The Dive Down

Latest Episodes:

Episode 312: Breach Takes Charlotte and Other Modern Tales Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

The final Modern RC of the season is now behind us, but the story of Temur Breach's dominance continues. We chat about the event metagame, the incredible amount of Grinding Station decks in the top 32, and D00mwake's experience playing Eldrazi.

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 THEDIVEDOWN2025 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
6:46 - Housekeeping/this week's episode
9:32 - The Dive Down begins: RC Charlotte
13:30 - The Day 1 metagame and Stan plays a game
24:08 - How the best decks in the format did
28:55 - The top 32
41:25 - Devon's Charlotte experience and our next Modern steps
1:04:42 - 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

Support The Dive Down

Episode 311: Eldrazi Innovations & A Modern Dose of Ketramose Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

With RC Charlotte on D00mwake's doorstep, Devon shares the results and findings of his practice for the one of the year's biggest Modern tournaments. Dave kicks off the show a look at the metagame data from last week's Modern RC in China, then Stan wraps up with his new found fondness and admiration for Ketramose in Orzhov Blink.

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 THEDIVEDOWN2025 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
Try out our new promo code for Magic Mind! Visit https://magicmind.com/divedownUse or use code DIVEDOWN at checkout to get up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchase of Stan's new favorite mental performance shot.
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
9:26 - This week's episode/housekeeping
14:03 - The Dive Down begins: RC China results!
29:09 - Devon's Eldrazi testing
46:02 - Stan played Ketramose
1:01:23 - 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

Support The Dive Down

Episode 310: A Lot of MaRo in Chicago Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

MagicCon: Chicago was the biggest MagicCon ever, in part because The Dive Down was there to experience it. This week's show features conversation we had at the Con with Mark Rosewater, Blake Rasmussen, and Athena Froehlich. We chat about a couple cards revealed from Tarkir: Dragonstorm and gather some WOTC insights following December's Modern unbans.

A Preview Panel!
A Chat with Blake!
MaRo's 20 Cards of All Time!

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 THEDIVEDOWN2025 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
Try out our new promo code for Magic Mind! Visit https://magicmind.com/divedownUse or use code DIVEDOWN at checkout to get up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchase of Stan's new favorite mental performance shot.
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
7:26 - This week's show/housekeeping
14:05 - The Dive Down begins: MagicCon Chicago!
23:06 - The MagicCon Chicago Spoiler Panel
47:44 - An interview with Blake Rasmussen
1:16:03 - The MaRo Q&A
1:50:35 - 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

Support The Dive Down

Episode 309: Aetherdrift & Green Sun’s Zenith: Not What We Expected Feb 20, 2025

Show notes

Magic never ceases to amaze us. On this week's episode, we discuss our mutual surprise over the impact of Aetherdrift on Modern. Then we wrap our series on Modern's latest unbans with a look at Green Sun's Zenith in Amulet Titan, Yawgmoth, and beyond.

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 THEDIVEDOWN2025 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
Try out our new promo code for Magic Mind! Visit https://magicmind.com/divedownUse or use code DIVEDOWN at checkout to get up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchase of Stan's new favorite mental performance shot.
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
4:36 - This week's show/housekeeping
8:19 - The impact of Aetherdrift
37:53 - A new sponsor - Magic Mind! Code DIVEDOWN gets you 48% your first subscription
42:03 - Green Sun Zenith
1:03:50 - 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

Support The Dive Down

Episode 308: Portland RC: Reactions & Reflections Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

On this week's show, we review the results of the latest Modern Regional Championship, along with the Sunday 10K, and kneel at the altar of our new format overlords, Underworld Breach & Grinding Station. Then we chat about Stan's experiences playing both events, and Dave shares some horror stories from drafting Aetherdrift four times.

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 THEDIVEDOWN2025 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
7:01 - This week's episode/housekeeping
11:18 - The Break Down begins: RC Portland
39:51 - The top 8
47:34 - What Stan learned
59:50 - Some Aetherdrift limited thoughts
1:03:13 - 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

Support The Dive Down

Episode 307: Energy Bars: Prepping for Portland Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

It's Portland time! Join us as we go deep on Stan's tournament prep for the Modern RC. We talk Stan's testing journey with Boros Energy, go deep on the mirror and the other top matchups, discuss the finer points of Stone Rains, card advantage options, and more.

