1: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/pioneer-super-qualifier-2020-03-29-0
Pioneer SQ #2: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/pioneer-super-qualifier-2020-03-29
Emma's budget Pioneer article: https://infinite.tcgplayer.com/article/Pioneer-Budget-Brews:-Which-Card%3F-Dis-card/f29f8aad-6742-4df0-abcb-47f2eb592e42/
Mono-Red Phoenix: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2873533#paper
Mono-Blue Skies: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2873660#paper
Budget Azorius Spirits: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2875538#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

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