Yoma (妖魔, yōma?) are a species of humanoid monsters, believed by some to be a type of demon, that coexist with humans, feeding on their internal organs. Most are similar in size to humans, though some are noticeably larger and more heavily muscled. Most have rows of stubby spikes growing from their upper backs, with elongated limbs that end in clawed digits, large fang-filled jaws and pointed ears, giving them a bestial appearance,and some have bat-like wings, though this is rare amongst them. Yoma have greater strength, speed, and durability compared to humans, being capable of extending their limbs and digits, and are capable of both regenerating after being wounded and shape-shifting to appear completely human. Taken a step further, they can eat a human's brain to absorb their memories and completely replace them. Yoma are identified by their 'yoki' (妖気?), or "demon essence" (the first character means demon, and second character is the same as the Chinese word commonly known as "chi"), which can be sensed by other yoma and by Claymores.
Claymores are created by the Organization to fight the Yoma. By implanting Yoma flesh and blood into humans, they are able to create a hybrid that is faster than the source Yoma with their original human combat training and intelligence. It is unknown why Claymores are so overpoweringly powerful in comparison to Yoma despite only being half-Yoma. This hybridization process changes the human's hair to a light-blond or white, their eyes to silver, and sometimes they develop elf-like ears. Claymores are stronger than typical humans, have an enhanced healing ability, and some limited shape-shifting abilities. In battle, Claymores wield large claymore swords, hence their name. By drawing on the yoki within them, Claymores begin to undergo a physical transformation, beginning with their eyes, until they closely resemble yoma themselves. Claymores are in danger of losing control of their powers if they activate more than 80% of their demon strength, changing them into a form of yoma called an "Awakened Being". The majority of Claymores are female, as human males who are changed to hybrids tend to "awaken" more quickly due to the feeling of pleasure, akin to sexual ecstasy, during the process. In an attempt to avoid this fate, Claymores will ask a friend, usually another Claymore, to kill them if they begin to awaken. Some rare Claymores have been able to pass the 80% mark but avoid awakening, permanently increasing their strength. These Claymores' ability to surpass their limits and revert back to human form (most of the time), their lack of blood lust, and their increased strength are unknown to the Organization's leadership. This is due to the interference of enemy spies like Rubel within the Organization itself.
Similarly, their close cousins, Awakened Beings, retain their original memories and intelligence that they had as a Claymore, but in contrast gain the most basic bloodthirsty nature of a yoma. The "great shame" of the Organization, the true nature of Awakened Beings is kept from the public. Instead, they are called "voracious eaters" and are proclaimed to be particularly old yoma who have gained greater experience and an increased appetite due to their age. As they were originally humans made into Claymores, the Awakened Beings are as varied as their sources, with differing personalities and appearances. As Awakened Beings are more powerful than regular yoma, and generally as strong as or stronger than many Claymores, a team of at least four Claymores is typically necessary to deal with them, led by a single-digit ranked Claymore. It is originally believed that all Awakened Beings have lost their humanity, but as the series progresses, it is revealed that they do not always. The organization publicly denies this, while making use of such Awakened Beings in the war outside the island.
The spies within the Organization attempt to use the sudden overabundance of Awakened Beings to attempt to dispose of troublesome, partially-awakened Claymores, beginning with Clare, Helen, Deneve and Miria. They do so fearing the possibility that the Organization might discover their partially awakened status, but fail to kill the four comrades. Using this half-way status as a foundation, they fear that the Organization would be able to create controllable Awakened Beings, a feat partially accomplished with Alicia and Beth. These would then be used outside the island, where a war is waged between Awakened Beings haphazardly unleashed by the Organization against a dragon-like species allied to their enemies.
Another 'species' has appeared, called Abyss Feeders, though they are often referred to as 'Demons'. The Abyss Feeders are females with light-blond or white hair, resembling Claymores, except that their mouths and eyes are sewn shut. It has been revealed that these 'Demons' were created by the Organization seven years ago, shortly after the Northern Campaign. Unlike Claymores, which are hybrids created by combining Yoma flesh with a human, the Abyss Feeders are hybrids created by using the corpses of Awakened Beings in place of regular Yoma. Abyss Feeders have been stripped of all emotion or conscious thought and are conditioned to have a single insatiable desire: to consume the flesh or blood of one that has been fed to them. Like Awakened Beings, Abyss Feeders can generate weapons from their own bodies and regenerate at a staggering rate, with only a direct blow to the head being fatal. While they are driven to seek out the one that they are looking for, they will also attack anything that makes a sudden movement and, according to Dietrich, whole towns have been wiped out by the 'Demons'. When infected by the parasitic spawn of the Destroyer, rather than being taken over the Abyss Feeders lose their inhibitions and devour anything they come across.
