Exactly how strong is a Slayer?? by chrisisall

BUFFYVERSE

Exactly how strong is a Slayer??

POSTED BY: CHRISISALL
UPDATED: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 06:51
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VIEWED: 10991
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Wednesday, January 10, 2007 11:14 AM

I've seen Buffy throw 200+lb demons twenty feet, and seen her jump off bloody great buildings and land unhurt and kick down *really* big doors.
So, do Slayers have Spider-man level strength?
Certainly they have more than, say, Daredevil, but could Faith heave a car into the air?
And: Are their strengths consistant? Seems Faith had a bit of a hard time with just a few average cops once...

What's your take?

Arnold Chrisisall

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Wednesday, January 10, 2007 11:21 AM

GROOSALUGG

Want the easy answer? They're as strong as each episode calls for them to be.

Sort of like the super-vampire-hearing thing: in some eps, they'll be able to hear a whisper from a hundred feet away, and in others, can't overhear a hushed conversation on the other side of the sofa...

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Wednesday, January 10, 2007 11:21 AM

EVILDINOSAUR

Well a slayer is a little stronger than a vampire i think. And just like a normal person, they can increase their strength by working out. So if we're doing the comparing them to superheroes thing, I'd say prolly about 2/3 to 1/2 the strength of spiderman sounds reasonable.

"Haha, mine is an evil laugh."

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Wednesday, January 10, 2007 11:45 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by Groosalugg:
in some eps, they'll be able to hear a whisper from a hundred feet away, and in others, can't overhear a hushed conversation on the other side of the sofa...

BWAHAHAHAHAHAH-

Too true Chrisisall

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Wednesday, January 10, 2007 1:13 PM

LITTLEALBATROSS29

I vaguely remember that Joss said Buffy had the strength of a grizzly bear..

can a grizzly bear throw a car ?

Bryce
******************

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Thursday, January 11, 2007 4:17 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by LittleAlbatross29:
I vaguely remember that Joss said Buffy had the strength of a grizzly bear..

can a grizzly bear throw a car ?

If it was a really small one, and the bear knew where to grab it...

All technical and such Chrisisall

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Thursday, January 11, 2007 5:24 AM

ROCKETJOCK

I think it's most likely that Buffy's strength varies with the situation; she always has enhanced strength to some degree, but when she needs it, it flows to her. Kind of a "The madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets!" sort of thing, but based on necessity, rather than anger.

So what would her rest state be? Well, traditionally a vampire has the strength of twenty men. Buffy can definitely hold her own against a vamp, even when surprised, so that's the likely lower level of her power potential. She can probably double that in a stress situation--and of course her augmented speed and agility enter into the equation as well.

"She's tore up plenty. But she'll fly true." -- Zoë Washburn

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Thursday, January 11, 2007 5:34 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by RocketJock:
traditionally a vampire has the strength of twenty men. Buffy can definitely hold her own against a vamp, even when surprised, so that's the likely lower level of her power potential.

...but Faith had a time of it with 3 or 4 cops outside The Bronze...??? Is Buffy a 'special' Slayer?
And vamps (even Angel) don't seem 20-men-stong; more like 6-10, depending.

We're here to pump *clap* you up Chrisisall

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Thursday, January 11, 2007 5:48 AM

EVILDINOSAUR

I think the reason faith was having problems with the cops is because she was holding back, she wasn't using her full strength because she didn't want to accidentally kill one of them, since she was trying to get over that whole killing people thing.

"Haha, mine is an evil laugh."

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Thursday, January 11, 2007 6:17 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by EvilDinosaur:
since she was trying to get over that whole killing people thing.

Plus maybe...little drunk?

*hic* Chrisisall

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Thursday, January 11, 2007 7:00 AM

RIVER6213

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
I've seen Buffy throw 200+lb demons twenty feet, and seen her jump off bloody great buildings and land unhurt and kick down *really* big doors.
So, do Slayers have Spider-man level strength?
Certainly they have more than, say, Daredevil, but could Faith heave a car into the air?
And: Are their strengths consistant? Seems Faith had a bit of a hard time with just a few average cops once...

What's your take?

Arnold Chrisisall

I think a Slayer is strong but not strong enough to lift a car and throw it. Spiderman kept a whole building from falling down on his girl friend. He even had a small conversation with his girlfriend while he kept that particular building from falling on her. A slayer couldn't do this, or at least we never got to see Buffy do this.

Buffy's strong but not as strong as Spiderman. Spiderman is strong enough to give the Hulk a run for his money. The Hulk would kill a Slayer if he could get his hands on her.

-River

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Thursday, January 11, 2007 7:13 AM

ZEEK

I'd agree that it varies. I mean a single uber vamp kicked Buffy's butt repeatedly when it was first introduced. Then by the end she was taking on whole gangs of them.

Her power was some magical ritual involving a demon heart right? So, maybe her connection to the demon's power changes based on the situation. If she's focused and knows she needs the strength then the connection increases and she's capable of a lot. On the other hand if Faith is drunk and fighting some cops who she doesn't really want to hurt too badly then her powers are not at full strength.

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Thursday, January 11, 2007 7:22 AM

EVILDINOSAUR

also a good possibility

"Haha, mine is an evil laugh."

