Some of the best vampire characters from different TV shows would decimate everyone and emerge as the victor if they were in the Hunger Games. The vampire TV show became a staple of pop culture in the 1990s with the advent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but was spurred forward in the 2000s when Twilight blew up (although the animated Twilight TV show is still in the works). These days, fans of this particular fantasy subgenre have plenty of shows to enjoy, many of which showcase similar tones, stories, and themes.

Shows like The Vampire Diaries and True Blood naturally invite comparisons, including who among each show’s most powerful characters would win in a fight. Some TV vampires demonstrate exactly the kind of fortitude, skill, and moral ambiguity it would take to win the Hunger Games, whether they were going up against humans or other vampires. Some of these vampires have magical power at their disposal that outranks most people in their respective settings, while others have intelligence and grit that would make them the unexpected victor in the Hunger Games.

10

Angelus “Angel” (David Boreanaz)

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Angel is one of the most powerful characters in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the most well-known vampire in the setting due to the hoards he has killed. During the centuries he has been undead, Angel’s standard vampiric abilities of strength and speed increased, making him stronger than the average vampire. This is in addition to the combat experience and tactical skills he acquired over time. Angel’s wide range of skills and strengths make him a dangerous competitor, although whether he wins probably depends on what point in his character arc he is at.

The only mark against Angel in the Hunger Games would be his own guilty conscious. After being cursed and having his soul returned, Angel is always weighed down by guilt for what he has done. The characters in The Hunger Games remark upon the fact that “no one decent wins the Games,” prompting the question whether Angel would prioritize his own survival and deal with the guilt afterward, as Katniss and many victors like her do.

9

Blade (Sticky Fingaz)

Blade: The Series

The half-vampire, half-human vampire hunter Eric Brooks a.k.a. Blade gets all the perks of being a vampire without its downfalls. He has enhanced senses, strength, speed, agility, healing, etc., but is not affected by sunlight and other things traditionally harmful to vampires. Therefore, Blade has the upper hand against any human competitors but also an advantage over other vampire competitors, who may only be able to move around at night (unless they have a daylight ring à la The Vampire Diaries).

Blade being a practiced hunter would also be to his advantage. He is a loner character who would move through the arena in solitude, knowing that he could probably take on the career pack by himself. Blade’s isolation might be a way for other competitors to take him out, especially if they are working together, but they would still have to contend with his deadly skill.

8

Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård)

True Blood

True Blood’s lore is an example of where older vampires are typically more powerful, with time having only allowed their strength to manifest further. Therefore, Eric is one of the most powerful vampires in True Blood, as he is over 1,000 years old. He has the rare ability to fly, which could at least get him off the ground if he were overpowered, and is immune to sunlight part of the time due to having drunk a vampire-fairy hybrid’s blood (whether he has this ability yet/still during the Hunger Games could change the outcome).

Eric is technically not the strongest vampire in existence, as some others are older than him. However, Eric is very controlled and calculating and could likely find a loophole in situations where he is physically at a disadvantage. He is also tactful enough to secure the sponsors he needs. Eric’s biggest weaknesses are proven to be those he is most loyal to, but if all the other people in the arena are to him are competitors, he would kill them without a second thought.

7

Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder)

The Vampire Diaries

Damon is a fearless and reckless fighter, whom his enemies might be able to defeat if they use his tendency to charge into any fight against him. However, this does not account for Damon’s determination to tear his way through any obstacle. Damon has a generally pessimistic outlook, causing him to accept circumstances for what they are and would probably turn off his emotions (a vampiric ability in The Vampire Diaries) if he thought being a remorseless killer would better serve him in this situation.

Damon is also charismatic yet uncaring enough that he could make useful alliances but turn on others when it becomes necessary. He is not necessarily the strongest or most intelligent of the lot. However, he knows what it is like to be both the underdog and the one most likely to win and never gives in no matter his approach. He ends up in many fights in The Vampire Diaries that he logically should not win, but emerges victorious anyway.

6

Tara Thornton (Rutina Wesley)

True Blood

Tara is a potential victor that would probably surprise spectators — she doesn’t have the patience or the willingness to put on a nice face to win sponsors, and there are many vampires both in True Blood and from other shows that are far more powerful than her. Tara is only a vampire for a while before her death, with little window to build up her strength or become accustomed to using it. However, Tara’s relentless, no-nonsense personality remains when she becomes a vampire and would serve her well in any battle.

Tara is confrontational, smart, and adaptable, and becoming a vampire only enhances these aspects of her personality. It is after her transformation that she hones them even more, making her a more effective fighter. Most people might count her out in a Hunger Games full of TV’s most powerful vampires, but she might pull through by sheer willpower alone.

