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

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, it heightens after their transformation and becomes a power of some sort. For example, Bella's shield originally only covered her, 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 certain 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.

It has been speculated that gifts can be passed down genetically, but influence of intrauterine environment during pregnancy and upbringing during infancy and teen years have not been assessed. The two generations of the Swan family, Bella and Renesmee, are examples of abilities passed down this way. This also explains that half-vampire hybrids inherit their powers from their vampire and, less commonly, human parents.

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".