Claymore

The Organization creates the Claymores by implanting Yoma flesh and blood into humans, thus creating hybrids that are more powerful than the original Yoma, in addition to their weapons training and often greater intelligence. On a side note, the hair color of each Claymore changes from their original color to blonde. These hybrids use large claymore swords that normal humans lack the strength to wield and are characterized by their silver eyes and light-blond-to-white hair (a few of them also have elf-like ears). A Claymore's standard abilities include overall enhanced physical prowess (most noticeably, strength), faster healing, limited shape modification and the ability to detect Yoma by sensing their Yoki. To use their special abilities, they access the powers of their Yoma-half. However, if the Yoma powers of each Claymore are pushed over a certain limit the Claymore loses all humanity and becomes a powerful, highly intelligent, and incredibly bloodthirsty Yoma called an Awakened Being. A Claymore will ask a friend (usually a fellow Claymore) to kill them if they sense they are "Awakening", ensuring that they do not turn into the very monsters they hunt.

Creation
All current Claymores are female, since the organization's past experiments with male hybrids have shown them to be prone to become Awakened Beings too quickly, due to the extreme pleasure they experience when releasing Yoki.

Almost all Claymores are created against their will, only becoming Claymores because they had no other way of living or because they were sold to the Organization. Many are orphans, abandoned children, or survivors of towns and families attacked by Yoma (although the Organization has been known to take children from their family, if they have an unusual quality they desire). The only known exception is Clare, who asked the Organization to put Teresa's flesh and blood inside her body in order to become a Claymore and take revenge on Priscilla. Thus, many Claymores have a personal vendetta against Yoma and throughout the series, stories appear of the horror of these young survivors; most notably, Deneve and Priscilla. Some, such as in the case of Clare and Ophelia, seek revenge against specific Yoma (usually Awakened Beings).

Eyes
In the anime due to the colors used, it is easy to tell the difference between silver eyes and yellow/golden eyes. However, in the manga there's no "color" used, as it is just black, grey, and white colors. So, to tell whether the eyes are silver eyes or golden/yellow eyes, you look at their pupil. Notice how the silver eyes in the pic below has a round-circular pupil with wavy lines coming out around it kind of like how a kid draws the sun. Whereas, the golden/yellow eyes, also seen below, has a skinny vertical cat or snake like pupil.

Uniform
Claymores wear a distinctive uniform consisting of a pale grey, close fitting shirt and pants. Over this they wear some pieces of armour: shin high, slightly high heeled metal boots (Sabatons); large wrist guards (Vambraces); large shoulder pieces (Spaulders); and a partial skirt (Fauld). Finally, they wear a short cape and a piece of fabric marked with the individual Claymore's specific certification symbol attached to their neck. They all carry a Claymore sword that also bears this specific symbol.

Certain Claymores may have modifications to their overall uniform to help compensate for unique abilities. Helen, for example, has arm coverings that are made out of a specific black material to allow for her extending limbs. Alicia and Beth both wear completely black uniforms of the same material for the same reason.

Symbols
When a Claymore is deemed ready by the Organization, she is given a rank and symbol. Each Claymore's symbol is unique and serves as an identification marker. Some Claymores are only known at first by their symbol, rather than their appearance. This symbol appears on their uniform on their neck, their sword and Black Card.

Physical Traits
In terms of physical appearance, most Claymores appear fully human save for their silver eyes and pale hair ranging in color from light blond, white, or even silver (extremely weak Claymores can retain some hair color, but are looked down upon for this). Some Claymores do possess inhuman traits such as pointed ears. When a Claymore releases her Yoki, her eyes turn gold in color. If a Claymore is using yoki suppressant pills, then her eyes will become a normal natural color in appearance.

All Claymores bodies seem to bear a mark or some sort of hideous deformation that makes it clear they are half human. This is said to be a result of their transformation/implementation of the Yoma into their bodies. However, it is unclear what this deformation actually looks like (It is always hinted at and never directly shown) or if it is different depending upon the Claymore. Early in the manga, it appears that the front of Teresa's torso is hideously deformed. The deformation has been explained by Galatea: "That's the proof of us being half human, half yoma. Because it is some kind of 'stigma' showing that something resides in this body which sould be avoided."

Lifestyle
Despite saving humans on a regular basis, Claymores are often alienated from and feared by humans due to their incredible powers, their relation to Yomas, and generally aloof attitudes. Humans will often call them "silver-eyed witches/slayers" or "monsters". Family members of individuals impersonated by Yoma tend to be banished from villages for fear that they might be Yoma too. Claymores are often girls who suffered this fate or survivors of villages wiped out by Yoma. Due to one or more of their background, Yoma blood, training, social isolation and harsh lives, Claymores tend to be serious and at least outwardly cold. Claymores often live unhappy, lonely lives due to their solitary lifestyle and the knowledge that they will eventually die or become monsters. Some become hot-tempered and easily angered, while some other Claymores become bloodthirsty killers who enjoy taking life, more savage than the Yoma they hunt. Almost all of them avoid any sort of companionship with humans.

