Michael Kundegraber has been playing since 2000, back when rules consisted of semi-educated guesses and were always changed depending on whose parents’ kitchen table MtG was played at. Lately, he’s had some top results with a second place finish at Grand Prix Turin 2018 and a follow-up Top 16 performance at his first Pro Tour later that year. Michael lives in Vienna, Austria.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Michael Kundegraber when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep318
Planeshift
Mirrodin
Tahngarth, Talruum Hero
Understanding the game at first was hard. Archetype matchups and other big-picture topics eluded Michael. He improved by playing matchups of the best decks with friends.
Playing for the top 4 at Austrian Nationals, Michael approached the match-up too confidently and played cautiously (even though he was favored to win). He lost and learned that you need to have a coping strategy. Find what works for you.
Getting 2nd at Grand Prix Turin 2018.
Overthinking. Players sometimes try to wrap their mind around too much of the game at once. Break down the situation into smaller chunks and address them separately.
Keep having fun while playing Magic.
CFB, SCG, Magic Podcasts, Jim Davis Stream
Michael can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.
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
Zach Allen is a member of Team RIW from Farmington Hills, Michigan. He Co-hosts the podcast Turn One Thoughtseize and has 2 Grand Prix top 8s, a Pro Tour top 16, and 1 SCG top 8 in his record. He's a dedicated control player and Snapcaster Mage enthusiast.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Zach Allen when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep317
Urza Block
Khans of Tarkir
Snapcaster Mage
Not being able to beat the best guy at his local store. This constant, ever-present challenge pushed Zach to improve.
Getting 9th at PPTQ's 6 times in a row. Zach learned that the results of tournaments are not indicative of your actual skill.
Making top 16 of Pro Tour Guilds of Ravnica.
Making the play that sets you up for a win later. Make the best decision at the time with the information you have, but make a decision.
Getting out of the moment. Players need to focus on just the game in front of them.
The people in Magic are what's most important. Relationships and friends are priceless.
Twitter:@A22en
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
Andrew Elenbogen has 3.5 Grand Prix top 8s. He recently won Pro Tour Guilds of Ravnica and still doesn't believe it. Andrew is a return guest to the show and lives in Ann Arbor, MI.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Andrew Elenbogen when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep316
Andrew plays about 15 Grand Prix a year!
Andrew notices that in the last year he's played better than he ever has. He's stayed dedicated and has practiced extensively for each Grand Prix.
When playing on Magic Online, Andrew plays in Leagues and sets.
He uses Leagues as a way to get a broad view of the metagame. He'll develop a question and uses teammates and sets to answer specific questions.
Andrew has cultivated a network of friends that he's able to reach out to and practice with.
Thank You! Andrew wants to say thank you to the Magic community.
Twitter:@Ajelenbogen
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
Kasper Nielsen has 2 Grand Prix top 8s and 1 Pro Tour top 8. He's also won 5 Prereleases. Kasper is from Denmark and is a returning guest to the podcast.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Kasper Nielsen when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep315
Kasper has been doing well in Magic and he attributes many things to that. He joined Hareruya Hopes and also has a more balanced life.
Kasper started playing Limited as soon as Guilds of Ravnica came out. He learned a lot in those first few weeks. He decided to let "the machines" solve Standard while he developed a Limited strategy.
Kasper felt he made good choices this Pro Tour. His advice is to enjoy your preparation.
It is important to focus and work hard at Magic, but if it becomes an obsession rather than a passion then beware and maybe take a step back.
Have fun no matter where you are or what your goods are.
Article about Dustin Wade Roberson
Twitter:@ks_nielsen
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
Zac Turgeon is a New England MTG grinder, who has top 8ed 1 Grand Prix and won an SCG Legacy Classic. He also enjoys cooking, music, writing and hopes to one day open an Ice Cream Shop. Zac lives in Dracut MA.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Zac Turgeon when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep314
Ice Age
Khans of Tarkir
Trinisphere
Not sure what he was good at. Zac started to critically analyze his own games to learn what he was good at.
Zac struggled for an entire Standard season. He realized he was misevaluating the meta and kept losing to cards he thought was bad.
Making top 8 for the first time at Grand Prix New Jersey.
Zac has learned to try and be very accepting of others.
Not being critical enough of your own games. Players sometimes think they're favored when they're not.
Be kind to people. You feel better and the people around you feel better. It eventually circles back and keeps growing.
SCG, CFB, TCG Players, Twitch.tv
Twitter:@The_Amazing_Zac
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
William Courson has been to 5 Grand Prix and has made top 64 twice, top 8 once and 1st place once when he became the champion of Grand Prix Detroit. He also has multiple top 64 finishes at SCG open events and has made day 2 of every invitational he's attended. William lives in Jacksonville, FL.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from William Courson when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep313
M11
Innistrad
Cabal Therapy
William had to overcome his own arrogance. He eventually realized he wasn't the best and he learned to take input from others.
Playing for a top 8 position at an SCG open event and William lost after his opponent mulligan to 4 cards. Will learned mulligan more.
Winning GP Detroit 2018 with his teammates.
Conceal your information as long as possible. This also helps in certain life situations (like Sales).
Players commit to lines that play them into a hole. Give yourself another draw step whenever your back against the wall.
Get sleep! Before events make sure you sleep. And eats good breakfast!
Friends within Magic community.
Twitter:@Willcourson94
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
Eli Kassis returns to MTG Pro Tutor for the 3rd time as he keeps growing his accomplishments and notoriety. Eli now has 6 Grand Prix top 8s and is the Champion of Grand Prix New Jersey 2018. He has won an SCG Invitational and has 2 Pro Tour top 32’s. Eli lives in Vestal, NY and is a member of team Face to Face Games.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Eli Kassis when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep312
Eli Kassis comes back to MTG Pro Tutor for the 3rd time. He was episode 101 and 206 and now is back on episode 312.
Teams have been Eli's key to success.
Have a thirst for knowledge to find unique lines of play.
Pivot and look to others to manage tilt.
There's a lot that can be learned from the experiences of others.
Twitter:@Eli_Kassis
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
Kellen Pastore is a 3 time Grand Prix Top 8 Competitor, a full-time grad student, and a noted enthusiast of linear aggro decks. Kellen lives in MAPLE GLEN, Pennsylvania.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Kellen Pastore when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep311
Carrion Ants
Zendikar
Bellows Lizard
Getting used to the inconsistency of Magic because Kellen came from a game that was more consistent.
