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

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

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 Sponsors

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

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)

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

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

Kevin Jones has been playing magic since Urza's Saga and has been playing competitively since Onslaught. He has 10 Star City Games Open top 8s, 1 Grand Prix top 8, is a 3 time SCG Player's Championship Competitor, has 2 Pro Tour Appearances AND is the Co-host of The Weekly Ward Wednesdays on Twitch.tv/kirwansgamestore. He is also a writer for MTGCardmarket.com. Kevin lives in Kingston, NY Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Kevin Jones when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep213 First Set Urza's Saga Favorite Set Innistrad Favorite Card Snapcaster Mage Early Challenge Kevin has always been competitive and his play group was too. He watched his younger friends get really good he wondered why he wasn't improving. Kevin expanded himself by playing new decks and learning different archetypes. Magic Milestones Kevin made top 8 at States in 2004. Worst Magic Moment At his first Pro Tour, Kevin built his deck the night before the event. He failed to make day 2 and was really taken aback by it. Proudest Magic Moment Winning a Grand Prix. What Have You Learned From Magic Math :). Magic also changes the way you think as far as values and risk. Biggest Mistake Players Make Caring so much that it pains you to lose. Young players tend to lose sight of the big picture and get torn up when they lose. To overcome this, your mindset / approach to Magic needs to evolve to where you enjoy the game and understand that it is a game and how lucky you are to fuel your competitive drive through a complex hobby. Parting Guidance Don't lose sight of yourself and don't let loses define who you are. Connect With Kevin Jones Twitter:@kjvsthehighway 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

Marc Tobiasch used to exclusively play Vintage and Legacy and claims he got onto the Pro Tour "pretty much by accident". He has 1 Grand Prix top 8 and 1 Pro Tour top 8. Marc lives in Bonn, Germany. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Marc Tobiasch when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep212 First Set Ice Age Favorite Set Onslaught Favorite Card Null Rod Early Challenge Figuring out which events to go to and who to travel with are huge when you're climbing. Worst Magic Moment Marc used to let loses get from bad to worse. When he played around the "right" card and lost anyway he struggled with accepting it until he learned to control tilt. He overcome tilt by focusing on what he can control. Proudest Magic Moment Pro Tour top 8 / Finding friends at events. Career Highlights At his first Pro Tour, Marc learned there was a whole other level of Magic you can aspire to play at. Building a Deck from a Scratch Marc is a renowned deck builder and shares his process. Biggest Mistake Players Make Players try to think about everything every turn. You can shortcut this by weighting your focus towards what has changed. Also, players do things because they can and don't think whether they should. "Helping a little right now is not as good as helping a lot later." How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event Marc meets with his team a week or so before the Pro Tour. For Grand Prix, he observes the format and for Legacy or Modern, chooses his deck fairly close to the event. Parting Guidance Before playing a card, think "should I play this card now?" Connect With Marc Tobiasch Twitter:@MarcTobiasch ‏ 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

Martin Juza has a record that speaks for itself with an impressive 25 Grand Prix top 8s including 4 wins and 3 Pro Tour top 8s with an additional 3 top 16 finishes! He's well known in the Magic community as a pillar of good sportsmanship. Martin lives in the Czech Republic. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Martin Juza when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep211 First Set Urza's Destiny Favorite Set Time Spiral Favorite Card Counterspell Early Challenge Every aspect of Magic was new but events, articles and other people helped fill in the gap. Worst Magic Moment There was a year where Martin didn't make Platinum. He missed one European Grand Prix and it cost him $1,000 bucks. Proudest Magic Moment There was a year where he always made top 8 or top 16. Also, his first Pro Tour top 8 felt really great. What Have You Learned From Magic Travel the world and experience different culture. Magic Shortcomings Martin is working on preparing better for Magic event. Drafting Tips If you're choosing between two cards that are of similar power levels, always pick the cheaper card. Tournament Day Tips Don't be like Martin ;) Biggest Mistake Players Make The most important thing in constructed is good side boarding. Having a plan and knowing what to take out and put in is key to success. How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event Martin practices with Channel Fireball team and they constantly discuss the best deck and evaluate the meta-game. Daily Habits Martin has experience with other games (Hearthstone and poker) and brings that to Magic. Parting Guidance Read a lot of article, watch games and learn all you can. Connect With Martin Juza Twitter:@Juzam_ ‏ 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

Javier Luna is a veteran player who has played in several Pro Tours and Worlds. He runs a website at magiclair.com.ar that provides free articles in Spanish. The site covers all the formats and focuses on growing the Latin American Magic community. He has 1 Grand Prix Top 8 and 1 Super Sunday Series Final Top 8. Javier lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Javier Luna when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep210 First Set Mirage Favorite Set Legends / Urza's Saga Favorite Card Mana Drain Early Challenge Drafting has always been a challenge for Javier. He focuses on this by drafting online. Screenshots are a lifesaver. Worst Magic Moment At a GP in Santiago, Javier went 9-0 in day1 but went 0-5-1 on day 2. He felt so bad and struggled mentally, but came to realize that everyone has good and bad days. Proudest Magic Moment First Grand Prix top 8 / Seeing countrymen do great. Shortcomings Javier is working on his draft skills and is focusing on controlling his emotional responses to losing. Best Format Legacy Daily Habits Reading everything he can. Javier keeps tabs through CFB and SC. He also plays every day even if it's just one or two matches. Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself Javier learned about leadership and friendship. Biggest Mistake Players Make Players complain about luck all the time when they have no control over it. Improve yourself and understand that luck is part of the game. Preparation for Tournaments Javier followed the metagame closely and chose a Blue / Red deck. However, one week before the Grand Prix, he started losing a lot. So Javier talked with the best player in the country and switched to a Mardu deck. Parting Guidance Enjoy the game. Magic is great. Play with friends and meet new people. Travel all you can. Magic Resource magiclair.com.ar, CFB, SCG Connect With Javier Luna Twitter:@MagicLair 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

Max McVety is a mechanical engineer from Ann Arbor who has 2 Grand Prix top 8 finishes, an SCG Invitational win, and a couple of Pro Tour cashes. He recently picked up RIW Hobbies as his first sponsor. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Max McVety when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep209 How To Choose A Deck Know the balance between pushing your range and sticking with what you know. What Are The Key Relationship in Your Career Andrew Elenbogen, Kyle Boggemes Where Do You Fit in a Team Max is the side board expert. He nails down the exact cards to take out and put in. Color Philosophy Max aligns with blue. He likes to think deeply about a topic. Level Up Moment Dealing with variance. Biggest Mistake Players Make Players know what the best deck is and try not to play it. Parting Guidance Prepare for the event by focussing on what you can control: -Deck choice -Side board -In-game decisions Connect With Max McVety Twitter:@m_mcvety 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

