29 Times Buffy Was A Badass

Fact: Buffy Summers is a badass.

Oh, I'm sorry. Were you planning on arguing against that? Maybe don't. Long before there was Katniss Everdeen or Rey from Star Wars, there was Buffy. And she kicks butt, even while wearing cute, heeled ankle booties.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer lives on as a classic, thanks in part to Buffy's toughness and fighting skills, or in other words, the fact that she is a major badass. Yes, there's also the incredible storytelling and characters. But let's not forget how much we love Buffy's ability to sling puns almost as quickly as she can sling a stake at a vampire.

The truth is that there are too many great Buffy moments to fit into just one story. But we decided to put together just a few of her finest fight scenes, witticisms, and heroics. Ahead, you'll find 29 of the most badass Buffy moments, ever.

**That Time She Raises Dawn**
As if Buffy didn't have enough responsibility, suddenly Dawn, a.k.a. "The Key," pops up in her life. Do you know what's badass? Raising a human who was once just a ball of living energy that could shatter dimensions.
Photo: 20th Century Fox Television/REX/Shutterstock.

That Time She Sacrifices Herself For Dawn

While we're talking about Dawn, let's not forget the time Buffy actually sacrifices her life to save her sister — and the world — because "this is the work I have to do." And, of course, the last lines of her speech: "The hardest thing in this world is to live in it. Be brave. Live. For me."

**That Time She Kills The Master**
Kill me once, shame on you. Kill me twice, well, that's not going to happen. In the season 1 finale, "Prophecy Girl," Buffy is killed by the master. But when she comes back, she comes back ready to kick ass. Buffy grabs the Master by his neck and throws him through a skylight. He's impaled on a piece of wood from a broken table. Best part? Moments before his death, when he brags about hell coming to Earth, Buffy answers, "If you're so amped about hell — go there!"
Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox.

When Buffy Gives The Best Leadership Speech, EVER

Remember that time in season 7's "Chosen," when Buffy gives an epic speech about women standing up and kicking ass? Of course you do. Because we all cried when we watched it. Especially when she says, "Make your choice. Are you ready to be strong?"

That Time Buffy Slams Glory With Olaf's Hammer

Just when Glory figures out she's been battling a Buffybot, Buffy comes out swinging. Literally.

See that? We can be punny too.

**That Time She Smashes The Master's Skeleton**
First of all, seeing Buffy smash things with sledgehammers is cool. But the added bonus here is Buffy confronting her fear of the Master returning. Confronting fears is always badass.
Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox.

When She Wins The "Class Protector Award" At Prom

Buffy is always saving people's lives. And just what does she get for it? An award at prom, of course. Thanks, senior class, for making a weird gold umbrella to show your appreciation. It's touching.

**When She Has The BEST Line While Fighting Willow's** **Doppelgänger**
Remember when Buffy fights Willow's doppelgänger? Willow says, "Wow, nice reflexes." Buffy's reply? "Well, I work out." Yaassss, queen!
Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox.

**That Time She Fights Faith (After Angel Gets Poisoned)**
Faith poisons Angel. Buffy decides to let Angel drain Faith so he won't die. But first, she has to face off with Faith. It's a great fight scene — all of their fight scenes are — but this one is especially intense because Buffy's ready to kill her.
Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox.

When She Takes Out Caleb

Lesson number one of fighting Buffy: Always guard your body. Otherwise, she will literally slash you to death. As Angel says, "You are so going to lose."

**When She Says, "I May Be Dead, But I'm Still Pretty..."**
"...Which is more than I can say for you." Ooh, burn! Is this not the best way to come back from the dead and confront your enemy? We all know it doesn't end well for the Master.
Photo: Giphy/20th Century Fox.

**That Time She Tells The Prison Guard EXACTLY Who She Is**
In season 3's "Anne," Buffy ends up in another dimension just as new slaves are being inducted. When a guard asks who they are, each one says, "I'm no one." Except Buffy. She says, "I'm Buffy. The vampire slayer. And...you are?" She then proceeds to kick his ass.
Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox.

