Vampires in the world of Twilight are a unique kind, as each one has different abilities that vampires don’t usually have – and here’s how powerful each Cullen really is. Stephenie Meyer shared her unique vision of vampires in the novel Twilight, published in 2005, marking the beginning of a book series chronicling the often problematic romance between vampire Edward Cullen and human Bella Swan. Along the way, Bella and Edward came across with a couple of enemies, who weren’t on board with a relationship between a vampire and a mortal.
The Twilight series was a big hit, and quickly built a very solid and loyal fanbase, which only grew once the books made the jump to the big screen. The Twilight Saga was released between 2008 and 2012, and brought Bella, Edward, Jacob, and the rest of the characters to life, allowing fans to visualize their favorite characters and their special abilities. As mentioned above, vampires in the world of Twilight are different from the legendary monsters, though they retained the basic characteristics of immortality and feeding from blood, whether human or animal.
These vampires, however, have powers unique to each of them, that go from reading minds to controlling the elements of nature, and some others have more passive talents. When a human is transformed, their strongest trait is brought to their new life as a vampire, and this particularly intense skill is heightened after the transformation, which in some cases becomes a supernatural power. However, they don’t control these powers right away, and in some cases, it takes them centuries to master them. Of course, readers and viewers are more familiar with the powers of the Cullen clan, but how powerful is each member (including Bella)?
Carlisle Cullen
The leader of the Cullen clan and father figure to Edward, Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett, Carlisle was the first of the family to be transformed and thus the one who transformed most of his children. As mentioned above, some vampires have passive talents, and Carlisle Cullen is a good example of that. In his human life, he was very compassionate, a quality that was heightened once he became a vampire. This, combined with centuries of medical studies, has allowed Carlisle to become an excellent doctor who is no longer tempted by the scent and presence of human blood, which is why he has been able to work as a doctor for so long. His compassion extends to both humans and vampires, which helped him become a favorite among Twilight fans.
Esme Cullen
Esme is Carlisle’s wife and adoptive mother of Edward and siblings. She was transformed by Carlisle on her deathbed, after attempting suicide following the loss of her baby to lung fever. Very much like Carlisle, she has a passive talent, which is showing passionate love to those around her, making her (to the eyes of the clan) the perfect mother figure. In Eclipse, Bella comments on her not being as skilled in combat as the rest, which is probably due to her loving nature, as she hasn’t had to physically fight too often.
Edward Cullen
Edward was transformed by Carlisle when he was dying from Spanish influenza. Edward has a couple of special abilities, such as speed (he’s the fastest vampire in the Cullen clan), superhuman strength, endurance, and agility. However, his defining power is telepathy, and unlike Aro, he doesn’t need to touch his target to read their minds. This power comes from his ability to read people when he was a human, thus becoming his heightened talent as a vampire.
Bella Swan
Bella is finally transformed in Breaking Dawn by Edward after nearly dying giving birth to their daughter, Renesmee. As a human, she was immune to the mental powers of vampires, thus why Edward couldn’t read her mind. After her transformation, this ability turned into the power of shielding herself and those around her from powers that affect the mind, as are Edward and Aro’s mind-reading, Jane’s illusionary pain, and more. The only one who can go through that shield is her daughter, who has the power of placing her own thoughts and images into the minds of others and penetrate mental defenses, such as Bella’s.
Alice Cullen
Alice was turned into a vampire by one that worked at the asylum she was sent to, and she later joined the Cullen coven. She had premonitions as a human, which is why she was sent to an asylum, and this ability only grew stronger once she became a vampire. Alice can see several possible futures at the same time, and as the future can change with one decision, her visions constantly change as well. Aside from that, she’s the most agile of the family, and among the top three fighters thanks to her strength, speed, and creative yet logical fighting style.
Jasper Hale
Jasper was transformed by a vampire named Maria, who he aided in the creation of a newborn vampire army. Once he joined the Cullen family, he changed his diet to a “vegetarian” one and fed only from animals, though he constantly struggled with the impulse of drinking human blood. Jasper’s power is one of the most interesting ones in the Twilight universe, as he can sense and change the emotions of those around him, though he has to be careful as to not create a false reality. As for physical abilities, he’s the best fighter in the Cullen family, the second fastest, and the second strongest, and his experience in the military has helped him with different types of combat.
Rosalie Hale
Rosalie was also turned by Carlisle, after being raped and beaten by her fiancé and his friends. Rosalie also has passive abilities, which are enhanced beauty and musical and mechanical talents. As for physical capabilities, she’s a very good fighter, teaching Bella some moves in Eclipse and training her in Breaking Dawn.
Emmett Cullen
Emmett was found by Rosalie after being mauled by a black bear and turned into a vampire by Carlisle at Rosalie’s request. Like Rosalie, Carlisle, and Esme, he doesn’t have supernatural talents, but his strength was heightened after becoming a vampire, making him the strongest of the Cullen clan (but not the best fighter). Emmett believes that if Edward couldn’t read minds, he could defeat him in combat, and he was defeated by newborn Bella in an arm-wrestling match, thanks to her new strength.