It is without question that The Vampire Diaries has managed to keep a strong fanbase eight years after the final episode aired. Based on the book series of the same name by L. J. Smith, this supernatural show follows the life of Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) meeting vampire Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley), and his troublesome brother Damon (Ian Somerhalder). Soon, Elena and her friends are surrounded by the supernatural, and things are never normal again. The Vampire Diaries received years of acclaim with its lovable characters, wild plot twists, and unpredictable moments.
Every type of supernatural creature is featured in The Vampire Diaries, from werewolves to witches to ghosts. But at the core, the vampires are what makes the show what it is, as the title suggests. Vampires in The Vampire Diaries are super strong and fast, excellent hunters, and have the gift of mind control. They can live forever if someone doesn’t get them with a stake to the heart. We meet a lot of vampires throughout the show’s run, some stronger than others. Let’s break down the most powerful of the lot, from compelling villains to adored heroes.
20
Vicki Donovan
Played by Kayla Ewell
The first major character to transition and be killed off in the show, Vicki Donovan (Kayla Ewell) was the first newbie vampire of TVD. She became a pawn in Damon’s plot to terrorize Mystic Falls while also satisfying his boredom. He first attacked her in the pilot episode, alerting the town’s council to its vampire problem. Damon attacked Vicki again in episode 5, “You’re Undead to Me,” triggering her two-episode vampiric arc in “Lost Girls” and “Haunted.” In later seasons, Ewell would reprise her role with Vicki contacting characters from the Other Side.
Vicki may not have lasted long as a vampire, with Stefan staking her during the Halloween dance, but her impact on the series was crucial in setting the tone for future transitions. She served an expository purpose to reveal the what, why, and how of a new vampire for the human characters and audience members. Vicki’s physical strength was fueled by her lingering human emotions—hatred for Elena, love for Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen), lust for Tyler (Michael Trevino)—only creating a deeper instability that she eventually channeled into hunger, which earns her a spot as one of Mystic Falls’ strongest vampires. – Ali Teske
19
Elena Gilbert
Played by Nina Dobrev
The main character of The Vampire Diaries eventually gets her turn at being a vampire at the beginning of Season 4. Elena’s stint as a vampire wasn’t without its challenges, from being unable to initially keep blood down that wasn’t fresh and human to turning off her humanity after her brother’s death. It’s also difficult to consider her one of the show’s strongest vampires because a lot of the time she spent it searching for a cure to vampirism. That being said, as a fairly new vampire, Elena did show potential if she had decided to continue being one.
Unlike many vampires, one advantage Elena had was her knowledge of turning and the quirks that come with it. As such, she was able to navigate her way into her new form, senses, and skills with relative ease, despite the bloody hiccups. In the Season 4 finale, Elena also manages to hold her own against her dangerous doppelgänger Katherine, who was an old and experienced vampire, further suggesting how strong she may have gotten if she hadn’t turned human again. – Jasneet Singh
18
Isobel Flemming
Played by Mia Kirshner
Isobel (Mia Kirshner) briefly appears in the first two seasons as Elena’s biological mother. After giving birth to Elena and giving her away, Isobel studied folklore at university where she met and got married to Alaric. Eventually, her interest in the supernatural intensified until she approached Damon, seduced him and convinced him to turn her, becoming one of the few vampires that turn by choice. When she ultimately dies in Season 2, it is interestingly due to Klaus compelling her to take off her ring and burn in the sunlight.
What made Isobel a powerful vampire was her distinct lack of empathy and willingness to use humans as a means to an end. She frequently compels humans to do her dirty work, showing no pity for her former species. Compared to many other vampires, she hasn’t been one for long and has to resort to these craftier methods, further showcasing her wit and her diligence in her prior research. As such, if she wasn’t targeted by the most powerful vampire in the series and did live longer, she was bound to become a force to be reckoned with. – Jasneet Singh
17
Finn Mikaelson
Played by Caspar Zafer
With a brief stint as an integral part of the Mikaelson family reunion, the eldest brother, Finn (Caspar Zafer), is still one of the strongest vampires to pass through Mystic Falls. He appeared for just four episodes in season three, following Klaus’s (Joseph Morgan) reunification of his siblings and mother, Esther (Alice Evans). Finn spent 900 years inside a box, which fueled his spiteful nature, and further divided with his siblings while strengthening his allegiance to Esther.
