Vampires inVampire: The Masqueradeare wholly unique compared to their fanged brethren in other media, as their mythos span back to biblical times, and they are divided into specific categories of vampires. Each clan is unique, coming with its own benefits and drawbacks, as well as its own powers.
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In theWorld of Darkness, vampiric powers are calleddisciplines, and each focuses on a different aspect, be it bolstering strength or speed, mind manipulation or even turning invisible. These disciplines help them survive the nights, which, even for vampires, are fraught with danger.
9Fortitude
Available to the Ventrue and Gangrel clans, Fortitude is a power designed around protection. With Ventrue being the leaders, shepherding vampires forward, and Gangrelsocializing with animals, both domestic and wild, it’s natural both of these clans would need a form of protection beyond the basic durability vampires gain after their embrace.
Fortitude allows vampires to bolster their resistance by hardening their skin, allowing them to soak up more damage and shield their minds from supernatural influence. At higher levels, vampires can ignore the first source of damage each turn in combat, even if that damage comes from fire, which all vampires are vulnerable to.
8Celerity
For vampires that value speed over strength and hardiness, Celerity is the discipline for them. Brujah, Toreador, and Banu Haqim gain this power as a clan discipline, allowing them tomove faster than eyes can seeand demonstrate great agility and balance.
To those who do not possess this discipline, vampires who employ it will become a blur of movement and will be hard to keep track of. Vampires can also use Celerity for defense, permitting them to swiftly avoid gunfire with supernatural reflexes. Vampires that nurture this power can grow so frighteningly fast that they even outpace the Storyteller and supersede their narrations to perform a brief action.
7Presence
In the world ofVampire: The Masquerade, a lot of vampires can appear seductive to mortal eyes, at least if they aren’t burdened with the Nosferatu clan bane. It is useful for evading combat, gaining access to places with heavy security, or for feeding on blood from willing vessels, a specialty of the Siren predator type.
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For people who have a stronger willpower, they might need a little nudge to fall for the vampire’s sway, which is where Presence comes into play. This clan discipline pumps in the veins of Toreador, Ventrue, Ministry, and Brujah clan members. With this power active, vampires either become ethereally beautiful or unnervingly terrifying, and, as such, mortals do their best to please the vampire. At higher levels, vampires can enthrall large numbers of mortals and supernaturals alike.
6Obfuscate
Vampires may like to go unseen in theWorld of Darkness, simply passing by the dangers of mortals and supernaturals by just beingcompletely unseen. This specialty is available to those embraced into clan Nosferatu, Malkavian, Ministry, and Banu Haqim.
In addition to turning the user invisible, vampires may also gain access to Mask of a Thousand Faces, which allows them to change their appearance. This power is favored among Nosferatu who need to enter a busy place so that their natural appearance doesn’t attract unwarranted attention.
5Protean
Protean is shared among the Gangrel, Ministry, and Tzimisce, as is expected from a power that can aid withshifting one’s form. But this discipline is not purely for aesthetics, as those who employ Protean can give themselves some pretty handy buffs.
At lower levels, Protean can give vampires the ability to see through the darkness and arm their hands with sharp claws that rend the flesh of others. High-level Protean allows players to assume animal forms or turn into mist, which is perfect for escaping awkward situations.
4Potence
Potence is a simple power for people whovalue physical brute force above all else. A discipline designed to help vampires purely in combat situations, those embraced into Lasombra, Brujah, and Nosferatu gain access to this, and can use it to devastating effect.
Potence imbues the user with supernatural strength to bolster how hard they can hit enemies with their bare fists. It even permits the user to jump higher and further than a normal person would be capable of, which can be a huge asset when fleeing danger. Vampires that see fit to up their Potence will gain abilities to topple their opponents from the shockwaves or even kill them with a single strike. In terms of sheer physical strength, Potence is certainly a contender for the best.
3Oblivion
Clan Lasombra are known for being the ruthless leaders of the relentlessly bloodthirsty Sabbat before the threats of modern-day vampires sent them fleeing to the safety and protection the Camarilla offers. But, they are also known for being shadow dancers, able to tap into the mysterious abyss, a place of absolute crushing and cold darkness. Lasombra’s can pull this darkness into the world and manipulate it to their liking.
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This power is known as Oblivion and can be wielded by clans Lasombra and Hecata. As this power draws from something so unnatural, users don’t risk hunger but instead decay humanity whenever it’s used. Though the consequences of using Oblivion can be extreme, the ability to step into shadows, inhabit someone else’s shadow, and call forward tendrils of darkness may just be worth the cost.
2Blood Sorcery
Vampires and magic may seem like an uncommon combination, especially in a universe where mages exist, and yetBlood Sorcery still existsfor the Tremere and Banu Haqim, allowing them to tap into their own vitae to some effect. It can be used for utility purposes or in combat, making it a must-have discipline.
Unlike other disciplines, Blood Sorcery isn’t something that can be passed through the blood and instead must be taught by one already versed in the Discipline. Once the learner has mastered it, they gain abilities to turn their blood into acid, taste someone’s blood to learn basic information about them, or even turn another’s blood into a poison that will be lethal to kin and kindred alike. Vampires would be wise not to make enemies of powerful blood sorcerers.
1Dominate
In a world where vampires can punch through flesh and bones, turn blood into poison, and call forward darkness to lash out at foes, there is one power that rises above them: Dominate. This vampiric ability is available to Lasombra, Malkavians, Tremere, and Tzimisce, and is the essential discipline forclan Ventrue, the blue bloods.
Similar to Presence, Dominate attacks the target’s psyche, but rather than just swaying minds in the vampire’s favor, Dominate is absolute. Vampires who employ this power can erase or rewrite victims' memories and issue commands that must be followed. Kindred who level up their Dominate to higher levels can make it seem as though the commands they issue are the target’s own ideas or force people to harm themselves or loved ones. Out of all the vampire powers, Dominate reigns supreme.
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