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MTG Pro Tutor - Insights, Tips & Advice from Magic: The Gathering Pros

MTG Pro Tutor is a top rated Magic: The Gathering podcast and here's why: professional Magic players and community notables share their origin stories twice a week (Tue & Fri) and impart actionable tips you can use the next time you sit down to play. Learn from the wealth of experience they've built through hours of practice and playing against hundreds of opponents and start seeing improvements in your own skill right away. Don't you hate feeling like you play and play and don’t improve? Surrounding yourself with better players is the best way to level up and the MTG Pro Tutor podcast is your way of doing that. Subscribe if you want to take your Magic: The Gathering skills to the next level while hearing cool stories and getting actionable advice from the biggest names in the Multiverse.
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Now displaying: September, 2016
Sep 30, 2016

 

Chris Botelho is a relatively new player who started playing in Fate Reforged. Grand Prix Portland was his first Standard GP (second GP ever) and his only Top 8. He works at CCGHouse, and goes to sleep each night a little bit better at Magic than when I woke up. Chris lives in Vancouver Washington.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Chris Botelho when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep135

First Set

Fate Reforged

Favorite Set

Dragons of Tarkir

Favorite Card

Demonic Pact

Underplayed Card

Make Mischief

What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you?

Connecting with new people face to face.

Early Challenge

Playing creatures in Main I instead of saving mana for combat.

Level Up Moment

When Magic Origins launched, Chris used a sealed pool generator to practice building decks. He was able to translate which cards were good from sealed to draft. Also, when Chris was testing for GP Portland. He loved his deck and practicing it was fun.

Pro You Admire

Caleb Durward

Worst Magic Moment

Chris had two chances to make day 2 of his first Grand Prix and missed both. Play around cards not effects. 

Proudest Magic Moment

Top 8 at GP Portland

Best Format

Draft

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Getting your ego wrapped into the game. Look at every game and say "I know I made a mistake , what was it and how can I learn. "

Daily Habits

Sorting commons every set

Drafting Advice

Evaluate how your deck is going to win.

Guidance

Love Magic. The more you love it the more you'll practice.

Magic Resource

r/spikes

Check Out Magic Story

Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.

Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com

 

Sponsors

Patreon milestone 2

Sep 27, 2016

Ryan Solave is from Sarnia, Ontario and has been playing Magic since Alara block. He plays a lot of online games, but sets aside most of his time for Magic. He had his first Grand Prix Top 8 in Indianapolis and is qualified for PT Kaladesh in Hawaii.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Ryan Solave when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep134

First Set

Alara

Favorite Set

khans of Tarkir

Favorite Card

Bloodbraid Elf

What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you?

Player base is great. People are competitive but still nice.

Early Challenge

The Stack. Ryan was not good at it early on.

Level Up Moment

After Khans came out Ryan hit events hard. By consistently playing at a high level Ryan got experience.

Pro's You Look Up To

Owen Turtenwald

Worst Magic Moment

At GP Toronto Ryan made a huge misplay. He assigned 1 damage to tokens when his opponent had a Gideon Emblem.

Proudest Magic Moment

Top 8 at GP Indianapolis

Best Format

Steppe Lynx

Conversation w/ Yourself 5 Years Ago

"How are you going to win this game."

Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself

Learning different formats has helped Ryan read his opponents better.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Over side boarding

How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event

Choose a deck and play against the gauntlet starting a month.

What's in Your Tournament Bag

Deck Box, Pad, Deck

Daily Habits

Use same water bottle, make list

Modern Advice

Learn the stack. Know when you can respond and what you should respond to. Learn the removal of the format.

Advice To New Players

Play whatever is most fun for you. Just have fun.

Improvement Suggestion

Focus on your own mistakes.

Magic Resource

CFB
SCG

Connect With Ryab Solave

Twitter: @RyanSolave

Check Out Magic Story

Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.

Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com

 

Sponsors

Patreon milestone 2

Sep 23, 2016

Ethan Brown is 13 years old and loves to play Magic! Since he started playing almost 4 years ago, he has competed in 7 Grand Prixs, made day 2 in 4 of them and top 8 in one. His favorite formats are modern, legacy and pauper. Ethan lives in Portland.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Ethan Brown when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep133

First Set

Return to Ravnica

Favorite Set

Theros and Time Spiral

Favorite Card

Olivia Voldaren

Underplayed Card

Rune Snag

Guilds of Ravnica

Selesnya Conclave

What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you?

Like complicated mind games.

Early Challenge

Deck building and drafting.
Solution: Listened to Limited Resources podcast.

Level Up Moment

During Theros, Ethan grew a lot as a player.

Pro Player You Look Up To

Paul Cheon

Worst Magic Moment

Playing against Splinter Twin. Ethan forgot to sideboard.

Proudest Magic Moment

Grand Prix Los Angeles 2nd place. Started a journal to track sideboards.

Effective Playtest

Play often and after every game ask opponent what's the best sideboard choices.

