Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition clan
Lasombra
Lasombra is a clan in Vampire V5: The shadow-wielding former Sabbat lords, now defected to the Camarilla.
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Key facts
- Disciplines
- dominate, oblivion, potence
Overview
The Lasombra are the shadow-wielding former architects of the Sabbat who, in V5, have made a stunning defection: they now sit at the Camarilla's Inner Circle in place of the fractured Tremere. They are ruthless, ambitious, and pragmatic, predators who believe that strength comes from being willing to do what others will not. Their power flows from Oblivion, a Discipline they share with the Hecata, letting them command shadows and call on the abyss. Lasombra characters excel at manipulation, intimidation, and shadow combat. Their Disciplines (Dominate, Oblivion, and Potence) make them powerful in both social and physical confrontations. However, their clan bane (Distorted Image) means they cast no clear reflection, appear distorted in cameras, and risk the Masquerade every time someone tries to photograph them.
How it works
Clan Disciplines: Dominate, Oblivion, Potence Clan Bane - Distorted Image: Lasombra do not appear in reflective surfaces or recordings cleanly. Mirrors, photographs, video, and audio capture them as distortions, smears, or wrong sound. The effect worsens with Bane Severity, making digital-era Masquerade compliance increasingly difficult. Touching a reflective surface may shatter it. Compulsion - Ruthlessness: When triggered, you must identify the weakest link in any task and eliminate it, by force if necessary. You take a two-dice penalty to all rolls until you succeed at the task by removing the perceived weak point. Starting Disciplines: Choose 3 dots among Dominate, Oblivion, and Potence (max 2 dots in any single Discipline at creation).
Tips and playstyle
Character Concepts: Inquisitor, mafia boss, defected Sabbat lord, corporate raider, intelligence officer, cult leader, abyss mystic. Playstyle: Lasombra are excellent for players who want a high-stakes manipulator with shadow combat capability. They suit ambitious characters chasing position within the Camarilla, often by climbing over Ventrue and Tremere rivals. Pair with Predator Types like Sandman or Extortionist; avoid Siren since the Masquerade implications of being a non-reflecting seducer are constant problems. Synergies: Oblivion lets you summon and shape shadows for combat and stealth. Dominate gives you direct mental control. Potence backs up your intimidation with raw physical threat. Invest in Politics, Intimidation, and Occult.
Frequently asked questions
Why are Lasombra in the Camarilla now?
In V5, a faction of Lasombra defected from the Sabbat after the Beckoning hollowed out elder leadership. They negotiated a seat at the Camarilla's Inner Circle, taking the Tremere slot. Many Camarilla traditionalists distrust them; many Lasombra distrust the Camarilla. This tension is great roleplay material.
How do Lasombra survive in the modern surveillance world?
With difficulty. The Distorted Image bane is a serious modern problem, every smartphone is a Masquerade threat. Lasombra rely on Dominate to make witnesses forget, Obfuscate-using allies, ghouls who control camera feeds, and careful choice of venues. Some build entire careers around the question 'where are the cameras?'
How does Oblivion work for Lasombra versus Hecata?
They share the Discipline but emphasize different paths. Lasombra Oblivion leans into shadow manipulation, abyss mysticism, and using darkness as a weapon. Hecata Oblivion leans into necromancy and ghost-binding. Both clans can learn the full Discipline, but the cultural framing differs.