Vampires and werewolves have been portrayed in fiction for centuries as supernatural beings with incredible speed and strength. But which mythological monster is truly the fastest – vampires or werewolves? Let’s weigh the evidence from movies, TV shows, books and folklore to determine once and for all which creature would win in a race.
Speed of Vampires
Vampires are often depicted as having superhuman physical abilities, including incredible speed. Here are some examples of how fast vampires can run according to different fictional portrayals:
- In Bram Stoker’s original Dracula novel, Count Dracula could “move with considerable speed.”
- Vampires in Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles can run so fast they become a blur.
- Edward Cullen from Twilight can run at over 100 mph.
- In the TV show The Vampire Diaries, vampires can run at super speed, faster than werewolves.
- In the movie 30 Days of Night, vampires could move so fast humans couldn’t see them.
Based on these accounts, vampires are often shown moving anywhere from twice as fast as humans to hundreds of miles per hour. While speed varies by source, vampires are consistently portrayed with some level of superspeed.
Speed of Werewolves
Like vampires, werewolves also have enhanced speed in many fictional stories. Here are some examples:
- Werewolves in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series could move exceptionally fast.
- In the Twilight Saga, werewolves can run over 60 mph in wolf form.
- In the TV show Teen Wolf, werewolves have enhanced speed in human and wolf form.
- In the movie franchise Underworld, lycans in wolf form can move rapidly and much faster than humans.
- Werewolves in Supernatural are shown easily outpacing humans.
Werewolves are consistently depicted as having greater speed compared to regular humans. Their top speeds vary across different fictional works, but they are shown to run approximately twice as fast as people.
Comparison of Speed
When directly comparing the speed of vampires versus werewolves, vampires appear to have the advantage in most cases. Consider the following:
- In the Twilight series, Edward Cullen is able to easily outrun werewolves.
- In the Vampire Diaries, vampires have speed superior to werewolves.
- In the movie Van Helsing, vampires can move faster than werewolves.
- In the Blade franchise, vampires are shown with greater speed compared to werewolves.
While werewolves have enhanced speed compared to humans, vampires tend to be depicted as even faster in direct comparisons. Vampires are shown moving so fast they become a blur, easily outpacing werewolves and humans alike.
Advantages of Vampire Speed
Why are vampires often shown to be faster than werewolves? Here are some potential advantages:
- Immortality – Vampires live forever, allowing them centuries or millennia to perfect their speed.
- Lighter frame – The thin, light bodies of vampires may allow them to move faster than the bulkier wolf form of werewolves.
- Transformation – Werewolves only become wolves during the full moon while vampires always have access to their powers.
- Exaggerated abilities – Vampire fiction often exaggerates their attributes like speed to make them more monstrous.
These advantages allow vampires to be portrayed with blurring super-speeds in many fictional sources. Werewolves move much faster than humans, but still can’t match the greatest speeds of vampires.
Examples of Vampire Super Speed
Just how fast can vampires move according to different fictional depictions? Here are some dramatic examples:
- In Interview with the Vampire, Lestat could move faster than a human eye could follow.
- Dracula in the novel Dracula could “vanish” and reappear many miles away in just minutes.
- Alice Cullen in Twilight can run over 100 mph to create an “illusion of teleportation.”
- Vampires in The Vampire Diaries can run so fast they become invisible blurs.
- In certain vampire fiction, vampires can fly through the air at super speed like bullets.
These examples demonstrate the blinding speeds vampires are often attributed with. When writers exaggerate vampiric abilities, they are shown moving so fast that they can seem to teleport, disappear, or fly.
Top Speed of Vampires vs. Werewolves
While fictional works portray a range of speeds, what are the absolute fastest speeds attributed to vampires and werewolves?
| Creature | Top Speed |
|---|---|
| Vampires | 700 mph |
| Werewolves | 150 mph |
Based on the highest speeds described in any fictional work, vampires can run over four times faster than werewolves at maximum velocity. This enormous speed advantage gives vampires dominance in any race.
Advantages of Werewolf Speed
Despite vampires having the speed advantage overall, werewolves still have some strengths:
- Pack hunting – Werewolves use teamwork, outmaneuvering lone vampires.
- Strength – Werewolves have greater strength in wolf form to take down vampires.
- Endurance – Werewolves tireless wolf form can run for longer durations.
- Durability – Werewolves can continue fighting after injuries that would stop vampires.
While werewolves may lose in outright speed, teamwork and other attributes can allow them to gain an advantage in some situations.
Weaknesses That Slow Vampires
Despite their blinding speed, vampires also have weaknesses that can slow them down in certain scenarios:
- Sunlight – Direct sunlight can severely weaken vampires and reduce their speed.
- Blood deprivation – Lack of blood can starve vampires and dull their reflexes.
- Stakes – A stake through the heart will immobilize or kill a vampire.
- Decapitation – Removal of the head will kill any vampire.
- Garlic – According to folklore, garlic repels vampires.
Taking advantage of these vulnerabilities is one way werewolves could gain an edge against vampires in a fight, despite their speed disadvantage.
Special Cases of Faster Werewolves
While vampires tend to be faster over most fictional portrayals, there are some instances of werewolves with greater speed:
- Original werewolves in Vampire Diaries before vampires existed.
- Alphas in Teen Wolf who can outpace standard vampires.
- Elder werewolves in Underworld with speed rivalling vampires.
- Werewolves who ingest vampire blood in certain works gain enhanced speed.
These exceptions demonstrate that there are certainly cases where skilled writers have created werewolves capable of outrunning vampires. But in general, vampires have the advantage.
Conclusion
When analyzing the speeds of vampires versus werewolves across different mediums, vampires consistently demonstrate greater velocity in direct speed comparisons. Accounts of vampires moving too fast for human eyes to follow are common, while werewolves are usually limited to around double human speeds. For this reason, when asking “who would win a race between vampires and werewolves?”, the vampires have the clear edge in terms of pure speed and would win in most situations.
However, werewolves do possess other attributes like strength, endurance and teamwork that could potentially allow them to gain an advantage in certain circumstances. Additionally, creative fictional stories can establish werewolves with speed exceeding the norm for their kind. But all else being equal, when it comes to super-speed, vampires race ahead of werewolves.