Shortcomings

Bad at constructed deck building. Practicing by building proper deck.

Best Format

Modern and Legacy

Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself

"I'm a very fast player." Slow night.

What Advice Would You Give Yourself

Don't be afraid to go to tournaments.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Not asking for help from others.

What's in Your Tournament Bag

Decks, Sideboard guide, KMC Sleeves, Playmat

Daily Habits

Play Magic daily, consume Magic content.

Advice to New Players

Get into modern.

Improvement Suggestions

Have a sideboard plan.

Magic Resource

MTG Goldfish
Limited Resources

Check Out Magic Story

Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.

Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com

 

Sponsors

Patreon milestone 2

Sep 20, 2016

Felix Tse made top 4 at Grand Prix Montreal 2016 and live in Cananda.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Felix Tse when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep132

Connect With Felix Tse

Facebook: Felix Tse

Check Out Magic Story

Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.

Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com

 

Sponsors

Patreon milestone 2

Sep 16, 2016

Thierry Ramboa started playing magic 12 years ago but wasn’t able to travel or play competitively until April 2015. He reached Silver level pro status in 2015 and has attended every European GP's since then. He Top 8’d Grand Prix Sydney.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Thierry Ramboa when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep131

First Set

5th Dawn

Favorite Set

Ravnica City of Guilds (Izzet)

Early Challenge

Always felt he was unlucky. Thinking through the situation and realizing that if the same thing happens it's not luck.

Worst Magic Moment

Came back after a break and did so poorly he thought magic wasn't for him. Friends helped him get through it.

Proudest Magic Moment

Top 8 of Grand Prix Sydney. Just focus on the match.

Best Format

Standard - Look at best decks in the format. Use MTG Goldfish and pick a deck that can beat the top 3.

Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself

Tone down his over confidence.

Pro Tour Testing

Focus on limited and brewing. Run small tournaments within the Team and see results of each deck.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Being over confident. Think "How can I lose" and plan accordingly.

How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event

Played 2-4 drafts a day for the week.

Activity

Talking with others about magic. You get new ideas

What's in Your Tournament Bag

Deck Box, deck, water, pen, dice

Entry Level Suggestions

Borrow cards from other players. Use proxies (not in tournaments)

Improvement Suggestions

Never forget why you started playing.

Magic Resource

MTG Top 8
MTG Goldfish
CFB
MTG Mintcard

Connect With Thierry Ramboa

Twitter: @El_Gran_Boa

Check Out Magic Story

Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.

Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com

Sponsors

Patreon milestone 2

Sep 13, 2016

Oliver Polak-Rottmann has 4 Grand Prix Top 8 including 1 Win, 1 Pro Tour Top 16, and is a 2-time National champion (2008, 2016). Oliver lives in Vienna, Austria.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Oliver Polak-Rottmann when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep130

First Set

4th Edition

Favorite Set

Coldsnap (Draft) / Champions of Kamigawa

Favorite Card

Island

Mana Drain

Master of Waves

Underplayed Standard Card

Woodland Bellower

Gilt-Leaf Winnower

What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you?

Oliver has made great friends playing Magic.

How to have fun and be competitive

By understanding variance always happens it will even out the highs and lows

Early Challenge

Try to finish his black border dual land collection. Money was an issue. Through trading and drafting. Oli was able to get the money for the card.

Level Up Moment

The year Oli qualified for 3 of 7 Pro Tours is when he realized he had leveled up.

Worst Magic Moment

In the 2008 season, Oli skipped the Pro Tour because he only needed 1 point. He needed to make to 200 of 380 players, and he didn't make it. It felt terrible . Oli learned you have to take the game seriously but not let it consume you."If you're failing at Magic, you're not failing at life".

Proudest Magic Moment

Making Platinum at Pro Tour Eldritch Moon.

Best Format

Standard

Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself

Oli learned about the world by traveling with Magic.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Players don't Sideboard correctly and they don't seek advice as much as they should. People feel they know it better.

Short comings

Make Pro Tour Top 8.

How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event

Booked a house two weeks before the Pro Tour with his team to practice. Know the balance you need. Playing a lot of games (10-15) per match up helps Oli get a feel and collect data.

Conversation 5 Years Ago

"Pick up Power cards and dual lands."

Improvement Suggestions

Enjoy the game, Make friends.

Magic Resource

CFB 
Hareruya

Connect With Oliver Polak-Rottmann

Twitter: @polakrottmann

Check Out Magic Story

Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.

Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com

 

Sponsors

Patreon milestone 2

Sep 9, 2016

 

Robert Santana is an up and coming star who made top 16 at the Star City Games Open in Las Vegas in 2014 and is the Grand Prix Portland 2016 Champion.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Robert Santana when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep129

First Set

Lorwyn

Favorite Set

Worldwake

Favorite Card

Primeval Titan and Ishkanah

Underplayed Card in Standard

Call the Bloodline

What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you?

The competitive scene drew him in.