Before Kellen got into Magic, he lost a miniature game and really lost his cool. Since then, he has gotten better at regulating his emotions by reminding himself that his opponent is trying, just like he is.
When Kaladesh was released, Kellen created a Red-Black Zombie deck that ended up impacting the metagame at that time.
Meeting and making friends.
Ever committing into sweepers. Playing too many creatures when the opponent has a board wipe.
Kellen practiced a lot with his deck leading up to events. He looks to make sure that his deck holds up against the top decks.
Never play a deck you don't like to play.
Misplaced Ginger (twitch.tv) for Standard; MTG Goldfish
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
Giordano Fagiolo is a rising star in competitive Magic and made it to the finals at his first Grand Prix ever! (GP Bruxelles 2018) Giordano lives in Albano Laziale, Rome, Italy.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Giordano Fagiolo when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep310
Battle for Zendikar
Insult // Injury
At a Standard and PPTQ, Giordano felt upset and nervous, but when he sat down to play it all went away.
Giordano lost in a final at a PPTQ and learned you can't win every time.
Making it to the final match of his first Grand Prix ever.
Thinking ahead. Planning.
Playing fewer lands than they should.
Giordano takes a deck and replaces the worst card wit a land.
Giordano picked his deck the day before the GP. He found an article by Brad Nelson and changed 1 card.
Ask Brad Nelson.
SCG Premium, CFB, Playing with teammates/friends in person.
Gordano can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.
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
Max Margolis has been playing Magic competitively for 22 years. He has multiple Grand Prix day 2s with close cash finishes. Richmond 2018 was his first deep run to attempt to qualify for the Pro Tour. He barely missed qualifying for Cleveland by one win - but he did get 19th place. His biggest finish was at GP Denver where his team got top 4. He's had multiple top 8s in PPTQs and IQs. He's primarily a midrange player who has been playing since Urza's block was legal in Extended. Max lives in Maryland, USA.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Max Margolis when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep309
Fallen Empires
Ravnica: City of Guilds
Pernicious Deed
Max faced tilt early on and learned how to manage wins and losses.
Wanting to quit Magic because of bullying in the community.
At Grand Prix Denver, Max and his team made it to the top 4.
Modern
Never judge a book by its cover.
"Have a Plan" episode on Limited Resources.
Twitter:@maximummagic87
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
Luis Salvatto is currently tied in the Player of Year race (with Seth Manfield) and is the Pro Tour Rivals of Ixalan champion. He has 7 Grand Prix top 8s which include 2 wins and was also the Sunday Super Series champion in 2014. Luis lives in Argentina.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Luis Salvatto when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep308
Luis is a past guest of the show and you can find his origin story in episode 119.
Luis spent 50 days traveling around the world. He spent 7 weeks in 7 different places. His secret was to travel Light. He had a modern deck and some clothes. That's pretty much it.
Luis friend approached him and suggested he play Lantern Control. After asking other friends what they think he went for it. After a rocky start, Luis got his steam and went all the way to take the championship.
Players don't play to win. They play to survive. Also, players don't bluff enough.
The best part of Magic is the people you play the game with. Surround yourself with good friends and soar.
Twitter:@LuisSalvatto
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
Quinton Lip made top 8 at GP Hong Kong 2018. Quinton lives in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Quinton Lip when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep307
Morning Tide
Innistrad
Snapcaster Mage
Quinton qualified for UK Nationals and quickly learned that he struggled with the draft. He went home and started drafting on Magic Online.
At Malaysia Nationals, Quinton made it to the finals and lost. He learned it doesn't matter what got you to the top 8, you have to play well all the way.
He also learned you need to have fun playing Magic.
Qualifying for the Pro Tour Kyoto through the RPTQ System.
Hard work pays off.
Quinton expected creature heavy aggro decks based on the results of previous events. So he tested and found a deck that was well positioned. The key is to study the format and test.
Going into autopilot. When players go into autopilot, they don't think about the game or the lines of play.
Magic is a hobby, so have fun. The more fun you have the better you'll do at competitive.
Quinton can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.
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
Arseniy Egorov is a Level 2 judge who got 8th place at Grand Prix Orlando 2018. Arseniy lives in Moscow, Russia.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Arseniy Egorov when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep306
Scars of Mirrodin
Kamigawa (block)
Shahrazad
Finding and playing in really competitive tournaments. Arseniy is from a small city that didn't have a big game store. Arseniy started traveling to bigger cities to get into more competitive tournaments.
Arseniy made day 2 at GP Madrid but didn't sleep in and missed the main event!
He learned to tell his friends he made day 2 and to set more alarms.
As a judge, Arseniy is proud he got accepted to judge Japanese GPs.
As a player, Arseniy made top 8 at GP Orlando.
As a judge, Arseniy has been lots of situations.
His advice to players is to explain your situation and don't be afraid to appeal. Always be respectful though. ;)
Play Magic and use it to travel and learn new cultures.
Twitter:@cid_randall
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
Ricardo Sanchez has been playing since 2006 and has been competitive since 2013. Pro Tour Atlanta 2018 will be his 4th Pro Tour. His best result was making Top 4 at GP Lille 2014 playing Legacy. For him, the best thing about MTG is traveling around the world and meeting so many awesome people. Ricardo lives in Madrid, Spain.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Ricardo Sanchez when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep305
Time Spiral
Shadows Over Innistrad
Tireless Tracker
Traveling to events. Ricardo's Mom was very careful about letting him go. But as she met his friends and realized he could get a lot of good life experiences, she let him go.
When Ricardo started going to Grand Prix, he went to 9 in a year and didn't make day 2 a single one. He learned he doesn't have to go to every event.
Top 4 of GP Lille 2018.
How to travel.
MTG Goldfish and see what's doing well in the format. Ricardo will then practice with a few decks to see how they play out with him as the pilot.
Before you say "keep" and decide to keep your hand, you should have a plan on what you're going to do.
Enjoy Magic. There's something enjoyable in each phase of Magic. Find it and have fun. Remember Magic is a game.
