The Dive Down

Results are in from LMS Prague and we break down the top decks at the 265 player event. Then chat about our experiences playing a couple versions of Domain Zoo. And D00mwake shares the secret to winning an RCQ. The Break Down: Legacy European Tour Master Series Prague, Grand Open Qualifier (Modern) The Dive Down: Takeaways - A Domain Zoo Experience Discussion The Wind Down: D00mwake won an RCQ! Be...

This weekend was the annual Hunter Burton Memorial Open, the first large paper Modern tournament since the recent B&R. We dive into the tournament results to see where the format is headed, try out some of the latest versions of Rhinos to see if Cascade still works, and enjoy a little Goryo's Vengeance as a treat. Thanks to smarter people than us, we've reviewed a ton of Modern results and win...

The mad lads did it, they banned our beloved Violent Outburst in Modern. We're not particularly happy about the outcome or its communication, but we discuss what it means for Cascade decks and the format moving forward. In today's episode, we delve into the somewhat surprising B&R announcement and discuss the survivability of Cascade strategies moving forward. We assess some potential winners...

A discourse is brewing on this week's Dive Down, as the rhino boyz reflect on some of the issues Modern players seem to have with the current format and metagame. Can we close Pandora's box of free spells and triomes? Will MH3 save us? Or could WOTC do something more... drastic..? The Break Down: Devon asked, you answered. The Dive Down: Eight Hateful Hypotheses The Wind Down: Love that joker... f...

Last weekend was MagicCon Chicago — and wow are we tired, friends. Join the Rhino Boyz as we recap the main event, side events, and small events that made up what was a great weekend in the Motor City! Shane give a metagame breakdown of the PT. Stan takes a shot at the cup. D00m plays the hero. Dave falls in love with a bunch of real Jokers. • They Broke It • Rats, Assassins, Villians, and Free Sp...

The MagicCon is finally upon us. We prepare for a weekend full of side events by looking at the most exciting innovations for our favorite formats, and figure out how to win the most tickets for the coveted prize wall. We take a look at Modern and Standard results since the release of Murders, plus whatever Pioneer results we can get our hands on, to share our favorite decks in each format and wha...

Join us this week as we discuss how Modern has gone rainbow. The full compliment of Rhino Boys — Dave, Devon, Shane, and Stan — are together for the first time this year. We're talking about Modern in upheaval and the results from all the RCs this last weekend. • thedivedown.com/chicago • Rhino Supremacy, Part XXIV • Lifelink, Hexproof, Trample, First Strike, Vigilance Become a citizen of The...

RC Denver is coming up. MagicCon Chicago is coming up. As a bit of an amuse bouche for these giant upcoming events, this week Dave and Shane take a look at SCGCON Hartford — Modern $10ks, Pioneer Events — and talk about MKM cards that we've seen pop up across our formats. Leyline? Surveil? More? • SCGCON Hartford's Modern $10ks • Surveiling the Landscape • Leyline is where? Become a citi...

This week Shane returns, and in celebration we take a quick trip to Ghent to recap the Modern RC this week. What's going on in Modern as we make our way towards the next RC in Denver? But first (well, second, actually) — the last cards we like from MKM, and our top 5 lists! • The More Modern Stays the Same, the More it Changes • Rhino Supremacy, Part XVI • More Orrible Murder Become a citizen...

It's a simple show this week... or is it? Dave and Devon dive into the previews to date of the latest set — Murders at Karlov Manor! Tune in as we discuss Disguises, Cloaks, and whether the Mole God lives up to the hype (spoiler: it does). Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch...

Join Shane and Devon as they embark on an epic journey through the realm of... Standard. Yes, Standard. With RCQ season in full swing, it's time to look over all the decks you need to know to be prepared. The boys look at the recent history of standard, how WOTC is trying to revitalize it, and provide insight on basically all the decks in the format. With everything from hyper-aggro to over-the-to...

It's time for The Dive Down to get back to work! We're fully into 2024 and this week Shane and Dave are diving deep into what Modern is right now. Tune in as we discuss SCG Cincinnati's 20K and 10K along with the most recent MTGO Showcase Challenge and try to answer some of the formats biggest questions. How dare Scam still exist? How did Rhinos get to be 14% of the meta at the 20K? Is Yawgmoth th...

This week's episode is not about about Modern or Pioneer! Instead, we fire off our free passes to MTGO's Vintage Cube and figure out how D00mwake became one of the format's trophy leaders. We also dust off our Arena accounts to play a little Timeless. Are we picking up new formats for the show? Only one way to find out! Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown...