Early Challenge

Creature combat. Robert played more control decks to get around not playing creatures.

Worst Magic Moment

SCG Las Vegas 2014. Robert dropped from the Invitational and joined the open. Playing win and in for top 8. Robert played against Steve Robin and got demolished. This led Robert to really doubt his ability to play. He forced himself and asked "is this something I really want to do ?". Once he committed he went all in.

Proudest Magic Moment

Champion of GP Portland 2016.

Level Up Moment

Started attending a competitive FNM. Associating with better players really helped.

Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself

Robert felt like he hit a wall. Tournament result were stagnant. Connecting with other players is key to his success.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Players have deck ADD. Stick to a certain deck and get to know it really well.

How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event

Find a group of like minded individuals. Build the gauntlet and attend PTQs and GPQs together.

What's in Your Tournament Bag

Clothes and Magic Cards

Daily Rituals

Hard work

Improvement Suggestions

Get on MTGO ; Reach out to players, connect and ask for advice.

Mentor

Brian Kibler

Advice to New Players

Go to LGS and get Intro decks, augment those and more up.

Magic Resource

MTGO
Cockatrice
SCG Premium
CFB
r/spikes

Connect With Robert Santana

Twitter: @itsRobbSon

Check Out Magic Story

Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.

Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com

 

Sponsors

Patreon milestone 2

Sep 6, 2016

Travis Woo is a strong Magic personality who has made Top 8 of a Grand Prix 3 times from the 12 he'’s attended. He also developed a decklist that made it to the top 8 of a Pro Tour. He runs the Magic For Good Facebook group and more of his content can be found on his YouTube channel, youtube.com/traviswizard. Travis lives in Humble, California.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Travis Woo when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep128

First Set

The Dark

Favorite Card

Shambling Vent

What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you?

"I'm invested in it. It's a vehicle to share energy with people"

Early Challenge

Mulliganing. The new mulligan rule really helps.
Deck building. Travis built a lot of decks on his own to overcome his lack of confidence.

Mentors

Kai Budde, Jon FinkelPatrick Chapin, LSV, Ben Stark, Mike Flores

Worst Magic Moment

Letting the community down. Driving far and doing poorly.

Proudest Magic Moment

Hearing community members say he's made a difference in their life.
Top 8 Grand Pix Oakland 2013 with his brother.

Best Format

Sealed

Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself

"I'm constantly evolving"

Biggest Mistake Players Make

People not preparing the right way. Many players will play and learn nothing.

Shortcoming

Not having a Pro Team. Need to network to overcome this.

Daily Habits

Bike ride, record videos, risk life (surfing), eat good food

How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event

Travis was involved in a private Magic coaching group. He was helping others prepare for their events and absorbed an understanding of the format. Have a plan to win. The brain is most alert on an empty stomach.

Improvement Suggestions

Win the next game. Take one game at a time.

Magic Resource

Next Level Deck Building
Travis Woo's book
Seek out players doing well in the format you want to play. 
Magic For Good Facebook Group.

Connect With Travis Woo

Twitter: @traviswizard

Check Out Magic Story

Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.

Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com

Sponsors

Patreon milestone 2

Sep 2, 2016

Saul Alvarado has 2 Grand Prix top 8s: one at Grand Prix Los Angeles in 2009 and the other at Grand Prix Costa Rica in 2016. He’'s a 2 time National Champion and has been part of several National Teams. Right now he'’s focused on achieving his degree in Psychology, but is always making room for some Magical trips! Saul live in Panama City, Panama.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Saul Alvarado when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep127

First Set

Tempest

Favorite Set

Newest Set

Hated Set

Mirrodin

Favorite Card

Vendilion Clique

Underplayed Card

Eldritch

What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you?

Saul loved the the competitive aspect of Magic.

Aspect of Magic You Were Terrible at

Focuses a lot on Constructed and leaves Limited for last.

Level Up Moment

Before GP LA Saul was talking to Pros and asking questions.

Pro You Look Up To

Consistently playing tournaments. Guillaume Wafo-Tapa

Worst Magic Moment

Pro Tutor Honolulu: Night before the tournament Saul changed his deck the night before. He lost pretty bad.
Learned: Never change deck the night before.
Pro Tutor Sydney: Showed up unprepared. Next time he'll make the time to prepare.

Proudest Magic Moment

Making Top 8 twice. Saul likes that he has inspired other players from his local area to do well.

Best Format

Standard

Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself

"How competitive I can be"

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Players don't know how to mulligan or sideboard properly. Have a sideboard plan.

How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event

Play on MTGO and get serious about 1 month before the tournament.

What's in Your Tournament Bag

Camera and Deck

Improvement Suggestions

Practice a lot. Play as much as you can.

Magic Resource

MTG Top 8 (Latest Decks)

Connect With Saul Alvarado

Facebook: Saul Alvarado

Check Out Magic Story

Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.

Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com

 

Sponsors

Patreon milestone 2

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