The Dive Down

A Magic: The Gathering podcast for the casual spike, focused on Modern, Pioneer, Explorer, and more!

About the show

The Dive Down is a Magic: The Gathering podcast focused on the latest decks, trends, and strategies for the casual spikes in Modern, Pioneer, Explorer, and more!

Each week your hosts Dave, Shane, and Stanislav discuss the latest innovations, competitive events, and level-up topics for paper and online players.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thedivedown

Proudly sponsored by Heavy Play, a new card gaming accessories brand that'll improve your gameplay and game day. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com/

We're also sponsored by ManaTraders, the best Magic card rental service for both Magic Online and paper! Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown or use Manatraders coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_8LU

The Dive Down on social media

Episodes and Blog Entries

  • Episode 309: Aetherdrift & Green Sun’s Zenith: Not What We Expected

    Episode  |  February 20th, 2025  |  1 hr 8 mins

    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 and beyond.

  • Episode 308: Portland RC: Reactions & Reflections

    Episode  |  February 13th, 2025  |  1 hr 5 mins

    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.

  • Episode 307: Energy Bars: Prepping for Portland

    Episode  |  February 6th, 2025  |  1 hr 7 mins

    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.

  • Episode 306: You Can't Play Splinter Twin in Prague

    Episode  |  January 30th, 2025  |  1 hr 10 mins

    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.

  • Episode 305: Why Mox Opal Is or Isn't the Best Card in Modern

    Episode  |  January 23rd, 2025  |  1 hr 8 mins

    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.

  • Episode 304: Why Isn’t Faithless Looting the Best Card in Modern?

    Episode  |  January 16th, 2025  |  1 hr 6 mins

    In the first of our episodes diving into each card from the recent unbans, we take a deep look at Faithless Looting. What decks have been playing it? Why isn't it as powerful as it used to be? Where do we go from here?

  •

    Episode 303: The One Where Devon 9-0d a Spotlight

    Episode  |  January 8th, 2025  |  56 mins 41 secs

    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. Join us to talk Standard, Spotlight Series, and more this week.

  •

    Bonus: Return of the Rhinos

    Episode  |  January 2nd, 2025  |  27 mins 13 secs

    Rhinos is making a comeback and so are we! As we wind down from vacation mode, Stan and D00mwake warm up their podcasting muscles with one of their favorite topics: Crashing Footfalls in Modern. Enjoy this bonus minisode before our official feature length return next week!

  •

    Episode 302: The Mad Lads Did It

    Episode  |  December 19th, 2024  |  1 hr 39 mins

    A B&R so hot we had to pause our vacation. The One Ring, Amped Raptor, and Jegantha are banned. Mox Opal is unbanned. Mox Opal, Green Sun's Zenith, Faithless Looting and Splinter Twin are unbanned. Discuss.

  • Episode 301: Standard Rules, Modern Drools, and Pokémon Fools

    Episode  |  November 21st, 2024  |  1 hr 50 mins

    We kick off this week's show with an important announcement about the future of The Dive Down. Just listen since it's too long to explain in writing. Then we bemoan the B&R window before highlighting the fun times happening in Standard right now. And we wrap with a nice chat about our love-hate relationship with the new Pokémon TCG Pocket.

  • Episode 300: Magic as Richard Garfield Intended, ft. Richard Garfield, Ph.D.

    Episode  |  November 13th, 2024  |  1 hr 1 min

    The doctor is in. For a very special episode 300, The Dive Down sits down with THE Richard Garfield, inventor of Magic: The Gathering and great-great-grandson of President James A. Garfield. What is Magic as Garfield intended? We finally have the answer.

  • Episode 299: Stan Won an RCQ!

    Episode  |  October 31st, 2024  |  1 hr 37 mins

    They said it couldn't be done, but one of the Dive Down boys (other than D00mwake) finally won an RCQ. On this week's show, Stan talks about piloting Boros Energy to qualify for RC Portland, and we break down the Standard metagame and results from the Magic World Championship in Las Vegas.

  • Episode 298: The Foundations Era is Here

    Episode  |  October 25th, 2024  |  1 hr 38 mins

    Hot off the presses of WOTC's Foundations announcement, we break down and discuss the impact of Universes Beyond sets entering the Standard format in 2025.

  • Episode 297: Modern: What to Play Before RCQ Season Ends

    Episode  |  October 17th, 2024  |  1 hr 36 mins

    On this week's show, Dave tries to determine what to play during the one RCQ he can attend this season. We do our best to help him out by reviewing the latest Metagame Mentor, taking a closer look at Dimir Oculus, following in the steps of some Jeskai Control masters, and trying something new with Fear of Missing Out in Rakdos and Jund Delirium.

  • Episode 296: RC DC: Demons, Trees, Cauldrons, & Company

    Episode  |  October 10th, 2024  |  1 hr 36 mins

    In the last part of our mini-arc on the current state of Pioneer, Devon, Dave, and Stan dive deep into what happened at this weekend's RC in Washington D.C. We cover the decks that took too long, the decks that aimed too high, and the decks that took it all down.

  • Episode 295: RC DC Preview & First Duskmourn Decks

    Episode  |  October 3rd, 2024  |  1 hr 33 mins

    It's time (for Devon) to get ready for the RC in DC this weekend, so we dive deep into Pioneer for the week. We talk through the RC that happened in Brazil last weekend, examine new/interesting decks, and go through some of Devon's considerations on deck selection.