Untap

Untap
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Q.svg}}|70x70px]]
Keyword Action
Introduced	Alpha
Last used	Evergreen
Reminder Text	No official reminder text
Scryfall Search
keyword:"Untap"

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

Rules

From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

• 701.21. Tap and Untap
  • 701.21a To tap a permanent, turn it sideways from an upright position. Only untapped permanents can be tapped.
  • 701.21b To untap a permanent, rotate it back to the upright position from a sideways position. Only tapped permanents can be untapped.

Untap symbol

The untap symbol was introduced in Shadowmoor where "untapping" was a mechanic of the set. By 2010, the introduction of the symbol was considered a failure; players just read the untap symbol as a tap symbol.

From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

• 107.6. The untap symbol is {Q}. 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. A creature’s activated ability with the untap symbol in its activation cost can’t be activated unless the creature has been under its controller’s control continuously since their most recent turn began. See rule 302.6.

From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

• 302.6. A creature’s activated ability with the tap symbol or the untap symbol in its activation cost can’t be activated unless the creature has been under its controller’s control continuously since their most recent turn began. A creature can’t attack unless it has been under its controller’s control continuously since their most recent turn began. This rule is informally called the “summoning sickness” rule.

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.)

Trivia

• "" is the Untap Symbol" was featured as rules card 1 of 6 in the Shadowmoor set and 4 of 8 in the Eventide set.

External links

• A Planeswalker's Primer for Shadowmoor 5: Untap