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 THEDIVEDOWN2023 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com/

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Episodes and Blog Entries

  • Episode 133: Izzet You Glad We Played Murktide?

    Episode  |  July 14th, 2021  |  1 hr 46 mins

    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.

  • Episode 132: Venture Into the Adventure: MTG n' D&D Spoilers v1

    Episode  |  July 7th, 2021  |  1 hr 52 mins

    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.

  • Episode 131: Still Crushing on Modern Horizons 2

    Episode  |  July 1st, 2021  |  1 hr 40 mins

    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.

  • Episode 130: Sleeve/Believe/Heave Modern Horizons 2 Blue Decks ed.

    Episode  |  June 24th, 2021  |  1 hr 50 mins

    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!

  • Bonus 13: Filing Taxes with SpiderSpace

    Episode  |  June 18th, 2021  |  1 hr 14 secs

    In our latest bonus episode, we're joined by a genuine MTGO stalwart, Gabe Maxson aka SpiderSpace to chat about Modern, content creation, and white taxes decks.

  • Episode 129: The First Decks of Modern Horizons 2

    Episode  |  June 16th, 2021  |  1 hr 54 mins

    On this week's episode we attempt something ambitious - looking at every deck in the most recent Modern deck dump that features MH2 cards. And that's almost all of them! Join us as we talk about the latest decks, trends, and dare we say it, strategies in Modern.

  • Episode 128: The Modern Horizons 2 Full-ish Set Review, Part 2

    Episode  |  June 9th, 2021  |  1 hr 53 mins

    It's just Stan and Shane this week, and they tackle the second half of the Modern Horizons 2 full set review! Before that, there's a brief Cool Decks, Inc, where we cover 3 decks that made the top 8 of last weekend's Modern Challenge. We then plant some flags and light some takes on fire about the best and worst cards in MH2.

  • Episode 127: The Modern Horizons 2 Full Set Review, Part 1 ft. Aspiringspike

    Episode  |  June 2nd, 2021  |  1 hr 59 mins

    It's finally here!! The first in our two part FULL SET REVIEW for Modern Horizons 2. This week Shane's travel schedule kept him off the episode, but he's been replaced with our unofficial 4th host, Evart Moughon, aka Aspiringspike, one of the most respected and creative deck builders and streamers in Modern.

  • Episode 126: Modern Horizons 2 Previews Begin & Thassa's Oracle Banning

    Episode  |  May 27th, 2021  |  1 hr 45 mins

    This week we talk the banning of Thassa's Oracle in Historic and the first post-ban Historic tournament. Then we head into The Dive Down to discuss the early Modern Horizons 2 previews, and then tackle some listener questions in The Wind Down!
    The Break Down: Oracle Nomoreacle
    The Dive Down: Horizons for Yerizons and Ear...zons
    The Wind Down: Your Questions, Answered

  • Episode 125: Hello Historic Anthology 5, Goodbye MPL

    Episode  |  May 21st, 2021  |  1 hr 40 mins

    Jobs were lost (after next year) and new cards are announced (for next week). We go through all 25 additions from Historic Anthology 5, consider their potential and their competitive past. We also reflect on what the competitive future looks like for casual spikes.

  • Bonus12: Going Optimal with Ryan Spain

    Episode  |  May 14th, 2021  |  1 hr 22 mins

    In our latest bonus episode, we're joined by a godfather of Magic podcasts, limited extraordinaire, and former member of WOTC's Arena team, Ryan Spain! We chat about how the platform works, whether or not it's out to get you, and how to use two Arena accounts to draft more.

  • Episode 124: The Summer of Legend Emergency React-i-sode

    Episode  |  May 10th, 2021  |  1 hr 33 mins

    We couldn't wait until Friday to get this out to you, so here's an early EMERGENCY REACT-I-SODE to Wizard's "Summer of Legend" announcement this past week. We talk about Modern Horizons II, the Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, the return of sanctioned Magic, Historic Anthology 5, and more!

  • Episode 123: Sleeve/Believe/Heave: Strixhaven Modern Edition

    Episode  |  May 7th, 2021  |  1 hr 48 mins

    This week we are testing 2 new, and 1 not-really-new, decks featuring the latest cards from Strixhaven, and running them through the Sleeve/Believe/Heave ringer. Just how much DOES Dave love Magma Opus? Is Dredge back? Is Witchermancer the new Skelementals? Listen, and find out! Before that, we take a deep dive into the big weekend of Historic and analyze the winners and losers across the SCG Historic Satellite events.

  • Episode 122: We're Going Rogue(s)

    Episode  |  April 30th, 2021  |  1 hr 48 mins

    This week is an old fashioned deck dive on the latest Hotness in Historic - Dimir Rogues! We explore the cards, the strategies, and the fun of the deck, and spend a LOT of time talking about Brainstorm. Is Shane finally ready to cast blue spells? Before that, we go over a recent Modern Challenge and talk about the latest winnings decks.

  • Episode 121: Early Risers of Strixhaven: At the Head of the Class with Aspiringspike

    Episode  |  April 23rd, 2021  |  1 hr 45 mins

    The unofficial 4th host Evart Moughon, aka Aspiringspike, joins us yet again to go over his early testing and experiments in Modern. Dave talks about, what else, Modern Prowess and Historic Phoenix, and Shane says another aggro deck in Historic isn't good enough. Probably. Before that we look at two early Historic tournaments and have an extended jam session of Cool Decks, Inc.

  • Episode 120: Snows Melt, Phoenixes Rise

    Episode  |  April 16th, 2021  |  1 hr 51 mins

    With our time on Kaldheim coming to an end, the Three Friends take a look back and a look forward. Stan takes us through Modern right now via a couple of MTGO Challenges + we consider what might be coming next. Then we do a little self assessment and grade how we did on reviewing Kaldheim cards going into this format. Finally, we look ahead and talk about the decisions people are grappling with with... you guessed it... building Izzet Phoenix in Historic.