Tapped Out
Eugene T. Dudley vs. Steve "Slowpoke" Sluman
You can't win.
Despite your best efforts, Eugene T. Dudley, the worst Magic player in the world, is struggling at the end of a grueling match. His opponent, Steve "Slowpoke" Sluman, has been playing a Stasis deck to perfection — enough so that despite Eugene's best efforts, he finds himself completely tapped out, facing a Stasis and a Kismet. Even worse, our hero's library and graveyard are completely empty, so he is looking at yet another discouraging defeat despite still being at full life.
For a conventional player, this would be a worry. Of course, Eugene realizes that all he really has to do is untap all of his permanents and the game is his — at a paltry 6 life, Steve would quickly die before his onslaught. A bit puzzled, Eugene has asked you to help him.
Have all of Eugene's permanents untapped at the same time at some point during his turn.
Keep in mind the following
- It's the beginning of your turn.
- Steve is only at 6 life, so you might just pull this one out for Eugene.
- Eugene is at 20 life and a bit cocky about it.
- You have no cards in either your library or graveyard.
- All lands, creatures, and artifacts in play — including Steve's — are tapped.
- All you have to do is make sure all of your permanents are untapped at the same time at any point in the turn.
The board
Hover a card to enlarge it, or click through to Scryfall.
Land6 cards
Cards in play12 cards
Cards in hand7 cards
The answer ran a month later, in InQuest #40 (August 1998).