5

Vlad “Dracula” Tepes (Graham McTavish)

Castlevania

In the mythology of Castlevania, Dracula is the oldest and most powerful vampire in the world. His abilities far surpass all others of his kind, let alone other humans. He has been known to level entire towns and possesses a vast amount of scholastic knowledge that may also be useful at unexpected points in the Hunger Games. In Castlevania season 2, Dracula mostly withdraws from planning his war against humanity, devastated by the death of his wife, which prompted him to launch this war in the first place.

In most cases, if someone were to attack Dracula, he would probably perfunctorily kill them. It takes Castlevania’s main trio, including Dracula’s own son, to kill him — and even during this battle, he submits to Alucard when he becomes horrified by fighting his child. Dracula may not seem like he is paying attention all that much, but it makes him no less impossible to kill.

4

Klaus Mikaelson (Joseph Morgan)

The Vampire Diaries & The Originals

Klaus is one of the most powerful vampires in The Vampire Diaries, although the plot of both this show and The Originals includes multiple enhanced vampires who outclass the Originals for the added drama of Klaus and his family being threatened. Yet Klaus is still one of the oldest vampires in the world and the original vampire-werewolf hybrid. He has some of the abilities of each magical being, in addition to greater vampiric speed and strength.

The Originals are also immune to regular wooden stakes, so unless there is a specific kind of tree in the arena, the rest of the tributes are doomed. Yet Klaus’ temperament as well as his physical abilities make him an especially deadly competitor. Klaus tends to kill first and ask questions later; negotiating a (temporary) alliance with him would be futile. He is deeply protective of his family, even if he hurts them himself, but shows little mercy to anyone else.

3

Alucard (Jôji Nakata/Crispin Freeman)

Hellsing & Hellsing Ultimate

On the other hand, Alucard is the strongest vampire in the Hellsing universe, a manga adaptation comprising the Hellsing and Hellsing Ultimate anime shows. Alucard, a name that has been used multiple times in vampire fiction as it is “Dracula” backwards, out-classes everyone else in his universe. He has a variety of unique powers that other vampires do not, including some shapeshifting, teleportation, telekinesis, and blood and weather manipulation.

Alucard is also immune to weapons that would kill most vampires. He enjoys tormenting his adversaries before killing them, demonstrating how confident he is in his own power. Alucard’s ego might be a weakness, but this is hard to argue when his arrogance is completely justified because of how indestructible he is — even if he is blown to smithereens, he will just reform a moment later.

2

Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid)

Interview With The Vampire

Lestat is a legendary literary vampire of almost the same status as Dracula. Anne Rice paints him as Louis’ extremely manipulative and very old maker, who commands every room he walks into. In addition to heightened senses and physical abilities, Lestat has some telepathic abilities, allowing him to read minds and control other people. Of course, being able to determine the next plan of any opponent would give Lestat a huge advantage in terms of strategy.

Lestat is not impossible to defeat; supposed Louis could have killed Lestat in the Interview with the Vampire season 1 finale but spared him because of lingering affection for his maker. However, Lestat’s ability to manipulate and draw in other people may also be a strength when fighting for survival. If he is willing to kill his opponent, but they are not willing to kill him, then he has already won.

1

Katherine Pierce (Nina Dobrev)

The Vampire Diaries

Katherine has essentially everything a Hunger Games tribute could hope for as natural extensions of her personality. She is a ruthless killer, a relentless survivor, and a master manipulator. Seeing how she can get almost anyone to fall in love with her only to turn on them later, she could win sponsors over easily. Despite technically having only standard vampiric abilities, Katherine makes the most of what she has and tends to pick up additional advantages along the way.

For instance, Katherine reveals that she made herself immune to vervain by ingesting small amounts of it to build up a tolerance, and somehow (off-screen) convinced the devil himself to make her the Queen of Hell. She has an intrinsic ability to get out of any situation and centuries of practice with strategy and combat. Like some other TV vampires who would probably win the Hunger Games, Katherine is technically not the most powerful, but this does not guarantee her death.

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  The Vampire Diaries

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  Based on the novels by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is a story about the developing love triangle between Elena Gilbert and two vampiric brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Set in the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, the show follows the trio from high school through college as they battle for one another’s affection.

  Cast

  Nina Dobrev
  , Ian Somerhalder
  , Steven R. McQueen
  , Paul Wesley
  , Kat Graham
  , Michael Trevino
  , Michael Malarkey
  , Zach Roerig
  , Candice King
  , Matthew Davis

  Seasons

  8

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  The Originals

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  Spinning off from the popular CW series The Vampire Diaries, The Originals is a supernatural drama series that follows three vampiric siblings of the first vampire family known to exist. With the eldest sibling, Klaus being a hybrid of werewolf, witch, and now vampire, the three find themselves attempting to help with the delicate balance of powers in the New Orleans French Quarter as they deal with their own family troubles.

