Vampires of Fiction have an interesting array of abilities. Since such vampires are animated corpses, most of their powers have to do with a physical aspect. It is said that as vampires grow older, they also grow more powerful. This may mean that either they grow stronger in the powers they already possess or they acquire new powers never heard of before. Due to this unpredicatable element, it is unwise to difficult to categorize their exact powers. Below is a list of the most common powers most vampires have: Superhuman Strength
A vampire possesses a strength no mere mortal can match up with. They essentially have the strength of ten men. This makes them extremely hard to deal with in physical combat.
Superhuman Speed
As vampires live beyond mortal time, they can phase through a small period of time, enabling them to move faster than what the human eye can perceive. This is also why vampires are said to be able to "teleport".
Enhanced Senses
As a predator, the vampire is equipped with enhanced senses of hearing, smell and sight. The vampire can see as well in total darkness as humans can see in broad daylight. There are even rumours that vampires possess infrared vision allowing them to track living beings.
Hypnotism
Probably their most useful weapon, vampires can plant suggestions into anyone meeting their hypnotic gaze. The strength of the suggestions depend on the difference between the vampire's will and that of the victim's. Using this power, vampires can also force victims to forget about the attack.
Damage Resistence
Vampires are extremely resistant to physical damage. Conventional weapons like blades and guns cannot damage their physical form. Only holy items or weapons made of specific materials can inflict injuries on them.
Regeneration
Even if a vampire is wounded, their rate of healing is very fast. Most wounds will heal with one night of rest. Only serious wounds caused by holy items would scar them forever. Some even say that a vampire can heal all its wounds by draining all the fresh blood from their victim.
Animal Control
Vampires can control the minds of bats, rats and wolves found in their vicinity. These animals will obey every command of their newfound master's, even if it brings death.
Shape Shifting
Vampires can shape-shift into the shape of a bat or a wolf. They can also disperse into elemental vapours, thus allowing them to skip in through door slits or narrow cracks.
Wall Climbing
Vampires can climb walls without the aid of any equipment. They can climb up or down the steepest walls the way insects do (much like Spiderman), enabling them to seek refuge in places where no mere mortal can reach.
Magical Abilities
Vampire have limited control over the weather. They could raise a fog or summon a storm to cover their tracks. Older vampires may have other magical powers such as necromancy or alchemy.
Creating new vampires
New vampires created by a vampire master will become their master's slaves. Only victims whom has been chosen to rise by the master vampire would rise as vampires themselves. The specific details of the transformation would be discussed in the next chapter. Vampire slaves have to obey the will of their master. Only when the master is weakened (eg. in daylight), destroyed or if the master consciously releases its control; then the slave could act on its own will.
Immortality
Of course, vampires are immortal. They do not age and die with the passing of time. Although they may appear to have aged when they have not fed for a long time, they will be rejuvenated when they drink a lot of blood. They are also immune to all forms of diseases known to humans. Due to their long "life span", their cunning and intelligence cannot be underestimated as it is one of their most formidable weapons.
These are just the most common powers. Older vampires are said to be able to direct the elements too. The most ancient vampires are supposed to be able to stand in the sunlight for at least an hour. As their ties with the netherworld grow stronger with age, the effect holy items have on them are lessened. So we can see, the oldest of these monsters are truly formidable opponents along with their accumulated knowledge and abilities. The passage below drawn from Galican folklore says a lot about the vampire's powers:
"The power of the vampire is very great and many-
sided, even in his lifetime can kill people and even eat
them alive; can bring into being, or remove, various
sicknesses and epidemics, storms, rain, hail, and such;
he casts spells on cows and their milk, the crops and
the husbandry generally; he knows all secrets and the
future, etc. Besides this he can make himself invisible
or transform himself into various objects, especially
into animal forms."
There are no set rules governing the powers that a vampire can acquire. Vampire hunters would do well to be more flexible with the rules. Use the information above as neccessary, but always prepare for the unexpected.