diff --git a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiAttackController.java b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiAttackController.java
index 3f16273ae0d..7e1e22ad279 100644
--- a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiAttackController.java
+++ b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiAttackController.java
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ public class AiAttackController {
                     bestBand = ComputerUtilCard.getBestCreatureAI(CardLists.getType(attackers, "Dinosaur"));
                 } else if (c.hasKeyword("Bands with Other Creatures named Wolves of the Hunt")) {
                     bestBand = ComputerUtilCard.getBestCreatureAI(CardLists.filter(attackers, CardPredicates.nameEquals("Wolves of the Hunt")));
-                } else if (!c.hasAnyKeyword(evasionKeywords) && bestAttacker.hasAnyKeyword(evasionKeywords)) {
+                } else if (!c.hasAnyKeyword(evasionKeywords) && bestAttacker != null && bestAttacker.hasAnyKeyword(evasionKeywords)) {
                     bestBand = ComputerUtilCard.getBestCreatureAI(CardLists.filter(attackers, card -> !card.hasAnyKeyword(evasionKeywords)));
                 } else {
                     bestBand = bestAttacker;
diff --git a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCombat.java b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCombat.java
index 41f620f4ba1..eb827287501 100644
--- a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCombat.java
+++ b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCombat.java
@@ -2035,7 +2035,7 @@ public class ComputerUtilCombat {
 
         // Check for Banding, Defensive Formation
         boolean isAttackingMe = isAttacking && combat.getDefenderPlayerByAttacker(attacker).equals(self);
-        boolean isBlockingMyBand = attacker.getController().isOpponentOf(self) && AttackingBand.isValidBand(block.subList(0, block.size()), true);
+        boolean isBlockingMyBand = attacker.getController().isOpponentOf(self) && AttackingBand.isValidBand(block, true);
         final boolean aiDistributesBandingDmg = isAttackingMe || isBlockingMyBand;
 
         final boolean hasTrample = attacker.hasKeyword(Keyword.TRAMPLE);
diff --git a/forge-game/src/main/java/forge/game/combat/AttackingBand.java b/forge-game/src/main/java/forge/game/combat/AttackingBand.java
index e509c577361..9e69f0899bb 100644
--- a/forge-game/src/main/java/forge/game/combat/AttackingBand.java
+++ b/forge-game/src/main/java/forge/game/combat/AttackingBand.java
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ public class AttackingBand {
     public void addAttacker(Card card) { attackers.add(card); }
     public void removeAttacker(Card card) { attackers.remove(card); }
 
-    public static boolean isValidBand(List<Card> band, boolean shareDamage) {
+    public static boolean isValidBand(CardCollectionView band, boolean shareDamage) {
         if (band.isEmpty()) {
             // An empty band is not a valid band
             return false;
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ public class AttackingBand {
     
     public boolean canJoinBand(Card card) {
         // Trying to join an existing band, attackers should be non-empty and card should exist
-        List<Card> newBand = new ArrayList<>(attackers);
+        CardCollection newBand = new CardCollection(attackers);
         if (card != null) {
             newBand.add(card);
         }