Mana Traders, MTG Goldfish, CFB, SCG, MTG Mint Card, Book: Playing to Win
Twitter:@_mRichi_
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
Jessica Estephan is the first woman to win a Grand Prix and made Magic: The Gathering history when her team took first at Grand Prix Sydney 2018. She's a podcaster who loves creating content and she enjoys most competitive formats, with a preference for standard and modern. Though she does have a soft spot for a well-powered cube. Jessica lives in Sydney, Australia.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Jessica Estephan when she shared her story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep304
Born of the Gods
Innistrad
Back to Basics
Not understanding what it meant to be competitive. The Australian scene is very different than the States and it was hard for Jess to get started.
Jessica learned by observation that you "needed" to be a rules lawyer to succeed. She realized that that's not the case.
Winning Grand Prix Sydney 2018 (Team Unified Modern).
Jessica now plays poker on a serious.
The thing that helped the most was having a good team chemistry.
Newbie mistakes include sleeving your deck wrong.
Spend your Magic time having fun and creating positive memories for yourself and others.
Limited Resources, CFB, SCG, YouTube, The V Clique Podcast
Twitter:@jesstephan
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
Josh Collier is headed off to his first Pro Tour after qualifying through the RPTQ system. Fun fact, he's a proud owner of a foil pauper cube. Josh lives in Davenport, Iowa.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Josh Collier when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep303
Gatecrash
Kaladesh
Ongoing Investigation
Josh picked one standard deck and would play it the whole season. He learned that in standard, what worked for him, was playing the best deck.
At an Eternal Masters sealed event, Josh was playing in the finals and missed a line of play. He learned to know the rules better.
Qualifying for his first Pro Tour via an RPTQ.
Be persistent. Results take time.
Josh reviewed the best decks and chose one similar to a play style he knew from a previous season.
Players put cards in the sideboard or in their decks and they don't know why.
Conscious beating.
Constructive Criticism, LR Cast, GAM Podcast
Twitter:@agent_of_blight
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
Nils Gutierrez has been playing competitive Magic since he was 16. He's made top 16 at 2 Grand Prix and just made his first top 8 when he got 6th place at GP Brussels 2018. Nils lives in Maià de Montcal, Spain.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Nils Gutierrez when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep302
Lorwyn
Khans of Tarkir
Cabal Therapy
Nils' first GP was hard because he wasn't used to 9 rounds in one day and he didn't have anyone to give him advice.
Missing day 2 over and over again after making top 16 of a Grand Prix for the first time. Nils felt like he didn't have what it takes. He kept going to local events as well as competitive.
Qualified for Pro Tour 25, Nils was on a team that did really well at an RPTQ.
Nils has learned critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Standard
Play Magic Online. It helps you improve because the players online are really good.
Players over sideboard. They'll bring in too many cards and ruin their decks' core plan.
When going to a Grand Prix look at the metagame first and choose your deck accordingly.
Nils can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.
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
Gabriel Joglar is the Champion of Grand Prix Orlando 2018! Gabriel lives in Houston TX.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Gabriel Joglar when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep301
M13
Return to Ravnica
Thragtusk
Gabriel always felt the need to brew. He struggled with the balance between wanting to plan his own crazy stuff and proven competitive.
Gabriel had a string of losses at big events that was tough.
Winning GP Orlando 2018 / Going to his first Pro Tour in Japan.
Magic has helped Gabriel handle losses.
Controlling tilt. Handling your mistakes is hard but necessary.
Handle your salt. It's okay to be upset when you lose or don't do well, but its how you choose to act that matters.
Twitter:@GabrielJoglar
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
Greg Sokol is an MTG streamer and tutor, he's an MTGO PTQ winner (Dominaria sealed), got 5th place at Grand Prix Orlando 2018, and is self-taught from grinding on MTGO. (rating as low as 12-1300!) Greg lives in Mexico City, Mexico.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Greg Sokol when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep300
Judgment
Dominaria/Khans of Tarkir
Wellwisher
Greg didn't have a game store close by so he played a lot on MTGO. Greg also struggled with understanding and coping with variance.
Greg was playing a win-and-in for top 8 and his opponent was clearly not as good as he was. When his opponent won, Greg was really upset. From that, Greg learned to remember that Magic is a game.
Finally qualifying for the Pro Tour. Greg was traveling and took time to do an online event and made it to the end and qualified.
Knowing when to think is the biggest skill you can have in Magic.
The thing that helped the most was having a friend to play with and doubling down on wanting a specific match up to be amazing.
Magic is a game. Enjoy it and treat your opponent with respect.
Twitter:@GMANSokol
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
Kyle Cooper made his first Grand Prix top 8 at GP Orlando 2018 and is excited to share with others who are on the path to the Pro Tour. Kyle lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Kyle Cooper when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep299
Innistrad
Innistrad
Sensei's Divining Top
Doing well at FNMs. But Kyle stuck with Magic when he started planning more during the week he started to get better.
Top 8ing his first Grand Prix.
Patience. Kyle recognizes he plays fast and Magic has helped him learn patience with others. Also, he learned to respect.
Players foreshadow what they are going to do. Think before you play so you don't give away information.
Do what you want with Magic. Magic fits many styles. Competitive, casual, EDH, whatever. Just play what and how you want.
Kyle can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.
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
Patrick Chapin, “The Innovator,” is a Hall of Famer, Pro Tour Champion, and 5-time PT Top 8 competitor. Author of Next Level Magic and Next Level Deckbuilding, his articles can be found on StarCityGames.com and podcast at TopLevelPodcast.com.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Patrick Chapin when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep298
The Dark
Innistrad (Best designed) /
Khans of Tarkir block
Jace, the Mind Sculptor
First and foremost the people. The constant iteration.
Trying to convince people that he was actually good.
Realizing that trying to convince people that he was actually good was not as useful as focusing on humbly improving himself.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Winning Pro Tour Journey Into Nyx.
Standard
Focusing their energy on convincing people they are good instead of focusing on finding the truth about how they play. Look for mistakes in every match.
Look at every card and ask: "Why was this card printed? Who is it for? HOW can I use this card?"
Sealed is often slower but more powerful (compared to draft) because you have six booster packs instead of three. This leads to bomb centric decks.
Focus on the key cards you passed, not every card in the pack.
Use message groups and in-person meetings to collaborate with your team. You will only improve to the level of the best player in your group. Bring your group up and/or find more talent if you're the best in your group.
Constant communication with the teammate as well as taking the two weeks before a Pro Tour off to playtest with the team has been a working formula for Patrick.
