Untap

From MTG Salvation Wiki

Untap is an action that happens during the untap step. It is the process of rotating a permanent back to the upright position from a sideways position.

[edit] Untap symbol

The untap symbol was introduced in Shadowmoor where "untapping" was a mechanic of the set. "" is the Untap Symbol" was featured as rules card 1 of 6 in the Shadowmoor set and 4 of 8 in the Eventide set.

From the Comprehensive Rules 104. Numbers and Symbols 104.5.The untap symbol is . The untap symbol in an activation cost means “Untap this permanent.” A permanent that’s already untapped can’t be untapped again to pay the cost. Creatures that haven’t been under a player’s control continuously since the beginning of his or her most recent turn can’t use any ability with the untap symbol in the cost. See rule 212.3f. 212.3f A creature’s activated ability with the tap symbol or the untap symbol in its activation cost can’t be played unless the creature has been under its controller’s control since the start of his or her most recent turn. A creature can’t attack unless it has been under its controller’s control since the start of his or her most recent turn. This rule is informally called the “summoning sickness” rule. Ignore this rule for creatures with haste (see rule 502.5).

[edit] Rulings

• The untap symbol is the analog of the tap symbol. Represented as {Q} in rules documents, it looks like a white J-shaped arrow (with the arrowhead pointing up) on a black circle .

• The untap symbol appears only in the costs of activated abilities. It means "Untap this permanent."

• If the permanent is already untapped, you can't play its ability. That's because you can't pay the "Untap this permanent" cost.

• The "summoning sickness" rule applies to . If a creature with an ability hasn't been under your control since your most recent turn began, you can't play that ability. Ignore this rule if the creature also has haste.

• When you play an ability, you untap the creature with that ability as a cost. The untap can't be responded to. (The actual ability can be responded to, of course.)

[edit] External links

• A Planeswalker's Primer for Shadowmoor 5: Untap on Youtube
• "The Day the Cards Tapped Backwards", by Devin Low, MTG.com, Friday, April 11, 2008.