Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition blood potency level
Blood Potency 5
Blood Potency 5 is a blood potency level in Vampire V5: The practical ceiling for characters: intense resonance or Kindred vitae, and Disciplines at eight.
Last reviewed
Key facts
- Level
- 5
Overview
Blood Potency 5 is the top of the range most chronicles use. Blood Surge reaches +3 dice, Disciplines can go to 8 dots, and a Severity 5 bane means the clan curse is visible in every scene. A vampire here is one of the most dangerous things in the region and knows it. The diet is the price. Ordinary resonant blood is no longer enough: you need intense resonance or the vitae of other Kindred, and both are expensive in ways that are not about money. Elders at this rating hold court partly so that prey and blood are brought to them, and partly because leaving the haven for an ordinary hunt is no longer worth the risk.
How it works
Blood Surge Bonus: +3 dice Mend Amount: 3 Superficial damage per Rouse Check Power Bonus: +2 dice to Discipline rolls Feeding Penalty: Requires intense emotional resonance or Kindred blood Bane Severity: 5 Discipline Max: 8 Consequence: Feeding on Kindred risks blood bonds and accusations of diablerie
Tips and playstyle
Who Has This: Princes, ancient Primogen, methuselahs who have not yet passed into legend, the most powerful characters most tables will ever run Advantages: Discipline ratings no younger vampire can match, three extra dice on a Blood Surge, and a name that settles arguments before they start Disadvantages: A feeding requirement that is a logistical operation, a Severity 5 bane that cannot be hidden, and the Beckoning pulling at you
Frequently asked questions
Is Blood Potency 5 the maximum for player characters?
It is the practical maximum. Ratings 6 and above exist in this system for methuselahs and Antediluvians, and are almost always reserved for Storyteller characters.
Does feeding on Kindred create a bond?
Yes, drinking another vampire's vitae is exactly how bonds form, so an elder at this rating has to manage who they feed from as carefully as what they feed on.
How do I hunt intense resonance?
You cultivate it rather than find it. Herds, scenes, and staged situations that reliably produce strong emotion are the standard answer, which is why elders own nightclubs.