Identify what you want to improve first: your collection, win ratio, deck building skills, etc... and focus just on that
Sideboards are there to tweak and tune your strategy. Know what your strategy is. Look at similar strategies and make your sideboard similar.
Right now, sweepers are very popular - Languish and Planar Outburst.
If you have casual players that you would like to take to the next level, organize regular draft nights. Break off into teams after the draft portion so people can help each other build decks.
If you have new players who don't know the rules, introduce them to a Duels of the Planeswalkers and see if they stick around and want more after a few weeks.
Create a shortcut system for your brain. Also, when playtesting, NO TAKE BACKS!!
Practice how you want to play at events. Track your mistakes and do a push up for each one you do.
Grand Prixs are like gaming conventions. JUST GO and enjoy it!
You will never feel ready if you don't go. If you are nervous about the main event then just show up and walk around, play in some side events, visit artists and vendors and soak it all in.
When you participate in the main event, play all the rounds. You paid to play Magic and get experience. Utilize all the time you have. Play all the rounds even if you're knocked out early.
Playing against different decks and opponents you don't know is invaluable.
By playing your own brew all the time you are missing out on learning what's working now and why it's working.
By net decking all the time you will always be a week or so behind.
Mix it up. Net deck 25% of the time and build your own deck 25% of the time. The other 50% is up to you to go where the wind blows.
See what's working at large but try out your own ideas too.
Read: Information Cascades in Magic on StarCityGames
Don't force yourself to play Magic (or play more Magic) just because you feel like that's what you SHOULD be doing, Make sure it stays fun.
Every time your opponent makes a play, especially if it's not obvious why ask yourself "Why did they do that?"
Have a notebook and write down, after the match, what your opponent did so you can talk about it with others later.
BONUS: Write down all the mistakes you made (win or lose) and what you learned and SHARE THAT LIST!
Don't let your brain hide your errors from you. Get used to facing them and talking about them.
The MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group is the perfect place to post your list because of the healthy, uplifting community there who is ready to help.
Nowadays you can keep slightly lighter mana hands because you can scry.
Consider what your opponent is playing and have a plan based on the cards in your hand. If there is no viable plan, then mulligan.
If you don't know what your opponent is playing, assume they are on an aggressive strategy. How does your hand line up in that match?
If you tilt when playing a control mage then watch someone play a control deck and ask questions. Learn when they are vulnerable so you know when to strike.
Hand disruption is the best way to deal with Ulamog. Infinite Obliteration is the prime answer.
Players lie to themselves.
You can only control what you can control. People shift the blame to things they can't control and then use that to hide from the real problem.
Which is that they are making mistakes and need to address it.
Focus on what really matters right now.
Information Cascades in Magic on StarCityGames
Patrick is working alongside other great Magic players at Direwolf Digital to release a new game called Eternal.
Check it out when it goes into open Beta soon.
Twitter: @thepchapin
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
Jon Finkel’s prolific talents and sterling resume earned him the nickname “Jonny Magic” long ago. After a substantial hiatus, Jon Finkel returned to the Pro Tour and immediately demonstrated why he’s widely considered the greatest player of all time by winning PT Kuala Lumpur in 2008 and Top 8’ing PT Avacyn Restored and PT Dark Ascension in 2012.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Jon Finkel when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep297
Jon Finkel's prolific talents and sterling resume earned him the nickname "Jonny Magic" long ago. After a substantial hiatus, Jon Finkel returned to the Pro Tour and immediately demonstrated why he's widely considered the greatest player of all time by winning PT Kuala Lumpur in 2008 and Top 8'ing PT Avacyn Restored and PT Dark Ascension in 2012.
Antiquities (1994)
Innistrad (2011) - "Was the pinnacle of Limited set design."
Desperate Ravings
The depth of the game and the ability to add on to the basic framework through the expansions is what keeps Jon engaged.
Not running enough lands in control decks and not playing 60 card decks.
Realizing that playing other decks outside your comfort zone can lead to growth and improvement as a player, not to mention better results.
Making first Pro Tour Top 8 at Chicago in 1997
Draft
Not being open to playing the best deck. Not playing Magic with the intention to improve. You need to be conscious of what you play and how you play so you can improve.
Jon Finkel's prolific talents and sterling resume earned him the nickname "Jonny Magic" long ago. After a substantial hiatus, Jon Finkel returned to the Pro Tour and immediately demonstrated why he's widely considered the greatest player of all time by winning PT Kuala Lumpur in 2008 and Top 8'ing PT Avacyn Restored and PT Dark Ascension in 2012.
Rather than opening up the spoiler every week to see what's new, Jon gets the best grasp on a new set simple by drafting it.
In Sealed you'll get powerful bombs that you really want to play but your deck will be less streamlined than in the draft.
If there are two good black cards don't take a slightly worse red card because you "don't want to fight for black". Just pick the best card.
Having a team is critical to improving. Find the best players you can but make sure you get along with them personally because you'll be spending a lot of time with them.
Take advantage of draft simulators. Rebuild packs with friends so you can draft. Beg, borrow and use proxies if you're on a budget and need to test deck ideas.
Be critical of your plays so you can improve
Twitter: @Jonnymagic00
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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Aleksa Telarov has an impressive Magic record with 5 Grand Prix top 8's (including 1 win), a World Magic Cup top 8, 3rd place at the 2014 MOCS, is a 9 time National Champion and has finished 12th place at a Pro Tour! Aleksa lives in Serbia.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Aleksa Telarov when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep296
Aleksa was on the show back on episode 192. He returns to the podcast after some impressive results. This year he's been through some downs and fought through them to stick with Magic.
Aleksa walks through his Pro Tour Dominaria experience in detail and breaks down what happened and what he learned.
Don't get mad playing Magic. Remember it's a game and enjoy it.
Twitter:@AleksaTelarov
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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Nick Waugh recently made his first Top 8 at Grand Prix Barcelona 2018 playing Boros Burn. Nick lives in Godalming, United Kingdom.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Nick Waugh when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep295
7th Edition
7th Edition
Eidolon of the Great Revel
Making the best use of time. There's a ton of things you can do and Nick struggled with making time for Magic. Now, he only focuses on the format of his next event.
The first time you step out of your comfort zone, you're going to lose a lot. So make the most of it.
Top 8 at Grand Prix Barcelona, 2018.
Discipline. Hard work paying off.
Nick is a Burn player and knew he was going to play his Boros Burn deck. To prepare though he updated his sideboard guide.
