Line #144 Main/DemonSlaying


1	%%%
2	%%
3	%%
4	%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks!
5	%%
6	%%
7	%%
8	%%
9	%%%
10
11	%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1484749228006222100
12	%% Image modified per IP thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1584933527006786300
13	%% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread.
14	%%
15	[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/DiabloIII https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d3demonhunter_1.png]]]]
16	[[caption-width-right:350:[[DualWielding Double the crossbows]], double the dead demons.]]
17	%%
18	%% Caption selected per above IP thread. Please do not replace or remove without discussion here:
19	%% https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1404492079030138900
20	%%
21	->'''Abe Sapien:''' Behind this door -- a dark entity, evil, ancient, and hungry.\
22	'''Hellboy:''' Oh, well. Let me go in and say "hi."
23	-->-- ''Film/Hellboy2004''
24
25	So you're being attacked by TheLegionsOfHell. They're [[DemonicPossession enslaving]] your innocents, terrorizing the citizens, and generally wreaking havoc.
26
27	WhoYouGonnaCall This guy.
28
29	[[TaughtByExperience Experienced]] and equipped with ImplausibleFencingPowers, ImprobableAimingSkills (probably with DepletedPhlebotinumShells), some flavor of [[FunctionalMagic magic]], [[StuffBlowingUp demolitions expertise]], or all of the above, this character tends to be WeakButSkilled--relative to their prey, that is. They can come in several varieties (not necessarily mutually exclusive), including:
30
31	* A {{Hunter\|OfMonsters}} who hunts down and kills demons for {{revenge}} or [[BloodKnight other]] [[YouKilledMyFather personal]] [[ItsPersonal reasons]].
32	* A [[TheChosenOne Chosen One]] who kills demons because of [[BecauseDestinySaysSo destiny]].
33	* A Demon or [[HalfHumanHybrid Half-Demon]] [[HunterOfHisOwnKind Hunter of Their Own Kind]].
34	* Someone who made a DealWithTheDevil and has decided to pull a FaustianRebellion.
35	* A {{protector\|ate}} of the [[WeHelpTheHelpless helpless]].
36	* Someone [[BountyHunter only interested in money]] who thus offers their services for a price.
37	* A ChurchMilitant, WarriorMonk, [[ThePaladin Paladin]], or the like on a MissionFromGod who uses a cross or holy water (among other assorted [[HolyHandGrenade Holy Hand Grenades]]) to exorcise their enemy.
38	* A descendant/member of a [[BadassFamily family]] or [[TheClan clan]] dedicated to fighting them.
39	* Someone whose job description doesn't include Demon Slaying, but finds themselves [[RightManInTheWrongPlace having to step up]] and kick demon ass anyway.
40
41	They're frequently also an OccultDetective or some kind of [[HiredGuns mercenary]].
42
43	How Demon Slayers generally operate and go about their business (as well as whether or not they are even justified in doing this or are committing VanHelsingHateCrimes) depends a great deal upon [[OurDemonsAreDifferent what form demons generally take]] in the setting in question. Some keep a {{Masquerade}}, hiding the existence of {{Hell}} and its denizens from outsiders, while others prefer a more open and direct approach. Also keep in mind that HeWhoFightsMonsters is at risk of happening here.
44
45	----
46	!!Examples:
47
48	[[foldercontrol]]
49
50	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
51	* The Shinmeiryu in the [[Creator/KenAkamatsu Akamatsu]]-[[TheVerse verse]] (used by [[Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi Setsuna]] and [[Manga/LoveHina Motoko]]) is a demon-slaying sword style. Within the ''Negima'' series is also Mana Tatsumiya, who fits into both the mercenary ''and'' priestess type (yep - a price on spirituality). Setsuna's job as a demon slayer is rather ironic, though, [[spoiler: considering she's [[HalfHumanHybrid half crow]] [[{{Youkai}} demon]] [[HunterOfHisOwnKind herself]]. Mana is also [[HalfHumanHybrid half demon]], making her a [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot half-demon mercenary priestess]]]].
52	* Guts in ''Manga/{{Berserk}}''. As the Black Swordsman, his role fits squarely into the vengeful hunter mode, thanks to him being madder than hell about the events of the Eclipse, and the [[MoralEventHorizon actions]] [[FaceHeelTurn of]] [[DarkMessiah Griffith]] in particular. Eventually, he stops actively seeking out [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Apostles]] to kill in order to focus on healing Casca's insanity, but still runs into them, largely because of [[MagneticPlotDevice the Brands of Sacrifice]] borne by both of them.
53	* ''Manga/BlueExorcist'' is basically this, only with exorcists. Most of them fall under a job or family business, with a few for personal reasons. [[AntiAntiChrist Rin]] falls under [[SurvivorGuilt personal]] reasons and HunterOfHisOwnKind due to his HalfHumanHybrid status. He's not the only one there, as it's mentioned that there are ''other'' half-demons out there who work as exorcists.
54	** Judging by what we know from Rin, the half-demons serving as Exorcists or otherwise getting involved in the war against demons isn't far-fetched; they naturally can see demons, due to their bloodline, while others have to have a masho (spirit wound) inflicted to see them.
