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

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Episodes and Blog Entries

  • Episode 53: Diving Deeper: 5 Pioneer Takeaways

    Episode  |  December 20th, 2019  |  1 hr 39 mins

    This week we Dive Deeper into the Pioneer format, and bring you 5 ways to level up your play!
    The Break Down: The latest Pioneer bans, and WOTC's new B&R schedule
    The Dive Down: Level up your Pioneer thinking with 5 takeaways
    The Wind Down: We answer some listener questions

  • Episode 52: 2019: A Real Year

    Episode  |  December 13th, 2019  |  1 hr 47 mins

    The guys get together in a studio to indulge themselves with discussion of our favorite Dive Down (and Magic) moments of 2019.
    The Break Down: We talk about what we have been playing and enjoying in Modern and Pioneer
    The Dive Down: The best (and worst) of 2019

  • Episode 51: ROY G NIV: 5C Niv-Mizzet ft. Faithless Brewing

    Episode  |  December 6th, 2019  |  1 hr 45 mins

    The Dive Down teams up with Faithless Brewing to bring you a deck dive into Five Color Niv-Mizzet!
    The Break Down: The week of Pioneer PTQs and the subsequent bans
    The Dive Down: The Five Color Niv-Mizzet deck dive!

  • Bonus 3: Return of the Reply Guys

    Episode  |  December 2nd, 2019  |  56 mins 22 secs

    In our third bonus episode, we take questions from our awesome fans and listeners about Magic the Gathering and our personal lives.

  • Episode 50: How to Casual Spike a New Deck

    Episode  |  November 27th, 2019  |  1 hr 39 mins

    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

  • Episode 49: Ban is Just Another Word for Pioneer Justice

    Episode  |  November 22nd, 2019  |  1 hr 39 mins

    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

  • Episode 48: Sleeve It/Believe It/Heave It: Pioneer Edition

    Episode  |  November 15th, 2019  |  1 hr 51 mins

    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

  • Episode 47: Spirits: Be Yourself, in Ghost Form

    Episode  |  November 8th, 2019  |  1 hr 41 mins

    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

  • Episode 46: Threat Level: Oko

    Episode  |  November 1st, 2019  |  1 hr 46 mins

    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

  • Bonus 2: Modern Horizons Revisited: Mistakes Were Made

    Episode  |  October 29th, 2019  |  59 mins 9 secs

    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

  • Episode 45: Pioneer Days: Fording Rivers, Dying of Dysentery

    Episode  |  October 25th, 2019  |  1 hr 39 mins

    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

  • Episode 44: Ascending Urza: A Whirld of Clicks

    Episode  |  October 18th, 2019  |  1 hr 42 mins

    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

  • Episode 43: Comboing Off with Throne of Eldraine: Sleeve/Believe/Heave Edition

    Episode  |  October 11th, 2019  |  1 hr 40 mins

    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

  • Episode 42: Mono-Red Prison: A Guide to Turn 1 3-Drops

    Episode  |  October 4th, 2019  |  1 hr 39 mins

    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

  • Bonus 1: Milling About

    Episode  |  September 30th, 2019  |  1 hr 13 mins
    magic the gathering, modern magic, trading cards

    The Dive Down: Reducing Libraries to Zero With UB Mill

  • Episode 41: Watch the Throne (of Eldraine) ft. Emma Partlow

    Episode  |  September 27th, 2019  |  1 hr 31 mins

    The Dive Down: Our picks to click from Throne of Eldraine
    The Wind Down: Our plans for some tournament downtime