297: (Best of) Jon Finkel on How You Can Improve as a Magic Player
MTG Pro Tutor - Insights, Tips & Advice from Magic: The Gathering Pros
Release Date: 08/10/2018
318: HUGE Announcement + Stop Over-Thinking with Michael Kundegraber (15th at Pro Tour Guilds of Ravnica)
MTG Pro Tutor - Insights, Tips & Advice from Magic: The Gathering Pros
Michael Kundegraber has been playing since 2000, back when rules consisted of semi-educated guesses and were always changed depending on whose parents’ kitchen table MtG was played at. Lately, he’s had some top results with a second place finish at Grand Prix Turin 2018 and a follow-up Top 16 performance at his first Pro Tour later that year. Michael lives in Vienna, Austria. : I got a ton of value from Michael Kundegraber when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: First Set Planeshift Favorite Set Mirrodin Favorite Card Tahngarth, Talruum Hero Early Challenge...
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317: The Priceless Part of Magic with Zach Allen (13th at Pro Tour Guilds of Ravnica)
MTG Pro Tutor - Insights, Tips & Advice from Magic: The Gathering Pros
Zach Allen is a member of Team RIW from Farmington Hills, Michigan. He Co-hosts the podcast Turn One Thoughtseize and has 2 Grand Prix top 8s, a Pro Tour top 16, and 1 SCG top 8 in his record. He's a dedicated control player and Snapcaster Mage enthusiast. : I got a ton of value from Zach Allen when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: First Set Urza Block Favorite Set Khans of Tarkir Favorite Card Snapcaster Mage Early Challenge Not being able to beat the best guy at his local store. This constant, ever-present challenge pushed Zach to improve. Worst Magic Moment Getting...
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316: Pro Tour Champion Andrew Elenbogen - Strength Through Humility (1st Pro Tour Guilds of Ravnica)
MTG Pro Tutor - Insights, Tips & Advice from Magic: The Gathering Pros
Andrew Elenbogen has 3.5 Grand Prix top 8s. He recently won Pro Tour Guilds of Ravnica and still doesn't believe it. Andrew is a return guest to the show and lives in Ann Arbor, MI. : I got a ton of value from Andrew Elenbogen when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: Catching Up Andrew plays about 15 Grand Prix a year! Reflection Andrew notices that in the last year he's played better than he ever has. He's stayed dedicated and has practiced extensively for each Grand Prix. MTGO Preparation When playing on Magic Online, Andrew plays in Leagues and sets....
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315: Passion vs. Obsession with Kasper Nielsen (7th PT Guilds of Ravnica)
MTG Pro Tutor - Insights, Tips & Advice from Magic: The Gathering Pros
Kasper Nielsen has 2 Grand Prix top 8s and 1 Pro Tour top 8. He's also won 5 Prereleases. Kasper is from Denmark and is a returning guest to the podcast. : I got a ton of value from Kasper Nielsen when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: Kasper has been doing well in Magic and he attributes many things to that. He joined Hareruya Hopes and also has a more balanced life. Pro Tour Preparation Kasper started playing Limited as soon as Guilds of Ravnica came out. He learned a lot in those first few weeks. He decided to let "the machines" solve Standard while he developed a...
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314: Try Your Best to Be Your Best with Zac Turgeon (5th GP New Jersey)
MTG Pro Tutor - Insights, Tips & Advice from Magic: The Gathering Pros
Zac Turgeon is a New England MTG grinder, who has top 8ed 1 Grand Prix and won an SCG Legacy Classic. He also enjoys cooking, music, writing and hopes to one day open an Ice Cream Shop. Zac lives in Dracut MA. : I got a ton of value from Zac Turgeon when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: First Set Ice Age Favorite Set Khans of Tarkir Favorite Card Trinisphere Early Challenge Not sure what he was good at. Zac started to critically analyze his own games to learn what he was good at. Worst Magic Moment Zac struggled for an entire Standard season. He realized he was...
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313: Don't Commit To Dead End Lines with GP Champion William Courson (1st GP Detroit 2018)
MTG Pro Tutor - Insights, Tips & Advice from Magic: The Gathering Pros
William Courson has been to 5 Grand Prix and has made top 64 twice, top 8 once and 1st place once when he became the champion of Grand Prix Detroit. He also has multiple top 64 finishes at SCG open events and has made day 2 of every invitational he's attended. William lives in Jacksonville, FL. : I got a ton of value from William Courson when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: First Set M11 Favorite Set Innistrad Favorite Card Cabal Therapy Early Challenge William had to overcome his own arrogance. He eventually realized he wasn't the best and he learned to take input...
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312: GP Champion Eli Kassis on How to Spot Magic: The Gathering Cheating (1st GP New Jersey 2018)
MTG Pro Tutor - Insights, Tips & Advice from Magic: The Gathering Pros
Eli Kassis returns to MTG Pro Tutor for the 3rd time as he keeps growing his accomplishments and notoriety. Eli now has 6 Grand Prix top 8s and is the Champion of Grand Prix New Jersey 2018. He has won an SCG Invitational and has 2 Pro Tour top 32’s. Eli lives in Vestal, NY and is a member of team Face to Face Games. : I got a ton of value from Eli Kassis when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: Eli Kassis comes back to MTG Pro Tutor for the 3rd time. He was episode 101 and 206 and now is back on episode 312. Key To Success Teams have been Eli's key to success. Have a...
