Vigilance MTG Card


Vigilance - Champions of Kamigawa
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant
Released2004-10-01
Set symbol
Set nameChampions of Kamigawa
Set codeCHK
Number49
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byTsutomu Kawade

Key Takeaways

  1. Vigilance allows creatures to attack without tapping, preserving their defense capabilities for strategic advantage.
  2. Mana constraints may limit some vigilance card uses and affect your deck’s flexibility in multi-color builds.
  3. Despite higher costs, vigilance’s strategic value in combat makes it a worthy addition to various decks.
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Enchanted creature has vigilance. (Attacking doesn't cause it to tap.)

"Put a spear in a peasant's hands, and you have an expendable troop. Put a purpose in his heart, and you win a warrior." —Sensei Golden-Tail


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vigilance on a card often means maintaining board presence while still having the ability to attack. In a drawn-out game, this can lead to significant advantage as you can fend off opponents without sacrificing your ability to commit to offensive strategies.

Resource Acceleration: Playing cards with vigilance allows you to be both proactive and reactive. You can accelerate your game plan by applying pressure without the usual drawback of tapping your creatures, leaving resources available for your defensive lines.

Instant Speed: While vigilance itself is a static ability that does not operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with cards that do. The ability to attack without tapping means you can still utilize instant speed spells and abilities during your opponent’s turn, making vigilance a formidable tool in your MTG arsenal.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While vigilance allows creatures to be aggressive without leaving you unguarded, some cards with this ability might necessitate the discard of another card. This can be a detrimental trade-off when your hand size is already dwindling, or if the required discard is a valuable asset in your gameplay strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Cards bestowing or benefiting from vigilance often come with restrictive mana demands, requiring white mana in many instances. Although vigilance is a boon, this specific color requirement can restrict deck-building flexibility and is less ideal for multi-colored decks that may struggle with mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Vigilance is undoubtedly a tactical advantage, yet some cards that endow creatures with this ability may carry a high mana cost compared to other abilities or effects of a similar nature. This can result in less efficient use of mana resources, especially when considering that numerous creatures naturally come with vigilance at no additional mana premium.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: A Vigilance MTG card offers strategic flexibility by allowing creatures to engage in combat without tapping. This means they can still be utilized for defense on your opponent’s turn, fitting seamlessly into both aggressive and control-oriented decks.

Combo Potential: Vigilance enhances synergy with equipment and enchantments that trigger upon attacking or defending, thus increasing combo possibilities within your deck while keeping your defense solid.

Meta-Relevance: Given the current environment where creature-based combat often dictates the pace of play, Vigilance cards remain relevant by frustrating opponents’ attack plans while preserving your own threatening board presence.


How to Overcome Vigilance in MTG

Vigilance is a valuable keyword ability in Magic: The Gathering that enables creatures to attack without tapping, maintaining a strong defense while pressing the offense. To effectively combat creatures with vigilance, you might consider incorporating effects that force them to tap, such as cards with abilities that specify ‘tap target creature.’ Ensnaring and locking down these vigilant foes can negate their advantage.

Moreover, utilizing removal spells that bypass the combat phase entirely can be key. Spells that destroy, exile, or return the vigilant creature to its owner’s hand are particularly effective, circumventing the need to engage in combat where vigilance thrives. It is also beneficial to harness board wipes, which can clear multiple vigilant creatures at once, providing a clean slate.

Lastly, enhancing your creatures with powerful abilities through equipment, auras or counters can tip the scales. By outclassing vigilant creatures in combat with superior stats or abilities, you can create favorable battles, reducing the impact of their vigilance. With these strategies, tackling vigilant forces can be a manageable feat in your MTG gameplay, ensuring you maintain the upper hand.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the world of MTG reveals that Vigilance isn’t just a simple keyword; it’s a cornerstone of tactical gameplay. Whether you’re dissecting the pros of unyielding board presence and creative interaction with instant-speed spells or weighing the cons of mana specificity, Vigilance serves as a versatile tool in numerous deck archetypes. Remember the value it brings in both aggressive and control settings, enhancing your synergy with other cards and illuminating new paths to victory. For insights on optimizing Vigilance in your game plan or finding that perfect balance in your collection, come learn more with us and turn the tide of battle in your favor.


Cards like Vigilance

The concept of Vigilance as a mechanic in Magic: The Gathering allows creatures to remain untapped even after attacking. Standing as a unique trait, Vigilance provides strategic advantages reminiscent of other abilities within the game. Commonly compared to it is the card Serra Angel, a classic example that has been a definitive creature with Vigilance. In addition to being untappable post-attack, Serra Angel is akin to Vigilance cards for its no-mana-cost requirement to maintain its offensive posture.

Another parallel can be drawn with the likes of Always Watching, an enchantment that bestows Vigilance to all non-token creatures you control. This wider effect differs from individual Vigilance cards which only affect themselves but shares the same principle of maintaining an alert stance. Conversely, Brave the Sands is a subtler adaptation, not only granting Vigilance but also allowing creatures to block an additional attacker, thus expanding the defensive capabilities beyond that of a regular Vigilance card.

When appraising Vigilance in the broader context of MTG abilities, it becomes apparent that its utility lies in offering a persistent threat on the battlefield while solidifying a player’s defenses, striking a balance between attack and protection that is echoed in various card designs throughout the game.

Serra Angel - MTG Card versions
Always Watching - MTG Card versions
Brave the Sands - MTG Card versions
Serra Angel - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Always Watching - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
Brave the Sands - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)

Cards similar to Vigilance by color, type and mana cost

White Ward - MTG Card versions
Green Ward - MTG Card versions
Holy Strength - MTG Card versions
Lance - MTG Card versions
Consecrate Land - MTG Card versions
Animate Wall - MTG Card versions
Black Ward - MTG Card versions
Blue Ward - MTG Card versions
Holy Armor - MTG Card versions
Red Ward - MTG Card versions
Land Tax - MTG Card versions
Brainwash - MTG Card versions
Green Scarab - MTG Card versions
Blue Scarab - MTG Card versions
Spirit Link - MTG Card versions
Armor of Faith - MTG Card versions
Kithkin Armor - MTG Card versions
Flickering Ward - MTG Card versions
Limited Resources - MTG Card versions
Mask of Law and Grace - MTG Card versions
White Ward - Revised Edition (3ED)
Green Ward - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Holy Strength - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Lance - Revised Edition (3ED)
Consecrate Land - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Animate Wall - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Black Ward - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
Blue Ward - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Holy Armor - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Red Ward - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Land Tax - Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales (WOT)
Brainwash - The Dark (DRK)
Green Scarab - Ice Age (ICE)
Blue Scarab - Ice Age (ICE)
Spirit Link - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Armor of Faith - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Kithkin Armor - Weatherlight (WTH)
Flickering Ward - Tempest (TMP)
Limited Resources - Exodus (EXO)
Mask of Law and Grace - Urza's Destiny (UDS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vigilance MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Vigilance and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vigilance has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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