Unlike other battle royale entries,Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhuntuses an Archetype system. InBloodhunt, Archetypes are vampire “templates” based on the most prominent Clans in the World of Darkness title. And while they’re coming from generally the same group ofVampire: The Masqueradeclans, each of them approaches combat in different ways - courtesy of their Disciplines, or innate blood-related gifts unique to their Clan.
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Fans of battle royale titles may realize that this Archetype system is a best of both worlds approach - one where players can “choose” a particular build (like a hero) but also customize their character’s looks for personalization. But when it comes to choosing the best of the best, just which Archetype inBloodhuntshould players prioritize using?
7Siren (Toreador)
The Toreador carry a signature charm that gives them a hidden allure that attracts people, making them ideal negotiators and diplomats amongthe Camarilla. For theSiren (Toreador), they make use of their inner Kindred Charm (Passive) to lure mortals into a false sense of security, charming mortals and making them much friendlier - making feeding much easier.
Their Projection Dash (Clan) allows the Siren to cast a projection they can teleport to, letting them escape risky situations. Meanwhile, Blinding Beauty (Archetype) lets them radiate a blinding flash that blinds and damages enemies close by. While the Siren is a perfectly offensive Archetype, the odd mix of their powers makes them a bit hard to use.
6Vandal (Brujah)
Players who prefer gettingup close and personal to enemieswill appreciate using theVandal (Brujah), one of the two Brujah Archetypes in the game. Living up to the free-spirited and forward nature of the Brujah, the Vandal also loves getting in the heat of the battle. Thanks to Adrenaline Rush (Passive), the Vandal receives moderate damage resistance for as long as they’re close to enemies, giving them a bit of a defensive advantage when fighting.
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This works well with Soaring Leap (Clan), which allows them to leap high enough to get up close to their enemies and give them a good beating. When Soaring Leap doesn’t work, perhaps Earth Shock (Archetype) will do the trick, which is a leap that ends in a punch that hurls enemies forward. While great in melee, the popularity of guns in the game makes the Vandal an unideal choice in combat, and the fast-moving nature of Kindred makes Earth Shock only applicable in spaces with limited movement for enemies.
5Saboteur (Nosferatu)
Due toCaine’s curse, all Nosferatu appear disfigured, causing others to be frightened of them and forcing them to live underground. Serving as the go-to people for underground activities such as hacking and sabotaging, it makes sense that theSaboteur (Nosferatu)is a natural trickster that loves playing dirty. Their Unseen Passage (Passive) easily gives this away, as they become semi-invisible when crouching, visible only to the most perceptive of eyes.
Their Vanish (Clan) is a nifty teleport, turning the Nosferatu invisible and allowing players to get them to a further location. This is an easy way to escape firefights or even ambush foes. Lastly, Sewer Bomb (Archetype) is a deployable toxic gas bomb that explodes when approached by enemies, dealing damage over time. The stealthy nature of the Saboteur fits players that emphasize stealth, encouraging more tactical play despite the added complexity.
4Brute (Brujah)
Serving as one of the more frontline roles in the game, theBrute (Brujah)relies on cutting off the enemies’ offense and countering with sustained damage, eliminating foes before they get a chance to strike back. As Brujah, the Brute is passionate and aggressive - something reflected in True Grit (Passive), where they can continuously replenish up to half their current health when they don’t take damage.
This Passive fitstheir fighting style, where Soaring Leap (Clan) lets Brutes chase down escaping enemies or ambush unsuspecting enemies by surprise. Likewise, Shockwave Punch (Archetype) releases a shockwave forward that deflects bullets, reducing the damage that the Brute takes and giving them room to rush opponents for the counter. This balanced defensive-offensive build works for players who love using abilities to supplement their gunplay.
3Prowler (Nosferatu)
The Nosferatu’s stay underground allowed them to be more in tune with strays and other animals that live outside houses, allowing theProwler (Nosferatu)to continuously temper the Beast withinto control animalsin combat. Their Sense the Beast (Passive) allows them to detect the inner Beasts of others, leaving blood trails of severely wounded enemies that lead them to their location.
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This is extremely useful in tandem with Vanish (Clan), which is an invisibility-teleport combo that can help Prowlers chase their targets much faster. And even then, Scouting Famulus (Archetype) releases bats that scout an area and reveal enemies through walls, allowing the Prowler to become the scouts for their allies.
2Muse (Toreador)
Among the Clans, it’sthe Toreador that has a unique sense of charm. Capable of luring enemies into a false sense of security, theMuse (Toreador)carries the Clan’s signature qualities of sensuality and manipulation to eliminate enemies. With Final Act (Passive), the Muse can get an instant refresh on all ability cooldowns and use them in combat - giving them a chance to aid allies even when out of commission.
This is extremely helpful considering the support nature of their build. For instance, Rejuvenating Voice (Archetype) allows the Muse to sing live, channeling a healing aura that heals allies provided they don’t do other actions. And if the Muse needs a quick escape route, Projection Dash (Clan) gives them the option to send a projection of themself in an area and teleport to it when needed, making for a nifty escape tool that they may or may not use.
1Enforcer (Ventrue)
Introduced during Season 1: Retribution, theEnforcer (Ventrue)is easily one of the most balanced builds in the game in terms of both defense and offense, and this is something the Archetype does quite literally. As a member of Clan Ventrue, the Enforcer is naturally dominant, proud, and rational - as reflected with Subjugating Presence (Passive), wherein Enforcers are informed of the presence of nearby enemies and even slow them down.
However, where the Enforcer gets extremely deadly iswithin a firefight. Through Flesh of Marble (Clan), the Enforcer becomes invulnerable for a brief duration provided they don’t attack. Meanwhile, Unyielding Charge (Archetype) lets them rush forward to deal damage and silence enemies briefly. This combat-focused build makes the Enforcer a tough cookie to beat - and with the combat-heavy nature of the game, the Enforcer immediately gets an advantage.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhuntis currently available on PC and PS5.