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311: Never Play a Deck You Don't Like with Kellen Pastore (4th place GP New Jersey 2018)
MTG Pro Tutor - Insights, Tips & Advice from Magic: The Gathering Pros
Kellen Pastore is a 3 time Grand Prix Top 8 Competitor, a full-time grad student, and a noted enthusiast of linear aggro decks. Kellen lives in MAPLE GLEN, Pennsylvania. : I got a ton of value from Kellen Pastore when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: First Set Carrion Ants Favorite Set Zendikar Favorite Card Bellows Lizard Early Challenge Getting used to the inconsistency of Magic because Kellen came from a game that was more consistent. Worst Gaming Moment Before Kellen got into Magic, he lost a miniature game and really lost his cool. Since then, he has gotten better...
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310: Play More Lands and Make Good Friends to Succeed with Giordano Fagiolo (2nd place GP Brussels 2018)
MTG Pro Tutor - Insights, Tips & Advice from Magic: The Gathering Pros
Giordano Fagiolo is a rising star in competitive Magic and made it to the finals at his first Grand Prix ever! (GP Bruxelles 2018) Giordano lives in Albano Laziale, Rome, Italy. : I got a ton of value from Giordano Fagiolo when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: Favorite Set Battle for Zendikar Favorite Card Insult // Injury Early Challenge At a Standard and PPTQ, Giordano felt upset and nervous, but when he sat down to play it all went away. Worst Magic Moment Giordano lost in a final at a PPTQ and learned you can't win every time. Proudest Magic Moment Making it to...
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309: Never Judge a Book by its Cover with Max Margolis
MTG Pro Tutor - Insights, Tips & Advice from Magic: The Gathering Pros
Max Margolis has been playing Magic competitively for 22 years. He has multiple Grand Prix day 2s with close cash finishes. Richmond 2018 was his first deep run to attempt to qualify for the Pro Tour. He barely missed qualifying for Cleveland by one win - but he did get 19th place. His biggest finish was at GP Denver where his team got top 4. He's had multiple top 8s in PPTQs and IQs. He's primarily a midrange player who has been playing since Urza's block was legal in Extended. Max lives in Maryland, USA. : I got a ton of value from Max Margolis when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor!...
info_outlineJon Finkel’s prolific talents and sterling resume earned him the nickname “Jonny Magic” long ago. After a substantial hiatus, Jon Finkel returned to the Pro Tour and immediately demonstrated why he’s widely considered the greatest player of all time by winning PT Kuala Lumpur in 2008 and Top 8’ing PT Avacyn Restored and PT Dark Ascension in 2012.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Jon Finkel when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep297
Jon Finkel's Desperate Ravings on Boosting Your Skill as a Magic Player
Jon Finkel's prolific talents and sterling resume earned him the nickname "Jonny Magic" long ago. After a substantial hiatus, Jon Finkel returned to the Pro Tour and immediately demonstrated why he's widely considered the greatest player of all time by winning PT Kuala Lumpur in 2008 and Top 8'ing PT Avacyn Restored and PT Dark Ascension in 2012.
First Set
Antiquities (1994)
Favorite Set
Innistrad (2011) - "Was the pinnacle of Limited set design."
Favorite Card
Desperate Ravings
What makes Magic fun for you?
The depth of the game and the ability to add on to the basic framework through the expansions is what keeps Jon engaged.
Early Challenge
Not running enough lands in control decks and not playing 60 card decks.
Level Up Moment
Realizing that playing other decks outside your comfort zone can lead to growth and improvement as a player, not to mention better results.
Proudest Magic Moment
Making first Pro Tour Top 8 at Chicago in 1997
Best Format
Draft
Biggest Mistake Players Make
Not being open to playing the best deck. Not playing Magic with the intention to improve. You need to be conscious of what you play and how you play so you can improve.
Jon Finkel on How To Build a Team and Pick the Best Card
Jon Finkel's prolific talents and sterling resume earned him the nickname "Jonny Magic" long ago. After a substantial hiatus, Jon Finkel returned to the Pro Tour and immediately demonstrated why he's widely considered the greatest player of all time by winning PT Kuala Lumpur in 2008 and Top 8'ing PT Avacyn Restored and PT Dark Ascension in 2012.
Evaluation Tips
Rather than opening up the spoiler every week to see what's new, Jon gets the best grasp on a new set simple by drafting it.
Limited Tips
In Sealed you'll get powerful bombs that you really want to play but your deck will be less streamlined than in the draft.
If there are two good black cards don't take a slightly worse red card because you "don't want to fight for black". Just pick the best card.
Team Building
Having a team is critical to improving. Find the best players you can but make sure you get along with them personally because you'll be spending a lot of time with them.
Improvement
Take advantage of draft simulators. Rebuild packs with friends so you can draft. Beg, borrow and use proxies if you're on a budget and need to test deck ideas.
Be critical of your plays so you can improve
Interview Links
Connect with Jon
Twitter: @Jonnymagic00
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