Despite his distaste for vampirism, a curse he was forced into, Finn sired Sage (Cassidy Freeman) who, like many of the series’ love interests, brought out the best in him. The pair’s rekindled romance ended when Matt (Zach Roerig) staked him, ending his entire sire line, which did not include any fan-favorite vamps. Finn got a second chance in The Originals, but it was also short-lived. He was a unique installment in the Mikaelson family that audiences didn’t get enough time with, but his elder original status makes him one of the strongest vampires in the series. – Ali Teske
16
Kol Mikaelson
Played by Nathaniel Buzolic
His arrogant and unpredictable nature, paired with his original status, makes Kol Mikaelson (Nathaniel Buzolic) one powerful vampire in The Vampire Diaries universe. Like his siblings, Kol too was locked away in a coffin by Klaus, reuniting with them all in season three’s “Bringing out the Dead.” Perhaps the original counterpart to Damon, the two went head-to-head multiple times, but Kol’s age and skill in wielding a baseball bat got the better of Damon.
True to his vampire nature, the guiding force behind his actions and vampiric strength is his emotions. His actions most often were fueled by revenge and self-preservation. Kol’s memorable death on TVD was another showcase of his strength as he bested novice vampire Elena and hunter Jeremy, but ultimately took the white oak stake to the heart, burning in front of Klaus. Not only is he one of the top 15 strongest vampires on The Vampire Diaries, but Kol returned to fight another day in The Originals for a far lengthier stint than his time on TVD. – Ali Teske
15
Rose-Marie
Played by Lauren Cohan
Rose (Lauren Cohan) entered the series in Season 2 alongside her friend Trevor (Trent Ford), intent on locating Elena and delivering her to Klaus as a Petrova doppelgänger so they could seek his forgiveness. Years ago, Rose was tricked into turning Katherine into a vampire, making her blood invalid for Klaus’ ritual to break his curse and thus, incurred the wrath of Klaus. Like Katherine, Rose and Trevor have been hiding from Klaus for over 500 years, a feat very few achieve.
Moreover, Rose eventually dies of a werewolf’s bite, which is fatal for vampires. Her health slowly deteriorates as she lays gray-stricken on a bed, but this is contrasted with her vampiric body’s increasing need to feed. Despite being weak and bedridden moments earlier, Rose has an insurmountable surge where she goes on a rabid killing spree at the high school. It speaks to her survivor’s instinct to be able to go into frenzy while being in this condition, one that had managed to keep her safe from Klaus for centuries. – Jasneet Singh
14
Lexi Branson
Played by Arielle Kebbel
She’s a fan favorite and an all-around badass, which puts Lexi (Arielle Kebbel) in the running for one of the strongest vampires. Stefan’s best friend and “sober” sponsor, Lexi made such a splash in her season one debut, “162 Candles,” that the writer’s room had no choice but to bring her back consistently throughout the series. Lexi appeared in flashbacks of Stefan’s past and as a ghost on the Other Side in varying capacities when the veil was open. However, her best episode was her first when she very promptly reminded Damon that she was older and significantly stronger than him. Lexi’s death at his hands in the same episode shattered the hearts of everyone watching.
