---
name: "Formation"
mana_cost: "{1}{W}"
cmc: 2
type_line: "Instant"
colors: ["W"]
color_identity: ["W"]
keywords: []
set: "ICE"
set_name: "Ice Age"
collector_number: "25"
rarity: "rare"
artist: "Ken Meyer, Jr."
oracle_id: "ad5d27ea-cead-4c95-8561-283855ce952e"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/formation-ice"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "not_legal"
  pioneer: "not_legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "not_legal"
---

# Formation
- **Mana Cost:** `{1}{W}` (CMC: 2)
- **Type:** Instant

## Oracle Text
Target creature gains banding until end of turn. (Any creatures with banding, and up to one without, can attack in a band. Bands are blocked as a group. If any creatures with banding a player controls are blocking or being blocked by a creature, that player divides that creature's combat damage, not its controller, among any of the creatures it's being blocked by or is blocking.)
Draw a card at the beginning of the next turn's upkeep.

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Baton of Morale](/printing/baton-of-morale-ice.md) — Artifact
2. [Benalish Hero](/printing/benalish-hero-lea.md) — Creature — Human Soldier
3. [Banding Sliver](/printing/banding-sliver-cmb1.md) — Creature — Sliver
4. [Helm of Chatzuk](/printing/helm-of-chatzuk-3ed.md) — Artifact
5. [Kjeldoran Warrior](/printing/kjeldoran-warrior-ice.md) — Creature — Human Warrior
6. [Beast Walkers](/printing/beast-walkers-hml.md) — Creature — Human Beast Soldier

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Ice Age (ICE) #25
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Artist:** Ken Meyer, Jr.
- **Total Printings:** 6 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `not_legal` | Modern: `not_legal` | Pioneer: `not_legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `not_legal` | Penny: `not_legal`