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 192: NRG Minneapolis & Trying Out Scapeshift & MonoG

    Episode  |  September 29th, 2022  |  1 hr 42 mins

    This week Dave and Stan review the results from the NRG Modern $10K in Minneapolis, where 5c Creativity beat Rakdos Scam in the finals. We also dip our toes in a couple new Modern decks to see if we like playing Scapeshift or Mono-Green Devotion.

  • Episode 191: My Sweet Lord(s): Goblins vs Merfolk vs Elves

    Episode  |  September 22nd, 2022  |  1 hr 35 mins

    The introduction of three new lords in Dominaria United was all the incentive we needed to do a tribal week on The Dive Down. We tested some Modern and a Pioneer deck featuring Leaf-Crowned Visionary, Vodalian Hexcatcher, and Rundvelt Hordemaster for another edition of Sleeve Believe Heave.

  • Episode 190: Domainaria & More: First Impressions of DMU

    Episode  |  September 15th, 2022  |  1 hr 22 mins

    This week it takes two to make a thing go right! And by two we me Dave and Shane. And by thing we mean podcast. This podcast. Stan is out this week, so Dave and Shane talk about early impressions of Pioneer and Modern with access to the powerful cards of Dominaria United.

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    Episode 189: NRG in STL & Dominaria United, pt 2 (ft Jesse Robkin & Aspiringspike)

    Episode  |  September 1st, 2022  |  2 hrs 6 mins

    Fresh of an amazing weekend at the NRG tournament in St. Louis, Jesse Robkin joins us to break down the Team Trios Trial and the Modern 5K. Then our old pal Aspiringspike drops in to go over the remaining cards from Dominaria United that have potential for constructed play.

  • Episode 188: Dominaria United Untied: Spoilers, Part 1

    Episode  |  August 25th, 2022  |  1 hr 45 mins

    This week it's all about the first batch Dominaria United spoilers as Dave and Shane talk through what cards have caught our eye so far. How much of a lock is Temporary Lockdown? Does Cut Down make the cut? What other cards does Shane think aren't constructed worthy imo. imo bb.

  • Episode 187: Liliana, Pain Lands, & Frank Karsten

    Episode  |  August 18th, 2022  |  1 hr 28 mins

    Our exciting first bit of Dominaria United spoilers are here, and the gang reacts to the addition of three new allied pain lands, Liliana of the Veil coming to Pioneer, and more.

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    Episode 186: These Ends Were Made for Living, ft. Chris Castro-Rappl

    Episode  |  August 11th, 2022  |  2 hrs 3 mins

    CCR from MTG Grindcast joins us to talk about all things Living End. On the heels of his RCQ win with the deck, Chris helps us break down the cards, the sickest plays, how to beat common hate strategies, and more!

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    Episode 185: NRG Chicago: It's-a Me, Yorion.

    Episode  |  August 4th, 2022  |  1 hr 42 mins

    This week it's all about the NRG Championship Series event in Chicago. We dive deep into the data, the most popular decks, the sickest plays, and the cherished friendships that make an event like this possible.

  • Episode 184: These Foots Were Made For Crashing

    Episode  |  July 28th, 2022  |  1 hr 51 mins

    Temur Rhinos are craschading onto this week's show, in a classic deck dive into the midrangy combo deck. Plus a preview of the upcoming Nerd Rage Series Modern Trial in Mundelein! Stan's been playing a lot of Rhinos lately, and some recent discounts on Force of Negation finally got Shane to pull the trigger on buying the deck. So Dave said "let's do a deck dive!" and in the ensuing practice matches, we discovered an amazing thing... everyone loves playing this deck! We also kick off the episode with some metagame predictions and leaderboard check-in ahead of this weekend's Nerd Rage Series Modern Trial in Mundelein.

  • Episode 183: We Tried: Innovations in Modern Creativity, E Tron, & Prowess

    Episode  |  July 21st, 2022  |  1 hr 31 mins

    It's another nice week to try new cards and decks in the wide world of Modern. Dave takes another stab at Indomitable Creativity with Gab Nassif's recent list, while Shane assembles a Tron of Eldrazi proportions with the latest prison shell. Meanwhile, Stan chases the dinosaur in search of turn 2 wins with Gruul Prowess.
    The Break Down: Stan Plays a RCQ
    The Dive Down: Dave Can't Direct Creativity
    The Dive Down, cont: Shane Accepts Any Kind of Tron
    The Dive Down, cont: Stan Finds No Quarter For Prowess

  •

    Episode 182: The Four Pillars of Modern (ft. Zach Allen)

    Episode  |  July 14th, 2022  |  1 hr 44 mins

    The current top dog of the NRG Series leaderboard joins us to discuss all things Modern for all your RCQ preparation needs. Zach Allen returns for a conversation about the various types of 4C Yorion decks, the merits of Murktide's flex spots, the position of green creature combo decks, and his favorite ways to cascade right now.

  • Episode 181: The Synergies of Pioneer's Metagame, ft. Todd Anderson

    Episode  |  July 7th, 2022  |  1 hr 26 mins

    Friend of the show and Pioneer aficionado Todd Anderson joins The Dive Down this week to go over top decks, up and comers, unsung heroes, and potential traps in the format. Mono-Green continues to reign supreme, but could Young Pyromancer put up a fight?

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    Episode 180: Life Lessons and Level Ups

    Episode  |  June 30th, 2022  |  1 hr 34 mins

    Though we do have some frustrations to air at the start of the show, we eventually turn it around to discuss the many ways Magic (the Gathering) has improved our lives. Then we take a brief trip down memory lane to remember how some people improved our Magic playing skills too.

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    Episode 179: 10 Takes on Modern, Pioneer, & Magic

    Episode  |  June 23rd, 2022  |  1 hr 39 mins

    What can Izzet decks in Pioneer play instead of Expressive Iteration? How crazy was the MOCS meta from the weekend? Is Glimpse of Tomorrow a good card in Modern? This week's show answers these questions and more in a format-spanning Dive Down of takes hot and cold.
    But first, off the top we deliver a little announcement about the future of The Dive Down (nothing big, we swear — but you should listen).
    Shane doesn't even need Nykthos. Stan can quit cascading any time he wants to. Dave actually seems to get mad about something.

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    Episode 178: NRG Modern & Pio: Is 4c 2 Good 4 U?

    Episode  |  June 16th, 2022  |  1 hr 33 mins

    It's a hot one on The Dive Down this week. We take a deep look at NRG's recent set of Modern and Pioneer Trials in Lansing, Michigan and tackle the big questions about our favorite formats. Is 4c too good for Modern? What can even be done if it is too good? What's happened to Pioneer without Winota and Expressive Iteration? How many words can the three of us get beeped out in one episode? And more! Stan fights through jet lag and still brings the insights. Shane loves talking about bad decks that performed badly. And, finally, Dave gets his comeuppance.

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    Episode 177: Ban Reacts, a Dream Hacked, & Some Mid Rakdos

    Episode  |  June 9th, 2022  |  2 hrs 16 mins

    Shane and Dave are totally blindsided by this week's Pioneer bans — especially since they happened after we recorded this ep. But don't worry, we use the power of technology to travel into the past and add a segment of hot reactions and speculation on what's next for Pio. After that, we continue with our regularly scheduled episode breaking down the Modern $10k at DreamHack Dallas and diving into Pioneer's most mid deck — Rakdos Mid!