What is vigilance in Magic: The Gathering? Explanation, examples, and more

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With Magic: The Gathering keywords, few are more valuable than vigilance. It was one of the first mechanics to join the game in the first place, and though it didn’t gain the “vigilance” keyword until 2004’s Champions of Kamigawa, this ability has been in the game since the very beginning.

Often referred to by the developers of Magic: The Gathering as the Serra ability, vigilance has always been here and, more often than not, attached to white creatures. It can also appear on green or blue creatures as a secondary, but it’s primarily an ability that white creatures will gain access to.

The first Magic: The Gathering card technically referenced with vigilance was Serra Angel. A 4 power, 4 toughness Flyer for 4 mana, Serra Angel also had the ability “This creature does not tap to attack.” That’s essentially what vigilance is. If a creature has vigilance, you can attack it without tapping the creature.

However, this doesn’t mean you can attack the creature when it comes into play - unless it also has Haste. One of the significant benefits of this card is that you can attack it and defend it with the next turn. Because of this, most vigilance creatures have decent, balanced stats. You likely won’t see these with lower toughness than power in most cases.

You can’t block twice in a turn with a creature with vigilance. If you’re playing a 3+ player game, this Magic: The Gathering creature can block incoming attacks from different players, but not in the same combat phase.

When you attack a creature with vigilance in Magic: The Gathering, you can use it safely if it has an ability that makes it tap. That is a significant part of the card. In addition, there’s another way you can get more out of a creature with this ability.

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