Chatzuk, Mighty Guitarist is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Banding (Just ask around until you find someone who knows.) Creature spells you cast with banding costless to cast. Whenever two or more creatures you control attack in a band, each creature in that band gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each creature in that band.
Complete guide
Get ready to rock the stage with Chatzuk, Mighty Guitarist, a legendary Human Bard who brings the legendary Banding mechanic back into the spotlight. This playtest card not only makes your Banding creatures cheaper but turns your coordinated attacks into a massive wall of sound. While Banding may seem complex, Chatzuk makes it worth the effort of learning.
Making the Band
Chatzuk, Mighty Guitarist has three distinct functions. First, he has Banding himself. Second, he acts as a cost reducer, making any creature spell you cast with Banding cost {2} less. Finally, he has a powerful triggered ability: whenever two or more creatures you control attack in a band, every creature in that band gets +1/+1 for every creature in that band. If you have four creatures in a band, each one gets +4/+4!
Attacking in a Band
To form a band, you declare your attackers. Any number of creatures with Banding, plus up to one creature without Banding, can form a band. The entire band attacks the same target. If any creature in the band is blocked, the whole band is blocked. However, the true power of Banding is that the attacking player (you!) gets to decide how the blocker's combat damage is assigned among your creatures, rather than the defending player choosing.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, Chatzuk's cost reduction applies during the 'Declare Total Cost' step of casting a creature spell with Banding. Next, when you move to the 'Declare Attackers' step, you choose which creatures are attacking in a band. Once the band is legally declared, Chatzuk's last ability triggers. The bonus is calculated based on the number of creatures in the band at the time the ability resolves. Even if a creature is removed from the band later, the +1/+1 buff remains until end of turn.
Strategic Considerations
Remember that Chatzuk's reduction only applies to generic mana; you must still pay the colored mana requirements. Additionally, note that Chatzuk does not grant Banding to other creatures; he only rewards those who already have it. When choosing your one non-banding creature to join the band, look for creatures with high power or useful 'dies' triggers, as you can choose to assign all incoming lethal damage to them to protect Chatzuk.
Interaction examples
If you have Chatzuk, Mighty Guitarist on the battlefield and you attempt to cast another creature with Banding that costs {3}{W}, the cost is reduced by {2} generic mana. You would only pay {1}{W} to cast that spell. Note that this does not change the mana value of the spell on the stack, which remains 4.
Solemn SimulacrumChatzuk has Banding, but Solemn Simulacrum does not. When you attack, you can form a band consisting of these two creatures because a band can include any number of creatures with Banding and up to one without. Chatzuk's ability triggers, and since there are two creatures in the band, both Chatzuk and Solemn Simulacrum get +2/+2 until end of turn. If an opponent blocks the band with a 10/10 creature, you (the attacking player) choose how that 10 damage is dealt. You can choose to assign all 10 damage to Solemn Simulacrum, allowing you to draw a card when it dies while Chatzuk survives unharmed.
Sakura-Tribe ElderYou declare an attack with Chatzuk and Sakura-Tribe Elder as a band. Chatzuk's ability triggers, giving both creatures +2/+2. Before damage is dealt, you can sacrifice Sakura-Tribe Elder to search for a basic land. However, if you do this before the trigger resolves, the band will only have one creature left, and the ability will not provide a bonus. If you do it after the trigger resolves, Chatzuk keeps his +2/+2, but Sakura-Tribe Elder is no longer in combat to deal or receive damage.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Chatzuk, Mighty Guitarist
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature with banding attacks, it can team up with any number of other attacking creatures with banding (and up to one nonbanding creature) and attack as a unit called a “band.” The band can be blocked by any creature that could block a single creature in the band. Blocking any creature in a band blocks the entire band. If a creature with banding is blocked, the attacking player chooses how the blockers’ damage is assigned.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
A maximum of one nonbanding creature can join an attacking band no matter how many creatures with banding are in it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Creatures in the same band must all attack the same player, planeswalker, or battle.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature in combat has banding, its controller assigns damage for creatures blocking or blocked by it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Chatzuk’s second ability doesn’t change the mana cost or mana value of any spell. It changes only the total cost you pay to cast spells.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
Chatzuk’s second ability can’t reduce the amount of colored mana you pay for a spell. It reduces only the generic mana component of that spell’s cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
Playtest cards aren’t legal for play in any tournament format other than Mystery Booster Limited formats. On the other hand, we expect they will spice up a wide variety of non-tournament games (as long as everyone’s on the same page about using them!).
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
Playtest cards use a modified version of game symbols, such as
and 
. These modified symbols should be treated as the standard symbols during play.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
For many playtest cards, you’ll need to make a generous assumption that basic game rules would be updated to allow them to work. The Mystery Booster 2 Playtest Card Notes section (reproduced here in individual Gatherer rulings) provides guidance for fitting these cards into the existing rules structure.
No other card is named in this ruling.
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