Her strength is not only portrayed through vampirism but also through her character. Lexi serves as the voice of reason whenever Stefan thinks about or succumbs to drinking human blood. She’s a character that deserved much more than she got from an appearance standpoint, but nothing was more epic than when she appeared in the series finale to reunite with her best friend. Lexi is a demonstration of strength from her influence over the characters and audience to her superhuman abilities, earning her a respective place among the strongest TVD vampires. – Ali Teske
13
Alaric Saltzman
Played by Matthew Davis
His arc was one of the most convoluted supernatural transitions, second to Elena’s. Alaric Saltzman (Matthew Davis) went from vampire-hunting history teacher with the Gilbert protection ring to Klaus’s bodily conduit to an alter ego relentlessly pursuing vampires to an enhanced original vampire to dead to vampire to human…it’s a lot. Alaric is so embedded in the supernatural forces operating in and around Mystic Falls, that his strength is wildly underrated compared to his bourbon-drinking best friend and others. He’s a supernatural science project whose temporary side effects include enhanced strength and a dire determination to eliminate his fellow vampires.
Each time Alaric was resurrected with the Gilbert ring, Esther was there fueling his alter ego from the Other Side, forming a force to be reckoned with when she finally turned him in The Vampire Diaries Season 3 using the same magic she turned her children with. Even with Klaus’s consciousness inside him during season two, Alaric was a viable threat that required precision to put down. A wild character arc and far from a helpless human, Alaric Saltzman remains one of the strongest vampires in Mystic Falls. – Ali Teske
12
Enzo St. John
Played by Michael Malarkey
Enzo St. John (Michael Malarkey) is a vampire introduced in the fifth season as an old friend/cellmate of Damon before he was captured by the Augustines to be experimented on in the 1950s. At first, he seeks revenge, believing that Damon didn’t help him. But soon he becomes a series regular, entangling himself with the rest of the main characters. Particularly Kat Graham’s Bonnie Bennett, whom he has a relationship with. This anti-hero goes through a long character arc, with redemption and a better understanding of himself.
11
Caroline Forbes
Played by Candice King
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When fans first meet Caroline Forbes (Candice King), she is a bit of a control freak with jealousy issues, striving for perfection in every aspect of her life. She was always an exciting character to watch onscreen, despite some fans not liking her initially. However, her story kickstarted when she became a vampire at the start of the second season after Katherine Pierce kills her while she has Damon’s blood in her system. She mourns her human life and then jumps into life as a vampire.
As a vampire, all of her human traits are heightened. This adds a layer of determination and strength that viewers don’t see with some of the other vampires. She grows into a strong and skilled fighter, able to best many characters, including Damon, occasionally. Above all, the love she has for her friends and family is what drives her. She finds strength in her dedication to them and would do anything to protect them. Caroline Forbes is an icon, especially as a vampire.
10
Stefan Salvatore
Played by Paul Wesley
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Stefan Salvatore is a fascinating vampire (and a favorite among The Vampire Diaries‘ talented cast). He is over 100 in the series and has a long history under his belt. He is turned into a vampire when he dies with Katherine’s blood in his system, after trying to rescue her with Damon. As a newer vampire, Stefan was more like the present-day Damon. Known as a ‘ripper’, Stefan had an addiction to blood and had little to no humanity, acting on his darkest impulses and doing whatever he wanted with no conscience. When the series began, he was much more controlled, living with his humanity and abstaining from human blood.
Partly, his strength comes from his high level of control. He can have a relationship with a human and enjoy life almost like a human, which takes a wild amount of strength as a vampire with such a violent past. Stefan is resilient and very protective of his loved ones. He endures torture and mind control to save those he cares about. Additionally, he is also a skilled fighter in combat, with weapons or without. After many decades of practice, he is hard to beat in a fight. Even more so, if he’s ‘ripper Stefan,’ that guy is wilder.
9
Damon Salvatore
Played by Ian Somerhalder
The other half of the Salvatore brothers is Damon Salvatore, presented initially as the wild, impulsive brother. Well, he is. But when he is turned alongside Stefan, he wishes to let himself die. When Stefan doesn’t let him, he promises his brother a lifetime of pain. When The Vampire Diaries‘ timeline begins, Damon torments his brother and does what he pleases. But as Damon’s feelings for Elena grow, and he realizes how important Stefan is to him, his character arc begins. That being said, he is still a ruthless and manipulative character.