Getting things you can't control to get the better of you. (e.g. Playing against a more experienced player. You have no control over how much Magic your opponent has played.)
Focus on your current game. Don't let things you can't control affect you.
Red Deck Winning
Twitter:@Nickyeahman
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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Laszlo Poroszkai is from the North-Eastern part of Hungary, a small city without an LGS. He first started playing around 2000 and stopped when Counterspell was not reprinted. He came back in Zendikar and has been to a lot of Grand Prix since then. He's semi-competitive but mostly plays for fun (and counterspell). Laszlo lives in Onga, Hungry.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Laszlo Poroszkai when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep294
Planar Shift
Planar Shift
Counterspell
Laszlo thought he was a good player but realized he had a lot to learn. At first, he blamed luck but then he saw the problem was him. He got better by making friends and traveling and playing with them.
Play with local friends, even if you play casual games like Commander. Also, use MTGO! It's a huge advantage to play with people all over the world. All you need is an internet connection.
Making top 8 at GP Barcelona.
Laszlo has made a lot of friends through Magic. Problem-solving skills.
Know the meta. Know the decks and their sideboard plans. Play MTGO so you can play against a lot of decks.
Risk management. It contributes to every aspect of Magic. Mulligans, attacking, tapping out, etc... Risk management is everywhere.
Never give up on an event!
Laszlo can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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Dani Anderson is an Engineering Ph.D. student from Glasgow, Scotland who is building his Magic resume with finishes such as winning the PTQ at GP Liverpool and making it into the Top 16 at Pro Tour Dominaria. Dani lives in Glasgow, Scotland.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Dani Anderson when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep293
Gatecrash
Battle for Zendikar
Unlicensed Disintegration
Mulligan decisions were tough early on because Dani came from a different card game.
Dani went 0-5 at his first Pro Tour. It felt bad to have to tell his friends that he was out. But what helped him through was knowing he had another event coming up.
Top 16 at Pro Tour Dominaria.
Dani chooses his deck 1 week before a big event.
This gives him time to playtest and tweak.
How to learn and how to justify decisions.
Standard
Players are too results-oriented.
Magic is still a game. Enjoy it as such.
SCG, CFB, Twitter, connecting with a local group
Twitter:@Danderson92
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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Goncalo Pinto is stacking up his record with 1 Grand Prix top 8, 1 Nationals top 8, and a Pro Tour top 8 at Pro Tour Dominaria. Goncalo lives in Barreiro Portugal.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Goncalo Pinto when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep292
Stronghold
Ravnica City of Guilds
Ninja of the Deep Hours
Goncalo had early successes but then got crushed a lot. He eventually started playing MTGO and got better.
Going to 9 Pro Tours and only making day 2 at 1 of them.
Top 8'ng a Grand Prix and making top 8 at a Pro Tour 2 weeks later.
Red is working well for Goncalo because everyone thinks the format is slow.
Not playing enough with your deck.
If you want to improve play on Skype and share screens. Ask questions and discuss the game.
Twitter:@u_mad_bro_MTGO
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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You're in for a treat today as we get to sit down with the MTG Pro Tutor Admins. Get to know the stories behind the friendly faces that take part in making the Pro Tutor community the uplifting, helpful place we all love. Luke Kimmel lives in Dallas, TX, Dan Bodtke lives in Kansas City, MO, and Aaron Scott lives in Bellefonte, PA.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Luke Kimmel, Dan Bodtke, and Aaron Scott when they shared their story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep291
Dark Ascension
Avacyn Restored
Nevermaker
Panharmonicon
Future Sight
Khans of Tarkir
Liliana of the Veil
Shadows of Innistrad
Amonkhet/Theros
Felidar Guardian
Scion of the Ur-Dragon
Win and in for a top 8 and Dan forgot to pay a cost and lost a game. Aaron is still in his low spot and is struggling right now with how to deal with consistent losses. Luke had to learn about 'good' decks the hard way. (By losing a lot.)
Luke built his own deck and took it to a tournament where it turned some heads. Dan building a deck on his own and doing well at a tournament. He also loves showing off his collection. Aaron won a win-a-box event by playing to the top and then splitting in the final.
Giving away too much information. Sideboarding and over boarding. Blood Moon.
Twitter:@rishaDan_port
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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Janus Andersen recently broke through and made his first Grand Prix top 8 at GP Birmingham 2018 (Legacy). Janus lives in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Janus Andersen when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep290
Ice Age
Legends (for its look and feel)
Kess, Dissident Mage
Janus is a brewer at heart but since Legacy (his primary format) is so defined he had to find a balance.
As a brewer, Janus has felt the pain of working hard on a deck and it bombing.
Making top 8 at a Grand Prix and going 7-0 on day 2.
Janus took a deck he knew worked and tweaked it to beat the top 2 decks.
Take note of what you wished you had / what you need for the match-up. Make your fine tune adjustment based on feedback from matches.
Blindly following what everyone else does and not challenging the status quo of decks. And being too cautious.
Try new cards and ignore the naysayers.
Reddit, MTG The Source, Sparring with friends, Who's The Beat Down article, Tappedout.net
Twitter:@YouCanCallMe_J
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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Matt Brown has a few Grand Prix cashes, has appeared on the Pro Tour once before and now has his first Grand Prix top 8. Matt lives in England.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Matt Brown when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep289
Innistrad
Return to Ravnica
Cloudfin Raptor
Getting crushed at his first several PTQs. Matt kept going because he was having fun.
At a Modern RPTQ, Matt felt really prepared. He took a plane to Scotland and then did terribly. Matt felt horrible and wanted to quit but realized that by removing the pressure, he was able to play and have fun.
Top 8 at GP Birmingham (Standard).
People skills.
Newer players make a lot of small mistakes. Control your body language.
Watching Magic Stream every day.
Enjoy yourself. The more you play, the better you'll get but you must have fun.
Twitter:@MattBrown_MTG
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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Luke Southworth has one old PTQ win, a handful of Grand Prix cashes and just made Top 8 of Grand Prix Birmingham 2018. Luke is from Preston, England.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Luke Southworth when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep288
Mercadian Masques
Apocalypse
Electrolyze
Understanding card advantage and board advantage.
Luke lost in the final of a WMCQ. That was really hard near-miss. Luke learned to 'expect the unexpected' as much as possible.
