The Best Vampires In Media + Who Truly Deserves the Crown of Vampirism?

Welcome to the twenty-ninth day of my daily October posts! Throughout these next 3-days, I will be posting different spooky fun facts, tricks and treats. Today, I will be ranking the best vampires in all media! We will end this post by giving the crown of vampirism to the strongest vampire in media history! If you don't agree with any of these ranks, then please let me know your chosen ranks in the comments below!! Enjoy!

Warning: This post includes spoilers!

10. Lord Ruthven from the novella The Vampyre (1819) by John William Polidori - Although Lord Ruthven is not the most powerful vampire by any means, he is extremely manipulative and calculated. I added him simply because he is the first vampire to be called a “vampyre” in all literary history—which is why he is so important.

9. Carmilla from the novel Carmilla (1872) by Sheridan le Fanu - Yet another vampire that is iconic for her role and what she stands for! Carmilla is the first “seductress“ vampiress. She is the first vampiress to have her own novel, and she is iconic within her own right as the most famous female vampire in history!

8. Nandor from the television series What We Do In the Shadows (2019) by Jemaine Clement - I am aware that this is a rather silly reason to put a vampire in the top 10 but I had to rank Nandor #8 on the list for being a big silly guy. Although he does have some horrific things about him from his past, ultimately as a vampire, Nandor is a sweetheart, who is rather silly and absolutely adores his familiar, Guillermo. I couldn’t make this list without including him as he is always the comedic and sweet relief of the television series.

7. Astarion from the role-playing video game Buldur’s Gate 3 (2023) by Larian Studios - I added this one for my ladies! Astarion is probably the most famous video game vampire in history nowadays. When the game came out two years ago, absolutely everyone I’ve ever met was in love with him. He is a tricky, rogue vampire with an awful past, but a future that the player gets to help him to decide. He is definitely a lovable character, and I am very happy to include him on this list!

6. Alice Cullen from the book series Twilight (2005) by Stephenie Meyer - Those of you that know me personally know that I love watching Twilight (2008)! I have always enjoyed the movie series, and I am definitely not ashamed to watch them every single autumn season! In fact, I recently celebrated my 22nd birthday by binging all of them during a sleepover party. However, I would not rate them at the top of vampire media in any way shape or form. I actually think that shows like Twilight (2005), The Vampire Diaries (2009), and The Originals (2013) did ruin the original grotesque and horrific nature of vampires. However, I do enjoy watching them on my own time! I also separate this type of vampire from the monster that is a vampire. In fact, I am writing my own series that has a vampire similar to the ones in these television series. I do think that there is now a very specific type of vampire that is lovely and lovable within itself! Alice Cullen is one of them! She has the ability to see into the future, which within itself is a phenomenal power. This makes her an extremely powerful vampire. She is the only vampiress that I have heard of that can do this and therefore she takes her spot on this list!

5. Blade from the film Blade (1998) by Stephen Norrington - How could I have a list about vampires without including Blade? Blade is probably the most famous vampire hunter in history but he, as per usual, is also a vampire. Blade is the most well-known MCU vampire. He is out to avenge his mother’s death against the creatures that killed her, but they are also tracking him down because he has an extremely rare blood type that would bring back an evil god, that could ultimately take out the entire human race. “There’s only ever gonna be one Blade” and that is why he makes it to the top five vampires on our list!

4. Lestat from the novel Interview with the Vampire (1976) by Anne Rice - Where do I even begin with Lestat de Lioncourt??? Starting off as the antagonist of Interview with the Vampire (1976), Lestat becomes the antihero of the entirety of The Vampire Chronicles. He is the so-called “brat prince” as well as one of the most powerful vampires in the entire 13-book series. He is an interesting character to say the least, but he is also extremely selfish. I had to add him on this list because he is just that vampire—if-you-will. 🤷‍♀️

3. Alucard from the anime Castlevania (2017) by Warren Ellis and Adi Shankar - One of the internet’s favorite vampires, Alucard starts us off in the top three! Alucard is the son of Dracula and of a human scientist named Lisa. Alucard is a highly skilled swordsman who is able to shapeshift into a bat, dog, and a mist—similar to Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula. He is able to defeat his father in multiple instances, mainly due to their familial conflict and his own intelligence. Alucard is probably the most fascinating vampire within the world of Castlevania. He is definitely a fan favorite and there are plenty of reasons as to why—even from his very first appearance in the series!

2. D from the anime Vampire Hunter D (2000) by Hideyuki Kikuchi - Probably the most powerful vampire in all anime! D is a vampire hunter—who is also a vampire that has immense powers, such as the ability to cut through reality, grant knowledge, absorb energy, manipulate matter, and manipulate minds—all on top of having vampire attributes, such as increased speed, heightened senses and immense strength. He is also not affected by vampire weaknesses, such as sensitivity to light. Although he is an extremely powerful vampire, I did only put him second on this list as #1 has had the most influence on almost all vampire media in existence ever since its release.

1. Dracula from the novel Dracula (1897) by Bram Stoker - Of course, at number one we have Bram Stoker’s 1897 Dracula novel’s antagonist, Count Dracula! The most famous vampire in all of history! No matter what show, movie or even book there is about vampires—there is always a Dracula-like character. It doesn’t matter if his name is actually Dracula—in fact, some of the most famous portrayals of Count Dracula have different names, such as Count Orlock in Nosferatu (1922 and 2024). Dracula is the staple vampire, he is the king of vampires, and he is well deserving of it. He has proven himself to be an extremely strong vampire as he has mind control and can turn himself into a mist, fog, dog, and bat. He’s able to climb any surface—up or down. He is extremely strong, fast, smart, manipulative, conniving, as well as being magnetic to his victims with and without his mind control abilities. He is the ultimate predator and no one is safe from being his prey. Although he is killed off quite quickly at the end of the novel, it still took a lot to kill him. He had to have a stake driven through his heart, his head cut off and then garlic filled in his mouth before he was buried. Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula is just a different breed entirely! From his hairy palms to his regenerative posture as a vampire, no one ever tops him. Therefore, I once again crown him as the true champion of all vampires!

Honorable mention: Ky Luc - I had to add this one as Seraph of the End (2012) is one of my longtime favorite mangas. I brought up this character specifically because Ky Luc fascinates on how he became such a strong vampire. Although he is only a fifth progenitor, he somehow becomes stronger than a third progenitor. He does this through his own volition and training. It’s quite interesting as the other vampires that have gained power such as Ferid and Saito (or Rigr) did this through curses and other means. Whereas, Ky Luc acquired strength simply through training.

Thank you for reading and make sure to come back for tomorrow's post!

Sincerely, 

        your 21st century poet <3