55	* ''Manga/ChainsawMan'': Denji, the protagonist, starts off as a devil hunter to pay off his debts, but ends up being taken in by the government's agency dedicated to such a task. In fact, Devil hunting seems to be a booming international industry, with both public organizations and private freelancers working to hunt devils, with regulations preventing interferences between devil hunters.
56	* The titular characters in ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'' are an entire organization that exists purely to hunt down and destroy demons preying on humanity, provided the side that's being preyed on requests their aid and pays an adequate fee afterwards. [[FateWorseThanDeath If they don't...]]
57	** It's only made worse that [[spoiler: the central organization of the Claymores are the ones creating the demons as ''an experimental weapon'']].
58	** The Claymores are actually part of a centuries long project to create the ultimate [[spoiler:[[TheDragonSlayer dragon slayers]]]].
59	* In ''Manga/DarkCat'', the two lead brothers Ryoi and Hyoi hunt creatures made of evil while trying to discover their own fate.
60	* Not surprisingly, ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'' features this. The "demons" in question are actually {{Oni}} (and they're referred to as such in Japanese), while being portrayed as having a lot in common with vampires--violent, bloodthirsty, having super-strength and super-healing (but also extreme vulnerability to sunlight) who wander around killing indiscriminately, sometimes converting victims with their corrupted blood. A secretive organization of hunters use their [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower technically-not-superhuman]] sword skills to keep the demon population under control. An unidentified demon massacres main character Tanjiro's family and converts his sister Nezuko, but she retains some of her humanity, so he sets out to become a demon-slayer both for revenge and to find a way to cure her.
61	* ''Anime/DevilHunterYohko''. [[RoleCalled Three guesses what it's about]].
62	* ''Manga/DGrayMan'''s baddies are called akuma, which normally gets translated into "demons". So yep, the series is pretty much this.
63	* This pops up occasionally in ''Anime/DogDays'', although demon ''sealing'' is far more common since demons are normally spirits who have been corrupted and need to be slowly purified. It's also revealed in the third season that the primary purpose behind the {{Friendly War}}s is to make sure that the various kingdoms always have an army ready in the event of a massive demon attack.
64	* ''Manga/DororonEnmaKun''. Technically, Enma isn't supposed to slay the demons he fights (only capture them), but he doesn't care.
65	* ''Manga/FairyTail'': After the [[TheDragonSlayer Dragon Slayers]] and the [[KillTheGod God Slayers]], we learn of a new type, Demon Slayers ([[DubNameChange Devil Slayers]] in Japanese), which functions mostly the same way, except against demons. The only drawback is that those who use this magic too much will end up [[TheCorruption losing their minds and humanity]], becoming no different from the demons they hunt. Ironically enough, the first known user of this type of magic happens to be a member of a guild composed almost entirely of demons. [[spoiler:Though it turns out he didn't exactly join them of his own free will, what with being a reanimated corpse brought back by one of them ForScience, and he always intended to try and destroy them from within alongside himself due to his hatred for them killing his friends and loved ones. When he learns that one of his loved ones (i.e. his son and major character [[AnIcePerson Gray Fullbuster]]) is still alive, he goes the SuicideByCop route and passes on the magic to him. Gray in turn becomes obsessed with destroying demons for ruining his life and killing so many of his loved ones, which becomes a bit of a problem when it turns out that the biggest, baddest demon of them all is his best friend and rival [[TomatoInTheMirror Natsu Dragneel]].]]
66	* ''Manga/InuYasha'':
67	** Sango, and her entire village, specialize in demon (what the English localizations call {{Youkai}}) slaying. They fit into the demonic protector and mercenary type, using entirely physical methods, such as weapons (generally made ''from'' demons) and poison.
68	** Itinerant monks like Miroku, as well as shrine maidens and priestesses like Kikyo and Kaede, also perform a good number of exorcisms, which may range from waving ofuda at an incorporeal spirit to beating monsters with a ceremonial staff.
69	* In ''Manga/{{Isuca}}'', it has been the Shimazu's family job to capture and seal away monsters. They have been doing it since the Kamakura period.
70	* Members of the [[TheClan Hachioji Clan]] of ''Manga/JiuJiu'' have been hunting down and killing rogue demons (and other supernatural creatures that prey on humans) for generations. In the present day, there's a secretive government office that sends assignments and cleans up after their battles. Current clan Heir Takamichi caries on her family's work with two [[HalfHumanHybrid half-demon]] "[[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolves]]" [[HunterOfHisOwnKind assisting her during hunts]] (at least when they aren't begging for treats or trying to convince her to take them on a walk).
71	* March's job in ''Manga/MarchStory'' is to hunt the Ill, demons that possess ordinary objects and through them, anyone who touches them. If an Ill kills someone while in your body, it's there for good.
72	* ''Manga/MakaryuudoDemonHunter'''s title character Yama does this as part of her Hell punishment.
73	* The Demon Hunter Organization, the [[TheClan Nanaya clan]], and (to a degree) TheChurch in the ''Franchise/{{Nasuverse}}''.
74	* ''Anime/PhantomQuestCorp'' is a for-profit organization, lead by Ayaka Kisaragi, which [[ParanormalInvestigation specializes in the occult and the paranormal.]] She and U Division's Detective Karino track down all manner of spooks across Tokyo and take 'em out.
75	* The [[spoiler: new magical girl system]] in ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' changes into this.
