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. 1
   Buffy Summers

   The titular Slayer, a witty and reluctant teenage heroine balancing destiny with ordinary life.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Cordelia Chase

   The popular queen bee whose sharp tongue masks a surprising courage and loyalty.
   555pts
3. 3
   Spike

   The bleached-blond British vampire who evolves from ruthless villain to conflicted antihero.
   500pts
4. 4
   Rupert Giles

   Buffy's Watcher and the school librarian, a tweed-clad mentor with a rebellious past.
   428pts
5. 5
   Joyce Summers

   Buffy's warm, grounding mother whose ordinary life anchors the supernatural chaos.
   428pts
6. 6
   Anya Jenkins

   A former vengeance demon adjusting to mortal life with brutal honesty and comic awkwardness.
   333pts
7. 7
   Faith

   The rogue Slayer whose dark, impulsive streak makes her Buffy's foil and rival.
   333pts
8. 8
   Willow Rosenberg

   Buffy's bookish best friend who grows from shy hacker into one of the world's most powerful witches.
   200pts
9. 9
   Angel

   The brooding vampire cursed with a soul and Buffy's first great love.
   200pts
10. 10
    Xander Harris

    The loyal everyman of the Scooby Gang, providing heart and humor despite having no powers.
    200pts
11. 11
    Dawn Summers

    Buffy's younger sister, mystically inserted into the show's reality in season five.
    1pts
12. 12
    Glory

    A vain, world-destroying hell-goddess and the formidable season five antagonist.
    1pts
13. 13
    Oz

    Willow's laconic guitarist boyfriend who happens to be a werewolf.
    1pts
14. 14
    Wesley Wyndam-Pryce

    The bumbling rookie Watcher who arrives in season three before a darker later arc.
    1pts
15. 15
    Mayor Richard Wilkins

    The cheerful, germophobic mayor of Sunnydale plotting demonic ascension as the season three big bad.
    1pts
16. 16
    Jenny Calendar

    The tech-savvy teacher and Giles's love interest harboring a secret Romani mission.
    1pts