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 286: Diving Into Modern Boros Energy, ft. YungDingo

    Episode  |  August 1st, 2024  |  1 hr 35 mins

    Modern Boros Energy has quickly emerged as a Tier 1 Modern deck despite the ongoing menace of Nadu taking over tournaments left and right. On this week's show, The Dive Down is joined by YungDingo to break down how the deck functions, how to sequence its various 1-drops, and the benefits of splashing into black for Mardu Energy.

  • Episode 285: The (Rhino) Boyz Are Back in Town & Bloomburrow End

    Episode  |  July 25th, 2024  |  1 hr 37 mins

    Someone finally did it... Crashing Footfalls has revealed its beautiful face again in a post-MH3 Modern tournament, so D00mwake and Stan had to try the deck out themselves. Then we share our favorite picks from Bloomburrow in the final week of spoilers for the upcoming set.

  • Episode 284: Nadu Soars at NRG & Seasons of Bloomburrow, pt. 1

    Episode  |  July 18th, 2024  |  1 hr 37 mins

    Oh look, another Modern tournament dominated by Nadu decks! On this week's show, we break down the results from NRG Chicago, which included a Modern 10K and some cheeky side events featuring the rhino boys. Then we dive into our Bloomburrow spoilers.

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    Episode 283: Return of the MTGO Decklists & MH3 Sideboard Stonks

    Episode  |  July 11th, 2024  |  1 hr 34 mins

    We couldn't get through an episode without mentioning the lack of a Nadu ban, but quickly dive into the huge batch of MTGO data that was finally unlocked after several weeks of downtime. Then we recap some of our favorite sideboard cards in the current Modern Metagame, and announce latest love of Basim Ibn Ishaq and Ocelot Pride.

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    Episode 282: The Bird in the Room: PT MH3/Amsterdam Breakdown

    Episode  |  July 3rd, 2024  |  1 hr 22 mins

    This week Dave, Devon, and Stan talk about what went down in Amsterdam — birds, rings, energy, all of it — and also make some wild (but informed) guesses about what might happen next.

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    Episode 281: A New Modern Emerges: Tournament Results, PT Predictions, and More Decks

    Episode  |  June 27th, 2024  |  1 hr 29 mins

    On this week's show, we take a look at the results from Modern's first big paper tournaments since the release of MH3. We chat about NRG St. Louis, MXP Tacoma, our predictions for PT Amsterdam, Stan's experiences playing Bant Nadu, Devon's experiments with Kappa Cannoneer, and Dave (and Devon's) explorations of Energy Prowess.

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    Episode 280: Sleeve/Believe/Heave MH3 Edition: Boros Energy, Eldrazi Prison & Ruby Storm

    Episode  |  June 20th, 2024  |  1 hr 35 mins

    It's time to rev up those rental accounts because new cards are on the horizon. On this week's show, Shane and Stan (aka The Cool S Bros) share their war stories of leaguing with Modern Horizon 3 decks. Stan fires up some Boros Energy and Ruby Storm, while Shane locks his opponents out with Eldrazi Prison.

  • Episode 279: MH3: New Decks, First Impressions

    Episode  |  June 13th, 2024  |  1 hr 19 mins

    Welcome to the new Horizon of Modern. That long awaited day is finally here — Horizons 3 has launched and is in the hands of anyone who wants to: 1) use a Bird Wizard to draw their whole deck, 2) Break a line with a bowl of spaghet monsters, 3) Pay life to draw cards, then DIE, and 4) explore an potentially incredible new format.

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    Episode 278: MH3 Full Set Review, Part 2: The Rest of the Cards

    Episode  |  June 6th, 2024  |  2 hrs 23 mins

    It took another couple hours but we finally made it through the complete MH3 spoiler (even after skipping a ton of limited fodder). We wrap up our set review with the gold cards along with the new to Modern reprints, and cap it off with some of our favorite cards in the set and a few called shots about cards to watch.

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    Episode 277: MH3 Full Set Review, Part 1: Colorless & WUBRG

    Episode  |  May 31st, 2024  |  2 hrs 9 mins

    It's finally here! The Modern Horizons 3 spoiler is complete — and wow do we have a lot to talk about. Join us this week as Dave, Devon, and Shane talk through every card in the set from Colorless and WUBRG.

  • Episode 276: These MH3 Spoilers Are Making Me Thirsty

    Episode  |  May 23rd, 2024  |  1 hr 32 mins

    The time has finally come for the sea change that is Modern Horizons 3. We dissect the first batch of official spoilers from Tuesday, and revisit some of our most embarrassing evaluations from MH2 spoiler season all those moons ago.

  • Episode 275: One Last Modern Tournament Before Everything Changes

    Episode  |  May 16th, 2024  |  1 hr 27 mins

    On this week's show, the four amigos break down the results of the Modern Open at NRG Indianapolis, the last big paper Modern tournament before MH3 changes everything (presumably). Plus, D00mwake joins the dark side and started playing Phoenix. And Stan tries some new cards in Ensoul, plus a bunch of OJT drafts.

  • Episode 274: Goyf Are So Back: Modern Challenges, Gruul Aggro (Prowess), & More

    Episode  |  May 9th, 2024  |  1 hr 26 mins

    On this week's episode, it's Shane and Dave in the hot seat. They examine last weekend's 4 Modern Challenges in search of ideas, inspiration, and surprises and then have a long discussion about how great it feels to be goyfing around in Modern again.

  • Episode 273: High Res MH3 Spoilers & A Wild West Pro Tour

    Episode  |  May 2nd, 2024  |  1 hr 24 mins

    Shout out to Wizards of the Coast for seeing some poor quality card pictures in the wild and letting us enjoy them in high definition instead. Official MH3 spoilers dropped this week, on the heels of the latest Pro Tour. Stan and D00mwake discuss!

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    Episode 272: Slickshot Trick Shots

    Episode  |  April 25th, 2024  |  1 hr 27 mins

    A new spellslinger's in town — goes by the name Slickshot Show-Off. This week we focus on the most hyped card coming into OTJ season, where it's fitting across formats, and talk about a few tricks to making sure the show off goes off without a hitch... off. Is there anything we can do to keep Dave from falling into a deep Prowess hole again?

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    Episode 271: Casual Spiking RCQ Junction

    Episode  |  April 18th, 2024  |  1 hr 23 mins

    On this week’s show, we manage to fill that awkward week between spoilers and set release by preparing for the upcoming RCQ season, which conveniently kicks off this weekend. We take a look at the Pioneer metagame going into the season, and some possible upgrades from OTJ that could shake up the format too.