76	* ''Manga/TetragrammatonLabyrinth'' has [[ChurchMilitant the Organisation]], which was created several hundred years ago [[spoiler: by one of the main characters]] to fight demons.
77	* ''Manga/UshioAndTora'': the Kouhamei sect seems to be the ChurchMilitant type, with its objectives being both the spread of the words of Buddha and hunting and sealing dangerous Youkai. A solitary mercenary example is Hyo, a taoist equipped with paper tags and roped darts who's looking for the demon who ate his family and took his eye... while slaying all those hostile demons he encounters, especially if [[BerserkButton harmed a children]].
78	* ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'': The job of the [[OccultDetective Spirit Detective]].
79	* ''Anime/ZombieLandSaga'': [[spoiler:The Sagako Busters were a group of demon hunters from TheEighties, lead by a living ''[[Characters/ZombieLandSagaFranchouchou Tae Yamada]]''.]]
80	[[/folder]]
81
82	[[folder:Comic Books]]
83	* ''ComicBook/{{Artemis}}: Requiem'' sees the titular character team up with an organization of demon hunters known as the Hellenders. She returns to ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'' on a mission to kill ComicBook/{{Etrigan}}, unaware her organization has been mislead about him as part of a plot by Neron to kill Diana.
84	* Devil-Slayer, a member of ''ComicBook/TheDefenders'', is the FaustianRebellion type. Eric Payne was a an ex-soldier turned hitman. He was recruited by the hybrid demon-woman Vera Gemini and her Cult of the Harvesters of Eyes, serving as their Reaper of Souls and Agent of Death (assassin). The Cult honed Payne's psychic powers and gave him his Shadow-Cloak, but he quit upon learning that they wished to bring about Xenogenesis, restoring to prominence an ancient demon race that once ruled the Earth. Taking the name "Devil-Slayer," he dedicated himself to fighting demons.
85	* John Constantine of ''ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}'' from the DC. Not only does he slay demons, but he [[DidYouJustScamCthulhu cons]] them classically.
86	* ''ComicBook/{{Hellboy}}'', due to his nature as the AntiAntichrist, always has to fight his demonic brethren.
87	* ComicBook/{{Spawn}} is the FaustianRebellion writ large, and as such always ends up fighting them sooner or later.
88	[[/folder]]
89
90	[[folder:Fan Works]]
91	* ''Fanfic/QueenOfShadows'' has Yasashi, the [[LastOfHerKind last]] of a long line of Demon Quellers, whose family was specifically targeted for destruction by the Shadowkhan due to their abilities being seen as a threat. As the SoleSurvivor of the attack, Yasashi has sworn revenge, and has joined the [[LaResistance Shogunate in the Shadows]] as a means to that end.
92	* The raison d'etre behind the existence of NGOSuperpower [=WIC=] in ''Fanfic/TheReturn''. Though they use the term "Pattern D."
93	* The ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' fic ''Fanfic/TheUltimateEvil'' introduces as one of the {{Original Character}}s a demon hunter named Nataline Homato. She's a member of a Japanese family that has been hunting down demons since the days of Medieval Japan, and she's described as [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy the Vampire Slayer's]] long lost cousin. She takes interest in the Chan Clan's encounters with the Demon Sorcerers and [[SixthRanger joins up]] to help stop them after she attempts to slay the Water Demon Bai Tza. [[spoiler: The [[RewritingReality Demon World]] part turns her into a DeadPersonOnDisplay as a [[MakeAnExampleOfThem warning against attempting to be a demon slayer]] in that world, which is now ruled by demons.]]
94	[[/folder]]
95
96	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
97	* In ''Film/Constantine2005'', based ''ever-so-lightly'' on the ''ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}'' comics, the titular character hunts down demonic "halfbreeds" who violate the Balance and sends them back to Hell. In the comic, he's more of a street magician who basically fights anyone who pisses him off or helps people who come to him (if he doesn't laugh them away). See TrenchcoatBrigade.
98	* Ash Williams of the ''Franchise/EvilDead'' universe has the unenviable task of battling demon-possessed undead and not a few demons as well, being that ''he'' was the one who accidentally unleashed them upon the world through mishandling of a certain ArtifactOfDoom.
99	* While the ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'' don't target demons ''specifically'', preferring "Ghost"-busting and all, they're more than happy to zap-n-trap any demon who makes trouble in NYC.
100	[[/folder]]
101
102	[[folder:Gamebooks]]
103	* ''Literature/FightingFantasy'':
104	** The book ''Literature/DeadOfNight'' was this trope IN SPADES. The main character is a Demon-Slayer, a WarriorMonk specifically trained to hunt down and destroy the demons of the setting. During the course of the book, he averts a demonic invasion of Gallantria engineered by the Demon Prince Myurr. Virtually every opponent in the book is either a demon or someone working for them. The overall tone of the book is very dark.
105	** This was a recurring trope throughout the series in general, as the reader would be pitted against everything from Fire Demons to Mirror Demons to Hell Demons to Ice Demons at different times.
