The Dive Down

By The Dive DownLeisure Games

The Dive Down episodes

May 15, 2020 Episode 73: Diving Deeper: How Do I Know If I'm Winning?
This week we tackle a level-up prompt from a Patron of The Dive Down Nation - what does it mean to have advantage in a game of Magic? We explore what advantage can look like in different aspects of the game, how to use it in your game play, and how to play when you are ahead or behind.
The Break Down: Cool decks from recent challenges
The Dive Down: The Unified Theory of Magic
The Dive Down, pt. 2: Debunking the Unified Theory of Magic
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Now get 15% off your first 3 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use code "thedivedown"
Timestamps:
6:27 - The Break Down begins: Cool decks!
6:59 - May 11 Pioneer Challenge
20:42 - May 11 Modern Challenge
26:44 - UW Miracles ft. Counterbalance
31:52 - The Dive Down begins: Advantage in Magic
42:50 - What’s the first thing that comes to mind with advantage?
49:32 - Is there a way to talk about advantage in a single cohesive way?
57:58 - Thinking about actions instead of turns.
1:06:22 - Are some decks more sensitive to advantage?
1:09:39 - Does it all come down to deck plans?
1:12:05 - What about advantage in combo?
1:14:50 - How fragile is having an advantage in Magic?
1:23:45 - Does a format’s power level make advantage more important?
1:27:17 - Taking your plan to the next level with advantage.
1:30:14 - What to do with your knowledge of in-game advantage.
1:33:05 - How do you regain advantage?
1:41:02 - What to down you already have the advantage.
1:46:38 - How do we get from advantage to intuition?
Links from this week's episode:
The May 11th Pio Challenge: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/pioneer-challenge-2020-05-11#decklists
The May 11th Modern Challenge: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/modern-challenge-2020-05-11#decklists
The May 10th Modern Challenge: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/modern-challenge-2020-05-10
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
1 hr 54 min
May 08, 2020 Episode 72: Sleeve/Believe/Heave: Constant Companions, v.2
We take three more Companions and three new decks through the S/B/H process, and let you know what we thought about them! Maybe we even used that hippo one! (We didn't.)
The Break Down: The Lotus Box is a League
The Dive Down: Yorion, Lurrus (Again?), and Gyruda
The Wind Down: 3 Minutes About Hobbies
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Now get 15% off your first 3 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use code "thedivedown"
Timestamps:
2:34 - Housekeeping
6:03 - The Break Down - The Team Lotus Box Pioneer Tournament top 8
11:28 - Closer looks at the new Companion decks of Pioneer
22:15- Winrate stats
24:20 - Takeaways from the tournament
31:00 - The Dive Down begins - Companion S/B/H, pt.2
32:29 - Bant Snow Control ft. Yorion
59:40 - Pioneer Boros Burn ft. Lurrus
1:21:05 - Sultai Gyruda Combo ft.... Gyruda
1:46:01 - The Wind Down - what we're doing during Social Distancing
1:49:26 - Closing out
Links from this week's episode:
The Team Lotus Box tournament series: https://www.lotusboxleague.com/
Bant Snow Control: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2982916#paper
Boros Burn: https://mtgdecks.net/Pioneer/boros-burn-lurrus-decklist-by-piper-powell-965744
Gyruda combo: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2974794#paper
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
1 hr 52 min
May 01, 2020 Episode 71: Sleeve/Believe/Heave: Constant Companions, v.1
This week The Dive Down boys test out some of the latest decks in Modern and Pioneer, all featuring Companions! Love them or hate them, they are certainly here for now. Listen and learn what we think about 3 of the newest popular Companions!
The Break Down: 2 Challenging Modern Challenges
The Dive Down: Our New Friends Lurrus, Obosh, and Zirda
The Wind Down: Funeral For a Friend
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Now get 15% off your first 3 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use code "thedivedown"
Timestamps:
2:26 - Housekeeping
6:03 - The Break Down: 2 Modern Challenges
15:26 - The second Modern Challenge!
26:56 - The Dive Down begins: Ever hear of Companions?
29:15 - Grixis Death's Shadow ft. Lurrus in Modern
49:33 - Some tips with and against Lurrus
57:03 - Gruul Aggro ft. Obosh in Pioneer
1:20:04 - Beating Obosh
1:23:24 - Zirda Elves in Modern
1:33:15 - Stoneforge Mystic Zirda!
1:41:08 - Our takes on Companions
1:51:41 - The Wind Down: RIP DCI
LInks from this week's episode:
Lurrus Shadow: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2958819#paper
Obosh Gruul: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2940733#paper
Zirda Elves: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2948760#paper
Zirda SFM Elves: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2958129#paper
