MTG Salvation

So for those uninitiated, banding is one of the most underused mechanic in the game; partly due to its complexity, partly due to it being overpowered. I built this deck ages ago but recently got an urge to finally write it up, so here it is:



Anyways, the main interactions are:
::anything with banding:: + ::anything that triggers while blocking::
::anything with banding:: + ::anything that triggers while being dealt damage::
::anything with banding:: + ::anything that doesn't take combat damage::
::anything with banding:: + ::anything that makes creature tokens::

I thought i'd put it up in case people wanted to give banding a go but were too afraid to. this is nowhere near a top tier deck. its not even middle tier. in fact, its pretty far down the list. but it DOES hold its own when blocking. and it trumps trample dudes all day.

if anyone has any good ideas on how to make it better while being at least semi-on-theme, let me know!

Hi! Sorry I can't give you very specific feedback regarding your deck, as I have next-to-zero experience with your commander. However, in terms of getting some helpful feedback, you might want to format your decklist into card types (creatures, artifacts, enchantments, etc) or card purposes (damage, protection, removal, etc).

rearranged the decklist.

i doubt many have had any decent experience with Ayesha Tanaka, or cards with banding even, and thats my idea for the deck really. bringing back the oldschool days!

some of the funkier things include blocking with a couple of creatures as a band including wall of nets and psychic membrane to exile a creature and draw a card, while redirecting all the however much damage it was to the beloved chaplain. really bizarre interactions and messing with combat math is what this is all about!

I think you could keep the banding theme going with a different commander altogether. Remember that you can always add one creature without banding to a band. Let that creature be your commander. I saw a real crazy decklist the other day about just that: a Doran, the Siege Tower where everything was banding. It was hilarious. I can't seem to find the link right now, but it did just about the same thing: taking advantage of banding. Plus, it already includes half the colors of your present deck: W. Doran lends himself to the wall theme you have. Plus, there are a plethora of cards that allow wall creature types and creatures with defender to attack. Banding ftw.

i'd consider doran if i actually had one. the thing is, i'm not sure if doran is all that awesome though; green does have a couple of banding creatures, but he himself doesn't actually lend itself to the banding theme.

one of the gimmicks that i've been trying with my deck is exactly what you said; that you can add 1 more guy to the band. and this triggers attacking/dealt damage/is blocked abilities. haven't ever before used provoke abilities either actually.

Yeah I think the equipment that adds a lure ability would be good. Nemesis Mask

This deck looks sweet. You're definitely right about banding being both overly complicated and somewhat overpowered. I've never seen a deck poised to actually abuse it, though. Good job. With a little bit of tweaking this could finally be a deck that wants to use Cathedral of Serra and Seafarer's Quay. Just add in a few completely busted UW legendary creatures, like, say, Hunding Gjornersen, that could use banding.

Although you've obviously chosen her because she has banding, Ayesha Tanaka's activated ability is very relevant in EDH, too. Use Mycosynth Lattice or Liquimetal Coating to extend her grasp.

Agree with Hunding Gjornersen. Tapping Ayesha Tanaka for her ability makes her equally broken. Since she's U, you can use a lot of untap hijinxes to hinder your opponents - even more so if they don't play W.

i'm struggling to figure out how Hunding Gjornersen could make use of banding; rampage requires multiple creatures to block it, and banding allows your opponents to block multiple creatures with a single guy. i suppose if i used a lot of creautres that have provoke or something..

haha liquimetal coating was something i wasn't super keen on chucking in there, since the deck is supposed to be pretty casual and not bonkers.. but i might chuck it in anyways since it kinda needs the help.

ps - i messed up an expidition map with ayesha not too long ago.. felt evil!

Suggesting Hunding Gjornersen was just shameless self-promotion. Mechanically, and it pains me to say this, you should probably never run the UW warrior. That said, banding and rampage on the same card might be enough to make some newer players' heads explode. Speaking of provoke, Deftblade Elite would probably be good here.

I don't think that Liquimetal Coating would make the deck bonkers. A two card six mana combo that counters one activated ability per turn? Compare to Azorius Guildmage...

i actually already run deftblade elite!

yea i suppose azorius guildmage is better by a country mile.. might give it a trial run just to see how it goes.
our meta here is rather casual, and even though the banding deck is below par, it still holds its own till the late game comes down, and i think the deck could use the coating.