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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: December, 2017
Dec 29, 2017

Christoffer Larsen returns to the podcast, now with 8 Grand Prix top 8s including a win at GP Lyon. His origin episode was episode 114 (which was rerun as episode 254).

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Christoffer Larsen when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep265

Update

Joined team Genesis after his first episode: Traveled a lot and played a lot of Magic.

Biggest Growth

Playing with great players has made Christoffer a much better player.

World Travel

Christoffer has traveled to Australia, the states and all over Europe. He picked up a 5th place finish at GP Portland and a win with his team at GP Lyon.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Ordering the wrong amount of food. LOL
Underestimating the opponent.

Shortcoming As a Player

Playing really fast. Christoffer has dropped a few games (but has won many more).

Parting Guidance

Don't slow roll!

Connect With Christoffer Larsen

Christoffer 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

Dec 26, 2017

 

Derek Candelario is a Logistics Coordinator working on site at Google. He currently lives in San Jose, CA and has been playing Magic off and on for the last 20 years with the goal of getting onto the Pro Tour. He has 1 Grand Prix Top 8 from GP Portland 2017. Derek is from San Ramon, CA.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Derek Candelrio when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep264

First Set

Stronghold

Favorite Set

Shards of Alara

Favorite Card

Visara the Dreadful

Early Challenge

Regionals was Derek's first long tournament and his first big challenge.

Worst Magic Moment

Derek has faced frustration and set backs all along the way. He's learned to manage his expectations-both high and low.

Proudest Magic Moment

Top 8 at GP Portland 2017.

What Have You Learned From Magic

How to get the most value from situations; resourcefulness; decision-making.

Advice for New Players

Preparation is key. Use Magic Online to practice and get reps in.

Daily Habits

Having a good routine helps you build in the time to get good at something.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Card Evaluation in Limited stumps many player.

Parting Guidance

Magic has been Derek's #1 hobby... the trick is being confident and proud of what you do.

Magic Resource

CFB, Twitch(Gaby, Kenji), talking with other players

Connect With Derek Candelario

Twitter:@Derek8701 

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

Dec 22, 2017

 

Alex Lloyd has 2 Grand Prix top 8s, with 1 win and numerous Top 16s. He's a 2 time Pro Tour Competitor, Level 1 Judge, and engaged in community development efforts. Alex is from Manchester, NH, USA.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Alex Lloyd when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep263

First Set

Scourge

Favorite Set

Gatecrash

Favorite Card

Toshiro Umezawa

Early Challenge

Money. Alex found that Magic can be expensive, so money was a barrier to entry.

Worst Magic Moment

The length of time between big finishes can be tough. At GP DC (Journey Into Nyx  Limited) Alex gets paired down and losses. He missed top 8 because of it. 

Proudest Magic Moment

Winning GP Atlanta

What Have You Learned From Magic

Networking. How to connect and maintain relationships.

Advice for New Players

Learn to sequence (especially as a control deck).

Magic Milestones

Working at a game store.

Tournament Day Tips

Health and fitness are key at big events.Stay hydrated. Make time for yourself. Have snacks ready to go.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Players don't value cards the way they should.

Parting Guidance

Networking is a huge. Connect with others as much as you can.

Magic Resource

5-0 list from MTGO Leagues, MTG Goldfish, CFB, SCG

Connect With Alex Lloyd

Twitter:@AlexLloydOSM 

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

Dec 19, 2017

Brandon Goe has been playing Magic since he was 4 and started hitting the competitive scene full throttle in Shards block. He has several 2nd places Pptq finish's and took 2nd at Montana State Championship. He made his first day 2 and first top 8 finishing 2nd at Grand Prix Portland 2017. He's looking to make Magic a career! Bradon lives in Spokane WA, USA.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Brandon Goe when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep262

First Set

6th Edition

Favorite Set

Lorwyn Block

Favorite Card

Tarmogoyf

Early Challenge

Getting used to being the youngest person playing Magic. Also, Brandon had to learn how to handle losses. To get over that, he started taking criticism better.

Worst Magic Moment

Brandon struggled with the feeling of always getting 2nd and never 1st. He didn't take into account the consistent top 8 finishes.

Proudest Magic Moment

Top 8 at GP Portland 2017. Being recognized by another player and having a kid say he wants to be like him.

What Have You Learned From Magic

Reading skills, research techniques, people skills

Advice for New Players

Take into account the cost of travel, food, and other expenses.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Players play decks they don't enjoy. Even if it's the best decks, if you don't enjoy it you'll play poorly.

Parting Guidance

Don't take losses too hard. Play decks you enjoy. Keep going for it no matter what.

Connect With Brandon Goe

Twitter:@NightFury301 

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

Dec 15, 2017

Piotr Glogowski is a Modern enthusiast, weird-deck lover, MTGO grinder, Twitch streamer and Silver level pro. He's made it to the top 8 of a Pro Tour and 2nd place at the World Magic Cup with his Polish teammates in 2017. He also has two Grand Prix top 8s, both in Modern, and played in the 2016 Magic Online Championship. Piotr lives in Poznań.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Piotr Glogowski when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep261

First Set

Return to Ravnica

Favorite Set

Khans of Tarkir

Favorite Card

Abzan Guide
Summer Bloom

Early Challenge

Piotr realized that he wasn't good at Magic, he was only good with his specific deck. He struggled with Standard and Limited. To overcome this, he played with players who he knew were much better than him.