Izzet Lutri: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2961717#paper
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
2 hr
April 24, 2020 Episode 70: Ponza: Sprawling Out
We hang out with our old friend Klothys and her minions as we do a deck dive into the latest tier 1 Modern deck, Ponza!
The Break Down: Challenge of the Companions
The Break Down, cont: The Takes You're Looking For
The Dive Down: 2 Glorybringers on Turn 3
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Now get 15% off your first 3 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use code "thedivedown"
Timestamps:
2:45 - Housekeeping
5:42 - The Break Down begins: a Pioneer super qualifier
6:28 - The top 8 (with maybe some Companion talk)
22:42 - The rest of the meta
25:48 - The immediate impact of Companions and our hot takes
39:25 - The Dive Down: Gruul Midrange/RG Ponza
45:10 - Our initial thoughts
48:40 - What this deck is trying to do
53:15 - The early game
58:22 - The midgame
1:00:58 - A special focus on Klothys
1:06:43 - Back to the ramp targets and midgame plays
1:13:20 - Closing out the game
1:21:01 - The Companion Variant
1:31:45 - Why is Ponza good now?
1:36:30 - Some good and kinda bad matchups
1:41:30 - Some helpful thoughts
1:45:30 - How to stop Ponza
1:48:50 - The future of Ponza in the meta
1:50:28 - Closing out
Links from this week's episode:
The Pioneer Super Qualifier: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/pioneer-super-qualifier-2020-04-18
The “Classic” Ponza list: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2878672#paper
The Companion list: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2941115#paper
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
1 hr 54 min
April 17, 2020 Episode 69: Ikoria: A Lair of Spoilers, Pt. 2
Dave is back and we tackle a second batch of spoilers from Ikoria, and give you our picks to click in Pioneer and Modern! Then we wind things down with The Dive Down Nation's spoiler survey.
The Break Down: The latest Pioneer Super Qualifier
The Dive Down: More Monsters, Fewer Problems
The Wind Down: The Nation's spoiler survey
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Now get 15% off your first 3 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use code "thedivedown"
Timestamps:
1:57 - Housekeeping
4:16 - The Break Down begins: the Pioneer Super Qualifier top 8
14:25 - The top 32 metagame breakdown
21:05 - The Dive Down begins: Ikoria spoilers pt 2
21:27 - Of One Mind
29:22 - Shark Typhoon
34:03 - Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy
40:44 - Slitherwisp
45:58 - Cunning Nightbonder
49:01 - Skycat Sovereign
53:20 - Blitz of the Thunder-Raptor
1:00:16 - Labyrinth Raptor
1:03:54 - Swallow Whole
1:10:01 - The Ozolith
1:14:14 - Neutralize
1:18:27 - Quick Hits!
1:27:18 - The Triomes!
1:36:27 - The Wind Down: The Nation's spoiler survey
1:47:48 - Closing out
Links from this week's episode:
The Pioneer Super Qualifier: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/tournament/pioneer-super-qualifier-12130311#paper
Ikoria spoilers: https://scryfall.com/sets/iko?order=set&as=grid
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
1 hr 50 min
April 15, 2020 Bonus 7: Mono-Red Prowess ft. Ryan Overturf
In this bonus episode, Dave and Stan got to chat with Ryan Overturf about Mono Red Prowess! Who doesn’t love an explosive Lightning Bolt deck? We chat about the deck’s evolution in Modern, how to evaluate its threats, side boarding and more!
Find Ryan Overturf:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RyanOverdrive
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/ryanoverdrive
Lodestone Games: https://twitter.com/LodestoneCG
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Now get 15% off your first 3 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=t... and use code "thedivedown"
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
1 hr 22 min
April 10, 2020 Episode 68: Ikoria: Lair of the Spoilers, Pt. 1 ft. Aspiring Spike
We have Evart Moughon, aka Aspiring Spike, on as a guest host to go over the first batch of Ikoria spoilers!
The Break Down: Modern Showcase!
The Dive Down: Behemoth Spoilers!
The Wind Down: Listener Questions!
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Now get 15% off your first 3 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use code "thedivedown"
Timestamps:
2:28 - Housekeeping
3:35 - The Break Down: Modern Super Qualifier
5:30 - The top 8
14:42 - The top 32 meta
28:07 - The Dive Down begins: how we evaluate cards
32:39 - The mechanics of Ikoria
44:31 - Picks to Click: Lurrus of the Dream Den
52:09 - Heartless Act
57:01 - Vivien, Monsters' Advocate
1:04:06 - Sea-Dasher Octopus
1:07:24 - Fiend Artisan
1:11:29 - Sprite Dragon
1:16:24 - General Kudro of Drannith
1:22:01 - Rielle, the Everwise
1:25:39 - Mythos of Nethroi
1:29:27 - Some quick hits
1:35:12 - The Wind Down - questions for Aspiring Spike
1:45:21 - Where to find Aspiring Spike
1:46:29 - Closing Out
