While mages, werewolves, and other supernatural creatures can learn extraordinary powers, they each develop their own kind of magic. They consider Thaumaturgy to be theirs and theirs alone, and they will try to get rid of other vampires who use blood magic. Some clans are more willing to share their unique disciplines than others some clans will seek to kill outsiders who learn and use their powers.

The Tzimisce might have Animalism and Auspex in common with other clans, but they developed Vicissitude on their own.

Some disciplines are more common than others - the Toreador and Brujah both have Presence as a clan discipline, while the Tzimisce and Gangrel share Animalism - but some clans have unique abilities. Each clan specializes in three disciplines (called clan disciplines) - it is easier for them to learn these three disciplines than all of the others and they don't usually need a teacher. Only vampires with lower generations can learn disciplines of sixth level or higher high generation vampires just don't have enough power in their blood to do so. Disciplines are arranged in levels, on a scale from one to ten, with first level powers being small and tenth level powers being the most powerful. Disciplines are unique to Cainites, though no one knows exactly why. One of the major things that sets vampires apart from others is their ability to develop special, magic-like powers, called disciplines.

Vampire the masquerade vicissitude