All Skills and what they do in Vampire The Masquerade: Swansong

Vampire The Masquerade: Swansong lets players take control of three distinct vampires in a story where choices impact the narrative. Each of these characters can level up various stats to improve their versatility and effectiveness in combat and bolster their investigative skills. What do each of the Skills in Swansong do?

Character Skills improve how player characters perform in both the overworld and in conversation in Vampire The Masquerade: Swansong, and each Skill offers a unique boon for a particular attribute. Check our list below to see what each skill does in Swansong.

All Character Skills in Vampire The Masquerade: Swansong

Character Attributes

• Physical
  • When Dialogue ratings are equal, the winner is determined based on a percentage. This attribute affects the Skill Intimidation and the Celerity Discipline, and these stats can cost Focus points, which are limited.
  • Use this stat to overpower opponents in conversation stalemates.
    • One point: 30%
    • Two points: 46%
    • Three points: 58%, costs one Focus point
    • Four points: 66%
    • Five points: 70%, costs one Focus point
• Social
  • When Dialogue ratings are equal, the winner is determined based on a percentage. This attribute impacts the Skills of Rhetoric and Persuasion, as well as the Presence Discipline.
  • Improves chances of victory via conversation using these skills.
    • One point: 30%
    • Two points: 46%
    • Three points: 58%, costs one Focus point
    • Four points: 66%
    • Five points: 70%, costs one Focus point
• Mental
  • When dialogue ratings are equal, the winner is determined based on a percentage. This attribute impacts the Psychology Skill and the Dominate Discipline.
  • Improves victory chances via conversations with these skills.
    • One Point: 30%
    • Two Points: 46%
    • Three Points: 58%, costs one Focus point
    • Four Points: 66%
    • Five Points: 70%, costs one Focus point

Related: Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodhunt Tips and Tricks for Beginners

Dialogue Skills

• Rhetoric (Used in Dialogue)
  • Identify social conventions. Increase this stat to make conversations easier.
• Intimidation (Used in Dialogue)
  • Use verbal prodding to take control of the conversation and manipulator your opponent. The more points, the stronger your options.
• Persuasion (Used in Dialogue)
  • Use logical arguments and emotional appeals to coax others into agreeing with you.
• Psychology (Used in Dialogue)
  • Persuade others into working with you by preying on their emotional weaknesses and known behaviors. Become more convincing with each point.

Exploration Skills

• Security (Used in the Environment)
  • Lets players pick locks and open safes.
• Technology (Used in the Environment)
  • Improves character ability with electronic devices. Players can boost this skill to hack equipment, earn information, or bypass security.

Knowledge Skills

• Deduction (Used in Dialogue)
  • Allows characters to make accurate assumptions from one or several clues in their environments.
• Education (Used in Dialogue)
  • Informs the character of the surrounding Human and Vampire worlds and sciences

How to improve Abilities

Players can further improve the effectiveness of their abilities in Vampire The Masquerade: Swansong by investing points in Talents. Talents increase Abilities, but each Talent is linked to a specific action in Vampire The Masquerade: Swansong. To level up Talents, players must use their skills and Disciplines in Swansong successfully. You can see what skills will receive upgrades by hovering over them in the menu.

For more on Vampire games, visit some of our other articles on Pro Game Guides, like All Consumable Items in Vampire The Masquerade – Bloodhunt.