Special abilities

"When you are human, everything is as if in a cocoon. But when you are turned into a vampire everything opens up to a better, but scarier, you."

- Riley Biers

In the Twilight universe, certain vampires have special abilities gained or enhanced when they are turned. In The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, Riley reveals that one in about every fifty vampires is 'talented'.

Explanation
When a human transforms into a vampire, they bring their strongest human trait into their 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 surround those around her.

A large majority of vampiric gifts are based on the mind, but there have been exceptions as some powers work physically.

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, or Maggie and Charles.

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

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.

Other talents
These vampires have abilities that are not quantifiably supernatural.


 * Note: Some vampires may have additional special traits beyond their main ability, as with Edward's incredible speed and mastery of the piano apart from his mind-reading gift.

Categories
Certain powers' capabilities land in specific categories, though it is rather difficult at times because no talent ever works the exact same way. For instance, an ability that protects any part of the bearer is called a "shield", and one that tracks a target is called a "tracker", which is also known as one of the most common talents. Since Edward and certain other vampires possess abilities to "read" things, they can be considered "readers"; also, vampires with the power to project a sort of illusion can be considered "illusionists".