Ethan Gaieski started to play seriously when he moved to Japan in 2015. He came back to the States and did decently well on the SCG Tour but didn't get any big results. Just a lot of cash. He finally made his first GP top 8 at Grand Prix Montreal 2017. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Ethan Gaieski when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep208 First Set Innistrad Favorite Set Return to Ravnica Favorite Card Sigarda, Host of Herons Early Challenge Financially keeping up with Magic was really rough. Also, the mental challenge of thinking everyone is better than him. Worst Magic Moment GP Orlando 2017, Ethan did poorly and because he prepared a lot and this was the third bad Gran Prix in a row, he was crushed. Embracing the variance is a lesson Ethan learned. Proudest Magic Moment Top 8 Grand Prix Montreal 2017. What Have You Learned From Magic Quantitative Reasoning. (Recognizing patterns and Math) Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself Ethan knows he can become as good as he can if he doesn't crumple under people's expectations. Biggest Mistake Players Make When players got unlucky, they think they couldn't have won. Don't offload the responsibility. Own it and ask what you could have done. Talk to people. How to Effectively Prepare for a Tournament Ethan watched the Pro Tour closely and strove to understood best decks. He practiced by playing 10 Leagues on MTGO. Parting Guidance Always be looking for ways to improve. There's always something you can do. Magic Resource Twitch.tv/alexjchen, MTG Coverage, Ari Lax, Garry Thompson Connect With Ethan Gaieski Ethan 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

Charly Traarbach is 30 years old and just made his first Grand Prix Top 8 in Utrecht 2017. He will be playing in Pro Tour Kyoto (2017) as his very first Pro Tour appearance! Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Charly Traarbach when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep207 First Set Revised Favorite Set Innistrad Favorite Card [draft]Emrakul, The Aeons Torn[/draft] Early Challenge Charly was terrible at losing. He's very competitive and processed losses poorly. Worst Magic Moment In the GP Top 8 in Utrecht, Charly had forgotten to take out his side board from round 15! He got a game loss and ended up losing the match. Lesson: Always check your side board. Proudest Magic Moment Making top 8 at Grand Prix Utrecht. What Have You Learned From Magic A better understanding of English language. Interpersonal skill. Making friends. Daily Rituals Workout (run, sports). When your body is strong and active, your mind will be sharper. Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself You're never too old to learn. What's in Your Tournament Bag Score pad, Playmat, Extra Sleeves, Snacks, Water Parting Guidance To become better at Magic, play a lot of Magic. Surround yourself with people who invest a lot of time in Magic. Magic Resource CFB, SCG, TCG Player Connect With Charly Traarbach Twitter:@CharlyTraarbach ‏ 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

Eli Kassis is a past guest of the show and now has 3 Grand Prix Top 8's (2 back to back top 4 or better finishes), 7 Pro Tour cashes, 13 SCG's Open Top 8's, and 17 Old school PTQ Wins. 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-ep206 Team Events Team events are catching on. In a team event, Eli made top 4 with his team. GP Secrets X-2 still get invited to the Pro Tour, so don't draw. Evaluating The Metagame Eli and his team looked at the popular Modern decks and determined, there wouldn't be a lot of control. Eli picked his deck because he knew it inside and out and it had a good match up against the rest of the field. Future of Pro Magic Eli sees the Pro circuit growing. Biggest Mistake Players Make When stress and pressure are on players, abandon the decisions that got them there and hope luck gets them there. Parting Guidance You are an ambassador to the game. Be proud of it and treat others with respect so when anyone says "I play Magic" it means something. References Team NFGBot.com Connect With Eli Kassis Twitter:@lifer2121 ‏ 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

Simon Nielsen is a 22 year old linguistics student from Denmark who tries to play Magic for a living. He is currently testing with the team Mint card, and writes articles for mtgmintcard.com. He was part of the Danish national team that won the World Magic Cup in 2014 (the Daneblast guy), got 2nd at GP Brussels 2015, 8th at GP Bologna 2017 and 10th at the Pro Tour Eldritch Moon. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Simon Nielsen when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep205 First Set Mirrodin besieged Favorite Set New Phyrexia Favorite Card Liliana of the veil Early Challenge Brewing decks were a struggle because Simon told himself he wasn't good enough to play tier 1 decks. He finally overcomes this by understanding that playing the best deck is his edge. Worst Magic Moment At Simon's 2nd World Magic Cup, his team was knocked out early. This felt bad because they had won the year before. Simon stayed and cheered on other countries and made friends. Proudest Magic Moment Winning World Magic Cup in 2014. What Have You Learned From Magic Risk management. What's the expected value of your decisions. Compare the best thing you could get to the chance of getting that outcome. Magic Breakthrough Moment Simon went from being terrible at Limited tot a year later top 8'ing a Limited Grand Prix. It took a while, but he started trusting his teammates and adopting their strategy. Biggest Mistake Players Make Player's don't have plan. Look far down the line. How are you going to win. Work on the sideboard and play more side board games. Parting Guidance Read Simon's articles "How to become the worlds luckiest Magic Player" and "All your invalid excuses for not playing the best decks." Magic Resource mtgmintcard.com -Simon's articles Connect With Simon Nielsen Twitter:@MrChecklistcard 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

Francesco Giorgio is an Italian Magic player living in England and a member of Team Axion Now. He's at his best with 40 card decks, but also enjoying the Standard format. His achievements include 2 Limited Grand Prix Top 8s and Top 8 at the 2014 World Magic Cup. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Francesco Giorgio when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep204 First Set 7th Edition Favorite Set Khans of Tarkir Favorite Card Birthing pod Early Challenge At first, Francesco didn't like the "best decks". Now, he understands that others have done well and he can draw on their knowledge. Worst Magic Moment Losing the finals of a GP due to a terrible mistake. He didn't read all the cards. Proudest Magic Moment Top 8 at 2014 World Magic Cup. What Have You Learned From Magic Francesco learned to analyze his mistakes regardless of the outcome. Shortcomings Constructed. Focus more on tournament preparation. Habits Draft often. (Daily if possible.) Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself Francesco loves travelling. Biggest Mistake Players Make In Limited, players don't block enough. How to Effectively Prepare for a Tournament Practice and discussion. For Limited, each player ranks every card and players discuss the differences. Parting Guidance Look back at every game and reflect, regardless of the results. Magic Resource Team Axiom Now, MTG Goldfish, www.mtgprotutor.com/giveaways200 Connect With Francesco Giorgio Twitter:@Sniesk 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

Dario Veneri is a 24 year old Clerk from Zurich, Switzerland who started playing Magic about 4 years ago. He's been to a bit more than a dozen GPs and made his first top 8 at Grand Prix Bologna 2017. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Dario Veneri when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep203 First Set Return to Ravnica Favorite Set Amonkhet Favorite Card Hero of bladehold Early Challenge Dario struggled with variance at first. To overcome this, Dario focused on the new and just play the next game. Worst Magic Moment At a World Magic Qualifier, Dario got ahead of himself and didn't focus on the next game. Proudest Magic Moment Top 8 at Grand Prix Bologna and getting his first Pro Tour invite. What Have You Learned From Magic Variance is everywhere and being mindful of it in Magic has brought it up to Dario in other areas and has helped him. Tournament Day Tips Go with friends. Interact with them between rounds. DON'T COMPLAIN and discuss crucial decision times from your game. Also, eat right. Plan it ahead and be mindful. Biggest Mistake Players Make Players tend to splash too much in Limited. They sacrifice their mana base for a low impact pay off. How to Effectively Prepare for Grand Prix Dario created a network of experienced players he likes and respects. He played a lot of Magic Online and attended as many Prerelease as he could. He discussed cards extensively with friends. Parting Guidance Focus on the next game and don't let variance get you down. Connect With Dario Veneri Twitter:@Josslyn_Avalon 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

