The Dive Down

Latest Episodes:

Episode 50: How to Casual Spike a New Deck Nov 27, 2019

Show notes

The crew tackle a level-up topic: how to overcome the challenge of picking up a new deck!
The Break Down: GP Columbus
The Dive Down: That Fresh Deck Smell
The Dive Down, cont.: Those Fresh Deck Plans

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Timestamps:
2:16 - Housekeeping
4:45 - The Break Down begins - GP Columbus
7:07 - The day 1 meta
17:20 - The day 2 meta
21:38 - The top 8 and our thoughts on Modern at the end of 2019
31:30 - The Dive Down begins - how to learn a new deck
33:10 - What we like about picking up a new deck
40:10 - What we don’t like about picking up new decks
45:59 - How do we learn about new decks
54:58 - Thinking about a deck’s plan - the early game
1:05:38 - The mid-game
1:11:03 - The late-game
1:13:25 - What is your deck trying to do better than other decks
1:19:00 - Looking for card synergies in your deck
1:21:24 - What is your deck’s position in the meta?
1:23:44 - What’s the role of your deck?
1:31:52 - what can you lose to?
1:37:50 - closing out

Links from this week's episode:
CFB's MF Columbus Coverage: https://coverage.channelfireball.com/event/42
Who's The Beatdown?: https://articles.starcitygames.com/premium/whos-the-beatdown/

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 49: Ban is Just Another Word for Pioneer Justice Nov 22, 2019

Show notes

This week, the Dive Down looks at some of Modern's bans throughout history, and examine how they shaped the format as it today.

The Beak Down: SCG Invitational, Modern and Pioneer results
The Dive Down: A history of bans and their impact on Modern
The Wind Down: The cards we liked in 2019

Timestamps:
1:59 - Housekeeping
3:44 - The Break Down Begins
8:00 - Modern Discussion
24:43 - Pioneer Discussion
40:55 - The Dive Down Begins
44:39- The First B&R
50:45 - Eggs Ban
57:36 - Eye of Ugin Ban
68:37 - KCI Ban
77:08 - Putting it All Together
91:54 - The Wind Down

Links from this week's episode:
SCG Pioneer Day 2 Metagame: http://www.starcitygames.com/events/coverage/4680_day_2_metagame_breakdown.html
SCG Modern Day 2 Metagame: http://www.starcitygames.com/events/coverage/4680_day_2_metagame_breakdown.html
SCG Modern Decks 7-1 or Better: http://www.starcitygames.com/events/coverage/4687_71_or_better_modern_decklists.html
The First B&R: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/explanation-september-2011-br-changes-2011-09-20-0
Eggs Ban: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/banned-and-restricted-2013-04-22-0
Eye of Ugin Ban: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/banned-and-restricted-announcement-2016-04-04
KCI Ban: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/january-21-2019-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

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Episode 48: Sleeve It/Believe It/Heave It: Pioneer Edition Nov 15, 2019

Show notes

This week, the Dive Down gents explore three winning decks from the breakout new format - Pioneer!

The Break Down: Veil of Summer banned, and the MTGO Modern Challenge
The Dive Down: S/B/H Pioneer Edition!
The Wind Down: Archival Masters

Timestamps:
2:16 - Housekeeping
3:06 - The Break Down Begins - MORE Pioneer Bans
9:33 - The Nov 10th Modern Challenge
32:38 - The Dive Down Begins - Our first Pioneer Sleeve/Believe/Heave
34:20 - Shane with Hardened Scales
54:01 - Dave with Boros Feather
1:15:51 - Stan with Izzet Ensoul Artifact
1:29:22 - The speed of Pioneer
1:32:28 - Is Pioneer Standard+ or Modern-?
1:39:32 - The Wind Down: Our card storage methods

Links from this week's episode:
The Nov 11 Pioneer Banning: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/november-11-2019-pioneer-banned-announcement
The Nov 9 Modern Challenge: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/tournament/modern-challenge-12014490#paper
Hardened Scales: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/pioneer-hardened-scales-111268#paper
Boros Feather: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2463134#paper
Izzet Ensoul: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2473872#paper
The Ultimate Guard Arkhive: https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Guard-Arkhive-XenoSkin-Card/dp/B01M9C7OUU

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 47: Spirits: Be Yourself, in Ghost Form Nov 08, 2019

Show notes

This week, The Dive Down gents do a patent-pending Dive into a fan favorite tribe - Spirits! We also discuss the first wave of Pioneer bans and the decks of the first Pioneer PTQ.

