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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: July, 2017
Jul 28, 2017

Teresa Pho is a data analyst who just qualified for her first Pro Tour by making top 4 of a Regional Pro Tour Qualifier. Teresa lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Teresa Pho when she shared her story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep221

First Set

Avacyn Restored / M13

Favorite Set

Khans of Tarkir

Favorite Card

Squee's Toy

Early Challenge

Catching up to the new rules. Damage not going on the stack.

Magic Milestone

Teresa won a Grand Prix Trial and got 2 byes for her first Grand Prix.

Worst Magic Moment

At GP Pittsburgh 2016, Teresa lost her win-and-in to day 2.

Proudest Magic Moment

Top 4 of an RPTQ and qualifying for the Pro Tour. Making day 2 at GP Pittsburgh 2017.

What Have You Learned From Magic

Magic is a lot of strategies and resource management. That helps a ton at work.

Tournament Day Tips

Teresa takes Advil to relieve a headache at tournaments.

Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself

Teresa sees she's the type of person who is competitive and can dedicate time and energy to what she loves.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Players are bad at combat. 
Look at the mana your opponent has up, think of what you've seen, cover how you think they'll block.

How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event

Teresa studies the meta and decides the best build to go with. Then, she tweaks the sideboard for herself.  

Parting Guidance

Watch coverage and really analyze what's going on.

Magic Resource

CFB

Connect With Teresa Pho

Twitter:@teresapho ‏ 

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

 

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Jul 25, 2017

Jim Wilks is an Australian grinder and the Captain of Team EXP. He’s made the Top 8 of World Magic Cup 2016 with Team Australia and is the Champion of Grand Prix Sydney 2017. Jim lives in Canberra, Australia.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Jim Wilks when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep220

First Set

Onslaught

Favorite Set

Kamigawa

Favorite Card

Sphinx's Revelation

Early Challenge

The idea that he didn't have to win every tournament. this detached Jim from the results and led to more wins.

Magic Milestones

World Magic Qualifier-Jim made top 8 and realized he could play at higher level.

Worst Magic Moment

Grand Prix Sydney- Zendikar Sealed- Jim wins play a Blue/Red deck. He had a great position on the board and didn't think he could lose. He lost because he didn't think all the way through the turn.
Don't get over confident.

Proudest Magic Moment

Top 8 World Magic Cup 2016, Jim felt very validated as a player. Also, winning a Grand Prix was huge for him. 

What Have You Learned From Magic

Approach things objectively and don't tilt.

Magic Mentors

Dan Unwin, John-Paul Kelly, Ivan Schroder

Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself

Jim really values positivity.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Players try to get too smart with their cards. Instead of playing smart they set up a complicated chain that's unnecessary. 

How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event

Team EXP had 7 Sealed Pools and rotated those among all the team to get fresh perspectives.

Tournament Day Tips

Snacks and water.

Parting Guidance

No matter how good you want to be, remember you're playing a game and you.

Connect With Jim Wilks

Twitter:@ForceOfWilks 

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

 

 

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Jul 21, 2017

Lukas Blohon returns to the show after increasing his already impressive record. He now has 7 Grand Prix top 8s including 2 wins and 2 Pro Tour top 8s. Lukas lives in Prague, Czech Republic. His first appearance on the MTG Pro Tutor podcast was episode 61.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Lukas Blohon when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep219

Whats New

Lukas now plays Magic full time. He produces content for Hareruya and plays.
After locking Platinum, Lukas decided to make the leap.

Time Management

Breaking up Magic times with other activities helps Lukas focus better.

What happened at GP Vegas

Lukas played in the Modern event and remembers a loss he had. After 4 days of solid Magic, Lukas missed an onboard manland and his opponent won when Lukas was favored.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Playing too fast. People don't think their whole turn through.

Shortcoming

Playing an auto pilot. Lukas does it in practice and wants to get better.

Parting Guidance

Play one match at a time.

Connect With Lukas Blohon

Twitter:@LukasBlohon 

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

Jul 18, 2017

Allen Wu is a Master's student at Stanford University where he studies Management Science and Engineering. He broke onto the Pro Tour by winning an MTGO PTQ 3 seasons in a row. His best results are 2 Grand Prix top 8's with 1 win and going 10-6 in the last 3 Pro Tours. Allen lives in Mountain View, CA.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Allen Wu when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep218

First Set

Invasion

Favorite Set

Time Spiral

Favorite Card

Vendilion clique

 

Early Challenge

Allen played a lot and got better by accident :)

Worst Magic Moment

At a Pro Tour, playing against  Mike Sigrist, Allen missed a play that would have won him the game. He missed out on qualifying for 2 more Pro Tour.

Proudest Magic Moment

Winning his first MTGO PTQ.

What Have You Learned From Magic

"Magic has improved my critical thinking."

Best Format

Legacy

Advice for Beginner Legacy 

There are so many decisions and decks learn from every game.

Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself

Making great friends has been a fantastic side effect of playing Magic.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Playing too scared. Players pump the brakes when they shouldn't. You have to read how your opponents have been playing and surmise what they don't have.

How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event

Play a lot of Magic Online and get a group to play test.

Tournament Day Tips

Hangout with friends between rounds. Make sure you're having fun.

Parting Guidance

Record your games and watch them.

Magic Resource

Watch videos and pause as you go talk with friends.

