Otaku by the Numbers

In the world of Vampire Knight, vampires are classified into different levels based on their lineage, powers, and stability. These levels range from Level A to Level E, each representing a distinct status within vampire society. Understanding these levels is key to grasping the power dynamics, relationships, and conflicts that drive the series.

Level A: Purebloods

Description: Level A vampires, also known as Purebloods, are the most powerful and revered vampires in the series. They are the aristocracy of vampire society, possessing the purest and most potent vampire bloodlines. Purebloods are born, not made, and their lineage has remained untainted by human blood for generations.

Powers: Purebloods have immense abilities, including immortality, rapid regeneration, mind control, and the power to turn humans into vampires. They can also stabilize newly turned vampires to prevent them from descending into Level E. Their influence is unmatched, and they often hold significant power over other vampires.

Significance: Purebloods like Kaname Kuran play central roles in the governance and stability of vampire society. They are both feared and respected, and their actions can have far-reaching consequences for the entire vampire world.

Level B: Noble Vampires

Description: Level B vampires, also known as Aristocrats or Nobles, are powerful vampires with a mix of pure vampire blood and diluted human blood. They occupy the second-highest tier in vampire society and often serve as leaders or enforcers within the vampire community.

Powers: Noble vampires possess considerable abilities, though they are not as powerful as Purebloods. They have enhanced strength, speed, and regeneration, and some possess unique abilities or specialized powers. However, unlike Purebloods, they cannot create new vampires or stabilize them.

Significance: Nobles often act as intermediaries between Purebloods and lower-level vampires. They may hold positions of authority and are generally loyal to Purebloods, though they may harbor ambitions of their own.

Level C: Common Vampires

Description: Level C vampires, often referred to as common or ordinary vampires, make up the bulk of vampire society. These vampires were once human but have been turned into vampires, usually by a Pureblood.

Powers: Common vampires possess enhanced physical abilities, including strength, speed, and senses. However, their powers are considerably weaker compared to Nobles and Purebloods. They do not have the same level of influence or prestige within vampire society.

Significance: While common vampires are numerous, they are often subject to the control of higher-level vampires. Their lives are often dictated by the whims of Purebloods and Nobles, making them a more subservient class within the vampire hierarchy.

Level D: Degraded or Declining Vampires

Description: Level D vampires are those who were once human but have been turned into vampires by a Pureblood. They have not drunk the blood of their creator to stabilize themselves, which puts them at risk of degrading further. These vampires are on the brink of losing their sanity, edging closer to becoming Level E.

Powers: Level D vampires still retain many of the powers of common vampires, such as enhanced strength, speed, and senses. However, their mental state is increasingly unstable as they struggle with a growing thirst for blood and a gradual loss of control over their vampire instincts.

Significance: Level D vampires represent a transitional stage—a warning of the inevitable decline into Level E if their condition isn’t stabilized. They are often in a precarious position, viewed with a mix of pity and fear by other vampires. Their existence underscores the perilous balance between maintaining one’s sanity and succumbing to the darker instincts of vampirism.

Level E: The Fallen

Description: Level E vampires, also known as the Fallen, are vampires who have lost their sanity and humanity. They were once human, turned into vampires, but have failed to drink the blood of the Pureblood who created them. As a result, they succumb to their bloodlust, becoming mindless, feral creatures.

Powers: While Level E vampires retain some physical strength and speed, their powers are overshadowed by their uncontrollable bloodlust. They are dangerous but lack the cognitive abilities to use their powers strategically.

Significance: These fallen vampires are feared and hunted by both vampires and vampire hunters. They are seen as a threat to both humans and the stability of vampire society. The descent into Level E is a tragic and terrifying fate, serving as a constant reminder of the dangers of vampirism.

Similarities Across the Levels

Blood Dependency: All vampires, regardless of level, are dependent on blood for survival. The severity of this dependency varies, with higher-level vampires often having better control over their bloodlust.

Enhanced Abilities: Vampires across all levels share enhanced physical abilities such as strength, speed, and heightened senses, though the extent of these abilities differs significantly.

Longevity: All vampires experience extended lifespans, with Purebloods and Nobles being effectively immortal, while common vampires and those at lower levels still live far longer than humans.

Differences Between the Levels

Power and Influence: The most significant difference lies in the power and influence each level wields within vampire society. Purebloods dominate with absolute power, while Level E vampires are hunted and reviled.

Stability and Control: Higher-level vampires, particularly Purebloods, have more control over their abilities and bloodlust. In contrast, lower-level vampires, especially those approaching or at Level E, struggle with instability and a loss of sanity.

Role in Society: The role of vampires within society varies by level. Purebloods govern and control, Nobles enforce and influence, common vampires serve, and Level E vampires are outcasts or hunted threats.

This classification of vampires into Levels A to E in Vampire Knight reflects the deep stratification within vampire society, based on lineage, power, and mental stability. These distinctions create a complex web of relationships and conflicts that drive the narrative, as characters navigate the challenges and expectations of their respective levels.