This has probably been asked before, but how were the Lycans ever losing the war when they are clearly far stronger than Vampires? In the first film, we saw a Lycan kill a vampire in a 1v1 fight, and in Rise of the Lycans, the werewolves stormed Viktor’s castle and crushed them all in one night.
Seriously, if the werewolves are superior to the vampires as far as physical strength is concerned, then how were they on the losing side of the war?
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Vampires have more sway over human society and so are able to be technologically superior. We see this with all their high tech weapons while the lycans take centuries to even get useful guns.
Technological superiority will outmatch physical strength 100% of the time. It’s a tale as old as David vs Goliath
Vampires were richer and better connected. They lived in mansions while the Lycans were hiding out in sewers.
Vampires seemed to blend in with humanity easier. They also seemed to have more money and technology.
And although we see more political infighting with the vampires, I think their societal and class structure was more capable than lycan packs.
The vampires were sending out death squads to put down stray lycans
They were much more organized as a society
It does not matter if one tribe has stronger warriors if it’s scattered, the other tribe that is better able to bring its forces to bear due to being better organized is the tribe that will win
Aside from the points others have made about resources, technology, and influence in human society:
Lycans had a relatively simple weakness (silver). You can make swords out of it, you can make bullets out of it, all the way back to the dark ages.
Meanwhile, the Lycans lacked any easily accessible means to exploit the weaknesses of vampires. Until the UV ammunition, they’d just have to keep inflicting damage until they’ve overwhelmed the vampire’s ability to heal.
Vampires can run down tiny hallways that are decently long and avoid automatic gunfire from 4 guys with rifles.
Can’t really beat something that can accomplish THAT.
There was also that thing where lycans couldn’t originally change unless it was a full moon. It was a very minor bit of exposition in the first 5 minutes of the first movie, and it wasn’t really discussed every again. I think the prequel…forgot? Or was lucian just special like that?
Vamps can fight every night, lycans are (mostly) limited to a few nights a month. The average vamp is also way older and more experienced, equipped with many silver weapons, and backed by a whole system of support built by Victor as a warlord before he was turned.
The lycans were unorganized and hunted by vamps and humans until Lucian rose as their leader. They were losing, until Lucian faked his death and bought them ~400 years to build their forces and resources. At which point they very nearly wipe out the vampire elders and Victor’s own coven.
Young Lycans are stronger tha young Vampires, but ancient vampires are much stronger than any Lycan we see through the franchise.
Viktor in particular is a one-man army, as well as the primary instigator in the war against the Lycans. It would be nearly impossible for an attack to succeed against a stronghold he was present in.