Ability identification

"He has the ability to sense the type and strength of gifted vampires' talents."

- Entry on Eleazar's gift

Ability identification is the vampire power to determine if a human or vampire has a special gift and identify the person's ability. Eleazar shows it as his own.

Description
Eleazar instinctively feels the gifts of vampires and humans alike. He considered it a "haphazard practice", as no one's gift worked in the exact same way because "everyone's mind is different." He is capable of getting a general idea of what any vampire is capable of just by being in proximity with him or her.

History
Eleazar was invited to join the Volturi coven for this reason―Aro considered very useful the fact he could, potentially, determine which vampires had the strongest offensive gifts, and, therefore, determine the Volturi's most dangerous foes. Aro would often send him searching for rare talents like Bella's or Benjamin's to bring back to him therefore strengthening the Volturi. When Eleazar left (due to finding his mate, Carmen), Aro was very disappointed, as he was losing possibly the best defensive weapon the Volturi had. Eleazar informed the Cullens of many Volturi vampires' powers during the confrontation with them.

Eleazar was the one who helped to discover Bella's own gift once she became a vampire, which was a mental shield. Unlike previous cases, Eleazar's gift was blocked by her shield; and this convinced him that she was indeed using some kind of powerful mental shield.

Limitations
Like the majority of vampire gifts, Eleazar's gift is also mental; so his gift was blocked by Bella's ability to block mental abilities. He can also sense the gifts of humans, though to an extent. He has to concentrate harder on human, because the latent ability is so nebulous. And like Edward, Eleazar has to be in proximity with his target to get a feel of their gifts.