Izzet Phoenix is back on the menu so we're diving back in for the first time in 5 years! Stan is joined by CCR from MTG Grindcast, along with the Pioneer trophy leader & Izzet Phoenix aficionado OafMcNamara to break down the deck in all its controlling glory. We chat in great detail about how to evaluate the cantrips and removal spells in a turbo xerox deck, how it pairs up against other top d...

With all the discourse swirling around Dreamhack Atlanta, the Dive Down boys decide to avoid it at all costs and just look at the cold hard facts - which decks did well, which decks did poorly, what did the matchup spreads look like, and where does Pioneer go from here. We also wrap up the show with an extended wind down recapping some of our favorite moments from Magic, podcasting, and pop cultur...

RC Atlanta is looming, so this week the team is diving into Pioneer. Dave, Devon, and Shane take a spin through what's happened to the format since the bans early last week. Is Copter rising? Is Mono Green Devotion dead? Where's Phoenix right now? How did Shane like the new hotness Amalia Combo — a deck that Dave hated a couple of weeks ago? Turn in to find out. Don't worry if Pioneer isn't your t...

The mad lads did it! Fury... banned. Up the Beanstalk... banned. Karn, the Great Creator... banned. Geological Appraiser... banned. Smuggler's Copter... once banned, now unbanned. We react to the bombshell B&R, consider which decks win and lose from the announcement, and think about what looks good for RC Atlanta. Our hands shook with anticipation as we vigorously refreshed the B&R URL on...

On this week's show, The Dive Down breaks down results from a variety of Pioneer RCs that took place in Asia, Latin America, and Canada. Our eyes pop out at some numbers from the new Discover decks, and we check-in on the final NRG Series open of the year. Three regional championships in one weekend, AND an NRG Series open? Yes please! Shane, Devon, and Stan chat about results from the latest batc...

On this week's show, the ha ha boys take some new cards from Lost Caverns of Ixalan for a spin in Modern and Pioneer. They cast Tishana's Tidebinder, Geological Appraiser, Warden of the Inner Sky, and more! Holy moly, LCI has already made quite the splash! In its first week live, it's already led to a huge disruption to Pioneer, along with some interesting upgrades for Modern. Stan and Dave chat a...

This week on The Dive Down we get back to basics. Stan and Shane focus on the three things The Dive Down does best: a) break down a large Modern tournament (SCG Pittsburgh), 2) give some takes about Rhinos, and iii) have a heartfelt conversation about MTG Universes Beyond. Mono White Hammer, Halo Forager, Sheoldred, and Captain America – what do they have in common? They're all here for this week'...

It's time for the final spoiler episode of 2023! We think? We go through the full spoiler from The Lost Caverns of Ixalan and talk about the cards we think will have the most impact... that we haven't already spoken about. What lands from this lands set do we actually think could be worth trying? Did they finally fix Smuggler's Copter? How Bitter will our Triumphs be? Have we Lost any Corpses? Did...

For the 375th time this year, we descend into the madness of trying to work out what cards from a new set will make an impact in our formats. It's Lost Caverns of Ixalan time! Spelunk with us as Dave, Shane, and Devon debate the great questions of this set. Which removal card is better — Get Lost or Molten Collapse? Which combo piece unlocks more combinations — The Millennium Calendar or Bartolome...

Could the right move in Modern be... adding a 4mv black card to Rhinos? Playing a green 2 drop over Murktide in... Murktide? What is even going on right now? We believe there's new stuff to try in Modern even now! Tune in to hear Devon almost take Rhinos + Sheoldred all the way and hear Dave come to the grim realization that casting Divinations is the only thing that makes him feel something in th...

Come back home for some beans, ya hear? We know you've had a lot of legumes lately, but this week The Dive Down has a special chef here to cook for us — Evart Moughon. Evart joins Dave and Shane to talk through his Up the Beanstalk brews including Cascade, Calibrated Blast, and more. Since this was recorded on (Non) Ban Day, we also spend some time getting his reactions to the current state o...

No one fully understands the timing of the upcoming B&R announcement, but public opinion in Modern is swelling around Scam. Is it time to make a change to Modern? We look at the deck's performance, play patterns, and popularity to consider Wizard's options. The Dive Down boys are divided. Some of us like the deck! But it's insanely popular right now, and the Grief play patterns can be pretty a...