106	[[/folder]]
107
108	[[folder:Literature]]
109	* In ''Literature/ACertainMagicalIndex'', this trope is referenced by "The One Who Purifies Gods and Slays Demons'', an epithet applied to main character Touma. He has yet to directly fight any demons, let alone kill them, but his [[AntiMagic magic-negating power]] would presumably be effective against them. Interestingly, it's implied that the true meaning of this name may not be as a killer of demons. [[spoiler:The gods of the setting claim that it represents his ability to understand gods by talking to them. Touma has managed to talk gods into a HeelFaceTurn, raising the possibility that this is how he is intended to defeat demons as well.]]
110	* Creator/ColtRegan's first book is titled ''Demon Hunter'' for a reason.
111	* The Knights of the Cross in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' will happily do good and kick evil supernatural butt for their fellow man in general, but their ''specific'' mission is to fight against and if possible redeem the members of the Order of the Blackened Denarius -- people possessed by literal fallen angels. (It's not entirely clear what the precise relationship between those and other entities more commonly labeled "demons" in the setting may be, but the Fallen seem to be definitely associated with Hell in ''some'' form.)
112	* In books by Creator/RaymondEFeist, most temples are said to have a 'material' segment of the order, who mostly deal in fighting demons, along with whatever that particular God finds offensive. They tend to be able to hurt demons with mundane weapons, despite others not being able to, and many have traditional demon-banishment spells.
113	* Many, many government-employed wych-hunters (despite the name, they hunt gribblies (wych-kin), not witches) in ''Literature/TheHauntingOfAlaizabelCray'', and for most of the reasons above. The protagonist, Thaniel Fox, is also following in his father's footsteps: "the only reason [his mentor and friend] Cathaline Bennet needed was that she was odd."
114	* The title character of ''Literature/{{Magnus}}'' is a demon slayer. His FlyingBrick powers along with immortality makes any demon fighting him suicidal.
115	* The Shadowhunters in ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'' and ''Literature/TheInfernalDevices'' have this as their job
116	* In ''Literature/ThePardonersTale'' the main characters don't slay demons; they have a method that traps demons in inescapable steel pellets. Since the demons don't need to eat, sleep, or excrete, this may actually be worse than death.description.
117	* Magical society in ''Literature/ShamanOfTheUndead'' has an entire police department, called obviously Department of Possessions and Hauntings, whose striking arm are demon slayers in case a necromancer hunt or exorcism goes awry. Out of characters in-story, Brittle is a prime example, mixing being paid, protecting the helpless and revenge.
118	* In ''Literature/TheSilentWar'' rare individuals are born with not only special powers for combating the supernatural, but also an inherent urge to do so. The protagonist is the latest one of these, a teenage girl who is greatly relieved to learn that her restlessness, visions and [[BloodKnight instincts for violence]] aren't signs of insanity. While there are human sorcerers and undead to deal with, demon-slaying is essentially the day job.
119	* Literature/SolomonKane in the Creator/RobertEHoward book series. If he counts, then so do King Kull of Atlantis and Conan of Cimmeria. None of them slay demons as their day job, but have been forced to the task by the circumstances more than once in their careers.
120	** Solomon Kane fights evil in general and is happy to kill bandits and pirates. It's just that he keeps running into supernatural monsters. Conan kills whoever has the most loot.
121	* The ''Literature/SpecialCircumstances'' unit is occasionally called upon for doing this, as part of their job to battle supernatural villains.
122	[[/folder]]
123
124	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
125	* ''Series/{{Angel}}'' was mostly this as well, although he befriended some of the less evil demons. He also slays other vampires.
126	* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' is usually, well, a vampire slayer. [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Vampires in her world are demon possessed corpses]]. But she's also been fighting other demons since the very first season.
127	* The girls from ''Series/{{Charmed\|1998}}'' do a lot of demonslaying during the course of the series.
128	* ''Series/{{Dallas}}'': Implied to have happened in the TV movie sequels (and later the 2012 series, when the sequels were retconned) when J.R. was taunted by a demonic spirit, Adam, to follow through with a planned suicide in the original series' finale, "Condundrum." To wit: J.R. — after having viewed an [[ItsAWonderfulLifePlot It’s A Wonderful Life-style alternate reality]] with Adam (who reveals his true self only at the end) — is hallucinating and sees Adam, clad in a red devil's suit, in the mirror; shortly afterward, Adam screams, "'''''DO IT!!!!'''''" and there is a gunshot. In the later follow-ups, it is revealed J.R. fired the gun in the mirror, thus killing Adam.
129	* Luke Rutherford from ''Series/{{Demons}}'' is the last descendant of legendary vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing, and thus has to fight vampires and other unholy beings.
130	* Makai Knights in ''Series/{{Garo}}'' are trained from a very young age to hunt down [[TheHeartless Horrors]], demons from the Makai realm. As Horrors prey on the negative karma of humanity, Makai Knights [[AsLongAsThereIsEvil have been necessary]] for [[Anime/GaroTheAnimation centuries]].
131	* A few ''Franchise/KamenRider'' seasons feature some variation of this, with [[Series/KamenRiderWizard Wizard]] hunting [[TheHeartless Phantoms]] and [[Series/KamenRiderRevice Revi and Vice]] fight actual demons.
132	* The ''Series/{{Shadowhunters}}'' are effectively a human sub-species gifted with angelic blood and paranormal abilities for the purpose of protecting the world from demonic invasion.
133	* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}''. Much of the show's mythology revolves around demons, and it is the job of the Winchester family to kill them. They'll kill plenty of other monsters too however.