Damon finds his strength through his ability to ignore his human side, always prioritizing his safety or those he cares about. He often doesn’t care who else gets hurt in the process and will kill without a second thought. His intelligence allows him to manipulate situations and people in his favor, and he’s always thinking on his feet. Even if he gets knocked down a few pegs, he always catches back up. And with over a hundred years under his belt, he is a formidable opponent and very physically strong. Anyone under his protection would feel pretty safe.
8
Julian
Played by Todd Lasance
Though he only appeared in 10 episodes in Season 7, Julian (Todd Lasance) was a fairly unstoppable force and quickly made a mark on the series for being deeply despicable. He was the Salvatore brothers’ mother’s lover, who had released Julian from his century-long prison. But Lillian Salvatore (Annie Wersching) didn’t know that, years ago, he had killed her granddaughter, Stefan’s unborn child, by viciously beating up the would-be mother. While he was on the show, he also kept trying to tempt her into falling back into old ripper habits, relishing depravity and bloodlust.
Julian becomes a formidable opponent during the season, due to both trickery and physical prowess. He manipulates Lillian into sacrificing herself, who hoped it would kill him too, but he had unlinked them prior to the encounter. There is also a scene where he attacks both Damon and Stefan, indicating the strength he had garnered from years of vampire experience, making him a vampire you don’t want to mess with.
7
Lillian Salvatore
Played by Annie Wersching
Lillian came into the series in Season 6 more or less with her heart on her sleeve, especially toward the end when she sacrifices herself for her sons. However, it is her blood-stained history that makes her a strong vampire that you would not want to face up against. After turning, Lillian leaves her sons behind to ensure they are not exposed to her new bloodlust, which eventually turns into her being a ripper — turns out it is inheritable. Stefan made a splash in his ripper days compared to Lillian, who is estimated to have a body count of around 3,000 victims, definitely one of the most infamous in The Vampire Diaries‘ lore.
6
Tyler Lockwood
Played by Michael Trevino
At the beginning of the show, Tyler Lockwood (Michael Trevino) is just a regular Jock, albeit with a pretty mean temper. He stays out of the supernatural circle for a while but then finds himself thrown in when he discovers his uncle is a werewolf. He triggers the werewolf curse on himself when he accidentally kills someone. It isn’t over yet, though. After the original vampire, Klaus (Joseph Morgan), shows up and performs a ritual to create vampire-werewolf hybrids, Tyler is the first one to be successfully turned.
As one might expect, the level of strength for a hybrid is off the charts. Tyler has all the vampire abilities, including mind control, speed, and strength, combined with the attributes of a werewolf. This makes him stronger than regular vampires and werewolves. He is an intimidating fighter and not one to cross. Tyler’s complexity as a character also adds to his strength, as he struggles with himself and accepts the person he has become. His character arc and abilities as a hybrid solidify him as one of the show’s strongest characters.
5
Katherine Pierce
Played by Nina Dobrev
Katherine Pierce is The Vampire Diaries‘ first true villain, and an incredible one, tormenting Elena and the Salvatore brothers through the first few seasons. Katherine was turned in 1492 to avoid being the doppelgänger used in Klaus’ ritual, the one that ends up taking place in the series with Elena. But even after becoming a vampire, Katherine remains on the run from Klaus’ wrath for hundreds of years. She gets tied up with the Salvatore brothers and turns them. Katherine returns in the show’s timeline, plotting schemes to release herself from a life on the run.
Katherine Pierce is a cold, calculated and cunning vampire. She does not regard anybody except herself and is a master of self-preservation and survival. She endured so much pain as a human, so as a vampire, she cares about one thing: herself. In addition to her strength in combat as a vampire, Katherine finds her power in her ability to manipulate; never underestimate psychological warfare. She is charming and an excellent liar. She may not be everyone’s favorite, but you can’t deny her iconic status.
