The 16 Greatest Buffy the Vampire Slayer Characters

Reluctant heroes, redeemed monsters, scene-stealing sidekicks and unforgettable big bads — the whole Sunnydale ensemble is on the ballot. Where do you stand?

1

Buffy Summers

The titular Slayer, a witty and reluctant teenage heroine balancing destiny with ordinary life.

1000pts

2

Cordelia Chase

The popular queen bee whose sharp tongue masks a surprising courage and loyalty.

555pts

3

Spike

The bleached-blond British vampire who evolves from ruthless villain to conflicted antihero.

500pts

4

Rupert Giles

Buffy's Watcher and the school librarian, a tweed-clad mentor with a rebellious past.

428pts

5

Joyce Summers

Buffy's warm, grounding mother whose ordinary life anchors the supernatural chaos.

428pts

6

Anya Jenkins

A former vengeance demon adjusting to mortal life with brutal honesty and comic awkwardness.

333pts

7

Faith

The rogue Slayer whose dark, impulsive streak makes her Buffy's foil and rival.

333pts

8

Willow Rosenberg

Buffy's bookish best friend who grows from shy hacker into one of the world's most powerful witches.

200pts

9

Angel

The brooding vampire cursed with a soul and Buffy's first great love.

200pts

10

Xander Harris

The loyal everyman of the Scooby Gang, providing heart and humor despite having no powers.

200pts

11

Dawn Summers

Buffy's younger sister, mystically inserted into the show's reality in season five.

1pts

12

Glory

A vain, world-destroying hell-goddess and the formidable season five antagonist.

1pts

13

Oz

Willow's laconic guitarist boyfriend who happens to be a werewolf.

1pts

14

Wesley Wyndam-Pryce

The bumbling rookie Watcher who arrives in season three before a darker later arc.

1pts

15

Mayor Richard Wilkins

The cheerful, germophobic mayor of Sunnydale plotting demonic ascension as the season three big bad.

1pts

16

Jenny Calendar

The tech-savvy teacher and Giles's love interest harboring a secret Romani mission.

1pts