Exert Ability in Magic the Gathering

Exert is a keyword ability in Magic: The Gathering that allows a player to make the decision, as they declare attackers, to exert a creature. An exerted creature won’t untap during the next untap step. In return for this drawback, the exerted creature usually provides a powerful benefit or enhanced attack capability.

Utility in Gameplay and Deck Building

1. Strategic Trade-Offs: Exert offers a trade-off between a significant immediate advantage and the inability to use the creature in the next turn.
2. Enhanced Combat Abilities: Often, exert abilities enhance combat, making creatures more formidable in attacks.
3. Synergy with Untap Mechanics: Works well in decks that can untap creatures or otherwise mitigate the downside of not untapping.

In deck building, exert can be a key feature in aggressive strategies or in decks that can leverage the benefits of exert while minimizing its drawbacks.