Which creature would win a battle: Vampire or Werewolf

Werewolf

1 of 2

by Daniel Latham

Write now Print Invite a writer™ Add to Favorites RSS Feed Contact this writer

Between Vampires and Werewolves, the lycanthropes are easily the stronger of the two creatures. They are hunters and predators without peer, preying on human and animal alike. They are faster, stronger and more resilient than a human, and contrary to modern conception, have none of the intelligence loss that many assume is part of the affliction.

In the mythos of their native Romania, Werewolves and Vampires typically vie for the place of Super Predator. However, when considering the mythic Werewolf rather than the popular culture one, one cannot help but see its superiority. Werewolves are first and foremost at-will shape changers. There is none of this Full Moon nonsense in the earlier stories, and even once it was added it was only a restriction to younger Werewolves who were still in the throws of transformation. In these cases, they would suffer from the instability for only a month, from the time they were bitten to their first full moon. If they managed to survive that long, they would gain complete control over their shape changing, and be able to shift between man and wolf (And in some stories a third hybrid form) whether full moon or no moon, night or day. There is also the issue of intelligence when looking at the Romanian roots and the 'Hollywood Werewolf'. A true Werewolf, bestial as it may be, was not a simple animal. They were cunning and completely aware hunters, said to evade and even knowingly destroy traps and toy with the minds of their pursuers.

The second point to address would be weaknesses. Whereas a Vampire cannot cross running water, cannot be in the presence of sunlight, is rapidly consumed by fire, and is sensitive to strong spices like garlic, the Werewolf fears none of these. Rivers only serve to make it smell like wet dog, fire can only hold back its more timid canine companions, and sunlight is no protection from the raking claws and teeth of a several hundred pound wolf. The skin and fur of a Werewolf was impervious to iron or wood, whereas one could (And should) hack a Vampire apart with a simple hatchet. In fact, Decapitation was a common way of dealing with supposed Vampires. Only silver holds any threat to a Werewolf, the purity of the metal able to pierce it's unnatural hide. This is a vulnerability that it shares with Vampires, who were said to be unable to touch the metal, and Silver charms were understandably common throughout Romania through the dark ages and even into present day.

Another point of note is the Coffin of a Vampire. In the true myths regarding this unnatural creature, its coffin or grave hold a great deal of significance. Vampires cannot reside just anywhere, and they must return to the coffin, tomb or grave in which they were buried every morning or be destroyed. It was common 'practice' to move a coffin or replace it with another in order to trick a Vampire and destroy it. Werewolves have no such binding ties, and are free to move amongst humans where ever it my. In fact, it was not so rare to have a new face in a town to be accused of being a Werewolf if people or livestock started to disappear.

Speaking of humans, we see another weakness that Werewolves do not have, the need to feed. The killing instinct of a Lycanthrope is purely one of sport and pleasure, relishing in the hunt and the kill. While they would often consume their victims, there was no need, as normal food would sustain them. Vampires on the other hand can literally starve is they do not feed. Werewolves hunt because they like to, because their twisted and sadistic natures enjoy it, while with Vampires it is a matter of survival.

Functionally, Vampires and Werewolves are the same. Both are animalistic representations of mankind's worst impulses. However, Vampires are shrouded in the trappings of society, while Werewolves are true to their natures. Both have capabilities that are generally on par, in terms of strength, speed and even intelligence. Both can even call upon the animals of the night, wolves, bats and a myriad of insects answering their call. However, Vampires have many weaknesses, whereas a Werewolf has a single one, one which because it is shared by its competitor could not be used against it.

Separating the myths from Hollywood, the Werewolf is clearly the stronger of the two, and while the Vampire could still be argued to be more "intelligent", its options would be so few as to render such an advantage useless. The fact is further reinforced by the lasting fear of Werewolves in their Romanian homeland, where it is still considered foolish to venture into the woods alone, day or night.

Learn more about this author, Daniel Latham.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.