Breaking News - The first Pioneer bans!
The Break Down - The first Pioneer PTQ!
The Dive Down - A Spooky Modern Tribe

Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
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Timestamps:
04:47 - Housekeeping
05:42 - Breaking News - Pioneer Bans!
18:40 - The Break Down - The Pioneer PTQ
33:36 - The Dive Down Begins - An introduction to Modern Spirits
37:09 - A brief history of Spirits
42:00 - Cards and strategy - The disruption
59:56 - The lords
1:04:41 - The broken cards
1:15:38 - Bant vs Azorius Spirits
1:22:02 - The Spirits sideboard
1:25:29 - Playing against Spirits
1:31:40 - The future of Spirits
1:37:34 - Wrapping things up

Links from this week's episode:
The Nov 4 Pioneer Bannings: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/november-4-2019-pioneer-banned-announcement
The first Pioneer PTQ: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/tournament/pioneer-ptq-12006968#paper
Azorius Spirits: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2422839#online
Bant Spirits: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/modern-bant-spirits-52507#online
Pioneer Spirits: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2474730#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 46: Threat Level: Oko Nov 01, 2019

Show notes

This week we dive deep on Magic's latest boogeyman — Oko, Thief of Crowns. Is it one of the best cards ever or just one of the goodest? We work it out in between tournament reports on SCG Atlanta and the first MTGO Pioneer Challenge.

The Break Down: SCG Open Atlanta
The Dive Down: Oko, Thief of Hearts
The Wind Down: The First Challenge of Pioneering

2:05 — Housekeeping
3:30 — The Break Down begins: SCG Open Atlanta
7:50 — Meet Simic Whirza
14:00 — Day 2 Meta
25:36 — Top 8
30:00 — Shocking math about Urza
33:17 — Oko rising
35:15 — Takeaways
39:40 — The Dive Down Begins: #OkoWatch2k19
40:53 — Why are we talking about Oko?
46:52 — How Oko impacted our games
59:58 — Common play patterns with Oko
1:06:20 — Is Oko the best planeswalker ever?
1:12:40 — So… how ya killing Oko?
1:17:10 — What happens to the best planeswalker ever?
1:24:35 — The Wind Down begins: What we’ve been playing in Pioneer
1:31:30 — The first Pioneer Challenge meta

Links from this week's episode:
SCG Atlanta day 2 decks: http://www.starcitygames.com/decks/Star_City_Games_Open/2019-10-26_modern_Atlanta_GA_US/1/
Team Lotus Box Simic Whirza deck tech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIkQ_n5vCrA
First MTGO Pioneer Challenge: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/pioneer-challenge-2019-10-28

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 2: Modern Horizons Revisited: Mistakes Were Made Oct 29, 2019

Show notes

In our second monthly bonus episode, we revisit our Modern Horizons grades to see what we missed on - and why.
The Dive Down: Modern Horizons Revisited

Timestamps:
2:26 - Introducing this month's bonus episode
3:39 - Arcum's Astrolabe
8:45 - Aria of Flame
12:12 - Wrenn and Six
16:42- Marit Lage's Slumber
20:24 - Sling-Gang Lieutenant
23:59 - Giver of Runes
27:41 - Soulherder
30:58 - Flusterstorm
35:02 - Crashing Footfalls
39:01 - Tribute Mage
41:24 - Archmage's Charm
44:59 - Planebound Accomplice
47:05 - Cabal Therapist
50:59 - Unsettled Mariner

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 45: Pioneer Days: Fording Rivers, Dying of Dysentery Oct 25, 2019

Show notes

We talk the SCG Regionals, the decks that got away, and, oh yeah, an ENTIRELY NEW ETERNAL FORMAT - Pioneer!
The Break Down: SCG Regionals
The Dive Down: Welcome to Pioneer Town
The Wind Down: White Whales

Timestamps:
2:22 - Housekeeping
3:58 - The Break Down begins - SCG Regionals top 8 data
9:53 - 9 takeaways from the SCG Regional results
33:37 - The Dive Down begins - Introducing Pioneer!
41:55 - The Pioneer ban list philosophy
48:57 - What Pioneer means for The Dive Down
56:22 - What are we excited to play?
1:06:47 - What are we nervous about?
1:12:00 - The potential impact of Pioneer on Modern
1:17:00 - What does this mean for Modern players?
1:29:29 - Our final takes on Pioneer
1:32:16 - The Wind Down - The decks that got away