Matthew Pope started playing Magic during Scars of Mirrodin and his first Launch Party was Magic 2012. Innistrad was the first pre-release he attended (and ran) at his local game. He was taught by a friend in college (the last 2 years of high school) and has come a long way with 1 Grand Prix Top 8 which was a 2nd place finish at Grand Prix Barcelona 2017. Matthew lives in the United Kingdom. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Matthew Pope when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep202 First Set Scars of Mirrodin Favorite Set Innistrad Favorite Card Geist of Saint Traft Early Challenge Mulligan decisions. Matt noticed that even as he got better at mulligan decisions, he would revert back in high stakes games. Worst Magic Moment Matt attended a PPTQ and went 4-0-1. He wins the quarter finals and plays the best player in the room in the semi-finals. In game 3, Matt chokes and he missed the RPTQ invite. It was so close and the burn was real. Matt didn't attack based on a bluff from his opponent. Matt learned to play around what he should and ignore what he can't play around. Proudest Magic Moment Top 8 at Grand Prix Barcelona 2017. Biggest Mistake Players Make Playing around cards when it doesn't matter/wont make a difference. Also, deck selection without enough time to get good at it. Parting Guidance Don't let circumstance affect your fundamentals. Mulligan decisions are huge, so practice, practice, practice and don't forget what you've learned. Connect With Matthew Pope Twitter:@immagicmatt 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

Jack Dobbin is a long-time grinder from the United States Midwest with a couple Pro Tour appearances and one GP top 8. He's living, learning and loving all things Magic: The Gathering. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Jack Dobbin when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep201 First Set Legions Favorite Set Theros (for the draft environment) Favorite Card Cruel ultimatum Early Challenge Being stubborn. Jack would draft a good card and then get fixated on it. He would force an archetype and learned not to. Worst Magic Moment When Wizards switched off of the ELO system, Jack's qualification chances plummeted because he doesn't play that often. He learned to enjoy Magic at its roots. Proudest Magic Moment Qualifying for the Pro Tour and calling his wife to say they are taking a trip. What Have You Learned From Magic Making decisions with incomplete information. Magic Mentor Advice Don't play cards that lead you to being 2 for 1'd. Draft two colors. How To Go from Day 2 to Top 8 Keep at it. Do what you're doing and take advantage of when variance breaks your way. Keep your emotions in check. Don't tilt. Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself You can have a good time while losing. Biggest Mistake Players Make Giving away information and playing slow. Play faster! Parting Guidance Remember to have fun. Connect With Jack Dobbin Jack 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

Brian Andersen E is a 25 year old Magic enthusiast from California, but he's lived everywhere. He's played magic in both Asia and the USA at the basic LGS level. He's an investor a partner at Paragon City Games and generally a loud mouth. Brian lives in Draper, Utah. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Brian Andersen E when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep200 First Set Tempest Favorite Set Odyssey Favorite Card Kamahl, Pit fighter Making a Store Stand Out Be deliberate about the feel you want players to experience. Biggest Mistake Players Make Not having enough experience with their deck. Take the time to play and know your deck ahead of time. Ask a lot of questions. Tournament Day Tips Control your emotions and look at what you did wrong. Successful players tend to be brewers. Their brains are always churning. Have a good breakfast. What Have You Learned from Magic Patience. So many times you want the results now but understand that it will come once your skill is where it needs to be. Parting Guidance Have patience with yourself, your community and your store. Magic Resource Paragon City Games, twitchtv/paragoncitygames, MTGProtutor.com/giveaway200 Connect With Brian Andersen E Twitter: @JBrandersen 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

David Brucker is a returning Magic Pro who is coming back after a 9-year break. He just added his 6th Grand Prix top 8 to his record and even boasts a Grand Prix win from back in the day. On the Pro Tour, he has 6 top 16 finishes and is looking for a top 8 with his most recent invite. David lives in Munich, Germany. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from David Brucker when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep199 First Set Ice age Favorite Set Mirrodin Favorite Card Fact or fiction Early Challenge Not knowing cards and winning decks. Lack of information was a big deal in the early days. Worst Magic Moment At his 2nd Nationals, David drank with friends the night before and showed up to the draft hung over. He went 3-0 but then got disqualified because he registered a 37 card deck. Proudest Magic Moment David won the European championship and got a big trophy and $15,000. He and his parents were so proud. What Have You Learned From Magic "Breaking" a deck is similar to science. Trying to find the best solution for a format is like finding a solution at work. Also teamwork. Magic Mentors Henniry Ramquist - he was very competitive and taught David to take the game seriously. Tournament Day Tips Get byes. Attend GPT's, PPTQs and Grand Prix Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself David is very competitive. He also likes to travel. Biggest Mistake Players Make Playing your lost card in hand pre-combat. This gives away so much information. Think about every game and why you actually lost. Avoid the mindset of blowing outside influences for your losses. What's in Your Tournament Bag Clothing, deck box Parting Guidance Play a lot. Find the best players in your region and play against them. Magic Resource CFB, 5-0 decks from MTGO Connect With David Brucker David 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

Robert Lombardi still has a Degree in Mechatronics Engineering (he hasn't lost it), and is married and has a 15-month-old son. He has 3 Grand Prix top 8s now including a win at Grand Prix Toronto 2016. He's still better at Limited than Constructed and is striving to not be 1 point shy of Silver. Robert was first on the MTG Pro Tutor podcast in episode 125. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Robert Lombardi when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep198 How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event Robert played around with all the top decks and found his stride with Mardu vehicles. FNM Side Board VS. Pro Side Board You know the meta much better at the local level. Your board at a big event is less targeted. First Strike Podcast Robert is co-hosting a spiky podcast about competitive Magic. Brian Gottlieb is the best built from scratch deck builder. Parting Guidance People ask for feedback but then argue when they get it. Don't do that! Magic Resource First Strike Podcast Connect With Robert Lombardi Twitter:@RobertLombardi0 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

Ben Friedman has four Grand Prix top 8s, two Pro Tour top 16s, 5 SCG invitational top 8s, and does it all while rocking a mean cowboy hat! He is a member of the MetaGameGurus on the SCG Tour and the Captain of Mox Box Bowl on the Pro Tour. Ben lives in Baltimore, MD. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Ben Friedman when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep197 First Set Odyssey Favorite Set Ravnica Favorite Card Snapcaster mage Early Challenge Understanding how to attack a metagame. Breakthrough Moment JSS Nationals - first cashing a tournament. Worst Magic Moment After getting crushed at his first Pro Tour, Ben was really down. He learned he wasn't the hot shot he thought. Proudest Magic Moment Qualifying for his first Pro Tour. Next was when Ben made it to the Pro Tour off of a special invite due to rule changes. This PT invite got him the Gold status that year. What Have You Learned From Magic Delayed gratification. Tournament Day Tips Drink a lot of water, Ben knows that for him fasting makes him more focused. Advice to New Players Build your network and share cards. Networks help you make friends, save money and play Magic. Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself Ben learned his play style is very value oriented. Biggest Mistake Players Make Players don't understand side boarding. They don't consider how their side boarding choices change when they are on the play versus the draw. Parting Guidance Think for yourself, learn for yourself and learn how to learn better. Magic Resource SCG, CFB, TCG Player Connect With Ben Friedman Twitter:@40cardfriedman 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

