Show Notes: This week, Cody is joined by members of Team Odyssey to discuss competitive testing and everything that goes on behind the scenes of a Pro Tour caliber testing team. Special thanks to Noah Rabin and Ethan Jones for sharing their insights. To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/boltthebird . Check out our new line of merch at: https://www.boltthebirdmtg.com/shop ! We’re thrilled to partner with Heavy Play to share their lineup of high-qu...
Jun 15, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 22
The Violent Outburst ban is shaking up Modern ahead of MH3. Meanwhile, Standard continues to evolve with new additions from MKM as RCQ season chugs along and RC’s arrive on the horizon. The boys break down what you should be doing in both formats. To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/boltthebird . Check out our new line of merch at: https://www.boltthebirdmtg.com/shop ! We’re thrilled to partner with Heavy Play to share their lineup of high-quali...
Mar 23, 2024•52 min•Ep. 21
Show Notes: Nathan is back from the Pro Tour and is ready to talk about his World Champion card, Duelist of the Mind. Learn about how this card was created and how it will fit into constructed formats. We also dive into a recap of PT MKM and what decks ruled the weekend. To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/boltthebird . Check out our new line of merch at: https://www.boltthebirdmtg.com/shop ! We’re thrilled to partner with Heavy Play to share th...
Mar 08, 2024•53 min•Ep. 20
Show Notes: With Nathan deep in PT testing, Cody is joined by a SPICY guest this week, Ev, the founder of Spicerack.gg. He talks all about building software for Magic players and unveils details about the new Spicerack tournament app. To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/boltthebird . Check out our new line of merch at: https://www.boltthebirdmtg.com/shop ! We’re thrilled to partner with Heavy Play to share their lineup of high-quality card gamin...
Feb 22, 2024•50 min•Ep. 19
We’re talking about the most broken thing in Magic… reading your opponent’s mind. No Jace’s here though. Learn how to analyze your opponent’s hand based on their play, pick up on body language tells, and disguise your own to gain an edge. Plus, a look at Modern ahead of a busy weekend of RCs. To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/boltthebird . Check out our new line of merch at: https://www.boltthebirdmtg.com/shop ! We’re thrilled to partner with ...
Feb 09, 2024•44 min•Ep. 18
Show Notes: In today’s episode, Control4Daze (aka Brandon Osborne) joins the show to talk about his pet deck in Modern, Yawgmoth. The boys are taking a deep dive into the archetype and offering tips and tricks to improve your play with one of the format’s most intricate decks. To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/boltthebird . Check out our new line of merch at: https://www.boltthebirdmtg.com/shop ! We’re thrilled to partner with Heavy Play to sh...
Jan 26, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 17
Show Notes: The Bolt Zone is back after a few weeks off and we’re excited to talk about all three big competitive formats! Standard, Pioneer, and Modern all deserve some attention right now, so let’s look at what’s going on in each one and what you should be paying attention to. Plus, hear our interviews from the convention floor at Dreamhack Atlanta! Use code BTBNewYear15 to get 15% in the merch shop at https://www.boltthebird.com/shop To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon he...
Jan 12, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 27
Cody is flying solo this week as Nathan heads out to Eternal Weekend. In the wake of a big B&R announcement, he looks at the impact on Pioneer and Modern before taking a deep dive into the deck he plans on playing at the Regional Championship in Atlanta: Boros Convoke. To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/boltthebird . Check out our new line of merch at: https://www.boltthebirdmtg.com/shop ! We are proudly sponsored by Boogie Board, makers of...
Dec 09, 2023•54 min•Ep. 15
This week, Cody recaps his RCQ win on Rakdos Scam. Then the guys take a look at what’s been happening in the Pioneer metagame, including talk about the Boros Convoke deck and how Izzet Phoenix is shaping the format. Lastly, they break down some constructed spoilers from Lost Caverns of Ixalan. To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/boltthebird . Check out our new line of merch at: https://www.boltthebirdmtg.com/shop ! We are proudly sponsored by Bo...
Nov 05, 2023•56 min•Ep. 14
Magic is in a wild place right now and the decklists floating around prove it. Today, the guys look at some examples of decks going above 60 cards, talk about the theory behind numbering in deckbuilding, and help you understand why (or why NOT) you should be straying from 60 cards. To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/boltthebird . Check out our new line of merch at: https://www.boltthebirdmtg.com/shop ! We are proudly sponsored by Boogie Board, ...
Oct 21, 2023•56 min•Ep. 13
Nathan is back from Las Vegas and the guys are recapping the World Championship. They go over everything happening in Standard and talk about what goes into testing for the most important Magic tournament all year. To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/boltthebird . Check out our new line of merch at: https://www.boltthebirdmtg.com/shop ! We are proudly sponsored by Boogie Board, makers of The Ultimate LCD Life Pad. Say goodbye to crinkly notebook...