Qualifying for the Pro Tour for the first time. It was very validating as a player to finally have the pay off for all his hard work.
Luke honed his critical thinking skills through Magic. Also, socializing with new people.
Getting too emotionally invested in the game. You can't tie your self-worth to your Magic results. Magic is high variance and you need to be okay with that.
Luke took a deck he found on a stream to his standard GP. He played Magic Online and studied the format. It was a new format so testing things out was key.
Have fun, be nice.
Twitter:@LukeSouthworth
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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Michael Mapson is a fellow Prodigy who made top 8 at Grand Prix Hartford 2018. That's right! You're in for a treat as we have our second listener-turned-guest on the show. Michael is from Phoenixville, PA.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Michael Mapson when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep287
Time Spiral
Lorwyn
Goblin Welder
Stensia Bloodhall
Knowing what to expect from opponents. Michael would get blown out by cards he didn't know existed. He overcame this by playing a lot of Magic and studying decklists.
Michael drove to a Legacy event in New York-several hours away-and went 0-7. He lost every match but still had a fun time. Every game is a learning experience.
Team Top 8 at an SCG event. Winning with friends makes everything better.
PAtience and if you stick with something you'll get better at it.
Be careful of asking for advice after you in.
Players get impatient. They make plays just because. If you wait you'll find your cards have more impact.
Michael chose his Modern deck well in advance and played at least one league a day for two months.
Be honest with yourself when playing Magic.
Twitter:@ExpeditionMap
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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Joshua Bausch has been playing card games since he was 11, started with Pokemon to Yu-Gi-Oh and now Magic. He's always been competitive and tried to be competitive in all of them with the most success in Magic. He placed 3rd in Nationals 2017 and made Top 8 at Grand Prix Lyon 2018. Joshua lives in Frankfurt, Germany.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Joshua Bausch when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep286
M14
Khans of Tarkir
Siege Rhino
Making day 2 at a Grand Prix. Joshua made friends and talked about Magic a lot. He played a lot as well.
At his second Grand Prix, Joshua missed day two by one match. He misplayed and lost the game.
Joshua learned when he's ahead he gots sloppy. So now, he takes a few more seconds to think.
Qualifying for his first Pro Tour.
How to meet and talk new people.
Players get sloppy and make poor plays. They make hasty plays and don't think of all the other options.
Self-reflection is key. Consider what you did right and what you did wrong.
Talk to Magic players as much as you can. Feel free to reach out to Joshua
MTGO, MTG Goldfish, CFB, MTG Elo Project
Twitter:@Valorj90
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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Robert Swarowski has 3 Grand Prix top 8s including being the champion of one of the first Grand Prix ever. Robert lives in Las Vegas, NV.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Robert Swarowski when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep285
The Dark
Tempest
Jackal Pup
Robert struggled to maintain focus from match to match. He noticed he always lost the first round of a tournament. To overcome that, he took stock in how he approached Magic and realized that every player is equal.
After coming back to Magic, Robert played at a Grand Prix and got crushed. Robert learned that 'rust is real' and if you're coming back you have to practice.
Top 8'ing GP Houston 2018.
This put Robert back into competitive Magic.
How to be competitive and the power of being prepared. It has taken a lot of effort but it pays off.
Robert learned to put your best effort into everything you do.
Ignoring the board state and missing triggers, abilities, and onboard tricks.
Gather as much information as possible from as many people as possible is key.
Robert can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.
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
Daniel Ward has 5 Grand Prix top 8’s including 1 win and made Top 8 of a World Magic Cup Qualifier in 2016. Daniel lives in Catskill, NY.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Daniel Ward when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep284
Ice Age
Odyssey
The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
Daniel has always been good at sports. When he came into Magic and learned, it was competitive, it was easy to get into the competitive side but hard to put his casual side aside
Daniel was proclaimed as 'the worst cheater ever' over an incident that wasn't as bad as people made it sound. But it was on camera and people saw. People make mistakes and Daniel is stronger now because he had to go through it.
Being selected for team Dex Protection. Being recognized as good enough to play with big names meant a lot to Daniel.
Find out why you play Magic. Through that, you'll find fulfillment and enjoyment in the game.
Twitter:@Bigward28
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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Niklas Dahlquist is a Swedish player who has been playing Magic since 1994. He started playing more competitively in the last year and positioned top 4 in this year's Magic Online Championship. He really likes playing Limited and plays every single night (mostly). He recently started streaming on Twitch and can be found at twitch.tv/smashhallon. Niklas lives in Stockholm, Sweden.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Niklas Dahlquist when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep283
Revised
Revised
All the Dual Lands
Having nightmares before the 2018 MOCS.
Top3 of the 2018 MOCS.
Over/underestimating their opponent. Specifically for Online, if you lose several times, take a break before you queue again.
Be friendly and treat each player with kindness.
Have fun playing Magic. You get better results when you love the game.
Twitter:@NiklasDahlquist
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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Lars Dam has 2 Pro Tour top 16s; 1 MOCS win and 1 MOCS top 4. He averages 2 drafts per day and is a former pro poker player. Now he enjoys sports betting on soccer. He's married with no children, is 35 years old and lives in Thailand (even though he's Danish).
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Lars Dam when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep282
Ice Age
Eldritch Moon
Winter Orb
Card availability was tough for Lars. By making friends, he expanded his collection.
Lars went to a Worlds Competition when he was really rusty and did very poorly.
Getting 9th at Worlds in 2005.
Patience and you can't always win.
Be careful saying 'gg' when you're winning.
When drafting, players value other people's opinion and pick orders too much.
Draft a lot. Limited is the gateway to being a better overall Magic player
Twitter:@_Malavi_
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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Matt Kling is the former co-host of the Constructed Criticism podcast and made his first Grand Prix top 8 at Memphis in 2018. Matt lives in West Valley, Utah.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Matt Kling when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep281
Rise of the Eldrazi
Worldwake
Akroma, Angel of Wrath
Not being as good as you think you are. Matt overcome this by befriending better players.
Getting tricked by an old school trick (the pen trick) felt bad. Matt learned to be careful of advice given by an opponent.
Top 8 at GP Memphis
Your opponent is a person who is trying to enjoy the game remember that and treat them kindly.
Not admitting they are the one making mistakes.
Own up to your mistakes. When you do that, improvements start to come.
