Werewolves vs. Vampires: Definition

Lycanthropy is the transformation of a human being into a wolf. Lycanthropy may be considered similar to metamorphosis.
There are two types: the first type is exhibited as a mental illness in which the patient imagines himself as being a wolf or another animal and behaves accordingly. It may even include a craving for blood.
The second type is the magical-ecstatic transformation of a person into a werewolf which is usually accomplished through the use of ointments or charms.

According to the classical definition that reigned in the middle-age, a vampire is an animated corpse that survives by drinking the blood of the living. The body of a vampire is technically dead by human standards. It can be said that a vampireís body is in a state of arrested decay, animated by a supernatural force or spirit residing in its corporeal form, and kept vital by some magical energy that some refer to as ichor.

Werewolves vs. Vampires: Becoming

Sometimes, the condition of werewolf is the result of a spell cast by a magician. In other cases the transformation was supposed to be accomplished by Satanic agency voluntarily submitted to, and that for the most loathsome ends, in particular for the gratification of a craving for human flesh. Becoming a werewolf simply by being bitten by another werewolf as a form of contagion is common in modern fiction, but rare in legend, in which werewolf attacks seldom left the victim alive to transform.

The most common and sure-fire method of becoming a vampire is to die from a vampire bite. If the victim is not killed, he/she will turn into a vampire within 2 to 7 days. The master will then initiate the newborn vampire until he can survive by himself. The victim must drink the blood of the vampire. Once the victim has swallowed the vampire blood, the victim dies as for a poison to reborn as vampire.

Werewolves vs. Vampires: Powers

Werewolves are often portrayed as being of huge strength, comparable to that of a dozen normal human beings. They also inherit from the wolf an acute nocturnal vision and a very good sense of smell.
Werewolves are immune from aging and from most physical diseases due to the constant regeneration of their physical tissue. They can, therefore, be virtually immortal. However, they have to return to human form and are subjected to the same rules as normal human beings.
Though primarily a true wolf while in wolf form, there is some proof that the werewolf retains enough knowledge to assist his killing; recognition of victims, evasion of traps, and human cunning have all been seen on werewolf cases.

Vampires do not age, except on some occasions when they have been deprived of blood for extended periods of time. However, the vampire will be rejuvenated as soon as he gets fresh blood supply.
Most vampires acquire superhuman strength anywhere from three to five times as great as they had in their mortal lives.
Moreover, a vampireís speed, agility, and reflexes are up to five times as great as they had in their mortal lives. All vampires possess acute hearing (equivalent to that of a wolf) and night vision, enabling them to see with better than 20/20 perceptibility in total darkness.

Werewolves vs. Vampires: How to Kill

Werewolves can be killed by any wound that destroys the heart or the brain, decapitation of its head and removal of its heart, or any form of death that causes brain or heart damage (such as hanging or other oxygen-deprivation methods). It is said that shooting using silver bullets is very effective in killing werewolves. Silver is a metal that has long been considered to have mystical properties.

Vampireís hunterís tales teach us that there are only two sure methods of destroying a vampire permanently. One is to expose the vampire to direct sunlight and then scatter its ashes. Another is to pierce its heart with either wood or silver, stuffing the head with garlic cloves, and then severing it from the body. The head and body should then be burnt in two separate places, scattering the two subsequent piles of ashes in separate locations.
If the stake or blade is removed, however, even if the creature’s body has crumbled to dust, the vampire’s supernatural vitality will restore its body in the condition it had before it was destroyed, returning it to “life”.