Corey Baumeister is a Gold Level Professional Magic player who has 2 Grand Prix top 8's to his name including a win in New Jersey 2017! He also has 1 top 16 and 2 top 32 finishes at the Pro Tour. Corey lives in Fargo, North Dakota. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Corey Baumeister when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep196 First Set Onslaught Favorite Set Ravnica City of Guild Favorite Card Ogre savant Early Challenge Deck design during new sets. Worst Magic Moment Pro Tour Austin. Corey was playing a win-and-in match for Top 8 of the Pro Tour. Corey misplayed because he didn't know the matchup. Proudest Magic Moment Winning Grand Prix New Jersey 2017. What Have You Learned From Magic Recognizing mistakes and adjusting. Best Format Standard Advice for New Standard Players Follow events and see what's winning. Find answers to that deck by scouring legal cards. Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself Don't be so critical of yourself. Biggest Mistake Players Make Using luck as a crutch for your losses. It takes a smart player to realize they did something wrong. How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event Corey played hundreds of games leading up to the Grand Prix. He knew his deck inside and out. What's in Your Tournament Bag Boogie board, stockpile of cards, dice Parting Guidance If you have the will to chase the dream then don't quit playing. Magic Resource Knowledgeable friends Connect With Corey Baumeister Twitter:@CoreyBaumeister 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

Jorge Mantilla is 28 years old and was born in Miami, Florida. He started out by playing Poker and sneaking into casino's throughout high school to make extra money. He's a well known Spearfisherman through his videos on youtube/Instagram. He started playing Magic after Dragons of Tarkir and fell in love with Limited. He's been to 2 Grand Prix's - Atlanta, where he won the last 4 rounds in a row to make day 2 and Orlando where he made Top 8. Jorge lives in Miami, Florida. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Jorge Mantilla when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep195 First Set Dragon of Tarkir Favorite Set Kaladesh Favorite Card Walking ballista Early Challenge Side boarding and deck building. Every time Jorge lost in Limited, he would look at his opponent's deck at ask why was each card in that deck. Worst Magic Moment Losing his first PPTQ win-and-in. Jorge learned the importance of early pressure and keeping good hands. Proudest Magic Moment Top 8 at GP Orlando. What Have You Learned From Magic Confidence and being nice to people. Advice to New Limited Players Watch a good drafter and learn why they chose what they did. Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself "I have the confidence to achieve my goals." Biggest Mistake Players Make Not keeping track of the board state. How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event Jorge did a Limited event online every day for about 8 months. What's in Your Tournament Bag Draft box: Lands, tokens, sleeves, paper, dice Parting Guidance Play frequently. Don't stop. Don't quit. Magic Resource Twitch.TV, CFB Connect With Jorge Mantilla Jorge 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

Kasper Nielsen is a new face on the Pro Tour as he just made his first Grand Prix Top 8 at Utrecht 2017. Kasper lives in Copenhagen, Denmark. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Kasper Nielson when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep194 First Set Tempest Favorite Set Theros (least favorite) lol Favorite Card Snapcaster mage Early Challenge Qualifying for the Pro Tour. Kasper would make it to the finals/qualifying rounds and lose. He finally broke through at GP Utrecht. Worst Magic Moment Kasper got a win he didn't deserve because he didn't understand the cards and the judge he asked were confused. Proudest Magic Moment Making top 8 at GP Utrecht 2017. Kasper was so excited to finally making it to the Pro Tour. Biggest Mistake Players Make Underestimating yourself and your chances, especially against a "known" player. This happens with local "and losses". A little degree of hubris is good in a player. Say "I'm going to beat this player" or at least "I can beat this player." How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event At the previous GP, Kasper studied the best decks and talked to others about which deck beat which others and why. He chose a deck and started practicing. He took a deck to a friend's house and played the mirror for 5 hours so he could deeply understand the deck. He attended local events to stay sharp nad then when Utrecht came he studied the meta again, chose a deck and practiced - a lot. Parting Guidance Remember to have fun! Magic Resource Twitch.TV, CFB Connect With Kasper Nielsen Twitter:@ks_nielsen 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

Amir Radmard lives in Oklahoma City, OK. As a daytime job, he is an IT technician for a small company. In regards to Magic, he is a glorified FNM champion and considers himself the most grindiest of grinders. He has 1 Grand Prix top 8 that happened at GP Houston and has competed in several RPTQs. He's been to the Pro tour once and is looking for more. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Amir Radmard when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep193 First Set Tempest Favorite Set Return to Ravnica Favorite Card Braids, Cabal Minion Early Challenge Card Evaluation Advice That Has Stuck With You "You have to win here before you can win out there. " The local champs encouraged Amir to step up his game. Worst Magic Moment Amir struggles with tilt. He remembers a PTQ where he had a solid sealed deck and one opponent played an unbeatable. Amir tilted so bad he made misplays. Proudest Magic Moment Qualifying for his first Pro Tour. What Have You Learned From Magic You have to cut a card to add a card. This applies to life because you have to take something out to add in a new thing. Best Format Limited Pre-Release Tips Sealed is more "bomby". Review all commons and uncommon in the set. Review combat tricks. Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself Amir learned how good he can get at something when he really applies himself. Biggest Mistake Players Make People think they know more than they know. They don't listen or accept advice. Ideal Tournament Preparation Amir spends his time tweaking a deck to make sure it can take down the top strategies. Tournament Day Tips Go with friends, have a good breakfast, stay hydrated and sleep. Parting Guidance "Speak little, do much." Monastery Mentor Magic Resource CFB, SCG (Premium is worth it), Brad Nelson articles, MTG Coverage.com Connect With Amir Radmard Amir 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

Aleksa Telarov is a 7 time National Champion and has appeared in 10 Worlds & World Magic Cup events. At the World Magic Cup he's made top8, top16, and top32. He took 3rd at the 2015 MOCS and has 3 Grand Prix Top 8 including a win at Grand Prix Madrid 2015. 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-ep192 First Set Guildpact Favorite Set Ravnica block Favorite Card Tireless Tracker Early Challenge Aleksa would play all the tournaments he could. No matter the format. He started drafting and didn't win for a year. Breakthrough Moment GP Vienna - first top 8. GP Madrid - win. Worst Magic Moment Not qualifying for the Pro Tour after GP Milan. Aleksa also had a chain of 6-3 results when to make day two he needed 7-2. Proudest Magic Moment Winning GP Madrid. Best Format Standard Biggest Mistake Players Make Players lack focus. Magic is a demanding game and people don't realize the commitment it takes to do well. Parting Guidance Focus on the important things in life and the rest will fall into place. Be a good person. Magic Resource MTGO, MTG Goldfish Connect With Aleksa Telarov Twitter:@AleksaTelarov 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

James Larsen-Scott is a 20-year-old magic player from Tasmania, Australia who has been playing Magic for 8 years. He is constantly trying to learn and improve his game and recently obtained his first Grand Prix top 8 at GP Brisbane 2017. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from James Larsen - Scott when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep191 First Set Alara Reborn Favorite Set Zendikar / Khans of Tarkir Favorite Card Jace,The Mind Sculptor Early Challenge Learning the difference between the Limited formats. Magic Breakthrough Moment When James got his first draft 3-0 and when he got his first Grand Prix day 2. Worst Magic Moment James went to a PPTQ and lost 3 win-and-ins because he took a deck he didn't know. Proudest Magic Moment First Grand Prix Top 8. What Have You Learned From Magic Knowing your role is an allegory for life. Sometimes you need to push hard and make things happen. Other times, you need to sit back, see what happens and react. Best Format Limited Magic Mentors LSV Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself He can do it if he puts his mind to it. Biggest Mistake Players Make Players don't know why they are playing a card. You should know why every card is in your deck. Tournament Day Tips Bring tokens, pen, and paper. It's huge to have friends there to talk to between rounds. Shortcomings Losing focusing in a game. Beginner Limited Advice Watch tons of Magic Videos. Parting Guidance Don't be intimidated when playing big name players. Magic Resource CFB, Twitch.TV Connect With James Larsen-Scott James 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

