Rules reference
Conditions in Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition
Status effects and how they impact characters and play. Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition is a modern gothic horror tabletop roleplaying game where you play as a Kindred, a vampire struggling to maintain their humanity while navigating the complex politics of the Camarilla. Set in a dark reflection of our world, VTM5e combines personal horror with political intrigue, as players balance their Beast against their fading Humanity.
Key points
Conditions define mechanical states that alter what a character can do. Use this page to quickly understand the most common effects and how to resolve them.
- 7 Camarilla clans: Brujah, Gangrel, Malkavian, Nosferatu, Toreador, Tremere, Ventrue
- 10 Predator Types: Alleycat, Bagger, Blood Leech, Cleaver, Consensualist, Farmer, Osiris, Sandman, Scene Queen, Siren
- Discipline system: In-clan Disciplines cost less XP than out-of-clan
- Hunger dice system: Replaces health, can cause messy criticals or bestial failures
- Humanity tracking: Starts at 7, decreases with immoral actions
- Blood Potency: Increases with age, affects feeding and Discipline power
When a condition is applied, note the source and duration. At the start of each turn (or scene), check which conditions expire or escalate.
Some systems let conditions stack; others replace. Check your system’s rules for which takes precedence when multiple effects overlap.
- Mistake: Forgetting to clear expired conditions. Fix: Check condition durations at the start of each turn or scene.
- Mistake: Treating conditions as flavor only. Fix: Apply the mechanical penalty or restriction every time it's relevant.