MTG Goldfish, MTGO, Mana Traders
Twitter:@thewitchkling
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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Alexander Kreuz is a former PTQ grinder who has 6 Pro Tour appearances. He took a hiatus from Magic and came back in 2017 to finish 10th at GP Amsterdam and recently got his first Grand Prix top 8. Alexander lives in Koblenz, Germany.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Alexander Kreuz when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep280
6th Edition Starter
Alara Block / Ravnica Block
Gifts Ungiven
Alex struggled with keeping a good mindset when he was grinding. By playing against players who were better than him, Alex was able to train his mind to handle variation better.
Alex lost in the finals of a PTQ. He knew his opponent's deck and knows he could have done better.
Winning his first PTQ top 8 ever, defeating some big-name players.
Play MTGO and play at bigger events every chance you get.
"I wouldn't be the same person without Magic."
Alex learned and grew so much from playing Magic.
Never cheat and don't allow others too. When you lose it's okay to feel disappointed, just don't let it rob your opponent of their victory.
Beginners make different mistakes than advanced players. But generally, players don't mulligan very well. Be more aggressive with your mulligan.
If you're actually trying to get better at Magic, find a mentor and watch them play. Make note of everything they do that's different from what you would do.
Alex can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.
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
Aaron Barich has been playing Magic since he was 5 and is now a regular of competitive Magic. With some aggressive brewing, he has made a name for himself on the SCG Circuit. His Pro Tour grind began at Battle for Zendikar with a highlight of a Top 8 in Grand Prix Memphis 2018. Aaron lives in Gulfport, MS.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Aaron Barich when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep279
Mirrodin
Innistrad
Ghor-Clan Rampager
Boon Satyr
Card availability was really tough for Aaron. He took what he had and made it work. Aaron made friends and borrowed cards.
Aaron was disqualified for seeking during a draft at his first SCG event. He didn't know how to communicate his thoughts to the judge and feels that would have made a difference. Judges are there to help, they are not your enemy.
SCG open in Dallas-Aaron put together a deck of his own design and won the event.
How to operate confidently under stress. Aaron also learned social skills and how to interact with people.
Each of your opponents and yourself should enjoy each game.
The fear of losing holds back so many players. Many times players let the fear of losing dictate how they play and it makes things worse.
Have fun! Enjoy the game and the process.
MTGO, articles
Twitter:@Runeclaw_Barich
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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Eric Froehlich has an impressive 17 Grand Prix top 8s and 11 Pro Tour top 16s including 5 finishes in the top 8! He's a member of the Magic Hall of Fame class of 2015. Eric is from Las Vegas, NV.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Eric Froehlich when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep278
Revised
Invasion
Shivan Dragon
Pursue what makes you happy.
Eric struggled with being too cocky as a kid. He was really good, he knew it and let everyone knew it. He realized this and through good examples, he matured and got better.
Playing Caw blade at Pro Tour Paris and finishing 9th after losing 2 win-and-ins.
Inducted into the Magic Hall of Fame.
Being able to stay cool and collected under stress. Eric took a lot of Magic skills to poker.
Eric recognizes that good sportsmanship includes how you act and treat other people. He reached out to others to learn how they deal with losses and slowly Eric got better at seeing the game from the other side.
Players don't do enough to maximize their win percentage. Stay focused. Actively think every turn.
Follow your heart. Have fun and Magic can be as much of your life as you want it to be.
Twitter:@efropoker
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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Brian Braun-Duin is the 2016 World Champion, has 1 Pro Tour top 16 and 11 Grand Prix Top 8s, with 2 Grand Prix wins. He also writes articles at TCGplayer.com. Brian lives in Roanoke, Virginia.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Brian Braun-Duin when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep277
Brian shifted to playing the best deck for an event instead of a pet deck.
Look at results from tournaments and Magic online events as a starter.
Treat your opponent with respect and handle yourself with class.
Relationships and people are more important than Magic. Take time to think about what others might think about you and the situation.
Look at the big picture. If you consider the one game of Magic to be the end-all be-all then it will be hard to swallow. By having a big picture perspective, you'll realize it's not the only match that matters.
Feel free to celebrate but be mindful you don't "rub it in".
Tunnel Vision. Some players have a plan and execute that plan no matter what often to their detriment.
Have fun!
Being Right Instead of Being Correct; On Kindness
Twitter:@BraunDuinIt
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
Ben Ragan began playing Magic with Magic 2010 after quitting competitive chess in middle school. He top 8ed GP Toronto and has multiple SCG Tour Open Top 8s, as well as a heartbreaking ninth-place finish at an SCG Invitational.He has a minor addiction to casting Collected Company in Modern and firmly believes that Magic is about maximizing your options. When he isn't competing, you can find him re-watching Game of Thrones or cook Italian food. Ben lives in Greenville.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Ben Ragan when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep276
Zendikar
Zendikar
Collected Company
Ben struggled with not playing fast enough and having no idea what his opponents were doing.
When Ben was 13, he won a match at an event and his opponent was rude to him. Ben lost his cool and got angry too. He has since learned to not let others opinion bother him.
Top 8 at GP Toronto and getting respect from his friends.
Even when you're unhappy with some part of life, you can find happiness.
Read everything you can about Magic.
Not playing sideboard games. Players don't practice with their sideboard.
Ben studies the meta and reads articles on the decks he wants to play. Then, he practices a ton. Ben did 20 Leagues leading up to the Grand Prix.
Find a group of people you can go to events with people who can grow with you.
SCG, CFB, Ari Lax articles, Jim Davis stream, TCG Player
Twitter:@castingcoco
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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Josh Taylor is a long time Magic: The Gathering grinder and is a feared Limited aficionado in the North East. Some of his notable finishes include Top 8 of Grand Prix New Jersey, 3rd and 9th at SCG invitationals, Multiple old school PTQ wins, and 40th at Pro Tour Atlanta 2014. Josh lives in Henryville, PA.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Josh Taylor when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep275
Invasion
Tempest block / Urza's block
Bronze Sable
Josh didn't know what he was bad at and couldn't improve. During a Ravnica event, Josh had an eye-opening experience that helped him see he had a lot to learn.
Josh went 1-4 at his first Pro Tour and decided to take a break from Magic. Looking back he realized he didn't prepare enough and was cocky.
Top 8 at Grand Prix New Jersey 2018.
No one is perfect at Magic. Even the best players make mistakes. Keep a level head and don't let mistake overwhelm you.
