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 221: Deckfest 2 (Pioneer ed.): Gruul Elves & Boats, Dimir Rogues, Izzet Pyro, and Naya Tokens, ft. d00mwake

    Episode  |  May 4th, 2023  |  1 hr 22 mins

    Devon is here to make sure we're playing his Pioneer brews correctly. We tried out a ton of decks this week in Pioneer, including some more ways to play Ancient Imperiosaur, Meeting of Minds, and Elesh Norn. We found time to chat about a ton of Modern data!

  • Episode 220: Sleeve/Believe/Heave: Decks Go Marching (Modern and Pio)

    Episode  |  April 27th, 2023  |  1 hr 36 mins

    It's Sleeve Believe Heave week for new cards from March of the Machine. We play Modern and Pioneer with cards like Ancient Imperiosaur, Rona, Herald of Invasion, Fairie Mastermind, and more!

  • Episode 219: Pio d00m Brews & Modern SCG Richmond, ft. d00mwake

    Episode  |  April 20th, 2023  |  1 hr 41 mins

    This week we get to look at the first paper Modern tournament featuring the new cards of March of Machines - the $20K Modern RCQ that took place in Richmond this past weekend. We go over the metagame, the performances, and the top 12 decks! Following that, d00mwake is back to talk to us about a bunch of brews he has for Pioneer, featuring some hot tech from MOM. Is Jeskai Ascendancy back? Is Invasion of Tarkir going to change Pioneer? We don't actually know yet, but we sure can hope!

  • Episode 218: These Machines Are Making Me Marchy, pt 2

    Episode  |  April 13th, 2023  |  1 hr 19 mins

    The boys are back for some more spicy takes and overall expectations for March of the Machine. We chat about some new instant speed draw spells, some potential combo shenanigans, and our called shots on the set's potential sleeper hits.

  • Episode 217: These Machines Are Making Me Marchy, pt. 1

    Episode  |  April 6th, 2023  |  1 hr 20 mins

    There's a new card in town, and we're here to chat about Battles (including the band) during our first look at spoilers from March of the Machine, a Magic set that comes out in April...

  • Episode 216: Rhinos Overrun NRG & Pure Modern Preview, ft. d00mwake

    Episode  |  March 30th, 2023  |  1 hr 51 mins

    Devon O'Donnell returns to help us break down the results of this weekend's NRG Chicago Modern and Pioneer trials. Then chat about d00mwake's own upcoming Pure Modern tournament and what to play in a tournament without Modern Horizon cards.

  • Episode 215: New Sets, First Looks: Shadows Over Hobbiton

    Episode  |  March 23rd, 2023  |  1 hr 28 mins

    Sure it's 3 months away, but if that doesn't stop WOTC from sharing The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth spoilers, what should stop us from talking about the summer's straight to Modern set? Then we dust off our old Arena accounts to play some new Innistrad cards.

  • Episode 214: Deckfest 1: Tyvar Sac, Spirits, Elves, Calibrated Blast, and Humans, ft. d00mwake

    Episode  |  March 16th, 2023  |  2 hrs 6 mins

    Our international relations split today's show into two sections, and a new episode tradition was born. Join us for a multi-format look at some our favorite tribes, a new take on Calibrated Blast, and the latest version of Pioneer Sac.

  • Episode 213: Let There Be Combo, ft. Ryan Donkin

    Episode  |  March 9th, 2023  |  1 hr 15 mins

    Fresh off the heels of his RCQ win with Amulet Titan, our Twitter friend Ryan Donkin joins us to break down the power of Mycosynth Garden, pour one out for Ad Nauseum, and how to count all the triggers in Glimpse of Tomorrow decks.

  • Episode 212: Modern's Back & So is Stanislav!

    Episode  |  March 2nd, 2023  |  1 hr 23 mins

    Well, here it is. The week you've all been waiting for — the Rhino Boyz finally get back their Rhino format. And also, Stanislav is back. We take a look at the Top 32 metas of all the MTGO Challenges from 2/10 – 2/24 and throw in some data on the Manatraders February final to boot. Hear what we sound like during a daytime recording (for the first time ever) and also hear what we sound like in British accents (hopefully for the last time ever).

  • Episode 211: 8 Takes from PT Phyrexia, ft. d00mwake

    Episode  |  February 23rd, 2023  |  1 hr 35 mins

    With Shane and Stan both gone this week, Dave called in returning guest host Devon O'Donnell, aka d00mwake, to talk about his hot Pro Tour Phyrexia takes. Is d00m buying what Dave's selling? That's to be determined. Buying or not, Dave and Devon first go over the expected and unexpected decks from the return of the Pro Tour, then chat about some of the early previews from March of the Machines.

  • Episode 210: Pro Tour Philly Preview, ft. d00mwake

    Episode  |  February 16th, 2023  |  1 hr 47 mins

    This week Dave and Shane invite Devon O'Donnell (aka d00mwake) over to help us prepare for the return of the Pro Tour! We go deep on Pioneer as we take a look at the recent meta and last weekend's MTGO Challenges (or whatever they're called), go over where established decks are picking up new tech from ONE, and lastly run through a bunch of sleeper decks and their potential for a PT break through.

  • Episode 209: ONE Weekend of New Decks & Techs

    Episode  |  February 9th, 2023  |  1 hr 16 mins

    This week Shane and Dave dive into results from the first weekend of Magic after ONE. It looks like the set has had more impact on Modern and Pioneer than we thought possible with upgrades coming to several decks and even a couple of new brews emerging.

  • Episode 208: Phyrexia: All Will Be One Spoilers, Part 2, ft. DarthJacen

    Episode  |  February 2nd, 2023  |  1 hr 34 mins

    It's time for Part 2 of our tour through Phyrexia: All Will Be One — but this time we brought in reinforcements in the form of Sky Mason aka DarthJacen.

  • Episode 207: Phyrexia: All Will Be One Spoilers, Part 1

    Episode  |  January 26th, 2023  |  1 hr 31 mins

    This week Shane and Dave dive into the weirdness that is Phyrexia: All Will Be One. Join us this week as we go through the cards we love, the cards we hate, and the cards we're just plain Perplexia'd by.

  • Episode 206: Modern Domain Zoo & NRG Champs

    Episode  |  January 19th, 2023  |  1 hr 28 mins

    This week Dave and Shane work on becoming Masters of their Domain with a quick dive into Modern Domain Zoo. But mostly we just gush about Tribal Flames. But first we talk about the exciting end of the 2022 NRG Championship Series and marvel at the decks and tiny tech choices people made in a field of 16 players.