What it does
Vigilance lets a creature attack without tapping. That means it can swing in for damage and still be available to block on your opponents' turns, giving you offense and defense from the same body.
The most common misunderstanding: vigilance only affects the attacking tap requirement. It doesn't untap a creature that's already tapped for another reason (like an ability cost or being tapped by an opponent), and it doesn't let you attack with a creature suffering from summoning sickness. It also doesn't stop effects that say "tap target creature." You still need haste to attack the turn a creature enters.
In Commander, vigilance is excellent because you face multiple opponents. Staying untapped after attacking deters retaliatory swings and protects your life total and planeswalkers, making big vigilant creatures (and effects like Brave the Sands) strong in multiplayer politics.
Iconic cards with Vigilance
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