Highlights
World of Darkness brought forth the legendary vampire IP Vampire: The Masquerade, offering a fresh and unique perspective on the nocturnal fanged creatures. In this realm, they manipulate the mortal realms from the shadows, striving to keep their existence concealed to avoid the wrath of vampire hunters.
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Vampires in Vampire: The Masquerade are not all cut from the same cloth; they exist in clans, each possessing unique powers known as disciplines, along with weaknesses or 'clan bane' that pose challenges. While each clan is home to some truly mighty entities, some clans reign supreme in power.
Updated January 3, 2024, by Mara Cowley: Despite Vampire: The Masquerade initially living in the shadow of more popular games like Dungeons and Dragons or Pathfinder, its popularity has surged over the years, garnering new enthusiasts and demands for later editions. The original VTM 5E excluded some clans as playable, yet supplementary books reintroduced them to both old and new fans, including the presumed extinct Ravnos and the death-centric Hecata. Consequently, this article will be updated to include another deserving clan.
11 Ravnos
The Amalgam Discipline Allows Ravnos To Craft Hallucinations
In Vampire: The Masquerade lore, Clan Ravnos was believed to have been wiped out during the catastrophic Week of Nightmares, signaling the impending vampire doomsday. However, despite this omen, a few resilient Ravnos survived, attesting to the fortitude of the Ravnos clan.
Surviving their clan's apocalypse, the Ravnos possess compelling powers at their disposal, such as the ability to sway minds with Presence, conceal themselves with Obfuscate, and communicate or even control animals through Animalism. However, the Ravnos clan faces a daunting challenge as their clan bane demands that they sleep a mile away from their previous resting place, preventing them from establishing roots and leaving them vulnerable if captured.
10 Malkavian
Their Blend Of Powers Can Be Weaponized To Induce Madness In Others
Members of Clan Malkavian, descendants of the Antediluvian Malkav, inherit his powers while grappling with their own clan bane—afflictions ranging from psychosis to depression. Despite their burdens, Malkavians boast unique powers, including the ability to vanish with Obfuscate, perceive beyond the veil with Auspex, and manipulate mortals or other supernaturals with Dominate. Their diverse array of disciplines enables them to inflict madness on others, commanding the respect and wariness of fellow kindreds.
9 Toreadors
The Clan of Roses Comes With A Few Thorns
Seductively drawn to beauty and artistry, the Toreadors fixate on diverse forms of beauty, be it classical art or grisly spectacles. They wield their beauty and command over disciplines like Dominate and Presence, effortlessly enforcing their will over mortals and kindred alike. Their mastery over manipulation and allure renders physical strength unnecessary, as they can compel others to protect them with mere words and eye contact.
8 Nosferatu
None Have Perfected The Art Of Invisibility Like The Nosferatu
The Nosferatu stand in stark contrast to the Toreadors, grappling with a clan bane that renders them grotesque and monstrous. Their unearthly appearance mandates that they remain cloaked in their powers to avoid breaching the masquerade. However, this hindrance has honed their expertise in stealth and alternative methods of navigation, positioning them as the foremost purveyors of information in the World of Darkness. In need of secrets? Seek counsel from a Nosferatu.
7 Gangrel
Gangrel And Their Affinity With Animals Is Unparalleled
Notorious for their affinity with animals, the Gangrel derive strength from their ability to commune with and transform into animals. Their mastery of disciplines like Animalism, Fortitude, and Protean empowers them to forge alliances with creatures, fortify themselves against harm, and shapeshift, granting them a formidable advantage in various situations.
6 Brujah
The Hardest Hitters Of All
Embodying chaos and freedom, the Brujah eschew magical powers in favor of unadulterated physical prowess. Their repertoire includes Presence to intimidate, Celerity for swifter movements, and Potence to deliver devastating blows. Their relentless pursuit of expanding influence positions them as pivotal figures within the Anarch and Camarilla factions.
5 Hecata
The Masters Of Death And The Dead
Formerly comprising multiple bloodlines revered for their expertise in death, the Hecata now stand as a unified force, independent of sect affiliations. Adhering to disciplines such as Auspex, Fortitude, and Oblivion, they commune with the deceased and manipulate death to serve their objectives.
4 Tremere
Magic Flows Through Their Vitae
The Tremere harness the power of blood sorcery, setting them apart as the warlocks of the VTM world. Endowed with disciplines like Auspex, Dominate, and Blood Sorcery, they wield their vitae to cast potent spells, establishing themselves as formidable and mistrusted figures within the vampire hierarchy.
3 Lasombra
The Shadows Serve Them
Famed for their manipulation of shadows, the Lasombra embody ambition and ruthlessness. With access to Dominate, Potence, and Oblivion, they command minds, exert physical strength, and control supernatural darkness, epitomizing the essence of fear within the World of Darkness.
2 Tzimisce
Artists Who Treat Flesh Like A Canvas
Eminent within the Sabbat, the Tzimisce evoke dread through their mastery over anatomy, shaping flesh and bone to their whim. Their proficiency in Animalism and Protean empowers them to craft grotesque monstrosities and enforce their will upon others, establishing themselves as formidable adversaries within the ongoing conflict against the Camarilla.
1 Ventrue
The Kings And Queens Of The Night
Distinguished for their discerning nature, the Ventrue exercise meticulous selection when embracing new members, ensuring their ranks comprise only the most worthy individuals. Equipped with Fortitude, Dominate, and Presence, they exude authority and resilience, compensating for their lack of brute strength with unwavering control and influence over others.