<p>Actually the answer is in the text you posted:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Normally, all of a player's permanents untap, but effects can keep one or more of a player's permanents from untapping.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So, no, a player cannot chose which permanents to untap during that step, unless an effect  makes it so.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-02T15:38:14.210Z
2012-04-02T15:38:14.210Z
rahzark
<p>You do not get to choose whether or not to keep a permanent tapped during the Untap Step of the Beginning Phase unless <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?action=advanced&amp;text=+[choose]+[not]+[to]+[untap]" rel="noreferrer">a specific card's ability</a> provides that choice. For example, <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=430410" rel="noreferrer">Rubinia Soulsinger</a> lets you choose not to untap her during your untap step. Notice that the clause "your untap step." is important, <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=430410" rel="noreferrer">Rubinia Soulsinger</a> must still be untapped if an opponent plays a <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=pestermite" rel="noreferrer">Pestermite</a> you must untap <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=430410" rel="noreferrer">Rubinia Soulsinger</a> and relinquish control of whatever creature you stole.</p>

<p>The word "determine" in this context does not mean choose, it means to evaluate whether or not there are any abilities preventing a permanent from untapping, and evaluating the decision to untap <em>should an ability provide that choice</em>. As the rule states:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Normally, all of a player's permanents untap.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-02T15:37:30.067Z
2018-04-10T08:08:02.773Z
2018-04-10T08:08:02.773Z
Ian Pugsley
<p>I was reading the untap step rule and got confused a bit. It says:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>502.2. Second, the active player determines which permanents he or she controls will untap. Then he or she untaps them all simultaneously.
  This turn-based action doesn't use the stack. Normally, all of a
  player's permanents untap, but effects can keep one or more of a
  player's permanents from untapping.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>If "a player determines", can I determine not to untap all my permanents?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-02T15:28:50.050Z
**Very** good question - the idea is actually not uncommon.
Ian Pugsley
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-24T16:44:30.883Z
See [Giant Oyster](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=108816) for an example of this rule being overridden by a card.
ikegami
<magic-the-gathering>
Is untapping my permanents during the untap step optional?
Andre Cytryn
# Is untapping my permanents during the untap step optional?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-04-02)

I was reading the untap step rule and got confused a bit. It says:

> 502.2. Second, the active player determines which permanents he or she controls will untap. Then he or she untaps them all simultaneously.
> This turn-based action doesn't use the stack. Normally, all of a
> player's permanents untap, but effects can keep one or more of a
> player's permanents from untapping.

If "a player determines", can I determine not to untap all my permanents?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: **Very** good question - the idea is actually not uncommon.  
> **username_2**: See [Giant Oyster](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=108816) for an example of this rule being overridden by a card.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-04-02. Score: 35 | Accepted answer

You do not get to choose whether or not to keep a permanent tapped during the Untap Step of the Beginning Phase unless [a specific card's ability](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?action=advanced&text=+[choose]+[not]+[to]+[untap]) provides that choice. For example, [Rubinia Soulsinger](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=430410) lets you choose not to untap her during your untap step. Notice that the clause "your untap step." is important, [Rubinia Soulsinger](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=430410) must still be untapped if an opponent plays a [Pestermite](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=pestermite) you must untap [Rubinia Soulsinger](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=430410) and relinquish control of whatever creature you stole.

The word "determine" in this context does not mean choose, it means to evaluate whether or not there are any abilities preventing a permanent from untapping, and evaluating the decision to untap *should an ability provide that choice*. As the rule states:

> Normally, all of a player's permanents untap.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2012-04-02. Score: 12

Actually the answer is in the text you posted:

> Normally, all of a player's permanents untap, but effects can keep one or more of a player's permanents from untapping.

So, no, a player cannot chose which permanents to untap during that step, unless an effect makes it so.


---