Claymores are created by the Organization to fight the Yoma. By implanting Yoma flesh and blood into humans, they are able to create a hybrid that is faster than the source Yoma with their original human combat training and intelligence. It is unknown why Claymores are so overpoweringly powerful in comparison to Yoma despite only being half-Yoma. This hybridization process changes the human's hair to a light-blond or white, their eyes to silver, and sometimes they develop elf-like ears. Claymores are stronger than typical humans, have an enhanced healing ability, and some limited shape-shifting abilities. In battle, Claymores wield large claymore swords, hence their name. By drawing on the yoki within them, Claymores begin to undergo a physical transformation, beginning with their eyes, until they closely resemble yoma themselves. Claymores are in danger of losing control of their powers if they activate more than 80% of their demon strength, changing them into a form of yoma called an "Awakened Being". The majority of Claymores are female, as human males who are changed to hybrids tend to "awaken" more quickly due to the feeling of pleasure, akin to sexual ecstasy, during the process. In an attempt to avoid this fate, Claymores will ask a friend, usually another Claymore, to kill them if they begin to awaken. Some rare Claymores have been able to pass the 80% mark but avoid awakening, permanently increasing their strength. These Claymores' ability to surpass their limits and revert back to human form (most of the time), their lack of blood lust, and their increased strength are unknown to the Organization's leadership. This is due to the interference of enemy spies like Rubel within the Organization itself.
Similarly, their close cousins, Awakened Beings, retain their original memories and intelligence that they had as a Claymore, but in contrast gain the most basic bloodthirsty nature of a yoma. The "great shame" of the Organization, the true nature of Awakened Beings is kept from the public. Instead, they are called "voracious eaters" and are proclaimed to be particularly old yoma who have gained greater experience and an increased appetite due to their age. As they were originally humans made into Claymores, the Awakened Beings are as varied as their sources, with differing personalities and appearances. As Awakened Beings are more powerful than regular yoma, and generally as strong as or stronger than many Claymores, a team of at least four Claymores is typically necessary to deal with them, led by a single-digit ranked Claymore. It is originally believed that all Awakened Beings have lost their humanity, but as the series progresses, it is revealed that they do not always. The organization publicly denies this, while making use of such Awakened Beings in the war outside the island.
The spies within the Organization attempt to use the sudden overabundance of Awakened Beings to attempt to dispose of troublesome, partially-awakened Claymores, beginning with Clare, Helen, Deneve and Miria. They do so fearing the possibility that the Organization might discover their partially awakened status, but fail to kill the four comrades. Using this half-way status as a foundation, they fear that the Organization would be able to create controllable Awakened Beings, a feat partially accomplished with Alicia and Beth. These would then be used outside the island, where a war is waged between Awakened Beings haphazardly unleashed by the Organization against a dragon-like species allied to their enemies.
Another 'species' has appeared, called Abyss Feeders, though they are often referred to as 'Demons'. The Abyss Feeders are females with light-blond or white hair, resembling Claymores, except that their mouths and eyes are sewn shut. It has been revealed that these 'Demons' were created by the Organization seven years ago, shortly after the Northern Campaign. Unlike Claymores, which are hybrids created by combining Yoma flesh with a human, the Abyss Feeders are hybrids created by using the corpses of Awakened Beings in place of regular Yoma. Abyss Feeders have been stripped of all emotion or conscious thought and are conditioned to have a single insatiable desire: to consume the flesh or blood of one that has been fed to them. Like Awakened Beings, Abyss Feeders can generate weapons from their own bodies and regenerate at a staggering rate, with only a direct blow to the head being fatal. While they are driven to seek out the one that they are looking for, they will also attack anything that makes a sudden movement and, according to Dietrich, whole towns have been wiped out by the 'Demons'. When infected by the parasitic spawn of the Destroyer, rather than being taken over the Abyss Feeders lose their inhibitions and devour anything they come across.