Oct 07, 2023•44 min•Ep. 12
In today’s show, Cody and Nathan are joined by Hammer Time aficionado Travis Brown (aka DisgruntledElk) to talk about the deck and its place in the meta. We take a deep dive into the archetype and help you pick up equity in your Hammer matches. To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/boltthebird . We are proudly sponsored by Boogie Board, makers of The Ultimate LCD Life Pad. Say goodbye to crinkly notebooks. Learn more here: https://www.myboogieboar...
Sep 15, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 11
This week, Cody and Nathan are talking about all things Modern. With the next RCQ season about to start, they give you a rundown of the format and break down the top 15 most popular decks you should consider. Learn why Modern is the best format! Don’t forget to use the hashtag #boltzonechat on Twitter and let us know your favorite Modern deck for a chance to win a Bolt the Bird Boogie Board! To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/boltthebird . We a...
Sep 02, 2023•59 min•Ep. 10
Nathan is back stateside from Barcelona so the guys recap his time at the Pro Tour, including Team Handshake’s deck selection process. Nathan also talks about handling the pressure of his recent winning streak while Cody talks about back-to-back weekend Top 8s with Rakdos Scam. Then they look at some Wilds of Eldraine spoilers to see which cards are here to break formats this time. To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/boltthebird . We are proudly...
Aug 19, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 9
No scams here! This week, Cody is joined by Pro Tour Lord of the Rings Champion Jake Beardsley to recap the first Modern PT in several years. They also take a deep dive into Rakdos Scam, look at what makes the deck tick, and evaluate its place in the meta. To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/boltthebird . We are proudly sponsored by Boogie Board, makers of The Ultimate LCD Life Pad. Say goodbye to crinkly notebooks. Learn more here: https://www....
Aug 06, 2023•59 min•Ep. 8
This week, Cody and Nathan take on a listener question, reflecting on times they’ve leveled up as competitive players. They talk about key concepts like using your resources and taking advantage of the stack then go on a few tangents about their favorite examples of gaining an edge in competitive play. To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/boltthebird . We are proudly sponsored by Boogie Board, makers of The Ultimate LCD Life Pad. Say goodbye to c...
Jul 15, 2023•59 min•Ep. 7
We’re joined by the Fervent Champion himself, Javier Domínguez, to talk about everything you need to get ready for your next tournament! We dive into deck selection, the importance of a testing team, and how you should approach playtesting for more success. Plus, Javier talks about his excitement for a close-to-home PT and how his relationship with Magic has changed over the years. Come get this advice from two world champs for the price of one! To support the show, consider subscribing to our P...
Jul 01, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 6
Haven’t you heard? Hippos are the talk of the town! Special guest Elliot Raff joins Cody to talk about Keruga Fires, the deck that brought them both success the past two weekends. They also chat about the state of Pioneer after seven Regional Championships and look back at hot takes from the last episode. To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/boltthebird . We are proudly sponsored by Boogie Board, makers of The Ultimate LCD Life Pad. Say goodbye t...
Jun 16, 2023•51 min•Ep. 5
With round three Regional Championships right around the corner, the boys are taking a final look at the Pioneer meta. And since this round of RCQs and the next RC is also Pioneer, they also discuss the importance of understanding your deck and getting enough reps. Then they dissect a few spoilers from the upcoming Lord of the Rings set! To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/boltthebird . We are proudly sponsored by Boogie Board, makers of The Ult...
Jun 02, 2023•52 min•Ep. 4
Nathan wins the Pro Tour! This week, the boys are recapping his historic run in PT MOM and looking at how the Standard meta will change in its wake. They also discuss how changes to Standard rotation will affect the format and what they expect. To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/boltthebird . We are proudly sponsored by Boogie Board, makers of The Ultimate LCD Life Pad. Say goodbye to crinkly notebooks. Learn more here: https://www.myboogieboar...
May 16, 2023•46 min•Ep. 3
This week, Cody and Nathan are chatting about all things Pioneer. They give you a rundown of the format, how it’s changed over time, and the top 15 most popular decks you should consider. Learn how to decide on a deck based on the meta and why your familiarity with a deck is so important in Pioneer. Plus, hear about Nathan’s recent $20K win at SCG Richmond as he harnessed the power of the Rhinos in Modern. To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/bol...
Apr 28, 2023•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 2
Cody and Nathan are fresh off the latest Regional Championship at Dreamhack San Diego. In this episode, they discuss the tournament and their decklists and look at a spicy brew that made the Top 8. They also explore the Standard meta and look at whether or not it’s healthy. To support the show, consider subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/boltthebird . We are proudly sponsored by Boogie Board, makers of The Ultimate LCD Life Pad. Say goodbye to crinkly notebooks. Learn more ...
Apr 13, 2023•1 hr