Ryan Hare is the Champion of Grand Prix Pittsburgh 2017 and is looking towards silver and beyond. He can't resist a good pun, and his favorite colors are Black and Green (usually together). Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Ryan Hare when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep190 First Set 7th Edition Favorite Set 7th Edition / Onslaught Favorite Card Daru Cavalier What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you? Ryan came back when a friend invited him to play cube. He had another friend who always beat him and Ryan wanted to know why. Early Challenge Ryan had to build his knowledge of Magic and Magic players. Worst Magic Moment After making top 32 at a GP, Ryan had a chance for silver but after 5 Grand Prix he didn't make it. Proudest Magic Moment Winning Grand Prix Pittsburgh felt great but Ryan really remembers a Modern Premier IQ where he did well because it was his first big event it stands out to him. He made top 8. What Have You Learned From Magic How to make good spreadsheet and how to track details. Biggest Mistake Players Make There's a balance between over confidence and lack of confidence. You're not always right but you also can't count yourself out. How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event Put all the events you're going to on a list and keep up to date with what's coming up and how can you prepare. Parting Guidance Book flights at least 6 weeks in advance. Find a magic bag of trail mix. Put yourself in the best position to succeed. Connect With Ryan Hare Ryan 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

Donald Smith started playing Magic in Theros. He got his first (and only) GP Top 8 in Charlotte 2015 and has chained Pro Tour invites ever since. Now he has a Pro Tour Top 8 under his belt and is a Gold level pro. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Donald Smith when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep189 First Set Theros Favorite Set Theros / Kaladesh Favorite Card Chained to the Rocks What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you? "I got hooked on Magic because of the social aspect." Early Challenge Preparing for tournaments. Worst Magic Moment The period between PT Atlanta and PT Honolulu, Donald didn't have a good finish at any event. He also learned humility. Proudest Magic Moment Top 4 of Pro Tour Dublin. Also, the 11th win that got him the Pro Tour Dublin invite. What Have You Learned From Magic Taking risks pays off. Risk within reason. Best Format Limited Magic Mentors Derek; looked at the game with analytical eyes. Owen Turtenwald Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself Donald learned a good work ethic. Biggest Mistake Players Make People play too scared. Advice for Beginner Limited In AER Limited, have your colors set by the end of pack one. People let color biases affect them too much. Don't buy into hyperbole. What's in Your Tournament Bag Life pod, dice, pens, playmat, laptop, snacks, granola bars, Clif bars, water, token Daily Ritual Play daily. Parting Guidance Draft every day! Connect With Twitter:@donaldwsjr 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

Alex Bianchi is a Silver-level pro from Buffalo, New York with 1 Grand Prix Top 8 and 1 win (GP Pittsburgh 2015). He is also the team captain of Team Dave & Adam's for the 2016-2017 Pro Tour Team Series, and writes articles for ManaDeprived.com. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Alex Bianchi when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep188 First Set Mirrodin Favorite Set Ravnica City of Guilds Favorite Card Nahiri, The Harbinger What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you? The game is challenging and the people are great. Early Challenge Deck selection. It took a while for Alex to realize he should play the best deck. Worst Magic Moment Needed 2 points to get the silver; got it, then needed one win to made top 8. He missed it three times in a row. Proudest Magic Moment Winning GP Pittsburgh. When he made Top 8, he qualified for his Pro Tour and went with two friends. What Have You Learned From Magic Networking and traveling. Best Format Death Shadow Jund Magic Mentors Kai Burnett taught Alex how to grind. Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself The social aspect of the game is more important. Biggest Mistake Players Make Focusing too much on specific formats. You need to be good at many formats. How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event Alex plays a lot of MTGO competitive leagues. Shortcomings As a Magic Player Getting unintentional draws. Tournament Day Tips Rest between rounds, drink water. Magic Resource Twitch.TV, MTGCoverage.com, SCG, MTG Pulse Connect With Alex Bianchi Twitter:@Gemmanite 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

Jon Stern has been playing competitive Magic off an on for a long time but started to really take it seriously in 2012. He has 7 Grand Prix Top 8s including wins in Atlantic City 2013 and Atlanta 2014. He hasn't broken through for a Pro Tour Top 8 yet but has a Top 16 and a couple Top 20 finishes. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Jon Stern when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep187 First Set Revised Favorite Set Invasion block Favorite Card Aquamoeba Standstill What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you? You're rewarded based on the decisions you make. Early Challenge Knowing how to prepare for tournaments. Joining a team and preparing in a professional manner. Worst Magic Moment Forgetting to write down two cards in deck registry led to a game loss. Proudest Magic Moment Qualifying for his first Grand Prix Top 8. Winning his first Grand Prix. What Have You Learned From Magic Planning ahead, making decisions. Advice from Magic Mentors Understand there is variance. Magic is a number game. Trust yourself. Shortcomings Deck building in a new format. Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself You're not going to win every time but that doesn't mean you're on the wrong track. Biggest Mistake Players Make Having an unlearning attitude. There is a learning curve in Magic and you can move up by talking, listening, asking and learning. How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event Jon focuses on time management. He looks at how much time he has to prepare and chooses his activities accordingly (Main board, side board, play testing). Best Format Constructed Beginner Standard Advice Realize that a lot of people are going to play one of the top 2 decks, card for card. This is exploitable. Parting Guidance Test with a purpose. Don't kill yourself over deck selection. Magic Resource MTG Goldfish, MTG Top 8, Magic Online League results Connect With Jon Stern Twitter:@JonSternMTL 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

Bronson Gervasi planned a trip in 2017 to do the Star City Games tour starting with SCG open Columbus. From there he played in Richmond, then in the regionals in Baltimore, and finally at the Grand Prix in Pittsburgh where he made his first GP Top 8, qualifying for the Pro Tour for the first time. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Bronson Gervasi when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep186 First Set M12 Favorite Set New Phyrexia Favorite Card Death's Shadow What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you? The competitive aspect of the game is very appealing. Early Challenge Coming to grips with variance, Bronson struggled with giving up early after a few losses. Worst Magic Moment At a Regionals, Bronson made it to the top 8 and then lost, missing the Pro Tour invite. He had to multi-game and learned to shuffle a lot. Proudest Magic Moment At his first GP, Bronson played a friend's deck in a side event and won. He got invited to a TCG 50k events. What Have You Learned From Magic Bronson has applied Magic to business and interpersonal relationships. Best Format Standard Shortcomings Bronson is working on seeing where the meta is going and developing the next winning deck. He also knows he's not the best-controlling player. Biggest Mistake Players Make Bronson tends to make riskier plays and he sees too many players be too cautious. How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event Evaluate the best decks and decide whether to beat them or join them. Make the deck your own by tweaking and tuning. What's in Your Tournament Bag Every Standard card, commander deck How To Make Day 2 Deciding to play the best deck and not give up mentally. Don't think about future games, stay focused. Parting Guidance Stave off mental defeat by stay positive and not giving up. Magic Resource TCG Player, SCG, MTG Top 8 Connect With Bronson Gervasi Bronson 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