134	* Some ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' seasons (toned down for the most part in their Franchise/PowerRangers counterparts) do feature enemies that are of supernatural origin and mainly of the demonic order, with the more recent ones being ''[[Series/ResshaSentaiToqger Toqger]]'' and ''[[Series/ShurikenSentaiNinninger Ninninger]]'', with our heroes being of course the slayers.
135	[[/folder]]
136
137	[[folder:Music]]
138	* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBYPHKN-BDE&ab_channel=hinayukkiLR "Oni o Karu Mono"]] (One Who Hunts Demons) by Music/{{hinayukki}} is a duet sung by a demon hunter and his demon quarry as they engage in [[FoeRomanceSubtext a fierce yet passionate battle]]. It ends with the demon slain, and the hunter moving on, presumably to resume hunting others like her.
139	* Voltaire's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fDlJsYr0sY "Goodnight, Demon Slayer."]]
140	[[/folder]]
141
142	[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
143	* TheGimmick of Cazador de Demonios in Mexican Wrestling Revolution.
144	[[/folder]]
145
146	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
147	* The Demon Hunter template from the third edition of ''TabletopGame/BigEyesSmallMouth'' is dedicated to fighting demons, many of which come from the hell dimension of Bazaroth.
148	* Demons and devils are among the most powerful enemies that ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' PlayerCharacters can face, and high-level adventures or certain modules such as ''TabletopGame/BaldursGateDescentIntoAvernus'' will often have [=PCs=] heading ToHellAndBack, usually to destroy a particularly powerful demon lord such as Orcus.
149	** The Knight of the Chalice is a Prestige Class that is dedicated to fighting demons and devils. Many characters who take this class are some combination of ranger and either cleric or paladin.
150	** Some subclasses are built around the concept, namely Horizon Walker Rangers, Path of the Zealot Barbarians, and Oath of the Watcher Paladins.
151	** The Church of the Silver Flame in ''TabletopGame/{{Eberron}}'' have their entire ''religion'' built around this. When they are not a CorruptChurch or [[KnightTemplar Knight Templars]], they do this, and they do it fairly well, having developed a few unique tricks like Silver Flame Exorcists and Silver Pyromancers. Aside from evil outsiders, they also hunt undead and lycanthropes (and not all of the latter are really evil, which has earned them a bit of a bad rep among them and their Shifter cousins).
152	*** The Druidic Sect of the Gatekeepers have been doing it for longer (not saying much, as the Silver Flame as an independent religion isn't very old), focusing more on {{Eldritch Abomination}}s from Xoriat than actual demons, however.
153	*** The members of The Chamber are also prone to this. However, it's worth noting that the Chamber is an organization composed entirely of ''dragons''.
154	*** The Giants of Xen'drik also, presumably, had something similar to tackle Quori possession, but since their solution to the Quori problem all but annihilated their own civilization, no one's entirely sure anymore.
155	** Raziel is the most warlike of the [[CelestialParagonsAndArchangels Celestial Hebdomad]], and is Heaven's most prominent fiend slayer. His Fists, the clerics and paladins who are dedicated to him, are likewise dedicated to kicking infernal and abyssal ass.
156	* This is, in theory, what the Wyld Hunt in ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' is all about. Of course, the dogma of the Immaculate Faith being [[PathOfInspiration what it is]], their definition of 'demon' includes most typical player characters...
157	* In ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'', there are several classes that can be tooled specifically for this, such as Rangers, Inquisitors, and Paladins. Of course, any character class can have DemonSlaying as a job as far as roleplay is concerned, but these three classes are highly conducive to the job as far as class mechanics are concerned.
158	* Dwarf Daemon Slayers in ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}''. In a twist, Daemon Slayers aren't in it for any greater or more noble purposes beyond the purely personal: if you are a daemon slayer, that means you've already [[DeathSeeker tried to meet your end in glorious battle against trolls and giants]]...[[SpringtimeForHitler And]] ''[[SpringtimeForHitler failed]]''. Daemons and Dragons are pretty much all that's left to challenge you, and dragons in the Warhammer setting are rare.
159	* The Inquisition of ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' has the Ordo Malleus, an entire branch of investigators dedicated to finding and rooting out daemonic influences. Most of their agents are a mixture of StateSec and [[KnightTemplar holy warrior]], but they can also call upon a specialist [[SuperSoldier Space Marine]] chapter for aid: the Grey Knights. ''These'' guys are considered badasses even by other Space Marines, armed and armored with consecrated wargear and protected by formidable psychic powers that make them extremely good at what they do. Even the less experienced ones kick serious ass. The more veteran ones tend to turn up wearing suits of armour that can endure being stomped by a HumongousMecha, fitted with equipment like flamethrowers that burn souls.
160	** The [[HordeOfAlienLocusts Tyranids]], of all species, have a dedicated daemon-slaying force, identified as Hive Fleet Kronos. Rather than using dedicated anti-psyker weaponry to fight daemons, Hive Fleet Kronos focuses on abnormally-boosting their Shadow in the Warp effect to weaken daemons and other Warp monsters across the entire star system, and then drops Tyranid bioforms specializing in extreme long-ranged attacks. They bomb the crap out of the daemonic hordes from long range rather that fight them in melee where the daemons have the advantage, and once the warp-spawned monsters are destroyed, they consume the rest of the planet.
