Vigilance is a static ability defined in CR 702.20b: it simply means the creature does not tap as part of the process of declaring it as an attacker. That is the full and complete scope of what vigilance does.
When a creature attacks, CR 508.1f normally causes it to tap. Vigilance creates an exception to that specific step — nothing more. It does not grant any general immunity to tapping effects from spells, abilities, or other game events.
So if any spell or activated/triggered ability says "tap target creature" or "tap all creatures," a vigilance creature is affected just like any other untapped creature. Vigilance provides zero protection against those effects.
Concrete example: You attack with a Serra Angel (which has vigilance), so it stays untapped after attacking. Your opponent then activates a Icy Manipulator targeting Serra Angel. Serra Angel taps — vigilance does nothing to prevent this because Icy Manipulator is a separate tapping effect, not the attack-declaration tap that CR 508.1f describes.
In summary: vigilance is narrowly scoped to CR 508.1f's attack-declaration tap only. Any forced tapping from an outside source bypasses vigilance entirely.
Unofficial fan resource — not affiliated with or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast. Answers are AI-generated estimates grounded in the Comprehensive Rules and are not a substitute for an official judge. Verify anything match-critical.