Play every event round by round, game by game. Have a support group you can turn to.
Players don't control their emotions and give away how the game is going for them.
Playing a ton of sealed events and paying attention to the commons and uncommons that he lost to.
Enjoy the highs of Magic and don't beat yourself up during the lows.
Read articles and watch videos, SCG, CFB
Josh can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.
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
Galan Falakfarsa has been grinding competitive Magic for about 6 years. His first exciting finish was in 2012 with an SCG Open top 8. Since then he's made top 8 at several PTQs and PPTQs and played in a couple RPTQs. His GP Santa Clara finish was his biggest so far & he's very stoked to play in Pro Tour Magic 25 in Aug. Galan is from Davis, CA.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Galan Falakfarsa when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep274
Mirrodin
Innistrad
Kolaghan's Command
Galan didn't feel like he was very good. He would miss obviously good lines of play. Galan learned from older players and slowed down his play.
At a Modern event, Galan played a Splinter Twin mirror match and made some huge misplays. He fell prey to making the common play instead of the less common one that would have helped him win.
Top 4 at GP Santa Clara.
Decision-making. Magic is all about making the best decision on limited information.
Find players you know are better than you and play with them as much as possible.
Players make not playing lands. A lot of the time people hold lands trying to bluff when they would be better off with the land on the board.
It's very helpful to play Magic with better players. Become their friends and seek their honest feedback.
MTG Top 8 (compare deck function)
Galan can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.
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
Daniel Mabee is a semi-competitive Magic player from Sacramento, California who has been playing since 2000. He made his first Grand Prix top 8 at GP Santa Clara.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Daniel Mabee when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep273
Ice Age
Innistrad
Opposition
Dan was intimidated by going to events. Everyone knew each other and he felt like the new kid. Over time the community was a whole has become more welcoming and Dan learned how to make friends. This helped him feel more comfortable at events.
At a Theros Grand Prix in Sacramento Dan practiced a lot. He had high expectations but got smashed 4 rounds in a row. Dan was disappointed but learned it's important to remember that Magic is a game. Don't get attached to a single event.
Grand Prix Santa Clara when Dan made top 8 with his team.
Dan knows you can't change the past. It's easy to obsess over past decisions, but know that you can't change how you got there. You can decide how to act now.
Don't be afraid of going up and talking to people.
Not trusting your own intuition.
Most people struggle believing they can win. Explore your confidence and hold on to it. You have to believe you can win.
SCG, CFB, MTG Salvation, The Source, Twitch
Dan can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.
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
John Martin is a long time MTG grinder who started playing in Scars of Mirridon/Innistrad block. He has 2 PPTQ wins, made top 20 at GP SA, and is the champion of GP Santa Clara. John lives in Austin, Texas.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from John Martin when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep272
Onslaught
Return to Ravnica
Restoration Angel
John is very proud of his accomplishments and is competitive. It was tough to realize he wasn't the best in the room. He made a conscious effort to learn from others.
Just before GP Santa Clara, John was about to hang up the hat and stop playing Magic. He recommends having others outlets and knowing when to take a step back.
Winning GP Santa Clara with his friends.
Critical thinking. Magic has helped John think at a higher land. It is also increased his mental capacity.
There is no shortcut. Don't be results oriented. Just because you do poorly at a tournament doesn't mean you're a bad player.
Players don't admit when they've made an in-game mistake.
If you want the Pro Tour, don't quit. Breaks are okay but don't quit.
Twitter:@hardcastnarco
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
Isaac Sears has worked in the casino industry for a decade and his Magic accomplishments include 1 Grand Prix top 8, 1 team Grand Prix top 4, and a top 75 at Pro Tour DC. He also has 1 SCG top 8, 2 SCG top 16s, and was a semifinalist at the World Magic Cup. Isaac lives in Santa Rosa, CA.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Isaac Sears when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep271
Invasion
Mirrodin / Kamigawa
Upheaval
Balance
Dealing with loss and tilting has been hard for Isaac.
Isaac was banned for a time early in his career. It was rough because he didn't know the rule that the broke existed.
Always call a judge if you're unsure about anything.
Tie between winning a WMCQ and making Top 4 at a team GP in Santa Clara.
If it's cute it's probably wrong. Beware of interactions that are fleshy but don't actually win.
Always play test.
Resource Management. Learning how to manage time and other resources in life.
Check MTG Top 8, Read everyday
Players get too comfortable and forget to check the little things. Be aware of the board state, including the graveyard.
If you're tilting, it's okay to walk away.
Twitter:@vonducky
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
Jeremy Frye has been playing competitive Magic for 8 years. In that time, he has made 2 Grand Prix top 4s with 1 win, and 1 SCG Open top 8. He has found himself to always need a competitive outlet and Magic has always been first and foremost. Jeremy lives in Austin, TX.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Jeremy Frye when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep270
Mirrodin
Rise of the Eldrazi
Wolfbriar Elemental
Acquiring cards. Jeremy had to borrow, barter and work to get what he needed.
Jeremy needed one more win to make day 2 at a GP, he didn't consider all the cards, his opponent could have and didn't play around a counterspell. Now, he considers what's the worst his opponent could do.
First GP Top 8. Jeremy mulled to 4 and still won.
First GP Day 2, placing high in another format.
Eating a good breakfast, getting sleep the night before, and take snacks.
Magic is a game of variance. Don't let it get you down.
Jeremy has increased his confidence and social skills through Magic.
Tapping mana incorrectly and playing lands in the wrong order.
Don't give up!
Twitter:@Ghostsonforever
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
Jedrek Szmyd is a powerful magician, who is a dedicated blue mage. He made top 8 at Grand Prix Warsaw 2017. Besides MTG, he's also really into basketball and music. Jedrek lives in Poznań, Poland.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Jedrek Szmyd when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep269
Onslaught
Innistrad
Snapcaster Mage
Taking down the local "Endboss".
GP Warsaw 2012. Jedrek was playing well and felt like he had the game under control. In one turn his opponent turned things around and won.
Top 8 at GP Warsaw 2017.
Don't be results-oriented. Focus on improving yourself.
Players lose their will to fight too early. They give up the game (mentally) too soon. Also, players don't have a plan.
Pick a format to be competitive in and stick with it for a while.
Pick your one format and have a plan every time you play.
Twitter:@SzmydcasterMage
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