Okay, let's talk about something truly magical. Something that makes even veteran Magic: The Gathering players scratch their heads.
I'm talking about Banding. Yes, that's right. Banding. Just hearing the word probably gives you flashbacks.
Banding: A Confession
I have a confession. I… kind of like Banding. (Don't throw tomatoes just yet! Hear me out!).
I know, I know. This is a *very* unpopular opinion. It's probably right up there with preferring pineapple on pizza. Or thinking Jar Jar Binks was a compelling character.
But seriously, banding isn't *that* bad. Is it complicated? Absolutely. Is it intuitive? Not even close.
What Even *Is* Banding, Though?
Right, so for the uninitiated (and those who've blocked it from their memory), here's the gist. Banding allows you to group creatures together in combat.
These creatures then attack or block as a single unit. Think of it like a super-powered Voltron of tiny, cardboard warriors.
The main benefit is that *you* decide how the damage is assigned to your creatures when blocking. Which, strategically, can be pretty awesome.
Imagine a scenario. Your opponent attacks with a huge, scary monster. You band together a bunch of smaller creatures to block.
Instead of each creature taking a ton of damage, you can spread it around. You can even have one creature take all of it. Protecting the others!
The Banding Headache
Now, here's where the "complicated" part comes in. Banding only works during combat. It doesn't give your creatures any stat boosts or abilities outside of that.
There's also the whole "banding together" process. You have to declare which creatures are banding *before* damage is dealt. It is all about the timing.
And don't even get me started on "bands with other". Those are even *more* specific and confusing. We'll save that for another day (maybe never!).
Plus, let's be honest. The card text for banding is often super vague. It relies on a lot of assumed knowledge and rulings.
"Whenever creatures you control with banding, and up to one creature without banding, attack, they attack as a 'band'."
See? Clear as mud. It took me multiple readings to even grasp the concept. It’s as if the card is speaking in riddles!
Why I (Secretly) Like It
So, why do I like this confusing mechanic? Well, partly it's the nostalgia. Banding was around in the early days of Magic.
It represents a simpler (yet somehow more complex) time. A time when the rules were still being figured out. And anything felt possible.
More than that, I like the strategic depth it adds. It forces you to think creatively about combat. It changes how you evaluate creatures.
A seemingly weak creature suddenly becomes valuable when it can protect a more powerful one. It’s a unique form of utility!
Banding rewards careful planning and a willingness to take risks. When it works, it feels incredibly satisfying. It’s a high-risk, high-reward kind of play.
Banding: The Underdog Mechanic
Look, I'm not saying banding is perfect. Far from it. It needs a serious update, a modern reimagining.
But I think it deserves more respect than it gets. It's a quirky, oddball mechanic that adds a certain charm to old-school Magic.
It’s the underdog mechanic. The one nobody understands but that some people secretly love. Including me.
So, next time you see a card with banding, don't immediately dismiss it. Take a moment to appreciate its weirdness.
Maybe, just maybe, you'll discover a hidden gem. Or, at the very least, you'll have a good story to tell about the time you tried to make banding work.
And if not, well, you can always go back to complaining about pineapple on pizza. Or Ice Age block power level.