• Energy at the RC
• Mirror Matches
• The Rest of the Field

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 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
6:02 - This week's show/housekeeping
11:18 - The Dive Down seems to begin: Talking about the upcoming SCG Portland RC
20:12 - Stan's testing process and planning for matchups
52:32 - Tournament predictions
1:01:52 - Find us in Portland!
1:05:47 - 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

Support The Dive Down

Episode 306: You Can't Play Splinter Twin in Prague Jan 30, 2025

Show notes

After a huge weekend of Modern Regional Championships, we're tripping over spreadsheets of matchup data. We discuss which decks impressed us, surprised us, and disappointed us from three huge tournaments in Prague, Canada, and Brazil. Then we wrap up with a chat about our experiences playing Splinter Twin.

The Break Down: 45 Minutes of Regional Championships
The Dive Down: 30 Minutes of Splinter Twin

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 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:

9:05 - The Break Down begins: Some RCs!
43:40 - The Dive Down begins: Why are the Splinter Twin Stans quiet?
1:08:18 - 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

Support The Dive Down

Episode 305: Why Mox Opal Is or Isn't the Best Card in Modern Jan 23, 2025

Show notes

As we continue to play with Modern's latest round of unbans, something has become apparent. Mox Opal is a heck of a card. On this week's show, we play it in Temur Breach, Affinity, Hammer Time, and Broodscale to figure where Opal shines and where it feels dull. Turns out, the card is quite good even when its deck is bad.

The history of Opal.
Breaching is easy!
Other Opal decks are whatever.
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 25% credit back after your first 3 months of renting ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:

5:41 - This week's show/housekeeping
12:20 - The Dive Down begins: What we talk about when we talk about Mox Opal
13:28 - A bit of history
24:35 - The unban of Mox Opal
30:06 - Underworld Breach - the best deck in Modern?
47:55 - The decks people WANT to be good
1:01:14 - So how good is Mox Opal?
1:05:48 - 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

Support The Dive Down

Episode 304: Why Isn’t Faithless Looting the Best Card in Modern? Jan 16, 2025

Show notes

In the first of our episodes diving into each card from the recent unbans, we take a deep look at Faithless Looting. First we take a look at the history of the card — all the way back to spoiler conversations — followed by a dive into many of the decks trying to play it in Modern today. Creativity? Check. Hollow One? Check. Phoenix? You know it. Dredge? Well, we almost forgot Dredge, but we at least mention it in passing. Why isn't it as powerful as it used to be? We have thoughts and those thoughts are what make us The Dive Down. And the recording of the thoughts, too.

• Devon Does it Again
• Draw Two, Discard Two, Do Nothing
• We All Just WANT to Play Phoenix, Ok?

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_OBX
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
2:58 - Housekeeping/this week's episode
5:59 - The Break Down begins: Devin, relax!
13:20 - The Dive Down begins: Why isn't Faithless Looting the best card in Modern?
16:20 - The History and Present of Faithless Looting
25:44 - Excitement Levels
29:45 - Anatomy of a Looting
32:45 - From Here it's Just Decks
33:15 - Jund Creativity
35:45 - Hollow One
40:47 - Grixis Reanimator/Froculus
43:14 - Izzet Phoenix
46:15 - Mono-Red Phoenix
49:15 - Other Decks
52:55 - The Faithless Looting grudge match
1:05:20 - 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 303: The One Where Devon 9-0d a Spotlight Jan 08, 2025

Show notes

We're back — to podcasting. But also Devon's back — to large eventing. And, in a way, Magic is back — with a 1,400+ person open tournament. We spend this week talking about what happened, what's going on in Standard (Modern next week!), what the return of opens like the Spotlight Series means, and more. Devon cheats in overlords. Dave considers what to do with his wild cards. Stan starts working towards Portland.

• Hot in Hotlanta
• A Deck Full of Blade Splicers
• A Day Full of Ws

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_OBX
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
4:02 - Housekeeping
5:01 - Spotlight Series Atlanta Begins
5:42 - The Selesnya Cage Deck: How and Why
11:21 - What Happened Round-by-Round
27:54 - Day 1 Ends/Day 2 Begins
39:45 - The Health of Standard
46:02 - Upcoming Spotlight Series
51:09 - Starting to Think About RCs
53:00 - Stan Will Be in New York!

Links from this week's episode:
Devon's Decklist from Atlanta: https://melee.gg/Decklist/View/464658

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