Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2: All Clans and Abilities

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is the long-awaited sequel to 2004's Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines. Whilst there are some returning Clans from the original game, we also have some brand-new ones! But which Clan fits your playstyle? Well, with this short guide, hopefully you’ll be able to make a decision that is right for you!

The majority of abilities can be unlocked regardless of which Clan you go with, including Clan Perks. The catch is, they aren’t unlocked from the get-go, and may cost more Blood Resonance than ones from your own skill tree. Not only that, but Passive abilities are locked to each Clan, so choose wisely!

Brujah — The Learned Clan

Known for their short tempers and violent tendencies, it’s no surprise that Clan Brujah focuses on melee combat and brute strength. If you prefer games with less sneaking and more smashing, Brujah may be the one for you.

Passive Ability: Brutality. Gives Phyre a temporary boost in their melee strength after feeding. For melee-focused players, this is extremely helpful when facing off against a large group.

Regular Abilities:

• Taunt: Enrages opponents into attacking you, whilst weakening their defences.

• Charge: Surge forward and grab an enemy, using them as a battering ram to take out others in your path.

• Lightning Strike: Rain down a storm of punches on multiple foes, before delivering a devastating final blow.

• Earthshock: The classic AoE attack, in which you slam the ground to take out anyone in the vicinity.

Clan Perk: Spark of Rage. This allows you to activate your Passive ability when killing enemies without feeding on them, turning Phyre into an unstoppable juggernaut!

Tremere — The Broken Clan

The antithesis of the Brujah, Clan Tremere are more known for their scholarly pursuits and thirst for knowledge. Focusing more on ranged attacks and taking out as many unsuspecting victims as possible whilst remaining hidden, this is a great first choice for players new to the game.

Passive Ability: Corrosive Touch. Any bodies you feed on will dissolve after you’re done with them. Very useful when sticking to the shadows!

Regular Abilities:

• Cauldron of Blood: Boil your victims’ blood, making them scream in pain, thus alerting nearby NPCs. Lovely!

• Recall: Place a mark at your current location, which you can instantly teleport back to if needed. This also sets off an explosion as you warp back to your mark, damaging anyone unlucky enough to be caught in the blast.

• Blood Curse: Once a victim is cursed, the next time they take damage, they’ll swell up and explode, damaging any unfortunate enough to be in proximity. Again, lovely!

• Blood Salvo: Grants Phyre a set of blood daggers that can then be used to throw at enemies using telekinesis. Remember, aim for the head!

Clan Perk: Blood of Potency. Grants a possibility when feeding that the last used ability will recover twice as much blood, increasing the rate at which said ability can be used.

Banu Haqim — The Clan of the Hunt

A Clan cursed with the thirst for other vampires’ blood, Banu Haqim are fast strikers with expert timing. Like Clan Tremere, Banu Haqim prefer stealth, but more close-quarters, as evidenced by their abilities below.

Passive Ability: Silence of Death. Everything you do after feeding becomes silent for a short period of time. Invaluable for pure stealth players.

Regular Abilities:

• Mute: Silences an NPC, making any noises undetectable to others in the area.

• Split Second: Increases speed to a point where time around you appears to have stopped. Great for making a quick getaway, or for closing the distance on an enemy that’s just spotted you!

• Bladed Hand: Cut the head off a mortal opponent in front of you. Nice and simple, and very effective!

• Unseen Aura: Shroud yourself and become invisible for a short period of time. Note that noise you make can still lead to detection.

Clan Perk: Unseen Passage. Allows the use of sprinting whilst remaining crouched. A great Perk for moving swiftly from cover to cover.

Ventrue — The Clan of Kings

Clan Ventrue see themselves as the leaders of the vampire underworld, often taking leadership roles wherever possible. In a fight, they are most useful for crowd control, whilst also using ranged attacks when possible.

Passive Ability: Flesh of Marble. Feeding causes your skin to harden, making you more resistant to all damage. Similar to Brujah, but focusing more on defence rather than straight-up power.

Regular Abilities:

• Cloud Memory: Makes your target forget you were ever there. Useful when caught by a lone individual, not so helpful when facing down a group.

• Possession: Take control of another body and command them to attack someone else. Probably one of their best friends, you monster.

• Terminal Decree: Command someone to take their own life. Not a pleasant one, but better than being devoured by a vampire, right?

• Mass Manipulation: Placate anyone within your eyesight, preventing them from attacking you.

Clan Perk: Resilience. Simple but effective, this Perk increases the amount of health Phyre recovers when feeding.

Toreador — The Clan of Divas

The Clan with arguably the best nickname, Toreador members use charm and seduction as their main weapons. Turning enemies into allies, this Clan uses their guile alongside melee strength in order to keep large groups on the defensive.

Passive Ability: Cat's Grace. For those who like to keep moving, this ability allows for faster movement after feeding.

Regular Abilities:

• Entrancing Kiss: Give an individual a big old smooch to turn them into a friend for a short time. In turn, they’ll turn on their former allies and defend you.

• Blink: A classic move, Blink lets you instantly teleport to a targeted location. Similar to Recall, but with a broader usage.

• Beckon: Puts the target into a trance, where they will walk to the last place they saw you. Used in combination with Blink, this can be used to give assailants the slip.

• Blurred Momentum: Allows Phyre to evade damage temporarily by boosting their reflexes.

Clan Perk: Fleetness. Any ability that allows Phyre to relocate will recharge over time, allowing them to be used more often.

Lasombra — The Night Clan

Preferring to act as the puppet masters, Clan Lasombra are master manipulators. With a mixture of brute strength and stealth abilities, this is perhaps the hardest path to start with.

Passive Ability: Shadow Cloak. Feeding cloaks you in a shadowy shroud, making Phyre less likely to be spotted for a period of time.

Regular Abilities:

• Arms of Ahriman: Trap opponents with a shadow laid on the ground. Anyone caught will be temporarily unable to move until damaged.

• Shadow Step: Use an enemy's shadow to transport yourself behind them, opening them up for an attack from behind. Nothin’ personal, kid.

• Glimpse of Oblivion: Causes someone to flee in terror, abandoning their current task. I had a similar reaction anytime I had to enter an Oblivion Gate…

• Enter Oblivion: Okay, this is a really cool one. Throw out a shadow that temporarily traps whoever is touched by it in another dimension alongside Phyre. Chances are they won’t be coming back!

Clan Perk: Stygian Shroud. Grants invulnerability whilst feeding. Perhaps my personal favourite Perk for whenever I’m low on health and facing a gang of tasty-looking enemies.

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So, there we have it. The six Clans available in Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2. Personally, I went with Tremere as I always try to play stealthily. But what did you go for? Let us know in the comments below!