Links from this week's episode:
Modern Super Qualifier: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/modern-super-qualifier-2020-04-05#decklists
The Mechanics of Ikoria: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/ikoria-lair-behemoths-mechanics-2020-04-02?sd
Ikoria spoilers: https://scryfall.com/sets/iko?order=set&as=grid
Aspiring Spike on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/aspiringspike
Aspiring Spike on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MoughonEvart/
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
1 hr 49 min
April 03, 2020 Episode 67: Sleeve/Believe/Heave: Pioneer Budget Decks
This week we each take a budget deck through the S/B/H process, and share our experiences testing out some novel options in Pioneer!
The Break Down: Talking Two Pioneer Super Qualifiers
The Dive Down: Ox Talk (and some other things)
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Now get 15% off your first 3 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use code "thedivedown"
Timestamps:
3:40 - Housekeeping
6:54 - The Break Down begins - Pioneer Super Qualifiers
8:00 - PSQ#1
14:45 - PSQ#2
21:45 - The top 32x2 metagame
37:45 - The Dive Down begins - Why budget decks in Pioneer?
42:29 - Mono-Red Phoenix
58:04 - Mono-Red Hollow One
1:16:01 - Mono-Blue Fliers and budget UW Spirits
1:34:18 - Do budget decks have a home in Pioneer?
1:41:00 - Closing Out
Links from this week's episode:
Pioneer SQ #1: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/pioneer-super-qualifier-2020-03-29-0
Pioneer SQ #2: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/pioneer-super-qualifier-2020-03-29
Emma's budget Pioneer article: https://infinite.tcgplayer.com/article/Pioneer-Budget-Brews:-Which-Card%3F-Dis-card/f29f8aad-6742-4df0-abcb-47f2eb592e42/
Mono-Red Phoenix: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2873533#paper
Mono-Blue Skies: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2873660#paper
Budget Azorius Spirits: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2875538#paper
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
1 hr 43 min
March 27, 2020 Episode 66: Mono-White in Pio: Heliod, Fun-Crowned, pt. II
This week we head back for another Heliod deck dive, this time in Pioneer!
The Break Down: Super MTGO Qualifiers in Modern and Pioneer
The Dive Down: Infinite Clicks 'n' Damage 'n' Stuff
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Now get 15% off your first 3 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use code "thedivedown"
Timestamps:
6:36 - Housekeeping
8:25 - Modern Super Qualifier
25:30 - Pioneer Super Qualifier
39:15 - The Dive Down Begins: Mono-White Heliod in Pioneer
45:10 - The Strength of Heliod
47:35 - A Brief History
48:10 - The Combo
53:49 - The Beat Down
1:06:32 - The Mana
1:08:16 - The Disruption
1:19:02 - The Gideons
1:26:33 - Playing the Deck
1:33:56 - The Matchups
1:39:45 - The Sideboard
1:41:38 - Wrapping Up
Links from this week's episode:
Modern Super Qualifier: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/modern-super-qualifier-2020-03-22
Pioneer Super Qualifier: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/pioneer-super-qualifier-2020-03-22
Heliod deck list example: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2863625#paper
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
1 hr 54 min
March 20, 2020 Episode 65: Staying in Touch at a Distance
This week's a weird one, because things are weird. We first go over the Modern and Pioneer MTGO Challenges, then head into a grab bag of listener questions!
The Break Down: Business as Usual
The Dive Down: Staying Healthy and Staying Positive
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Now get 15% off your first 3 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use code "thedivedown"
Timestamps:
4:03 - Some positive news to start your Friday
7:22 - Housekeeping
9:49 - The Break Down - The Pioneer MTGO Challenge
25:46 - The Modern MTGO Challenge
39:50 - The Dive Down begins
42:31 - What we're covering with paper tournaments cancelled
46:03 - Some board games we like
52:13 - Magic Online, Magic Arena, computers, and you
1:04:32 - Questions lightning round begins - Bant snow control, the best deck in modern?
1:06:46 - The best pioneer deck?
1:10:20 - The tribes on the edge of glory?
1:14:20 - Where is Wilt-Leaf?
1:15:43 - Why do we like Pioneer, and what still draws us to Modern?
1:21:54 - Is Uro the new Oko?
1:26:48 - Should sets be tested online before print?
1:30:00 - Do we play Commander?
1:34:12 - Finding your deck
1:38:38 - Our favorite places
1:44:20 - Our go-to non-Magic Podcasts
1:48:28 - Closing out
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
1 hr 52 min

About The Dive Down

From the publisher's feed

The Dive Down is a weekly podcast for people who love Magic: The Gathering but like talking about other things too. From videogames, to parenting, to 3D printing, and beyond. Each week hosts Dave,…