Weapons

Weapons used to kill Vampires .......

Weapons

Stake - A stake is a piece of wood, sharpened at one end to form a point. A stake, used by slayers to kill vampires, is one of the many characteristics that have remained with the folklore of vampires throughout the years. The stake is struck into the heart of a vampire in order to kill it. Buffy uses stakes as her most popular vampire-dispensing weapon. The stake cannot be made of any other material besides wood in order to be effective in slaying. If ever in a bind, and you don't have a stake on you, it can be substituted with any pointed wood objects, such as a pencil, tree branch, or broken piece of wood furniture.

Cross  - The cross is not exactly a deadly weapon, unless it's creatively put to use. Some argue that the significance of the cross and it's effect upon vampires is the religious belief. Since vampires are demons, religion would be considered an offense. However, others argue that the cross is more of a symbol of good and since vampires are bad, the cross is a tool useable for warding them away. When the cross comes in contact with a vampire, they are burned. The downside to this weapon, is that it can be knocked easily away and then you're defenseless against the demon. But, it's still a must have when you're out slaying late at night.

Holy Water  - Holy Water is another vampire weapon that many disagree upon. Like the cross, some say its effect is based on religion, and others say it's a good/evil thing. Holy water is burns vampires when it comes in contact with them like the cross. It can be a very useful weapon when needed. However, it can't kill unless it's used in a large amount. Holy water can be any water that has been blessed by a priest.

Crossbow  - A missile weapon of the middle ages used for it's distance range and ability to pierce armor. The crossbow can hit a target as far away as 150 ft. Buffy put it to good use against Angel and the Master in the first season. Buffy used an older model made of wood which only carries 3 extra bolts (which are made of wood with a metal arrow at one end) but the technology of crossbows has long since become much more advanced. Several other versions have been used since the first season. In the season 3 episode, "The Wish," a smaller, hand-held, metal crossbow was used by the Buffy from an alternate universe.

Swords  - A useful and versatile weapon. Swords can be used to decapitate vampires, and kill other demons. However much skill is needed to wield this weapon effectively.

Axe  - Similar to the sword in its uses. Prefered weapon of choice for killing demons due to its ease of use.

Fire: Fire bad. Vampires don't like. Burning the body of a vampire is an effective method of destroying it. However, the vampire must be thoroughly burned to ashes or it will eventually heal itself and return for bitter vengeance. The best method is when the vampire's head and heart had been removed first before the corpse is burned.

Beheading: Cut off the vampires head and you basically end the creature's undead existence. Many past cultures combined his with other methods to fully destroy the vampire. Vampires were beheaded, had their hearts staked and then cut out, and the remains of their bodies were burned to ash and buried on consecrated grounds. I guess they figured why take any chances.

Sunlight  They can be burned by the sun; the touch of direct sunlight causes a vampire's flesh to smoulder, and then ignite, and even if they manage to get out of the sun, they often need to extinguish the flames as well (Lover's Walk). It is however only direct sunlight that harms vampires; indirect sunlight offers them no harm or discomfort whatsoever.