Dracula has special abilities (almost all of which are derived straight out of Stoker's novel "Dracula"), described by Spike as "showy gypsy stuff". These abilities include transforming into a cloud of fog and animals, wolves and bats in particular, and the ability to control minds (put someone under his "thrall"), as he does to Xander in "Buffy vs. Dracula". He also appears to be immune to staking to some extent: he still falls to dust when staked, appearing to die like other vampires, but can reform himself from said dust almost immediately thereafter, as well as manipulating the cloud even once 'dusted.'