Untap step

Game terms · beginner

The untap step is the first step of a turn. Three things happen automatically, and then the step ends without anybody getting a chance to act.

How it works

• First, the active player's phased-in permanents with phasing phase out, and everything they controlled when it phased out phases in. All of it simultaneously, with no stack. [502.1]
• Second, day becomes night if the previous active player cast no spells on their turn, and night becomes day if they cast two or more. If it is neither, nothing is checked. [502.2]
• Third, the active player decides which of their permanents untap and untaps them all simultaneously, with no stack. Normally everything untaps, but effects can hold a permanent down. [502.3]

Rules notes

• No player receives priority during the untap step. No spell can be cast or resolve and no ability can be activated or resolve. [502.4]
• Anything that triggers during the untap step waits and goes on the stack the next time a player would get priority, which is normally the upkeep step. [502.4]
• A stun counter is what stops a permanent untapping here: the counter is removed instead of the permanent untapping.

Rule reference

[502.1] [502.2] [502.3] [502.4]