161	* Both the [[TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness Old]] and [[TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness New]] versions of Worlds of Darkness have Hunters (detailed in ''[[TabletopGame/HunterTheReckoning The Reckoning]]'' and ''[[TabletopGame/HunterTheVigil The Vigil]]'' respectively), humans with supernatural abilities to fight the [=PCs=] from the other games. Groups that specialize on demons:
162	** The [[FantasticCatholicism Malleus Maleficarum]], in addition to other "unholy" beings like vampires and witches.
163	** The Knights of St. Adrian, a private security firm that gets powers from the forces of Heaven.
164	** Utopia Now, libertarian Silicon Valley start-up geniuses out to fight demonically-influenced corporations through a combination of exorcism and hostile buyouts, so that they can build their own Operation Atlantis.
165	* ''TabletopGame/ArsMagica'' has several specialized anti-demon spells. However, although demon-slaying is seen as commendable, the [[MagicalSociety Order of Hermes]] strongly discourages making a habit of proactively hunting demons, since it risks provoking the wrath of {{Hell}} against the Order. (Again.)
166	[[/folder]]
167
168	[[folder:Video Games]]
169	* The Onikiri from ''VisualNovel/AkaiIto'' and its sort-of sequel ''VisualNovel/AoiShiro''. But then, their definition of "demons" [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman is very loose...]]
170	* Played with in ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath''. The Gohma heavily resemble Demons and might as well be them for setting and story purposes, and the job of the protagonist and the other Demigods is to fight them. [[spoiler:They're not actually Demons or anything like it at all.]]
171	* Inverted in ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'' where the title character kills angels instead of demons. Is it ironic that her game, ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'', and the first ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' were all made by the same guy, Creator/HidekiKamiya?
172	** Played straight in ''VideoGame/Bayonetta2'' when Gomorrah, one of the demons that Bayonetta uses to finish off angels, turns on her and she has to put him down. She then has to penetrate into the heart of Inferno in order to [[RescuedFromTheUnderworld save Jeanne]], who saved her from the aforementioned demon and got DraggedOffToHell, before her soul is consumed forever.
173	* The ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' series is the earliest known example in gaming. Each entry has you protecting the people of Transylvania, by battling your way through Count Dracula's legions, to face-off against the Count, himself. Earlier games in the series chronicled the exploits of [[BadassFamily the Belmont Family]], though later games featured all new protagonists and, occasionally, the Count's son, [[SdrawkcabName Alucard]], siding against his father.
174	* Dante of ''VideoGame/DantesInferno'' is also a demon slayer, though this Dante is more of a crusader/paladin with holy power and a scythe taken from Death himself. He's in this to rescue his beloved from Hell.
175	* Since they are the God's own champions, the heroes of ''VideoGame/{{Darklands}}'' are supposed to destroy hell's spawn whenever they encounter it. The easiest way to do it is to find a Satanic village, defeat its inhabitants and find their unholy altar. Ironically, summoning the demon may be even harder than actually defeating it, especially when you party has low non-combat skills.
176	* Over in ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'', the demon-slaying isn't your ''main'' job, but there are enough of them between you and your actual objectives that you'll end up taking a few demon heads anyway; in ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsI'', the very first boss is a demon.
177	* In ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'', the player character becomes a demon slayer out of necessity since demon souls are the only currency accepted in the Nexus.
178	* The [[PlayerCharacter Guardians]] of ''VideoGame/{{Destiny}}'' are a ScienceFantasy version of this as they are all [[ThePaladin Light-based warriors]] that fight alien races that threaten humanity, some of whom are allied with The Darkness which is for all intents and purposes the Devil of the setting. Of all their enemies the closest to conventional Demons are the Taken, shadowy versions of all the other enemy races "taken" and corrupted into their current forms by leaders of the Darkness-obsessed [[HordeOfAlienLocusts Hive]], who tick a few of the boxes of being demons themselves.
179	* Dante of ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry''. He mostly fits into the mercenary type. As a [[HalfHumanHybrid half-demon]], he also happens to be a HunterOfHisOwnKind. Nero as well in the [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry4 fourth game]]. By [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry5 the sequel]] he's opened his own wing of Dante's eponymous devil hunting business that he operates out of a van.
180	* The ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'' series is ALL about demon slaying.
181	** ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'' has the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Demon Hunter class]]. They are composed of people who have survived devastating demon attacks and dedicated their lives to eradicating them wherever they are found.
182	* Adell's title in ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 2\|CursedMemories}}'' game is Demon Hunter. Before Disgaea, this was the mission of the Church of the Maiden of Light in ''VideoGame/LaPucelle.''
183	* The protagonist of the ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' games, affectionately nicknamed Doomguy. As a SpaceMarine, killing demons wasn't exactly in this guy's original job description, but when the monsters from hell go on the loose, it's up to him to blast them right back where they came from with a heaping helping of serious firepower. In ''VideoGame/Doom2016'', it ''has'' become his job description: the Doom Slayer is the SoleSurvivor of a civilization destroyed by the demons and absorbed into Hell, and madder than all hell about it, to the point of going on an endless RoaringRampageOfRevenge through [[HellSeeker Hell itself]]. Because of this, [[TheDreaded the demons almost all fear him above anything else]]. "Doom Slayer" is the name ''they'' [[RedBaron gave him]] in awe and terror of the slaughter he caused among them. ''Videogame/DoomEternal'' goes on to state that [[spoiler:the Slayer is actually the original Doomguy who after the events of the original games was taken to said alien civilization, rose from a gladiator to a warrior-king, was empowered into a demigod then got trapped in hell again]].
