Question Who was the better slayer

[EffieT1]

Okay so in the course of Buffy the slayers we are exposed to are Buffy,Faith and Kendra to a lesser degree. So what I want to know is who people think the better slayer was. That is who you think would have best fulfilled the slayer role. So consider associates, dedication,experience, strengths, personality,even watchers(although except for giles and wesley we arent exposed to that many) anything you think could best support your pick.

 

[Jodast]

Buffy is the most successful slayer of all time, no doubt about it. However it is due in large part to her support network. Without the Scoobies she would have died at the hands of the Master. Enid of story, RIP Buffy Anne Summers.

Between deaths, fact that she had others helping her all the time, including a watcher with a well-stocked research library a hacker/witch, a vampire a techno-pagan, a second witch because one is never enough and a werewolf, not to mention two tactless women, a kleptomaniac and Rambo, swayed the odds in her favour most of the time and she still kicked a couple of buckets 🙂

Faith is probably the best Slayer in terms of actual ability. For the most part she didn't have all of Buddy's advantages yet has managed to never get herself killed once, never mind twice has survived as a Slayer almost ad long as the Buffster and has undergone the most interesting character arc in the Buffyverse, in my opinion.

So while Buffy is my favourite, I think Faith was best.

 

[Robb Stark]

I agree with most of what [MENTION=11853]Jodast[/MENTION] said, but overall I think Buffy is the best Slayer. I think she's the best warrior Slayer we've seen, her support network is (for the most part) excellent, and she's shown on multiple occasions that she can handle what being the Slayer actually entails.

Kendra had no ability to think for herself and Faith had no ability to handle being a Slayer.

 

[Lyri]

I think, if we're talking training and technique and what it means to be a Slayer and not Buffy Summers, then Kennedy and Vi actually come out top for me.

Like [MENTION=11853]Jodast[/MENTION] says, Buffy is only as good as she is because of her friends. If every Slayer in history had friends like Buffy did, then they all would have been as good as Buffy. (Of course, not every Slayer faced apocalypses like Buffy did)

Kennedy and Vi have been in training since they were kids. Kennedy says she's known how to use a crossbow since she was eight. Faith and Buffy never had that. They were thrown in at the deep end and while Buffy learned how to swim pretty quickly, Faith became overwhelmed and ultimately almost drowned until how to float.

If she hadn't been killed so quickly, I think Kendra would have been my top for natural ability and having the smarts to know what being a Slayer - a 'real' Slayer - means. She was overcome by Dru's hypnosis, and I don't blame her for that, but it was her cockiness that led her into Dru's thrall, thinking she could beat her.

So, yeah, I think Kennedy and Vi are my two on the 'best' person capable of being a Slayer. They were raised and trained for nothing more. And while I don't like Kennedy and I'm starting to think that there's some sort of Supernatural crossover going on where Vi is undercover as Charlie Bradbury, lol, I think they knew more of what to expect when they were going into the whole 'Slayer' thing than any other Slayer who came before them.

And being prepared is half the battle.

 

[EffieT1]

I think, if we're talking training and technique and what it means to be a Slayer and not Buffy Summers, then Kennedy and Vi actually come out top for me.

Like [MENTION=11853]Jodast[/MENTION] says, Buffy is only as good as she is because of her friends. If every Slayer in history had friends like Buffy did, then they all would have been as good as Buffy. (Of course, not every Slayer faced apocalypses like Buffy did)

Kennedy and Vi have been in training since they were kids. Kennedy says she's known how to use a crossbow since she was eight. Faith and Buffy never had that. They were thrown in at the deep end and while Buffy learned how to swim pretty quickly, Faith became overwhelmed and ultimately almost drowned until how to float.

If she hadn't been killed so quickly, I think Kendra would have been my top for natural ability and having the smarts to know what being a Slayer - a 'real' Slayer - means. She was overcome by Dru's hypnosis, and I don't blame her for that, but it was her cockiness that led her into Dru's thrall, thinking she could beat her.

So, yeah, I think Kennedy and Vi are my two on the 'best' person capable of being a Slayer. They were raised and trained for nothing more. And while I don't like Kennedy and I'm starting to think that there's some sort of Supernatural crossover going on where Vi is undercover as Charlie Bradbury, lol, I think they knew more of what to expect when they were going into the whole 'Slayer' thing than any other Slayer who came before them.

And being prepared is half the battle.

When i 'rep'd' your comment I pressed enter before I actually made my point, anyway I wanted to add Kendra in my original question due to her distinctness from the other potentials and natural ability but felt that would be innacurate as technically she was more a potential than a slayer despite the last minute series finale hail mary.

 

[Ethan Reigns]

Amanda was the only one to dust a vampire before she knew anything about her powers. The fact that she died in the final battle was luck and not innate ability.

Kennedy was the one with the most desire for the job.

Vi was not as ambitious but became competent when it was needed.

Rona complained non-stop but got into the final fight and held her own.

Faith was damaged goods - ready to fight but only because she had nothing else but psychotic rage driving her.

Buffy would have stayed dead in Season 1 without Xander and a lot of her success was the existence of her friends and her self-determination. But she always fell for any trap the enemy set for her.

There are a lot of answers depending on the criteria. Who would you rather have between you and a vampire? Who was capable of leading? There is no clear winner.
Kendra had technique but without the ability to make decisions on her own, she was cannon fodder for Drusilla.

 

[white avenger]

When she was first introduced in Season 3, Faith so close to being Buffy's equal that it would have been hard to choose which one was the best. I think that Faith had more potential as a Slayer, but her recklessness and impulsiveness were definite problems. If she hadn't gone bad, and she had managed to survive for another year or so,then I honestly believe that she would have edged Buffy out as Number One. Three years and a few months later, however, locked up in prison, not allowed to hunt and gain the experience and skills that would have naturally developed in doing so, Buffy definitely has the edge


HOWEVER.....

Give Faith a couple of years to re-hone her skills and get back into top Slayer form, and the balance just might swing over into her favor.

 

[VisionGirl]

I think it's pretty clear that being the Slayer is not just about physical ability. Besides the support around her, Buffy is actually very savvy about strategy. In season 3, 5, and 7, it was Buffy's ideas that saved the day (I guess you could put season 2 in that camp as well- she did stop Angel). I think that Faith had the potential for this- we can see this in season 4 when she defeated Angelus. The psychological weaknesses that make her so interesting also slow her development as a Slayer. Besides, she spent a lot of series either in a coma or behind bars. But she has showed exceptional leadership & growth in the comics.

So, to sum: Buffy is the best. 🙂

 

[Tome]

Who would you rather have between you and a vampire?

Buffy. Of course Buffy would be my first choice for anything slayer-y 🙂 She always came out on top.