Stake

Stakes are pointed weapons, usually made from wood, that are traditionally used by vampire hunters against vampires. Occasionally, other vampires will use them against their own kind as well. Stakes are used primarily as a stabbing weapon; being stabbed by a stake is referred to as 'staking' or being 'staked'. Staking a vampire won't kill them permanently, but renders them unconscious until the stake is removed, leaving them extremely vulnerable. It can also cause permanent scarring.

It is never confirmed, but assumed, that if a half-vampire were staked, it would kill them, in the same way it would if a human were stabbed. Some stakes are soaked in holy water, a relatively rare practice that causes immense pain to vampires and leaves them permanently incapacitated. It has been demonstrated that any piece of sharp wood can function as a stake, including branches, broken chair legs, fencing and so on.

Black Cross often use stakes and teach new members how to whittle stakes to be stronger and more effective.