AJ Sacher is one of the greatest minds in Magic: The Gathering. He has 2 Grand Prix top 8s and 15 StarCityGames top 8s with 2 wins. He's created content for StarCityGames, TCG Player and is currently writing articles, shooting videos and streaming for Numot Gaming. AJ lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from AJ Sacher when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep185 First Set Portal Favorite Set Kamigawa - Time Spiral Favorite Card Brainstorm Early Challenge Hubris. AJ thought he knew more than everyone and it stopped him from progressing until he realized this got in his way. Breakthrough Moment Going Pro after just over a year. AJ made top 8 of a GP in Denver. This was a turning point for AJ. Worst Magic Moment At Pro Tour, San Juan AJ didn't win a game. He also turned down an offer to play the best deck. AJ realized that he had to take care of himself first. Proudest Magic Moment Top 8 at GP Costa Rica / Meeting his heroes as peers. What Have You Learned From Magic Time management, resources management, critical thinking, deduction, induction, etc. Best Format Legacy Ideal Tournament Preparation Time management is critical. These are only so many hours to prepare for a tournament, utilize that time that time wisely. Biggest Mistake Players Make People's pride get in the way of their learning. Also, people just play cards on autopilot instead of actually playing a game of Magic. Tournament Day Tips Hydrate, eat, wash your face, go to the bathroom and sleep. Parting Guidance Hubris is poisonous. Have the humility to learn. Also, reflect on what you want out of Magic. Magic Resource SCG, CFB, TCG Player, Numotg gaming, Steaming (Twitch) Connect With AJ Sacher Twitter:@AJSacher 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

Daniel Fournier is a Toronto native, known locally for his dedication to the game and aggressive hyperbole. He had a breakout year in 2014, top 8'ing Grand Prix Montreal after going undefeated in the Swiss rounds. Then he represented Canada at the World Magic Cup. Since then, he's rattled off another pair of Grand Prix top 8s and is hoping to make it big on the Pro Tour stage. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Daniel Fournier when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep184 First Set Portal Favorite Set Khans of Tarkir Favorite Card Vendilion Clique What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you? The depth of Magic attracts Daniel. "It's a puzzle that's constantly changng but always has a solution." Early Challenge Deck building. Daniel would just copy decks and not understand why the cards were there. He played with great players to overcome and become better at this challenge. Breakthrough Moment GP Montreal and qualifying for the Pro Tour for the first time.Also realizing that building a solid deck and playing it well will get you results. Worst Magic Moment First Pro Tour Daniel was excited and nervous, Daniel received a call that his grandma is in the hospital with cancer and not doing well. He was emotionally distraught and did poorly in the draft. But he realized that he couldn't control that he did poorly because he drafted bad. Proudest Magic Moment Winning WMCQ and representing Canada at the World Magic Cup. What Have You Learned From Magic Quick, visual, analytical skills Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself Magic has helped Daniel realize his talents. Biggest Mistake Players Make People don't pay attention to technical play card sequence, tapping correctly, remembering triggers etc. How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event Be actively involved in researching the metagame for several weeks leading up to your event. Parting Guidance Stop switching decks in Standard. Pick and stick. Connect With Daniel Fournier Twitter:@tirentu 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

Jonathon Zaczek is the Champion of Merfolk. He made top 8 at Grand Prix Vancouver, while his followers Przemek Knocinski and Simon Slutsky won GP Copenhagen 2015 and GP Los Angeles 2016 with Merfolk. Merfolk has been scrubbed off as a joke by the top players for years. It is our guest's mission to prove them wrong, AGAIN. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Jonathon Zaczek when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep183 First Set Mercadian Masques Favorite Set Theros Favorite Card Master of Waves What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you? Every set changes the whole game. It keeps the game fresh. Early Challenge Finding the right people to surround himself with. Worst Magic Moment Jonathon played Mono blue devotion in Standard. He did very well everywhere except at PTQ's. At his lost PTQ he lost every single game. Proudest Magic Moment Top 8 at GP Vancouver Breakthrough Moment When Jonathon started winning PTQ's with Merfolk. Advice from Pros Play the deck that speaks to you. Biggest Mistake Players Make Players don't play around what their opponent might have. How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event Play competitive leagues on Magic Online. Sleep very well the nights before. Parting Guidance Playing around cards is the most important thing you can do in Magic. You're at the mercy of your cards. Never resign. Magic Resource NikachuMTGYouTube, MTGEloProject.net, MTG Top 8 Connect With Jonathon Zaczek Twitter:@nikachumtg 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

Adam Van Fleet is a full-time Project Manager who plays Magic in the little spare time he can muster. He was introduced to the game back in 1998, and has played competitively off-and-on since 2012. He Top 25'd Pro Tour Journey Into Nyx, Top 8'd GP Pittsburgh 2017, and Won SCG Philidelphia 2013. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Adam Van Fleet when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep182 First Set Exodus Favorite Set Mirrodin / Theros block Favorite Card Arcbound Ravager Force of Will What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you? It started as a way to hang with friends. As time progressed Adam came to the competitive aspect. How to Top 8 a Grand Prix from Consistent Day 2 You have to really understand the metagame. Worst Magic Moment At his first Legacy GP, Adam played Affinity and in round one, his opponent blew him out. #feelbad. At another event an opponent rules lawyered Adam and he felt bad about the situation. Proudest Magic Moment Making it to the Pro Tour for the first time. What Have You Learned From Magic Friendships Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself Frustrated at inability to control outcomes. Biggest Mistake Players Make Rushing. A lot of players do thing too quickly without thinking of the consequences. Ask yourself " Why am I making this play now?" 'The most important decision is keeping your opening hand.' How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event Practice at FNM and other weekly local events. Practice Limited on Magic Online. Adam will save packs from wins and then practice drafting and building sealed pools. Parting Guidance Have fun! At the end of the day, it's a game. Connect With Adam Van Fleet Adam 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

Gerry Thompson is a master deck builder, deck-tuner, and Pro Tour mainstay. He dominated the SCG Tour and even worked at Wizards of the Coast for a bit. He has 11 Grand Prix Top 8s with 2 wins and 1 Pro Tour Top 8. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Gerry Thompson when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep181 First Set Mercadian Masques Favorite Set Ravnica City of Guilds Favorite Card Nether Spirit What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you? Gameplay is super fun. Gerry loves to solve a puzzle. Early Challenge Card advantage was a concept that Gerry didn't grasp at first but made a huge difference once he learned. Breakthrough Moment First Grand Prix top 8 Worst Magic Moment At a Magic Worlds tournament, Gerry had a bad deck and was doing his best. He conceded a game that he didn't have to because he was unfamiliar with his deck. Proudest Magic Moment Winning two opens in one weekend and making Magic: The Gathering History. What Have You Learned From Magic Social interactions, decision-making skills, and a word everything. Best Format Modern Magic Mentors Neil Reeves Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself Magic help Gerry mature. He learned that how he treats people matters. Biggest Mistake Players Make Side boarding and not understanding your role. How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event Ask critical questions in every match up. Shortcomings Gerry is working on getting better Pro Tour results. Winning Strategy in Modern Death Shadow Tournament Day Tips Get 8 hours of sleep. exercise in the morning, stay hydrated Parting Guidance If you've ever Connect With Gerry Thompson Twitter:@G3RRYT 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

