Confused about banding: Using Master of the Hunt as an example.
Asked by Pheardemons 7 years ago
Let's say I've created 6 tokens with Master of the Hunt.
When I declare attackers, do I tap all of the wolves I want to band? Does the wolf attacking get the power of all of the other wolves in the band?
Let's say my opponent declares an attack with a 4/4 creature. Not that I would want to, but can I divide the damage done so that it would kill 4 of my wolves? Or can i only redirect the damage to one creature?
Looking online and gatherer didn't help but so much. Looking for a better example of how this works, or a less confusing description.
Pheardemons says... #2
Thank you hyperlocke! That does clear many things up!
One last question, If I have only one wolf untapped to block, even all of the wolves that are tapped can still be apart of the band when I block?
February 21, 2017 9:09 a.m.
hyperlocke says... #3
No. All the creatures in the band have to be able to attack or block, as a band is formed of attacking or blocking creatures.
February 21, 2017 9:51 a.m.
Additionally, if your opponent attacks with a 4/4 and you block with a 1/1 wolf with bands with other wolves, a 2/2 wolf, and a 1/4 wall, you can send 3 damage to the wall and 1 to the 2/2 wolf. The damage assignments don't have to be lethal, and you as the defending player get to decide the attackers assignment, as long as you're blocking with a 'bands with other wolves' and another wolf (with or without 'bands with other wolves'), even if there are non wolves you want to block with and give damage to.
hyperlocke says... Accepted answer #1
The relevant rule is rule 702.21.
Let's define a band: When attacking or blocking, the attacking or blocking player may declare a "band" of at least one creature that has "bands with X" and any number of creatures with quality X plus up to one other creature.
This band attacks and blocks together, For simplicity's sake, imagine it as only one creature.
Creatures in a band do not share abilties, they do not get stronger, etc. They are just in a band, their abilities and stats are not affected.
Attacking with a band
Blocking with Banding
Now for your example.
Let's say you attack with all 6 Wolves of the Hunt. As they all have "Bands with other Wolves of the Hunt", you may declare any number of bands with at least one wolf and up to one other creature.
For example, you could form 1 band of 6 wolves, or 2 bands of 2 and 4 wolves, and so on. For each band that you form, you can add up to one other attacking creature to the band.
You have to tap all attacking Wolves, and they don't get stronger in any way.
Your band of 6 Wolves gets blocked by a Darksteel Colossus. Normally, the defending player could assign the 11 damage to the blocked creatures (he would kill all your Wolves). But the Wolves form a band, so you get to divide the damage (you will probably deal all 11 damage to one Wolf).
Your opponent attacks with a 4/4 and you block with a band of 6 Wolves. Normally, your opponent could assign the damage to the blocking creatures, but, as they are in a band, you get to.
The clever thing to do is to assign all 4 damage to one Wolf, but you could certainly kill off 4 of them.
February 21, 2017 7:59 a.m.