Top Level Podcast: Recent Episodes
Top Level Podcast
Top Level Podcast is a weekly podcast by Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour Hall of Famer and Pro Tour Champion Patrick Chapin with Michael J Flores. Top Level Podcast focuses on competitive, Constructed, tournament Magic: The Gathering strategy, tactics, deck lists, and mindset. We appear weekly on http://www.toplevelpodcast.com
A little bit of Jeskai Turns in Historic but lots of new and reimagined archetypes in Modern with Modern Horizons 2 becoming legal this week
Modern Horizons 2 has a TON of powerful cards. Witness the rebirth of a Legacy Staple AND a brand-new two card infinite combo right here!
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer is spectacular! Is it the best red one drop of all time? Might not be tops in the SET. Still... Looks to be great
Tainted Pact spawned not one but two new decks, then got an established card banned all last week! Which is not even most of the story this week
Strixhaven has been telling in Standard... But some cards are even better in Modern! Clever Lumimancer, for instance, kills turn two!
Just how great is Prosperous Innkeeper? This Halfling is a Wily Goblin with a Soul Warden tacked on! Lots of D&D. All the Modern Horizons II!
How can Blade Historian from Strixhaven glue together a number of existing red and white cards to produce an exciting new take on aggro?
Prismari Command is one of the most flexible cards in Strixhaven. It's found many homes already, playing many roles.
Class is in session at Strixhaven! What are the best Lessons? How do you want to learn? Like, can I interest you in a Gnarled Professor?
Expressive Iteration is going to be good in Vintage. It'll be absolutely fantastic in Standard for that matter! Plus, tons more Strixhaven
Here come some of the most exciting cards from the Strixhaven Previews! A peek into the future of Boros - sorry Lorehold - and more
Village Rites is back in Strixhaven! And with sweet new art! Our heroes chat Strixhaven, including Professor Onyx and Kasmina, Enigma Sage
Mono-Blue Snow is one of the exciting new archetypes enabled by Kaldheim. Patrick's build starts off at one and tops up on... Twelve?
Egon, God of Death is an exciting addition to Historic StOmPy. Learn how this Kaldheim god can make your Champions and Regisaurs even better!
What about Reidane, God of the Worthy makes it so powerful? Is it its opposite side? The slowdown of your fellow Snow Decks? Or ruining Ramp?
Don't blink! WotC is already showcasing Strixhaven previews! Witherbloom Command and four others give us a glimpse into the new set...
Tibalt, Cosmic Imposter was not banned... Technically. We talk about everyone else who WAS banned, and how you will see less Tibalt anyway.
Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath is about to be banned again. Definitely in Pioneer, Historic, and Modern. Ah.. What IS going on in Modern?
Goldspan Dragon is performing in almost every Standard color combination! Plus more Valki, the emergence of Snow, and Showdown of the Skalds
Featuring Runeforge Champion and Runes-driven applications from Kaldheim! Grind after sideboarding! Hand your pinger a silver bullet.
Kaldheim hasn't been shy about tugging our heartstrings: There are at least four different cards evoking the classic Serra Angel alone!
Cosima, God of the Voyage is sometimes known as The Omenkeel! Learn about maybe Kaldheim's most exciting one-card duo right now!
Valki, God of Lies is a Modal Double-Faced Card from Kaldheim. Rock and Roll with Valki and tons of additional spoilers this week!
We explore the coolest Kaldheim Spoiler Season interactions, from Angel synergies to Giant sized card draw to backwards compatible Demons!
So what DOES Kaldheim look like? Snow? Check. Dwarves? Check. Cool artifact engines? Check and double check. Phyrexian Praetors though? ...
Yasharn is great! Uro is even better. But there are all kinds of Historic decks that we didn't discuss LAST week. Discover some other options
We're really impressed by Yasharn, Implacable Earth in Historic: This Elemental Boar bodies up, draws cards, and murders a whole strategy!
What's up with the newest crop of Modern decks? New engines, new life given to old cards, and a healthy dose of... Disrespect?
Americans are not the only ones feasting this week! Check out a new Mono-Green deck packing Feasting Troll King (devouring all of three eggs)
The 2019 MOCS featured amazing innovations in both Modern and Pioneer! And for once (?) the best decks paved the way for the Champion!
FOR SURE Modern decks have become a hotbed for well built designs and using new cards in innovative ways. But completely busted? Find out!
Aetherworks Marvel is about to hit the Historic format via Kaladesh Remastered! What are the most exciting ways to play this boom boom?
It might just say something about the metagame if Mono-Red Beatdown is playing main deck Ox of Agonas. We tell you what!
