Changes: Stake

Revision as of 20:46, 1 December 2017

Maggie: “We use the latest in scientific technology and state-of-the-art weaponry, and you, if I understand correctly, poke them with a sharp stick.”

Buffy: “Oh, it's more effective than it sounds.”

— Buffy Summers and Maggie Walsh^[src]

A stake was a pointy wooden object and one of the most effective ways to slay a vampire.

Usage

In order for the weapon to be effective, it must've penetrated the vampire's heart. However, vampires in possession of the Gem of Amarra would be rendered invincible, and immune to staking.^[1] A vampire could also become immune to staking by having its heart surgically removed, although this process certified the vampire’s death within about six hours.^[2]

Stakes were the most commonly used weapons by vampire hunters and Slayers whilst fighting and hunting vampires, along with crossbows, crosses, holy water and bladed weapons which generally were secondary weapons. Buffy Summers seemed to have a penchant for using stakes, once holding one when hunting a Mohra Demon.^[3]

Generally, any wooden object of a reasonable size could function as a stake (including broken chair legs, decorative bamboo sticks, tree branches etc.) but professionals tended to carry their own specially carved stakes.^[4]^[5] Agents of the Initiative along with Wolfram & Hart security guards and Special Opps each individually carried their stakes while dealing with vampire attacks, similar to how they would use a combat knife or nightstick.^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]

More advanced versions of this weapon were Angel Investigations' Stake-loaded wristbands and Connor's Stake gun. The Scythe also contained wooden stake opposite to its head.

Kendra Young once owned a individual stake which she nicknamed "Mr. Pointy". She then passed this on to Buffy before her death.

Along with vampires, stakes were also an effective weapon against species related to vampires, such as the Turok-Han and zompires.

Behind the Scenes

File:Retractable stake demontration.jpg

Prop Master Randy Erickson demonstrates how the retractable stake works

The prop stakes used in Buffy the Vampire Slayer were made of real wood, however, when it came to stabbing, stakes with a retractable points were sometimes used in action scenes to create the illusion of stabbing.^[10] There were also stakes cast in foam rubber and plastic.
There were two to three different stakes introduced per season.
In the non-canonical video games Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Chaos Bleeds, some demon enemies (like hellhounds and hanoch demons) could only be killed with the same methods as vampires like fire, decapitation, and staking.

Gallery

Promotional Images

Episode Stills

Screenshots

Props

Appearances

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Angel

↑ "The Harsh Light of Day"
↑ "Heartthrob"
↑ "I Will Remember You"
↑ "School Hard
↑ "Forgiving"
↑ "The Initiative"
↑ "Blind Date"
↑ "Reunion"
↑ "Conviction"
↑ "Weapons" featurette in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season three DVD, Disc Six

[THLOH-1] "The Harsh Light of Day"

[Hearttrob-2] "Heartthrob"

[3] "I Will Remember You"

[SH-4] "School Hard

[Forgiving-5] "Forgiving"

[TI-6] "The Initiative"

[BD-7] "Blind Date"

[Reunion-8] "Reunion"

[Conviction-9] "Conviction"

[10] "Weapons" featurette in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season three DVD, Disc Six

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[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

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 ==Behind the Scenes==
 [[File:Retractable_stake_demontration.jpg|thumb|330px|Prop Master Randy Erickson demonstrates how the retractable stake works]]
-*The prop stakes used in ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer ]]'' were made of real wood, however, when it came to stabbing, stakes with a retractable point were used in action scenes to create the illusion of stabbing.<ref>"Weapons" featurette in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season three DVD, Disc Six</ref>
+*The prop stakes used in ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer ]]'' were made of real wood, however, when it came to stabbing, stakes with a retractable points were sometimes used in action scenes to create the illusion of stabbing.<ref>"Weapons" featurette in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season three DVD, Disc Six</ref> There were also stakes cast in foam rubber and plastic.
+*There were two to three different stakes introduced per season.
 *In the non-canonical video games ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Xbox)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]] ''and ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds|Chaos Bleeds]]'', some [[demon]] enemies (like [[hellhounds]] and [[Hanoch Demon|hanoch demons]]) could only be killed with the same methods as vampires like fire, decapitation, and staking.