Petr Sochurek has been playing Magic since he was 11, and started grinding PTQs and GPs at about 16. He qualified to Valencia, where he made top 16 at his first Pro Tour with Merfolk. He's a Platinum Level Pro with 4 Grand Prix top 8, including a finals at Rimini and a win at Paris. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Petr Sochurek when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep180 First Set Ravnica City of Guilds Favorite Set Lorwyn Favorite Card Venser, Shaper Savant What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you? Petr loves to win. He enjoys the challenge and complications. Early Challenge Petr learned how to learn. After each game, Petr asks what he could have done better. Breakthrough Moment When Petr was 18-19 he qualified for his first Pro Tour. Worst Magic Moment Petr lost his first PPTQ final and didn't qualify for the Pro Tour. He learned how bad he wanted the Pro Tour and prepared even harder. Proudest Magic Moment Making Platinum in 2016. To get there he practiced every day online. What Have You Learned From Magic Petr has become more analytical. Magic Mentor Lukas Blohon, Martin Juza Tournament Day Tips Get some sleep and practice wake up at the time you would for the tournament. Bananas and fruits. Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself Petr learned if he really wants something he willing to sacrifice for it. Biggest Mistake Players Make People make the 80% right play. People don't think through their play and don't realize when they should make the 20% play. How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event Petr is open to playing any deck. He talks with other players and knows that just because his good players mean he knows everything. Parting Guidance You can learn from every single game. Don't complain. Magic Resource MTGO, MTG Goldfish, CFB Connect With Petr Sochurek Twitter:@PetrKikac 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

Simon Slutsky has 1 Grand Prix Top 8 and 1 Grand Prix win. He made day 2 at Pro Tour Sydney and is a 5 time PPTQ second place finisher. He's a Merfolk enthusiast who goes a little deep on Modern and a Nuclear physics researcher when he's not playing Magic. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Simon Slutsky when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep179 First Set Revised Favorite Set Eldritch Moon Favorite Card Phantasmal Image Early Challenge Simon struggled with guessing what his opponent level and trying to play around things Breakthrough Moment GP Los Angeles 2016 Worst Magic Moment After practicing with his Merfolk deck, Simon attended a GP and got a terrible pairing in round 1. He got destroyed but learned to take every game one at a time. Proudest Magic Moment Winning a Grand Prix. What Have You Learned From Magic Simon has noticed that life has taught him how to handle Magic and Magic has taught him to keep an ever keel. Best Format Modern Biggest Mistake Players Make People tend to over think things too much. There's a line between theory crafting and wasting time. Tournament Day Tips Drink water, bring healthy snacks, go with friends Parting Guidance Have fun. Magic shouldn't be a grind. Magic Resource Twitter, Reddit, CFB, MTG Goldfish, Modern Nexus.com Connect With Simon Slutsky Twitter:@somesalmon 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

Roope Metsa has been playing Magic since Khans of Tarkir and just qualified for his first Pro Tour by making top 8 at Grand Prix Prague 2017. Roope lives in Vantaa, Finland. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Roope Metsa when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep178 First Set Khans of Tarkir Favorite Set Shards of Alara Favorite Card Opposition What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you? Magic games are hard.Roope likes making decisions. Worst Magic Moment At an RPTQ Roope lost in the top 8. Roope learned how to manage loss better. Proudest Magic Moment Top 8 at Grand Prix Prague. Preparation for Success Roope missed the pre-release but he drafted as much as he could. He wants to the GP with 15-20 drafts under the belt. What Have You Learned From Magic Competitive gaming has taught Roope the importance of receiving your actions. Best Format Modern Preferred Deck Grixis Post Game Evaluation Ask your opponent " why do you think you won that game?" Tournament Day Tips Drink a lot of water, walk outside between rounds. Biggest Mistake Players Make People get drawn in by fancy tricks and don't focus on fundamentals. Parting Guidance The best way to improve is to play against better players. Magic Resource MTG Top 8, CFB, MTG Reddit Connect With Roope Metsa Twitter:@Foleroo 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

Marcio Carvalho has an impressive record of 13 Grand Prix Top 8s including 3 wins, 3 Pro Tour Top 8s, and was a finalist at the 2016 Worlds tournament. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Marcio Carvalho when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep177 First Set Stronghold Favorite Set Ravnica Favorite Card Wasteland Early Challenge Choosing a deck. Breakthrough Moment First time competing at Worlds in 2005. Worst Magic Moment Getting banned for 6 months for looking at others cards in a draft. Marcio learned to not try to be the coolest kid in the room. Proudest Magic Moment Making Platinum and being a finalist Worlds Moment in 2016. What Have You Learned From Magic Slow down and understand it's okay to be wrong. Best Format Limited Advice From Pro Magic is a game of variance. Prepare it. Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself Marcio learned he can work hard when he wants to. Biggest Mistake Players Make Forcing a pick order in a draft. Drafts are fluid and you shouldn't put blenders. Shortcomings Constructed Daily Habits Not getting burned out by playing too much. Tournament Day Tips Eat well and drink water. Parting Guidance Don't force things. Play what you know. Magic Resource CFB, SCG Connect With Marcio Carvalho Twitter:@KbolMagic 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

Florian Koch has been playing Magic since 1994 and played semi-competitively until he got his first Pro Point in 2010. He then won GP Lyon later that year. Since 2010 he's made the Top 8 of three GPs and is striving for success on the Pro Tour. Florian is from Cologne, Germany. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Florian Koch when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep176 First Set The Dark (Just before) Favorite Set Florian doesn't have a favorite set. Favorite Card Lightning bolt What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you? At first, it was the interactions between cards. Then it was the competitive scene. Level Up Moment Florian watched a friend play who explained that recognizing what matters in a game is the key to winning. Worst Magic Moment Florian 9-0 day one of a Grand Prix but flowed out on day two. He learned to prepare for the whole event. Proudest Magic Moment Winning GP Lyon. Best Format Limited What Have You Learned from Magic Make your own decisions and decide what matters. You don't have to use the same yardstick as everyone else to measure yourself. Biggest Mistake Players Make Not enjoying yourself. You spend all day at an event, don't make it awful for you or your opponent. How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event Florian played with the best players he could find and talked with the best players at the event. Shortcomings Florian is working on being a better control player. What's in Your Tournament Bag Deck, Clothes, Hygiene products Advice From Pro Florian saw Dirk B. sort cards into tiers for the first time and that help him see Magic differently. Advice For Aether Revolt Limited The Improvise mechanic is overvalued at the moment. Aggressive strategies are working. Combat tricks in this format are decent. Improvement Suggestions When you go to a Magic tournament, make it fun for you and others. Care for your community. Magic Resource CFB, MTG Goldfish Connect With Florian Koch Twitter:@Odin_FK 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

