"Magic the Gathering" Untap Step

Video Transcript

"Here we have set up a sample game already in turn two between a white deck and a black deck. The untap step is the beginning of every turn. This is where you straighten your lands and any creatures and any artifacts. Anything that's tapped to show that you're allowed to use it again. At the beginning of your upkeep there are a number of effects specified by cards in play. Here we have in play what's called a Zangerphage. It says at the beginning of your upkeep tap Zangerphage unless you pay two life. Now what this represents is that there's a continuing cost of maintaining this creature. If this player wants to attack with this creature they have to pay two life from their starting twenty otherwise it would tap and not be able to fight this round. So he's going to choose to pay the life which allows this creature to remain untapped into the main phase. Then you're ready to move on to your draw step."