  Cast

  Joseph Morgan
  , Charles Michael Davis
  , Phoebe Tonkin
  , Danielle Campbell
  , Daniel Gillies
  , Leah Pipes

  Seasons

  5

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  true blood

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  True Blood is a horror/fantasy drama series created by Alan Ball and starring Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, and Alexander Skarsgård. The series follows the life of Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress with telepathic powers that lives in a fictional town in Louisiana. In this town, a new synthetic “drug” has allowed vampires to escape their coffins and roam amongst the living.

  Cast

  Ryan Kwanten
  , Kristin Bauer van Straten
  , Sam Trammell
  , Alexander Skarsgard
  , Stephen Moyer
  , Rutina Wesley
  , Anna Paquin
  , Chris Bauer

  Seasons

  7

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  Buffy The Vampire Slayer

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  Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a supernatural comedy-drama series released in 1997. The show follows the exploits of Buffy, a woman born into a line of “Slayers” destined to do battle with vampires, demons, and monsters. Aided by her close group of friends and a Watcher who helps her hone her craft, the crew solves mysteries and battles the forces of evil to protect their town – and the world.

  Cast

  Sarah Michelle Gellar
  , Nicholas Brendon
  , Alyson Hannigan
  , Charisma Carpenter
  , Dan Rubin
  , David Boreanaz
  , Seth Green
  , James Marsters

  Seasons

  7

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  Interview with the Vampire

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  Based on Anne Rice’s novel series that began in 1976, Interview with the Vampire is a gothic horror fantasy series that explores the life of Louis de Pointe du Lac through an interview with a journalist. Told through flashbacks of Louis’ life during the interview, the series examines Louis’ relationship with the vampire that turned him, Lestat de Lioncourt, and a teenage girl named Claudia, whom he turns. The series is the first of Anne Rice’s Immortal Universe media franchise.

  Cast

  Jacob Anderson
  , Sam Reid
  , Eric Bogosian
  , Bailey Bass

  Seasons

  2

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  Castlevania

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  Based on the video game franchise, Castlevania is a Netflix original animated action series that follows the never-ending battle of the monster-slaying Belmont clan as they continue to face off against the hordes of the night. When Count Dracula’s human wife is murdered, his grief leads him to doom the world to eternal darkness. To stop him, it’ll take a team of three unlikely heroes banding together: the last remaining Belmont, Trevor, a magic-wielding seeker named Sypha Belnades, and the tortured half-human, half-vampire son of the count himself, Alucard.

  Cast

  Lance Reddick
  , Jaime Murray
  , Emily Swallow
  , Adetokumboh M’Cormack
  , Bill Nighy
  , Graham McTavish
  , Tony Amendola
  , Jason Isaacs
  , Jessica Brown Findlay
  , Matt Frewer
  , Toru Uchikado
  , Richard Armitage
  , Rila Fukushima
  , Alejandra Reynoso
  , Theo James
  , Ivana Miličević
  , Peter Stormare
  , James Callis

  Seasons

  4

  Expand

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  Hellsing (2001)

  Cast

  Jōji Nakata
  , Yoshiko Sakakibara
  , Fumiko Orikasa
  , Steven Brand
  , Ralph Lister
  , Crispin Freeman
  , Victoria Harwood
  , Katie Gray

  Seasons

  1

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  Hellsing Ultimate (2006)

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  Hellsing Ultimate is an anime series that follows the Hellsing Organization’s battle against vampires and other supernatural threats in a dark and gothic world. The series focuses on Alucard, a powerful vampire serving the organization, and his master, Sir Integra Hellsing, as they confront enemies like the Nazi-originated Millennium group and the Iscariot Organization. Hellsing Ultimate is known for its intense action and dramatic storytelling.

  Cast

  Katie Gray
  , Crispin Freeman
  , Victoria Harwood
  , Ralph Lister
  , Jōji Nakata
  , Fumiko Orikasa
  , Yoshiko Sakakibara
  , Gildart Jackson

  Seasons

  1

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  Blade: The Series

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  Blade: The Series follows the half-human, half-vampire Eric Brooks, also known as Blade, as he battles the vampire underworld in Detroit. Starring rapper Kirk “Sticky Fingaz” Jones, the show expands on the lore established in the Blade film trilogy, exploring Blade’s ongoing war against the supernatural forces threatening humanity. The series delves deeper into Blade’s complex struggle with his dual identity and his relentless quest for vengeance.

  Cast

  sticky fingaz
  , Jill Wagner
  , Nelson Lee
  , Jessica Gower
  , Neil Jackson
  , Paulette Victor Lifton
  , Larry Poindexter
  , P. Lynn Johnson

  Seasons

  1