All about the newfound rise of Ruin Crab offense in Dimir Rogues and the competing Yorion strategies in post-bans Standard
Escape to the Wilds is banned in Standard alongside Omnath and Lucky Clover. Patrick and Michael speculate on the next big things
Patrick and Michael talk about the best in various formats. Standard Temur Adventures with Omnath [+ without Uro], the PT Mount Rushmore, and more!
Omnath, Locus of Creation from Zendikar Rising is ALREADY dominating Standard! Will it be banned almost before the card sees print in paper?
In this "modal double-faced" ep, we check out the 2020 Mythic Invitational, then more Zendikar Risking cards, some or which are actually modal double-faced!
Patrick and MichaelJ take a deep look at upcoming formats, armed with the full Zendikar Rising Spoiler. What's good? What's completely unplayable?
The introduction of Murasa Brute from Zendikar Rising, plus discussion of many new cards and mechanics from the exciting upcoming set!
Field of the Dead got banned... Again! This time in Historic. Meanwhile Yuriko the Tiger's Shadow leads an elite squad of undercosted Ninjas in Legacy!
It's a tour of the current Modern format! Shark Typhoon is cool in StoneBlade, Chandra's Incinerator in Burn, Lightning Skelemental in Elementals, & more
Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath might be the best card left in Standard; check out its performance in a near-consensus best deck... AND a brand-new challenger!
Teferi, Time Raveler and Wilderness Reclamation are [FINALLY] banned in Standard (and elsewhere). Why did so many cards get cut... And what's next?
The Top 8 is set for the Players Tour Finals! The talk of the tournament was Growth Spiral, but enterprising rogues were also able to succeed. Learn how...
Historic is a brand new format featuring all the legal cards on Magic: The Gathering Arena. It's fresh, different, and super exciting to explore!
Arcum's Astrolabe banned in Modern. Oath of Nissa un-banned in Pioneer! GOOD RIDDANCE to common troublemakers in Historic. Tons of formats; tons of changes.
Rotting Regisaur is once again the biggest bad on the block, the meanest monster in the metagame! Old is new! But new is also new in Standard. Find out why:
Michael Flores and Pro Tour Champion Patrick Chapin take their first look at the new Standard decks powered by Core Set 2021!
Is Alpine Houndmaster the Squadron Hawk of Core Set 2021? What's required to make this the set's best card and are we willing to pay the deck building cost?
Terror of the Peaks is an awesome Dragon when you're playing fair... But did you know the M21 monster also enables an infinite combo?
Llanowar Visionary is kinda sorta an upgraded Borderland Ranger. Except instead of no one wanting to trade with it, many a mage will! Find out why here.
Today is a big day for announcements! The Companion rule was fundamentally changed; and two cards (including Agent of Treachery) were banned in Standard!
Zirda, the Dawnwaker and Lurrus of the Dream-Den are the first Companions to feel the ban hammer! Where do we go from here?
Companions are rocking Modern and Pioneer! Our favorite this week uses Stoneforge Mystic to set up a fast Colossus Hammer and a stack of Kor for quick kills
Yorion, Sky Nomad is up! The Legendary Bird Serpant (and its 80 best friends) have taken over Standard with tons more card advantage than everyone else!
Keruga, the Macrosage is just one of the awesome Companions we highlight in this week's episode... But it's not the coolest. Think Yorion + Demonic Pact :)
Companions from Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths are already dominating every format, even Vintage! This week we examine some specific Companion-cases for Standard
Kogla, the Titan Ape from Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths is just one of the exciting cards we discuss in this week's podcast. Check it out!
Lurrus of the Dream-Den is one of the most exciting Companions from Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths. You already know why in Modern... But Vintage? TELL ME MORE
Cavalier of Thorns really does help Sultai Escape rocket to the next level, doesn't it? Learn how this card helped this archetype to its most recent big win
The #mtgtogether qualifief events have already started to spawn some amazing innovations and powerful solutions in Standard. We've got them all right here!
Mono-Red wins the Grand Prix and Mike likes... Bant? Find out why, and also why we like the Phoenix of Ash so much in Red Decks anyway ;)
Underworld Breach headlines some of the most broken decks in not just Pioneer... But Modern and even Legacy! Check 'em out here.
Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger is chomping on Modern! Check out the Jund, Death Shadow, and brand new archetypes Kroxa is escaping out of and into the meta!
Worlds 2020 is in the books and PV adds "World Champion" to his impressive resume. But for the rest of us? What are the most exciting decks to play?
Patrick and Michael discuss the best decks in Pioneer after Players Tour Phoenix. It's Dimir Inverter meets Lotus Breach and even more Red Decks than usual!
