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
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Episodes and Blog Entries
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Episode 119: Back to School: Spoiling Strixhaven, Vol. 2
Episode | April 9th, 2021 | 1 hr 58 mins
Well everyone, Shane and Dave really stepped in it last week. Stan's back. And he has things to say. About Mystical Archive cards, about playing to the stack, and about some other nonsense, too. After that's finished, the three friends go through the rest of the cards from Strixhaven and find a few worth talking about for our formats. Stan learns. Dave spoils. Shane toils.
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Episode 118: Back To School: Spoiling Strixhaven, Vol. 1
Episode | April 2nd, 2021 | 1 hr 54 mins
This week, Professor Stan is on sabbatical, so Shane and Dave are headed back to school to give their takes on the first batch of Strixhaven spoilers. Is this the episode where Shane is the optimist? We also take some time to go over our Mystical Archive tier lists for Historic. Will Crux of Fate have what it takes to be the only S-Tier card? Before all that, we briefly go over the Historic meta at the Kaldheim Championship, and look at two novel decks that some big names brought.
The Episode: Stan's Not Here, Man
The Break Down: The History is History
The Dive Down: Wizard College's Deepest Secrets