If a creature in combat has banding, its controller assigns damage for creatures blocking or blocked by it.
2008-10-01
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.
2008-10-01
A maximum of one nonbanding creature can join an attacking band no matter how many creatures with banding are in it.
2008-10-01
Creatures in the same band must all attack the same player or planeswalker.
2004-10-04
It does prevent damage from animated Deserts in combat.
Banding (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 you control are blocking or being blocked by a creature, you divide that creature's combat damage, not its controller, among any of the creatures it's being blocked by or is blocking.)
As long as this creature is attacking, prevent all damage Deserts would deal to this creature and to creatures banded with this creature.