Links from this week's episode:
A bunch of SCG Regionals lists: http://www.starcitygames.com/decks/results/start_date/2019-10-19/end_date/2019-10-19
WOTC's Pioneer announcement: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/announcing-pioneer-format-2019-10-21

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 44: Ascending Urza: A Whirld of Clicks Oct 18, 2019

Show notes

We go over the SCG Indy (AKA the Motor City) Open, then perform our patented deep dive process on the various Urza-based decks showing up in Modern!

The Break Down: The Motor City SCG Open
The Dive Down: Playing Vintage in Modern
The Wind Down: How the podcast has impacted our play

Timestamps:
1:54 - Housekeeping
2:48 - The Break Down begins - SCG Indy's day 2 metagame
8:13 - SCG Indy top 8
20:01 - SCG Indy take-aways
23:20 - The Dive Down begins - how we're covering Urza
28:45 - The common thread - Urza!
35:24 - The artifact friends
45:09 - Paradoxical Urza
50:40 - Paradoxical Urza's payoffs
54:24 - Emry, Lurker of the Loch
58:18 - Planeswalkers
1:05:08 - Paradoxial Ascendancy
1:14:35 - Selecting between the Paradoxical versions
1:17:18 - Whirza
1:24:01 - How to beat Urza decks
1:28:30 - Our thoughts on Urza decks
1:34:45 - The Wind Down - are we better or worse?

Links from this week's episode:
The day 2 meta of SCG Indy: http://www.starcitygames.com/events/coverage/4664_day_2_metagame_breakdown.html
The day 2 decks of SCG Indy: http://www.starcitygames.com/decks/Star_City_Games_Open/2019-10-12_modern_Indianapolis_IN_US/1/
Paradoxical Urza: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2327485#online
Paradoxical Ascendancy: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2368650#paper
4C Whirza: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/modern-four-color-whirza#online

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 43: Comboing Off with Throne of Eldraine: Sleeve/Believe/Heave Edition Oct 11, 2019

Show notes

The crew talk about combo decks they have tested with new Throne of Eldraine cards.

The Break Down: Modern Challenge
The Dive Down: "Wait, do you just win here?"
The Wind Down: I Don't want No Slump

Timestamps:
1:31 - Housekeeping
3:25 - The Break Down - The Modern Challenge
23:10 - The Dive Down Begins
32:16 - Goblin Combos
45:06 - Kiki Jiki Combos
1:06:26 - UR Through the Breach
1:23:31 - Grixis Control
1:30:06 - The Wind Down Begins

Links from this week's episode:
The Modern Challenge: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/modern-challenge-2019-10-06
Goblin Combo: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2320042#online
Grummy’s Toolbox: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2356719#online
Vannifar Kiki: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2311103#paper
Naya Kiki Value/Stoneblade): https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2311113#paper
Temur Kiki: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2311099#paper
UR Through the Breach: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2311111#paper
Blue Moon: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2327488#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 42: Mono-Red Prison: A Guide to Turn 1 3-Drops Oct 04, 2019

Show notes

The crew do a deck dive into a personal favorite - Mono-Red Prison!
The Break Down: #OkoWatch2019
The Dive Down: SSG Ritual Ritual Karn
The Wind Down: Pocket Monsters

Timestamps:
2:32 - Housekeeping
5:00 - The Break Down - The Modern Challenge
16:02 - The Dive Down begins - Mono-Red Prison
17:42 - What are prison decks?
21:34 - The fast mana spells
26:43 - The lock pieces
35:00 - The wishboard lock pieces
41:16 - The threats
55:13 - The planeswalkers
1:10:05 - The removal
1:13:25 - The lands
1:18:35 - The sideboard
1:21:30 - Playing against Mono-Red Prison
1:28:16 - Our thoughts on Mono-Red Prison
1:30:18 - The Wind Down - Gotta catch 'em all!

Links from this week's episode:
The Modern Challenge: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/modern-challenge-2019-09-29
Mono-Red Prison decklist; https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/modern-mono-red-prison-84623#online

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

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