Rules reference
Skills in Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition
Skills overview and how checks typically work. 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
Skills describe trained competence. Use this page to quickly understand what the skill list covers and how to pick priorities.
Copyable facts
- 14 clans: 7 Camarilla (Brujah, Gangrel, Malkavian, Nosferatu, Toreador, Tremere, Ventrue) and 7 independent (Banu Haqim, Hecata, Lasombra, Ministry, Ravnos, Salubri, Tzimisce)
- 10 Predator Types: Alleycat, Bagger, Blood Leech, Cleaver, Consensualist, Farmer, Osiris, Sandman, Siren, Extortionist
- 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
What’s in this system
Skills
Showing 27 of 27
AthleticsBrawlCraftDriveFirearmsLarcenyMeleeStealthSurvivalAnimal KenEtiquetteInsightIntimidationLeadershipPerformancePersuasionStreetwiseSubterfugeAcademicsAwarenessFinanceInvestigationMedicineOccultPoliticsScienceTechnology
Full Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition skills list (27)
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
| Athletics | Physical activities like running, climbing, swimming, and jumping |
| Brawl | Hand-to-hand combat and unarmed fighting techniques |
| Craft | Creating, repairing, and modifying objects with your hands |
| Drive | Operating vehicles, from cars to motorcycles to boats |
| Firearms | Using guns, rifles, and other ranged weapons |
| Larceny | Breaking and entering, picking locks, and stealing |
| Melee | Using melee weapons like swords, knives, and clubs |
| Stealth | Moving unseen and unheard, hiding and sneaking |
| Survival | Living off the land, tracking, and wilderness skills |
| Animal Ken | Understanding and communicating with animals |
| Etiquette | Proper social behavior and formal manners in Kindred society |
| Insight | Reading people and understanding their motivations |
| Intimidation | Using fear and threats to influence others |
| Leadership | Inspiring and directing groups of people |
| Performance | Acting, singing, dancing, and other entertainment skills |
| Persuasion | Convincing others through logic and charm |
| Streetwise | Understanding criminal culture and urban survival |
| Subterfuge | Deception and misdirection: lying convincingly and hiding your motives |
| Academics | Formal education, research, and scholarly knowledge |
| Awareness | Noticing details and being alert to your surroundings |
| Finance | Understanding money, investments, and economic systems |
| Investigation | Gathering information, solving mysteries, and detective work |
| Medicine | Healing, diagnosing, and understanding the human body |
| Occult | Knowledge of supernatural phenomena and mystical practices |
| Politics | Understanding power structures and political systems |
| Science | Understanding scientific principles and methodology |
| Technology | Using and understanding computers and modern technology |
Examples
Example: When to roll
Roll when the outcome is uncertain and matters. If it’s routine and no one at the table cares about failure, just succeed and move on.
Example: Make stakes explicit
Before rolling, say what success gives you and what failure costs (time, exposure, resources, harm).
Common mistakes (smallest fix)
- Mistake: Rolling without stakes. Fix: Say what success changes and what failure costs before rolling.
- Mistake: Treating failure as ‘nothing happens’. Fix: Fail forward: you still learn something, but pay a cost (time, exposure, resources, harm).
Build guides for Vampire
Brujah brawler
A physical-first Kindred with strong combat presence.
Toreador social
A social operator who wins with presence and finesse.
Nosferatu spy
Information, stealth, and leverage.
Tremere sorcerer
Blood sorcery focus with careful resource management.
Ventrue leader
Leadership + influence + resilience.
Vampire FAQ
What are the clans in Vampire: The Masquerade V5?
What are Predator Types in VTM5e?
How does the Hunger system work in V5?
How do Disciplines work in Vampire: The Masquerade V5?
What is Humanity in VTM5e?