Inverter of Truth... Is the truth in Pioneer! This week we talk about some of the FIVE Inverter decks from the PT Nagoya Top 8 (and the rest of them, too)
Pro Tour Hall of Famer Patrick Chapin and newly minted Players Tour competitor Michael J Flores talk all the new Pioneer Deck Lists!
Theros Beyond Death has powered up Mono-Black Devotion! Learn the ins and outs, tips and tricks, for navigating this rediscovered cornerstone of Standard
What makes Dream Trawler "everything to everyone"? Come find out as we discuss cards from the full Theros Beyond Death spoiler!
Thassa, Deep-Dwelling is a neat centerpiece from Theros Beyond Death. What are some of the great combos and synergies you an exploit alongside this God?
Heliod, Sun-Crowned is getting our creative juices flowing! Find out all the ways he can deal infinite damage, gain infinite life, or just beat down!
Find out why Magic: The Gathering Hall of Famer Patrick Chapin says Klothys, God of Destiny from Theros Beyond Death is a five-star card!
Theros Beyond Death previews are upon us! How great is Escape? When will you want to play a certain indestructible God? Plus, great news from Mike!
When you Quasiduplicate your Risen Reef, you get two triggers. Than when you Jump-Start it, you get three! Listen for key play patters of the new top decks!
Three more cards hit the Pioneer ban list: Long live Pioneer! Patrick + Michael explore losing Smuggler's Copter, Once Upon a Time & Field of the Dead
With its ability to destroy key permanents (and lots of them), Casualties of War may be Standard's apex. In particular: Bye bye "enchantment" :)
Oko, Thief of Crowns was banned in Standard this week, alongside Once Upon a Time and Veil of Summer. You know this. But where to next? Find out here!
The best Mythic Championship VI decks... Plus the best of "the rest" from the most lopsided, the most homogeneous, Pro Tour ever! Then, what happens next?
Results from the first Pioneer PTQ... The top decks AND discussion of some of the initial cards to hit the Pioneer banned list.
What is Pioneer? Magic was born in 1993. Modern is a format from 2003 on... Now Pioneer is a format from 2013 on. It's Magic minus the first two decades...
Once Upon a Time from Throne of Eldraine is making a huge impact on Modern! It's made Amulet Titan more consistent, is assembling Selesnya squads, and more!
Fires of Invention is a rule-breaking card. It seems to be breaking its own rules ALREADY! Find out how this card fits into Ramp + all about the other decks in Standard
Doom Foretold! Centerpiece of the new Esper and bane to opposing Planeswalkers. Learn what makes this card go, and how it converts into a late game killer
Throne of Eldraine is almost upon us! The brewing potential is seemingly limitless with this powerful new set. We discuss the Castle cycle and lots more!
Rosethorn Halberd is our exclusive preview card from Throne of Eldraine! Check out this bonus podcast to learn all about this sweet preview card, care of Wizards of the Coast.
Wildborn Preserver is going to be an instant Staple in Standard! Learn about this and more powerful new green creatures from Throne of Eldraine here!
Elspeth is back! ... Only in the body of Garruk, Cursed Huntsman from Throne of Eldraine. Learn all about the massive new Planeswalker here!
Stoneforge Mystic is unbanned in Modern! What does this mean? Especially now that Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis and Faithless Looting got the [Lightning] Axe?
Kethis, the Hidden Hand from Core Set 2020 headlines the most exciting deck in Standard. Learn its ins and outs in this week's podcast!
Have you heard of Bomberman? This Mono-White combo deck is one of the coolest decks you can choose in Legacy. Plus! Multiple appearances by Wrenn and Six.
Why is Leyline of the Void the most popular card in Modern? A certain Arisen Necropolis might tell you, and a certain Phoenix might have gotten in the way.
Scapeshift and Field of the Dead make for the runaway best deck in Standard! Learn how to play (and beat) this winning combination in this week's podcast
Chandra's Spitfire gives the tried and true Mono-Red Standard deck a "Pyromancer's Ascension"-like end game. IN ADDITION to it's established aggro...
This podcast features a TON of new Core Set 2020 deck lists... But Simic Flash with Nightpack Ambusher might be our favorite. Learn why right now!
Goblin Engineer from Modern Horizons is already driving multiple new decks! Learn how it plays Stoneforge Mystic or "go infinite" with Urza here!
This episode reveals so many ways to follow up Marauding Raptor! Draw a card, make tons of power while defending yourself. More! Plus tons of additional M20
Check out some cards we'd actually like to play from Core Set 2020! Get ready for some great creatures, amazing enablers, and even a combo or two!