Special abilities

Certain vampires have special abilities gained or enhanced when they are turned.

Explanation
When a human transforms into a vampire, her/his strongest trait is brought into her/his new life. When someone has a particularly intense skill or characteristic, it heightens after their transformation. Some of those characteristics become a supernatural power of some sort. The more pronounced it was in human form, the stronger it becomes in vampire form. For example, Bella's mind originally only covered her from psychic powers, but after becoming a vampire she could project it to cover those around her.

A large majority of vampiric gifts affect the mind, but there have been exceptions as some powers work on the physical world, like Benjamin's elemental control.

Eleazar has explained that every gift is unique, never working the same way twice because no one ever thinks exactly the same way. This is proven by the differences in similar gifts among vampires, for example Edward and Aro, Bella and Renata, Jane and Alec, or Maggie and Charles.

Also, even though vampires have gifts, some may take time to develop and decades, if not centuries, to improve.

An hybrid can be born with hereditary gifts from his/her parents; if the human mother is already gifted, her gift may be inherited as well.

Since the Swan family has passed down mental abilities for three generations, it has been speculated that gifts might be passed down genetically, though influence of intrauterine environment during pregnancy and upbringing during infancy and teen years may also be important.

There are currently 28 gifted vampires and one gifted vampire hybrid.

Passive talents
These vampires have abilities that are not quantifiably supernatural, but are known as their strongest characteristics.

Note: Some vampires may show special traits beyond their main ability, as with Edward who, in addition to his telepathic gift, shows an incredible speed and mastery of the piano.

Categories
Certain powers' capabilities land in specific categories, but it is at times rather difficult to do so, because no two talents ever work the exact same way. For instance, an ability that protects the bearer, is referred to as a "shield", and one that tracks a target is called "tracker", which is also known as one of the most common talents despite the small population of vampiric supernatural abilities. Since Edward and a few other vampires can "read" minds, they are considered "mind readers"; also, vampires with the power to project a sort of illusion can be considered "illusionists".