Connect With Allen Wu

Twitter:@lhefriel 

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

 

 

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Patreon milestone 2

Jul 14, 2017

Tyrell Wheeler is the first Pro Tutor Prodigy listener turned guest! He has been playing Magic since Revised and has one Pro Tour top 16. Tyrell lives in Vancouver, Canada.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Tyrell Wheeler when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep217

Favorite Set

Time Spiral

Favorite Card

Time walk

Early Challenge

Don't know the proper playing of Magic when in an autopilot.

Worst Magic Moment

He lost his backpack including his deck and some of his personal belongings the night before the event.

Proudest Magic Moment

Qualifying for the Pro Tour even though his life gets busy and played Magic on and off.

What Have You Learned From Magic

He could repeat other people's process to success so being mindful. Practice does not make perfect but perfect practice makes perfect.

Best Format

Sealed deck.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Players just talking with everybody and setting down to play. People need to put the mental energy into thinking about what the best plays. Keep in touch with your monologue, ask questions why that this happened and internalize the game.

How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event

Watching Limited videos, ask pieces of advice from mentors, watching Magic matches once a week, get practice, think some plan and strategy and have confidence.

Tips For Long Days in Magic

Have big meals, eat salad, apple, banana, drink enough water, bring paper, pens, tokens, dice, etc.

Parting Guidance

Mindfully think through the games and adapt else' process that is so much better than you.

Connect With Tyrell Wheeler

Tyrell can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.

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

Jul 11, 2017

The Archmage of Goldnight

Magic Story is the audio presentation of Uncharted Realms, the weekly Daily MTG column that tells the lore behind Magic: The Gathering.

This episode is brought to life by voice actors, a composer, and a sound designer all of the highest caliber.

Credits:

Austin Schumacher (Narrator)

T Katz (Arlinn Kord)

Nathan Ondrecek (Archmage Reeves / Archmage Rembert / Cathar Leighton / Male Cathars)

Kaitlyn Lavo (Olaylie / Mad Angel / Female Cathars)

Miriam Penrod (Boy)

Nathaniel Drew (Composer of the original score)

Ansh Rajput (Chief sound designer)

Brian Lang (Cover art)

Shaun Penrod (Executive Producer)

 

 

 

Jul 7, 2017

Benjamin Luft is a 31-year-old Tax Consultant Assistant from Hannover, Germany. He’s been playing Magic since Visions but has stepped away from the game several times (as many of us do). He cashed for the first time at a Grand Prix when he made top 8 at GP Amsterdam which also sent him to Albuquerque for his first Pro Tour.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Benjamin Luft when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep215

First Set

Mirage

Favorite Set

Zendikar

Favorite Card

Cryptic Command

Early Challenge

Finding people to play with as preparation for tournaments.

Worst Magic Moment

Losing on a PPTQ in semifinals and losing again in another PPTQ the day after in finals. But it paid off because he got practiced in higher level and made him qualified for another PPTQ.

Proudest Magic Moment

Win and got 6-1-2 after 9 rounds and hit 6-0 on day 2 and even considered dropping to play some Mulligan side events.

What Have You Learned From Magic

Seeking opportunities to open and get yourself in a situation where you can gain experience and even risk but keep trying to succeed.

Best Format

Standard

How Far You Choose Your Deck

A week before the event and test it with friends.

Different Between Making the Top 8 and Day 2

Choosing and positioning the deck matters. Decide from the recent tournament results and find the weaknesses of the dominated decks.

Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself

Become a better person. Be able to handle mistakes, loss and treat others nicely.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

People concede earlier.

Tournament Day Tips

More foods and keep hydrated.

Parting Guidance

Not conceding earlier. Don't try to win but also try to make it an enjoyable experience. Keep trying and succeed.

Magic Resource

SCG, CFB, The game podcast

Connect With Benjamin Luft

Twitter:@_bluft

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

Jul 4, 2017

Hunter Cochran is a 25-year-old graduate student of physics at Stony Brook University. He’s originally from Arkansas and Texas and has made the top 8 of three GPs, winning one. Hunter lives in Long Island, New York.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Hunter Cochran when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep214

First Set

Onslaught

Favorite Set

MIrrodin, Darksteel

Favorite Card

Perilous Vault
Tireless tracker

Early Challenge

Not having the access to cards and the money to buy to very competitive decks. Difficult to play ranges of decks and be able to think from other perspectives and learn new types of decks and strategies.

Breakthrough Moment

During the PPTQ in the Spring of 2015 when he decided to spend some money and attend the events. 

Worst Magic Moment

A very embarrassing and lowest moment that got him banned from playing Magic in a local venue in college. Playing against a good player that got him rolled by his opponent's super deck. Got angry, throw his fist to the table, punch the table and sat on the table for the rest of the day. 

Proudest Magic Moment

His first PPTQ win in just 3 months of playing.

Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself

Learned controlling emotions when results are unfavorable to you.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Not having a very clear vision for the game, not knowing your role and how your deck is built and the difficulties to pinpoint why you lose the game. For Constructed - thinking about things before the tournament. For Limited- thinking about things before your round.

Tips to Curve Frustration

Try to be pretty animated and vocal with opponents. Try to make interaction and experience be personal. The more you see your opponent as a person, the easier to beat frustration.

Parting Guidance

Magic is a community game so build relationships, talk to people who might help you to open and close doors and get so much perspective on Magic.

Magic Resource

SCG, CFB

Connect With Hunter Cochran

Hunter can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.

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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