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especially if the person in question was recently turned into a vampire. Another common trope is hunters being forced to slay their loved ones or allies who have been turned into vampires. Alternatively, after becoming a vampire, sometimes hunters will continue to fight and hunt vampires using their newly acquired vampire powers and abilities (sometimes being hunted by their former allies and other human vampire hunters). In addition to human hunters, dhampirs, and vampires that hunt other vampires, it is not uncommon for vampire hunters to be other supernatural creatures such as werewolves or witches. Additionally, some human hunters may possess holy powers, superhuman, or other supernatural abilities that they can use both to fight and protect themselves from vampires and other supernatural entities they hunt. Some hunters may even resort to using dark powers or weapons (usually dark magic or demonic in nature). Some human hunters may even be tempted to become vampires themselves in order to obtain their powers and immortality, either to continue hunting them, due to fear of their own mortality, or simply a lust for power.
447:. Vampire hunters are often associated with or are members of the clergy, holy orders, or other religious organizations which may be dedicated to fighting vampires, other demons, and other supernatural forces. Vampire hunting as a family tradition or birthright is a popular use of the archetype in fiction, such as the
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The job comes with the risk of getting bitten and the hunters turned into vampires themselves. More often than not fellow hunters, usually do mercy killing to prevent them from becoming monsters, though in some fiction it may be possible for a hunter to cure themselves (and others) of vampirism,
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As well as being knowledgeable about vampire lore, vampire hunters in fiction are often armed with an eclectic mix of items and weapons which are designed to take maximum advantage of the monster's traditional weaknesses. These have included
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Some carried a kit that used mallet, stake, and crucifix. If part of a church, it included holy water, holy oil, etc. However, the most important things it carried were items such as rope, crowbars, or even pistols.
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is also focused on a vampire hunter, the titular star, Angel, a vampire himself cursed with a conscience, is often portrayed battling vampires as well as other demons. Created by
194:. It was also believed that someone born on a Saturday could see a vampire when it was otherwise invisible (and sometimes other supernatural entities as well); similarly for the
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423:, or sometimes a mix of these. A hunter may be a heroic figure, a villain (from the perspective of the vampire), a lonesome avenger, or sometimes, although not usually, a
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The organizational strength of depicted vampire hunters can vary wildly. Most hunter characters are in small groups working alone and in secret. By contrast, the
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series. Some hunters devote their entire lives to the eradication of vampires; for others it is just a strange hobby. They can also sometimes be members of
41:, and sometimes other supernatural creatures. A vampire hunter is usually described as having extensive knowledge of vampires and other monstrous or
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198:. In the case of the Sabbatarians, it was believed in some places that they needed to be fed meat from a sheep killed by a wolf (Bulgarian
391:, are both examples of dhampir vampire hunters. Some vampire hunters are vampires themselves. Two examples of this type can be found in
427:-style character, hunting vampires for profit. Vampire hunters have also popularly been depicted as hunting various creatures such as
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is a
British government paramilitary strike force with access to troops, heavy combat vehicles and weapons and even allied vampires.
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is a half human/half vampire who uses his super strength and agility to hunt vampires and other monsters. The character spawned a
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creatures, including their powers and weaknesses, and uses this knowledge to effectively combat them.
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and in other works of fiction adapting or modifying that work. Other more recent figures include
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Professional or semi-professional vampire hunters played some part in the vampire beliefs of the
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with the skill and ability to confront vampires with traditional or holy weapons often including
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620:Петровић, Сретен. 2000. Основи демонологије. In: Систем српске митологије. Просвета, Ниш 2000.
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While predominantly depicted as human, examples of other types of vampire hunters also exist.
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Gee, James Paul (2007). "Pleasure, learning, video games, and life: The projective stance".
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The vampire hunter has found new popularity in modern fiction and popular culture.
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is a fictional occupation in folklore and fiction which specializes in finding
608:Маринов, Димитър. 1994 (first edition 1914) Народна вяра и религиозни обичаи.
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For the video game also known as "Vampire Hunter: Darkstalkers' Revenge", see
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Slayers and their
Vampires: A Cultural History of Killing the Dead
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The image of the vampire hunter is often a mysterious and
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Vampire hunters range in characterization in fiction from
567:Димитрова, Иваничка. 1983. Българска народна митология.
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The most widely known example of a vampire hunter is
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Character in fiction who hunts and destroys vampires
287:(the occupation of the famed Belmont lineage), and
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686:. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.
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312:that fire all wood bolts and even
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542:. Forgotten Books. p. 36.
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490:Abbott, George F. (1903).
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725:Fictional vampire hunters
642:A New Literacies Sampler
25:Buffy the Vampire Slayer
701:Perkowski, Jan (2006).
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170:sâbotnichav
151:dzhadazhiya
109:In folklore
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64:stakes and
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693:0472069233
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429:werewolves
318:holy water
306:ammunition
269:character
226:In fiction
200:vâlkoedene
188:vampirović
66:holy water
664:1523-9543
650:CiteSeerX
451:from the
417:extremist
414:eccentric
371:eponymous
363:from the
357:Dhampiric
314:waterguns
310:crossbows
279:franchise
247:from the
208:Slovenian
155:svetocher
131:Bulgarian
119:Bulgarian
720:Vampires
625:Archived
502:(1780):
410:dramatic
349:Hellsing
299:firearms
212:kresniks
204:Croatian
184:Romanian
172:, Greek
162:Saturday
147:vampirar
139:hawthorn
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