184	* ''Franchise/DragonAge'':
185	** Grey Wardens are a variation. In their day-to-day work, they mostly kill darkspawn, who are [[OurOrcsAreDifferent closer to orcs than anything else]]. However, during a Blight, the darkspawn invade the surface en masse, led by an entity known as an Archdemon - and the Wardens are the only people capable of permanently killing such a beast. (Confusingly, Archdemons are not counted as demons or dragons mechanically, but that name is still right there.)
186	** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', part of the job description for a Templar is to take out demons. Their primary job is policing mages to ''prevent'' the demons from crossing into the mortal world in the first place and possibly turning the mage [[DemonicPossession into an abomination]], but when things go wrong they're on hand to clean up. The player characters in both games doesn't have this as one of their primary jobs, but they'll probably take out a good hundred or so demons and demon-possessed mages in the course of a single game.
187	** Templars in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' function mostly as {{mage killer}}s, but they also have bonuses to damage while fighting demons, likely because [[BloodMagic blood mages]] will often have demons in their service.
188	** This is part of the Inquisition's job in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', because there are several holes in the fabric of reality which separates the waking world from the dream world populated by demons and spirits. Demons are leaking into the world all over the place, and the other factions which would be able to deal with it are rather tied up with their own (related) problems, so it's sort of up to the player character and their pals.
189	* Many of the Heroes in the ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' series have slain countless demons (BigBad, {{Mooks}}, and everything in between) in the numerous installments. In fact, most ''Dragon Quest'' games are more about fighting ''Demons'' than Dragons.
190	* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
191	** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'', this is one of the duties of the Ordinators, the elite ChurchPolice of the [[CorruptChurch Tribunal Temple]]. They keep Morrowind safe from all manner of abominations, including [[OurDemonsAreDifferent lesser Daedra]] and [[ScaryAmoralReligion Daedra worshipers]]. (Given their KnightTemplar tendencies, their definition of "abomination" is quite broad...)
192	** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'', the PlayerCharacter essentially becomes famous for this. Throughout the main quest (with many, ''many'' more optional), you'll close several [[{{Hellgate}} Gates of Oblivion]] by stepping through, killing your way through [[TheLegionsOfHell lots of Daedra]], and seizing the Sigil Stones used to power the gates.
193	** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', the [[CreatureHunterOrganization Vigil of Stendarr]] formed in response to the events of the previous game. They travel Tamriel to deal with various supernatural threats including Daedra, as well as vampires, lycanthropes, undead, and others. In the ''Dawnguard'' DLC, [[spoiler:the Vigil's Skyrim headquarters is sacked by the Volkihar vampire clan, who serve as the primary antagonists in the DLC if you choose to join the titular Dawnguard]].
194	* ''[[VideoGame/ExtrapowerAttackOfDarkforce EXTRAPOWER Attack of Darkforce]]'': Kurogane is the 48th generation in a long line of demon slayers.
195	* Ryudo's party in ''VideoGame/GrandiaII'' are ''de facto'' demon hunters, tapped by the Church of Granas to scour the world for pieces of the dark god Valmar. Not all of the characters are in the employ of the church, however; Mareg, for instance, mistakes Ryudo for his brother Melfice, a demonic swordsman who razed Mareg's home village.
196	* ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden'': Ryu Hayabusa battles a variety of threats to the world, among them a race of evil creatures called Fiends which for all intents and purposes are demons. One of his allies is a Fiend hunter named Rachel who is part Fiend herself.
197	* Amaterasu of ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'' spends her time roaming the ancient land of Nippon and hunting down demons strewn across the land.
198	* [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]], amid all the many other myriad things he has done over his career, took care of a demon in ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor''. [[spoiler:It was the Shadow Queen, the BigBad.]]
199	* Enoch of ''VideoGame/ElShaddaiAscensionOfTheMetatron'', a human who wields the weapons of God to punish and purify the Watchers, a group of angels bent on corrupting mankind.
200	* ''VideoGame/SaintsRowGatOutOfHell'' features [[BloodKnight Johnny Gat]] and [[TheCracker Kinzie Kensington]] breaking into Hell after {{Satan}} kidnaps the Boss to force them to marry his daughter and lead his armies into Heaven. Johnny openly declares that he's going to "shoot the Devil in the face", but in order to do that, he and Kinzie have to get Satan's attention first. And the best way to do that is to kill a few of his servants. And Johnny's '''really''' good at that.
201	* Garcia Hotspur of ''VideoGame/ShadowsOfTheDamned'' is a professional Demon Hunter on a quest to save his girlfriend Paula from Fleming, Lord of Demons.
202	* Lo Wang is a corporate assassin in the world of ''[[VideoGame/ShadowWarrior2013 Shadow Warrior]]''. But when a demonic invasion hits, Wang is forced to get his demonslayer on with the help of another demon by the name of Hoji, as he seeks to find [[spoiler:and assemble]] the Nobitsura Kage, the only weapon that can kill the immortal Ancients who rule the demons.
