• COMPULSION - Vampires can control human minds and even alter or erase their memories by looking into their eyes and commanding them. As a subset of this ability, vampires can also manipulate the dreams of anyone weaker than them, even other vampires. Damon is the only vampire ever shown to compel someone without speaking to them.

• EMOTIONAL CONTROL - Vampires can turn their emotions and humanity on and off like a switch.

• ENHANCED ABILITIES - Vampires are far stronger and faster than humans and have heightened senses. These abilities become even stronger with time, and vampires who feed on human blood are stronger than those who feed on animal blood.

• HEALING BLOOD - Vampire blood can heal people from grave injuries, but if they die while the blood is in their system they will begin transitioning into a vampire themselves.

• ILLUSION PROJECTION - Once per day, Damon can cause one target to experience minor illusions for up to five minutes. Minor illusions include slight alterations in perceived physical appearances, or minor visual aberrations, such as orbs. Damon must be within arm’s reach of his target and he cannot change a target’s perception of self.

• IMMORTALITY - Vampires stop aging once they're turned and are immune to diseases. They also possess a healing factor which heals them from all but fatal injuries.