4
Elijah Mikaelson
Played by Daniel Gillies
Elijah Mikaelson (Daniel Gillies) is a member of the Originals, the first family of vampires to exist. He is also the first Original we met, in season 2, episode 8 “Rose.” From his introduction, he is a terrifying vampire, as he appears cold and collected even in the face of danger. Elijah, of course, does some horrible things, but he tries to maintain a sense of honor and integrity. Elijah is fiercely loyal to his family but struggles to watch them commit atrocities that upset the balance of the universe. He also values trust above all else, building alliances with numerous main characters, including Elena.
As an Original vampire, Elijah already has more strength than the regular vampires in the show. Without the white oak dagger, he was unable to be killed. He is also able to use mind control on other vampires, and being centuries old, he has enhanced control over his mind and body, leaving him almost completely immune to manipulation. Alongside his physical attributes and impressive fighting abilities, Elijah’s strongest trait is his disciplined and dignified demeanor. Unlike his brother Klaus, Elijah stays calm and collected in the face of danger, giving him the upper hand with strategy. This vampire would be a good ally to have.
3
Rebekah Mikaelson
Played by Claire Holt
Next is another Original, this time Rebekah Mikaleson (Claire Holt). Another Original vampire, Rebekah, is introduced initially in flashbacks to Stefan’s ripper days in New Orleans, in the 1920s. She then comes to Mystic Falls, acting as backup to Klaus as he tries to begin siring his hybrid race. Rebekah sticks around after this, becoming involved with various main characters, including Stefan. She is a tough and ruthless character, extremely loyal to her family members and, above all else, craves a sense of human normalcy.
Like Elijah, Rebekah has had thousands of years worth of practice to perfect her strength in combat and mental agility. She is skilled at mind control, especially with other vampires. She even holds her own against her brothers when she has to. Despite experiencing a lot of complex emotions, Rebekah never lets it take over. She has a bit of a temper, like Klaus, but sometimes this is a blessing, not a curse. Her ultimate strength is in her determination and unwillingness to back down, not dissimilar to our other favorite blonde vampire, Caroline Forbes. Still one of the best vampires on TV, Rebekah always gets what she wants in the end.
2
Mikael
Played by Sebastian Roché
Mikael (Sebastian Roché) is first introduced properly in the third season of The Vampire Diaries, first revealed as the ultimate hunter; the vampire who hunts vampires. It is then revealed that he is the father of the Originals, except Klaus, who was born to a werewolf father. He became a vampire alongside his children when his wife cast an immortality spell, creating the first-ever vampires. This was done to save their children from harm, but Mikael became angry with the upset of balance, though mostly at Klaus, whom he wished to kill for killing his wife, Klaus’ mother. This quest for revenge lasts a lifetime.
In his human life, Mikael was a Viking warrior in the 10th century. This means his strength levels are off the charts when he becomes a vampire, physically overpowering his children (until Klaus becomes a real hybrid). However, his driving force is his hatred of his kind, especially his children and Klaus specifically. Mikael is undoubtedly one of the strongest vampires, but he pushes that aside in favor of hunting vampires with the use of his supernatural abilities. And if Klaus was scared of him, we probably should be too.
1
Klaus Mikaelson
Played by Joseph Morgan
In the first few seasons of the series, Klaus Mikaelson is the big bad villain. The show expertly builds up the suspense for Klaus’ arrival, and just about everyone fears him. He dominates his fellow family members and ruthlessly takes everything he wants. In season 2, Klaus breaks a curse that a witch placed on him, allowing him to become a hybrid; part vampire, part werewolf. After unlocking his true potential, he continues to be an evil presence in the show, often seen at odds with his family and dealing with his relationship with his stepfather. He has an extended story in the spin-off The Originals, alongside his siblings.
Klaus is widely considered the most powerful being on The Vampire Diaries, as his character is both an Original and a hybrid. He has all the strength of an immortal being that has been alive since the 10th century, and the benefit of also now being a werewolf. He’s not one to mess with, especially on a full moon. Furthermore, his unbreakable determination adds to his strength. After all, he ran around for many centuries trying to break the curse, killing anybody who stood in his way. That’s dedication.