203	* Most non-''Persona'' ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' games have the main characters act as this, [[{{Mon}} while allying with a handful of 6-12]]. Though [[SummonMagic only]] [[VideoGame/RaidouKuzunohaVsTheSoullessArmy one]] [[VideoGame/RaidouKuzunohaVsKingAbaddon group]] actually does so for a living.
204	** Atlus has registered a "Devil Hunter" trademark. One can only assume [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin it will involve this trope]].
205	* Demon Hunters in the ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}''-verse. They follow the path of the (in)famous Illidan Stormrage, using the demons' own Fel powers against them. Also, [[WarriorMonk Paladins]], who have Light-granted abilities that specifically deal damage, or deal extra damage, to demons and undead.
206	[[/folder]]
207
208	[[folder:Webcomics]]
209	* The Paladins of ''Webcomic/AngelDown'' have deomon hunting as their primary profession.
210	* ''Webcomic/DemonHunterKain'' - It's in the name.
211	* ''Webcomic/DemonseedRedux'': Roger is a demon hunter and Hal's real nephew. While he promises to not ruin Chico's future family after his demonization, Chico can't trust him. [[spoiler:Turns out he's an angel as well.]]
212	* ''Webcomic/TheFoxSister'': Yun Hee describes being a Mudang as: "This is what I do. I kill demons."
213	* ''Webcomic/IronGate'' is about defending the world from supernatural threats, so this just goes with the territory.
214	* ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'' was originally about TheHero Allison becoming this, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin hence the title]]. After being rebooted into its current form the title is more of an ArtifactTitle (it is the [[IKnowYourTrueName true name of]] TheChosenOne), with said chosen one (still Allison) to date having slain exactly one demon (mostly by accident) and [[InterspeciesRomance dated a second one]].
215	* ''Webcomic/MagickChicks'' is an UrbanFantasy series set at [[AllGirlSchool Artemis Academy]], a school for monster hunters in training. The student body consists of {{ninja}}, [[BadassNormal badass normals]], [[BlackMagicianGirl magic cadets]], and their [[AbsurdlyPowerfulStudentCouncil student council]] [[StudentCouncilPresident president]] happens to be [[SuperpowerLottery the most powerful]] [[PsychicPowers esper]] in the academy's history.
216	* Main characters from ''Webcomic/{{Shadowgirls}}'', especially [[spoiler: Shadowchild - they don't call her Slayer of the Elder Gods without a reason]]. However, only if we count beings from the Franchise/CthulhuMythos and its [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch Abominations]] as demons.
217	* Freija and Rachel have a bone to pick with any demons they come across in ''Webcomic/TheSenkari''.
218	* ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'':
219	** Parodied with Steve Uozin, a professional demon hunter who's also a parody of Steve Irwin. While he can be a real pain to the demons in an annoying sort of way, when Torg hires him to protect him from the Dimension of Pain demon coming to kill him next Halloween, it turns out he only wants to tag the demon to "follow his migration". He becomes a demon himself and goes on to humiliate the demons in their own dimension.
220	** Torg during "That Which Redeems", helped by his discovering that his old memento sword can be PoweredByAForsakenChild to gain the cutting power of a [[Franchise/StarWars lightsaber]] and enough magic power to kill a god. He tries organizing a larger LaResistance of demon fighters, but since the only people he has to work with come from the [[ActualPacifist Dimension of Lame]]...
221	* ''Webcomic/VampireCheerleaders'': As their name implies, the [[WebComic/ParanormalMysterySquad Paranormal Mystery Squad]] is a privately run group who takes on cases dealing with hunting and slaying cryptids. Though their M.O. eventually changed to [[http://www.vampirecheerleaders.net/strips-vc/prom_aftermath capturing and detaining them]] instead, as a result of Stephanie [[CharacterDevelopment coming to accept that]] [[http://www.vampirecheerleaders.net/strips-vc/my_dark_passenger not all cryptids were inherently evil]] as she first thought.
222	[[/folder]]
223
224	[[folder:Web Original]]
225	* Must be the entire point of [[http://becomingabetterwriter.wordpress.com/becoming-a-better-writer/demonic-symphony/ Demonic Symphony]].
226	* On the ''WebVideo/DreamSMP'', Fundy, Tubbo, and Sapnap are all part of the Dreamon Hunters, a group of investigators who seek out and destroy [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Dreamons]]. However, the group has been [[AbortedArc inactive]] as of [[CerebusSyndrome Seasons 2 and 3]], with each of the three members going their own separate ways in their own respective character arcs.
227	[[/folder]]
228
229	[[folder:Western Animation]]
230	* Hoss Delgado of ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'' is an equal opportunity monster fighter.
231	* ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' and their successors ''WesternAnimation/ExtremeGhostbusters'' bust demons in several episodes, albeit the nature of what a demon is may change in each series.
232	* Jefferson Twilight from the ''[[WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers Venture Brothers]]''. When not running around with the Order of the Triad, he hunts Blaculas to avenge his mother. And no, he doesn't call them African American Vampires. Sometimes he hunts British Vampires. He doesn't know the P.C. term for Blacula.
233	[[/folder]]

Context Main / DemonSlaying