When She Kicks Angelus' Ass In The Mall

There are so many great things happening in this scene from season 2's "Innocence." Like when Buffy throws Angelus through a window. Or the fact that she's here at all, despite Angel losing his soul right after they made love. But when Angelus taunts her for not being able to kill him, and she knees him in the groin, it's badass. Even more badass are her parting words: "Give me time."

When She Uses A Rocket Launcher

I'm sorry, did you really think the whole "no mortal weapon can kill me" thing would work? Hello, buddy. There are these things called rocket launchers — and they're pretty badass. Let him know, Buffy! Let him know!

**When She Catches Angelus' Sword — & Hits Him With It**
In "Becoming, Part 2," Angelus decides to throw shade Buffy's way while fighting her. He says, "No weapons, no friends, no hope. Take that all away, what's left?" Just as he brings the sword down to hit Buffy, she grabs it with her bare hands and answers, "Me."
Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox.

When She Gives Her Speech In "Bring On The Night"

Let's be honest: There aren't a lot of bright spots in season 7. But this speech is definitely one of them. Don't you get hype right around the time when she says, "From now on, we won't just face our worst fears — we will seek them out"?

**When She Tells The First Evil To Get Out Of Her Face**
Buffy will always be the queen of puns. Even while lying on the ground in pain, she's able to throw a good pun in a baddie's face. (In case you still don't get it, this particular evil being looks exactly like Buffy.)
Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox.

When She Takes Out Sunday After Spinning A Stake

There are so many badass moments in this one scene alone. How about Buffy fighting Sunday even after she falls through a skylight? How about fighting after Sunday tries to break her arm? How about Buffy telling Sunday, "The mistake was touching my stuff"? Or answering a question with a head-butt? Or spinning the stake before taking out Sunday? IT'S ALL SO GOOD.

**That Time She Tells Off Tara & The First Slayer**
In "Restless," Buffy meets the First Slayer in a dream. My personal favorite moment is when Tara says, "The slayer doesn't walk in the world." Buffy responds by saying, "I walk. I talk. I shop, I sneeze, I'm gonna be a fireman when the floods roll back. There's trees in the desert since you moved out, and I don't sleep on a bed of bones. Now give me back my friends."
Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox.

**That Moment When Buffy Tells Faith She's Better Than Her**
Oh, Faith. Trying to steal Angel and destroy the world. It's predictable. So predictable, in fact, that Buffy and Angel play her. But before they show their cards, Faith dares Buffy to admit that she feels superior to Faith. And she does without hesitating,"I am. So much better."
Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox.

That Time She Tells Off The Watcher's Council

"You're Watchers. Without a Slayer, you're pretty much just watchin' Masterpiece Theater, " Buffy says to the Watcher's Council after putting up with their nonsense and orders. Then Buffy tells them why her friends are badasses, how badly they need her, and to reinstate Giles. In other words: Congratulations, Watcher's Council. You just played yourself.

**The Speech She Gives Angel When He Wants To Kill Himself**
Angel decides to kill himself by sunlight. But there's no way Buffy is letting that happen. "Strong is fighting," she says. "It's hard and it's painful and it's every day. It's what we have to do and we can do it together, but if you're too much of a coward for that, then burn."
Photo: Giphy/20th Century Fox.

That Time She Takes Out A Bad Guy With An Ice Skate

An assassin tries to take out Buffy. Big mistake. Huge! Naturally, Angel tries to save her. But our hero doesn't need saving. Buffy saves Angel and takes out their attacker with a slice to the throat from her ice skates.

When She Kicks The Door During "Walk Through The Fire"

The entire musical episode is badass, simply because Sarah Michelle Gellar is not a singer. And yet, she did it. But at the end of "Walking Through Fire," with the music building, she struts in the dark before kicking down a door. As you do, when you're a badass.

When Uber Buffy Takes Out Adam

If you claim to be an undead being with superpowers, you're in trouble. Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles team up to take out Adam. With their essences combined in Buffy's body — using an enjoining spell — Buffy destroys Adam like it's nothing.

That Time She Fights Dark Willow

Honestly, Dark Willow is a badass. Normal Willow is a badass. The combination of Dark Willow and Buffy in a fight is more awesome packed into a fight sequence than most people can handle. There are puns and kicks. Yes, Buffy is forced to fight her BFF. But it all works out in the end.