Worst Magic Moment

Piotr remembers a weekend when he tried to qualify for Pro Tour Kaladesh. He played a Paper Magic event on Saturday and Sunday and a Magic Online event at Midnight between the two.
He had two nearer misses.

Proudest Magic Moment

Top 8 at Pro Tour Ixalan, 2nd Place at World Magic Cup 2017.

Magic Milestones

Pt Atlanta, because Piotr learned to learn. Also, preparing for the Magic Online Championship with Simon Nielsen.

Advice for New Players

Don't assume you know things. Listen to what others have to say.

Parting Guidance

If you want a broken deck in Modern, play Lantern Control.

Connect With 

Twitter:@kanister_mtg

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

Dec 12, 2017

Jacob Nagro is a Silver level pro with 2 Grand Prix Top 8s (Denver 2016, Phoenix 2017). His goal is to play on every Pro Tour and to improve along the way. Jacob lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Jacob Nagro when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep260

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Players don't think about how they tap their lands. Also, when you play your lands is important.

Tournament Preparation

Jacob familiarizes himself with formats by playing them on MTGO a lot.

Ixalan Draft Tips

BW Vampires has great commons to support it. 

What Have You Learned From Magic

Slowing down when it's time to make a decision.

Parting Guidance

Magic Online is a great tool for improving. Use it and you'll get out of it what you put in.

Connect With Jacob Nagro

Twitter:@JacobNagro 

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

Dec 8, 2017

Louis Bachaud has been playing Magic for most of his life but has only been grinding Grand Prix for about 2-3 years. This summer he played his first Pro Tour in Japan where he played a win-and-in for top 8, he followed this up with his first GP top 8 in Warsaw 2017. Louis lives in Lyon, France.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Louis Bachaud when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep259

First Set

Onslaught

Favorite Set

Khans of Tarkir/Time Spiral

Favorite Card

Young Pyromancer
Cabal Therapy

Early Challenge

Making day 2 for the first time was a challenge.

Worst Magic Moment

Louis was disqualified from a Grand Prix because he had an illegal deck.

Proudest Magic Moment

GP Lille 2015. Louis missed the win-and-in for top 8 but was very proud of his performance. He felt in the Zone all event.

What Have You Learned From Magic

Louis has developed a very rational mindest from playing Magic. He's also embraced a stoic philosophy for life. Don't stress about the things you have no control over.

Advice for New Players

Build your own decks but still play the best decks to give you a leg up.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Sequencing and mechanical actions. Always do the thing that gives you more information first. (Draw a card first then make decisions.) Notice what information your opponent gives you.

Parting Guidance

Louis was obsessed with being good at Magic and pressure made him unhappy. Don't be results oriented. Be process oriented.

Connect With Louis Bachaud

Louis 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

Dec 5, 2017

Jean-Emmanuel Depraz started playing Magic when he was 11 and never really took a break from it. He's only been playing competitively for 5 or 6 years and has one Grand Prix top 8 and two top 16s, and has played in two Pro Tours. Jean-Emmanuel lives in Paris, France.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Jean-Emmanuel Depraz when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep258

First Set

Kamigawa

Favorite Set

Eldritch Moon/Shadows Over Innistrad

Favorite Card

Birthing Pod

Early Challenge

Jean-Emmanuel had difficulty evaluating complex board states.

Worst Magic Moment

Jean-Emmanuel missed a trigger in a match in the quarterfinals of a PPTQ. He learned to analyze the board no matter if he's winning or losing.

Proudest Magic Moment

Top 8  at Grand Prix Warsaw 2017.

Advice for Beginners

New players protect life too much by chump blocking too soon.

Magic Milestones

Qualifying for his first Pro Tour by winning a PTQ(old system). Making day 2 for the first time at Grand Prix.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Players don't respect the best deck enough. Too many people assume they have a good matchup against the best deck when they should actually just play the best deck.

Parting Guidance

Always be confident that you can win. Put yourself in the mindset that it is possible. 

Connect With Jean-Emmanuel Depraz

Jean-Emmanuel 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

Dec 1, 2017

Karl Sarap is the 2017 World Magic Cup team Captain for Estonia and has 1 Grand Prix top 8 from GP Liverpool 2017 and won his first World Magic Cup Qualifier in 2016. Karl lives in Tallinn, Estonia.

Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Karl Sarap when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep257

First Set

Saviors of Kamigawa

Favorite Set

Shadows Over Innistrad

Favorite Card

Gonti, Lord of Luxury

Early Challenge

Karl quickly learned to listen to other players and ask questions of the better.

Magic Milestones

First Grand Prix (at age 16) cashing Second Grand Prix, Top 8 at GP Liverpool 2017.

Worst Magic Moment

Right after Karl came back to Magic he made it to top 8 of a WMCQ. He attacked with one creature too many and died on the crack back.

Proudest Magic Moment

GP top 8 in Liverpool 2017.

What Have You Learned From Magic

Things don't come easy. You have to work.

Biggest Mistake Players Make

Giving up before the game is over.

How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event

Karl goes through the spoiler twice and rates the cards himself. Then he needs LSVs Set review. He'll attend the pre-release and play as much as he can online.

Parting Guidance

Play Magic Online as much as you can. If you won't get better play MTGO. 

Magic Resource

Twitch.tv/eheh_dude, Channel Fireball, MTGO BBD, Gabriel Nassif

Connect With Karl Sarap

Karl 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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