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Thursday, January 11, 2007 8:08 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek:
On the other hand if Faith is drunk and fighting some cops who she doesn't really want to hurt too badly then her powers are not at full strength.

Really good wank; I'll buy it!

Fans find a way Chrisisall

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Thursday, January 11, 2007 10:14 AM

CYBERSNARK

Quote:
Originally posted by RocketJock:
I think it's most likely that Buffy's strength varies with the situation; she always has enhanced strength to some degree, but when she needs it, it flows to her. Kind of a "The madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets!" sort of thing, but based on necessity, rather than anger.

So what would her rest state be? Well, traditionally a vampire has the strength of twenty men. Buffy can definitely hold her own against a vamp, even when surprised, so that's the likely lower level of her power potential. She can probably double that in a stress situation--and of course her augmented speed and agility enter into the equation as well.

I.e., adrenaline.

Also, enhanced senses don't mean you can sense everything. Most people don't realize how easily sounds can be drowned out. Slayer hearing in a city just means that she can't hear you over that jackhammer on the next block, the bus screeching and shuddering to a stop, the guy talking on his cell phone, the car stereo playing 50 cent, and the five other people around you, each carrying on their own conversations.

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Friday, February 2, 2007 4:29 PM

XENABUFFYFAN

This has been something that has been widely debated and discussed. You can refer to the Wikipedia page in order to get a further handle on the debate (which was originally between me and another Wikipedia member who equally devised the "Strength" part of the SLAYER page).

Someone on here is right. Buffy's strength does seem to fall on the backburner depending on the need of the episode. But if we are going to look at the "overall" picture, she is potentially between Spiderman's strength at the high end or 2 (maybe 3) tons at the LEAST. My own has always been, Spider-man strong.

We only need to examine her high end feats to draw our own conclusions. She has toted steel beams with ease that weighed a "few hundred pounds". Lifted a giant steel portcullis (even the smallest ones are approximately 2 tons so it is unknown what this one's is) and she ripped apart prison bars and escorted Andrew and Jonathan outside the prison in under a minute, on top of tearing a rock stalagtite out of a cave ceiling.

Don't forget we have also seen Faith snap out of handcuffs and punch through an inch of concrete without chambering or any additional damage to her hand.

Let us not forget that the Marvel universe greatly differs in terms of physics to the Buffy verse. It has been pointed out that Spider man is NOT a match for the Incredible Hulk based on Strength (As someone on here said) but rather on his speed and agility. The Incredible Hulk vastly overwhelm's Spiderman's superhuman strength, only matched by possibily the Thing or Thor.

The fact is that, the situation of throwing a car has never really presented itself in the Buffyverse with the exception of TWO times. Jasmine and Warren. It does not mean that Buffy or Faith CAN'T pick up a car it's just that they never really had "deliberate property damage" on their list of tasks.

So draw your own conclusions from her feats such as lifting tons of weight and deforming/breaking metal with her bare hands and decide for yourself.

Xenabuffyfan

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Friday, February 2, 2007 5:04 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Less strong than a evil Goddess ( Glory ) or a First charged Preacher. ( Caleb )

I'd have to go with t.v rasslin' man. She's as strong as the writers need her to be.

Oh, and about Faith and those cops....she's been locked up and all, and still not acclimated to fighting demons day in and day out.

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Saturday, February 3, 2007 5:51 AM

CHARLIETHEBLOODY

one thing that I always found odd was olaf's hammer, when spike tried to pick it up it dragged him straight to the floor but then buffy could swing it around like a baseball bat. we know she's stronger than vamps but not by that much...

--------------------------------------
"I'm an artist, with an e and a beret."

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Saturday, February 3, 2007 8:19 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by charliethebloody:
one thing that I always found odd was olaf's hammer, when spike tried to pick it up it dragged him straight to the floor but then buffy could swing it around like a baseball bat. we know she's stronger than vamps but not by that much...

Just a dumb joke as I see it.

Outside of reality. Chrisisall

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Tuesday, February 6, 2007 10:47 PM

XENABUFFYFAN

I believe the RPG wrote that off as something to do with "Champion Conditions". Like Captain America wielding Thor's Hammer. Remember Spike didn't have a soul yet at that point (Season 5) and wasn't considered a champion or "worthy". But no doubt the Slayer would be considered worthy of wielding it. PLUS she is the one who defeated Olaf in the first place, so it would make sense that she would be able to hold the weapon.

I just don't see why she didn't use it against the Ubervamp and Caleb. You know, BEFORE getting ther Scythe.

Can you imagine, Buffy wielding the Scythe and the Hammer simultaneously? That's aLOOOOOOT of damage lol.

Xenabuffyfan

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Tuesday, February 20, 2007 11:24 PM

EMBERS

well I think Joss did say once that she had superhero strength...
I never thought he mean the same as superman,
but frankly I thought she could hold her own with spiderman
(I don't believe he ever really held up a building, that was just hype)

Maybe it'll be clearer in the comic books?

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Wednesday, February 21, 2007 6:51 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by embers:

(I don't believe he ever really held up a building, that was just hype)

Radioactive Chrisisall

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