New Blocking Rule (banding?)
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Nov. 8, 2024, 11:54 a.m. by FormOverFunction
My understanding of the new blocking rule seems to boil blocking down to: I attack, you declare blockers, and then I choose and assign damage. Assuming that is correct (might not be)… am I crazy for thinking that this lays out a format that is primed for banding coming back? Like, creating a scenario where a player would be saying something like “normally the attacker chooses where damage goes, but because I have banding creatures I choose damage instead.” Is this unreasonable of me?
FormOverFunction says... #4
I probably should have included this portion of my thinking in my original post: I can’t figure out why this change would be made. So far, at least, this banding-related answer is the only explanation I’ve been able to come up with that justifies such a weird modification to such a fundamental aspect of the game. Has anyone come up with other reasoning?
November 8, 2024 4:20 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #5
Current rules are unintuitive and create feel bads for beginners is the reasoning I figured. Until the rules change goes into effect someone can:
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Attack with a 4/6
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Get blocked by 2 2/2s
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Choose damage assignment order
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Have defending player cast Giant Growth on first creature in order
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Lose their creature while not killing any blockers despite having damage to kill one of them
Not having a round of priority between blockers being ordered and damage being dealt would also reduce the feel bads. But just completely removing damage assignment order accomplishes the same thing without having to create a new turn based action.
November 8, 2024 6:06 p.m.
FormOverFunction says... #6
Good point,Gidgetimer. I think that means that the problem here is really that I’ve been playing magic wrong this whole time, picking damage and allowing for responses, and now I’ll be back in the good graces.
November 9, 2024 7:33 p.m.
FormOverFunction says... #8
Bookrook there’s so much available (Brash Taunter, enrage, etc) that I still feel like it’s only a matter of time before they justify to themselves that it’s totally reasonable to bring it back. The track record is there. Universes Beyond no longer having to have matching in-world counterparts, and now just flat out being legal. Storm, just as a general topic… nothing ever dies in magic lol
November 10, 2024 11:56 a.m.
How many stuffy doll effects are there now, stuffy doll, Boros reckoner, truefire captain, brash taunter, phyrexian vindicator, and barbed servitor. Am I missing any? Which one is the best?
November 10, 2024 12:49 p.m.
FormOverFunction says... #10
I guess I’d be hung up on the color restrictions of the non-stuffy dolls, if I absolutely had to pick just one. Being able to turn any color deck into a stuffy doll deck is pretty huge…
November 10, 2024 1:01 p.m.
I think that all of them other than Barbed Servitor are in Boros colors.
November 10, 2024 1:15 p.m.
seshiro_of_the_orochi says... #12
I've talked to somewhat about the rule changes lately, and had exactly that impulse regarding Banding coming back. Would make perfect sense.
November 13, 2024 11:19 a.m.
FormOverFunction says... #13
seshiro_of_the_orochi somehow I missed that, and I’m embarrassed and disappointed!! Thank you! Every time I dive down the Banding rabbit hole, though, I do so with zero memory of all the things I learned the last time, regarding all the new stuff that’s been added to magic and how it’s (somehow) not as straightforward as it used to be. I do like the depth it adds to creature combat, and the whole friendship/teamwork vibe that’s so popular nowadays seems ripe for picking. Sort of surprised we haven’t already seen courageous teams of bunnies charging together into combat.
Icbrgr says... #2
I think it could be neat for some decks like Wayta, Trainer Prodigy for sure but I am not sure it would be a "comeback" for the mechanic exactly.
November 8, 2024 12:14 p.m.