Eric English has cashed many Grand Prix and has 1 Grand Prix top 8 and a Pro Tour top 32, both in 2016. He's a Silver Level Pro looking to continue the success he had last year. Eric is from Rochester, New York. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Eric English when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep175 First Set Onslaught Favorite Set Innistrad Favorite Card Engineered Explosives Early Challenge Eric's deck selection skills were sub par. By consuming content Eric was able to get a better feel for the metagame. Breakthrough Moment SCG Open in 2014, Eric played a Rabble Red deck and took 2nd. Worst Magic Moment At a local invite is the only tournament Eric lost his chance to make top 8 and he tilted really bad. He made a fool of himself. Now he thinks of the game in terms of resource management. Eric views his emotions and mental energy as a resource. Proudest Magic Moment Winning an SCG Open while visiting a friend in Washington. What have You Learned from Magic The practice of thinking through multiple scenarios. Biggest Mistake Players Make Misunderstanding the flow of the game. Combat this by thinking on your opponent's turn and shortening your gameplay actions. Shortcoming Eric loses focus when he's winning. Improvement Suggestions Have fun. Play the game. Magic has many forms. Connect With Eric English Eric 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

John Asbach is 25 years old and an active duty military member. He graduated from the United States Military Academy (Westpoint) Class of 2013 and is originally from Buffalo, NY. He loves theater, coffee, and hockey and is the Champion of Grand Prix San Jose 2017. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from John Asbach when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep174 First Set 9th / 10th Favorite Set Innistrad Favorite Card Dark Intimations What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you? It's different everytime you play. Early Challenge Constructed. Choosing the right deck. Getting advice from knowledgeable players helps John share this up. Breakthrough Moment Grand Prix San Jose validated John's effort. Worst Magic Moment GP Portland. John went to time against a grindy Bant company deck. He ended up playing the draw bracket and doing poorly. Proudest Magic Moment Winning Grand Prix San Jose 2017. How to Get from Day 2 to Top 8 Focus on the things you can control. Play, card evaluation (Limited), deck building. Ask yourself " how does my deck win?" What Have You Learned from Magic Thinking ahead and solving problems. Biggest Mistake Players Make Not giving enough attention to your mana base in Limited. How to Effectively Prepare for a Big Event For a new set, go to the Pre-Release and draft as much as possible before the Grand Prix. Tournament Day Tips Water, granola bars, the days are long. Take it one match at a time. Improvement Suggestions Be your mentality flexible. Find what works for you and talk to others. Connect With John Asbach John 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

Adam Ragsdale is a former MTGO grinder and content producer turned current occasional traveler. He has 2 Grand Prix Top 8s, both in the last calendar year. Adam lives in Toronto. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Adam Ragsdale when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep173 First Set Torment Favorite Set Mirrodin Favorite Card Arc-slogger What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you? Adam loves solving the puzzle using all the pieces of Magic. Early Challenge Time management. Playing too fast and too slow at different times. Breakthrough Moment First PPTQ win in 2006. Know the meta. Check the 5-0 lists from Magic Online and ask questions. Worst Magic Moment ProTour-Charleston circa 2006. Lost 4 times, got a bye and dropped. You can't let one tournament make you feel like you're not good enough. Proudest Magic Moment GP Pittsburgh top 8. If there is a "best" thing to be doing, do that thing. Play that deck. Best Format Standard Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself Adam tends to operate on instinct so he needs to prepare a lot. Biggest Mistake Players Make Not playing the best deck. Not understanding the match up on a conceptual level. What Have You Learned from Magic Everything has a range of outcomes. Prepare as best as you can to guide to the most positive outcome. Tournament Day Tips Get a good amount of sleep and eat well. Book flights to get arrive at a decent time. Improvement Suggestions When you're playing in a tournament, focus on your decisions and what you can control. Connect With Adam Ragsdale Twitter:@aWinnarIsYou 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

Rodrigo Togores has several good finishes at many Magic events, but most notably is the Champion of Grand Prix Prague 2016. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Rodrigo Togores when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep172 First Set Mercadian Masques Favorite Set Urza's Saga Favorite Card Brainstorm Tendrils of Agony Early Challenge Combat Math. Breakthrough Moment 2015, Rodrigo won a Vintage tournament in Italy. What have You Learned from Magic Planning ahead and being prepared. By traveling a lot Rodrigo has gained skills that are useful all the time. Worst Magic Moment Rodrigo traveled to the U.S. to play in an SCG event. He lost his win-and-in to Jim Davis because he miscounted by one. Rodrigo learned to think twice when he plays. It's a skill worth having for any match up. Proudest Magic Moment Win GP Prague. Advice for Beginner Legacy Not every deck is super expensive. Legacy cards maintain their value so you can sell a deck and buy into another one fairly easily. Biggest Mistake Players Make Players give away free information. Always think if it matters to play this card now or later. If you can, play it later. Tournament Tips Drink a lot of water, go to the restroom between every round. Improvement Suggestions Don't pile shuffle! Connect With Rodrigo Togores Twitter:@TogoresTcg 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

Matt Tabak is a senior editor inside Magic R&D. He is a former level 3 judge, competed at the Pro Tour four times, and holds the record for longest tenured Magic rules manager. He's the lead editor for Magic Duels and the upcoming Magic sets Amonkhet and Hour of Devastation. Matt lives in Seattle, WA. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Matt Tabak when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep171 First Set Alpha Favorite Set Ravnica Favorite Card Hidden Path Prodigal Sorcerer What makes Magic: The Gathering fun for you? Traveling and meeting the players. Most Notable Ruling You've Ever Made Judging a Pro Tour Qualifier. Matt disqualified a player for having a 59 card deck. Matt realized that player experience is very important. Best Experience Working on Magic Traveling to PAX 2016. Revealing Kaladesh to the world was awesome. If You Could Change One Thing About the Rules What Would it be Make all Instants, Sorceries Las Vegas Magic Story A friend got arrested for using a hot tub that wasn't theirs. What have You Learned from Magic Matt has learned about collaboration. Biggest Mistake Players Make Failures to learn from mistakes. Don't blame luck. Take ownership and learn from mistakes. Improvement Suggestions You get out of it what you put into it. Life is ultimately about the connections you make with other people. Connect With Matt Tabak Twitter:@TabakRules 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

Cody Napier started playing magic in 2009 and has 1 Grand Prix Top 8 (Louisville) and 1 SCG open top 8 in his record. He's attending his first Pro Tour later this year which is only 45 minutes away from his house. He loves cube and Legacy but mostly plays Standard. Cody lives in Tennessee. Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Cody Napier when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep170 First Set Rise of the Eldrazi Favorite Set Shards of Alara Favorite Card Elvish Visionary Early Challenge Thinking too far ahead. Cody would think about the end of the tournament instead of the current match. Worst Magic Moment Cody was playing against Brian Braun-Duin for a top 8 slot. He didn't kill a key creature and then had to discard his removal spell. Proudest Magic Moment Playing for top 8 at Grand Prix Louisville, Cody had the foresight to play around a Vendilion Clique. This drew him into Griselbrand for the win. Best Format Legacy Deepest Thing You've Learned About Yourself Cody has learned he doesn't do things halfway. Biggest Mistake Players Make Players look at Magic more as a job than a game. If you take the game so seriously then losses lot harder and you're more likely to tilt. Magic Mentors Brian Braun - Duin, Gerry Thompson, Todd Anderson Beginner Legacy Advice Watch Legacy coverage and learn card interactions. Learn how to cast brainstorm. AJ Sacher articles really help. Improvement Suggestions Focus on having fun, not winning. Magic Resource CFB, SCG, TCG Player, MTG Top 8, MTG Goldfish Connect With Cody Napier Twitter:@cody_napier 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