Claymores require far less food in order to survive than normal humans. They need only consume a few bites of food every few days, and if required, can go for over a week without any. Claymores are generally only seen resting by sticking their claymore swords into the ground and leaning against them, rather than sleeping in a lying position or on a bed as it seems to be the only 'comfortable' way they can rest.

Claymores take orders from their black-clad handlers/money-collectors, who in turn appear to take orders from a small council of older males (ie The Organization). It should be noted that the name 'Claymore' was originally coined by laymen - the organization and its warriors do not, in fact, have any official name. As such, few Claymores will ever refer to themselves as a 'Claymore'. Instead they refer to themselves by the term "senshi" which roughly translates to "warrior".

When a Claymore falls in battle and dies, her sword is used as her gravestone marker.

Abilities
Due to their hybrid nature, Claymores possess strength, speed, and reflexes far greater than that of any human. Because of their great strength, Claymores can wield a heavy claymore single-handed with ease and grace. In addition to this, Claymores possess vast regenerative capabilities and resilience, allowing them to survive normally-fatal injuries such as evisceration. Any wound that does not kill them heals over completely within hours. Defensive type Claymores, such as Deneve, can even regenerate entire limbs within minutes. These abilities, combined with their combat training and weaponry, allow Claymores to fight on par with most Yoma.

Aside from their strength, perhaps the most well-known ability wielded by Claymores (and the one for which they are most prized by their clients) is their ability to sense Yoma. This is achieved through the sensing of Yoki (Yoma energy). Specialized Claymore can detect the aura of a Yoma from as far as several miles away, depending on the individual Claymore's skill. Clare herself has proven capable of sensing residual Yoki on humans who come into close contact with Yoma. A refined use of sensing Yoki allow the Claymores Teresa and Clare to read and predict the Yoma movements, to the point of reacting before the Yoma attacks.

All of a Claymore's abilities are dependent upon her control over her body's Yoki. By regulating the amount of Yoki used or localizing it to specific body parts/functions, Claymores can further augment their already-prodigious physical attributes, or utilize a number of exotic abilities. The average Claymore will tend to simply tap/release a greater percentage of their total Yoki, causing great increases in base strength, speed, and healing ability. If a Claymore releases 10% of their power, their eyes will gleam gold and become cat-like. If they release 30%, their face will contort and become monstrous. If they release 50%, their body will deform. Tapping too great an amount (over 80% of the body's total Yoki), however, causes Claymores to become Awakened. Higher-ranking Claymores usually display far greater control, and exhibit enhanced ability with their standard abilities or unique powers, such as Irene's Quicksword, or Helen's ability to extend her arms.

Ranks
The Claymore organization has a strict hierarchy, in which the Claymores are each given a rank corresponding their relative strength. Claymore #1 is the strongest, while #47 is the weakest (and receives a corresponding lack of respect). The number of existing Claymores at any time is officially 47 as that represents the total number of regional jurisdictions that the Claymores are responsible for.

All Claymores seem to go by a single name with a few earning particular epithets due to a distinguishing characteristic such as personality (Teresa of the Faint Smile), physical prowess (Muscular Sophia), fighting styles (Stormwind Noel, Undine of the Twin Swords, Quicksword Irene) and special techniques (Phantom Miria, Windcutter Flora). During the "Endless Gravestones" arc, the character Ophelia expresses the desire to have such an epithet of her own (Ophelia of the Ripples).

Combat Styles
In Volume #7, the character Ophelia reveals that there are two types of Claymore combat style: The offensive and defensive style. These styles are intrinsic characteristics of the warrior, and not techniques which can be learned. The determination seems to come from the person's approach to confrontation. A Claymore's combat style is determined by "whether one tries to win a fight by surviving, or by killing the opponent". The strength of a Claymore's instinct to live will determine the combat style that she will use. The stronger the desire to live, the more likely the Claymore's combat style will be the defensive attacking style,. Conversely, a Claymore who most desires destruction of their enemy will more likely be an offensive fighter.

Defensive
Defensive-type Claymores typically possess incredible self-healing abilities. A unique characteristic is that if a Claymore loses any limbs and regenerates them, the new limbs will maintain their original demonic strength and powers. Galatea, Veronica, Cynthia, Deneve, and Yuma are known to be in this category.

Offensive
Those in the offensive category are capable of more powerful attacks. However, they are not able to regenerate their bodies as effectively. If a Claymore in this category loses any limbs and she regenerates them, the strength of these limbs will only be equivalent to that of a normal human being. Clare, Ophelia, Rafaela and Irene are in this category. However, they can reattach recently severed limbs, including limbs originally belonging to another Claymore. They also can heal injuries/damage as well. The degree of their healing abilities depends on them individually. Offensive types Clare, Miria, and Helen were able to heal their serious injuries (Clare punched and tentacled through her stomach. Miria was "internally tongue fondled". Helen had her back sliced open), but offensive type Jean was unable to heal her fatal injury/damage from Rigardo. Unfortunately, healing and regeneration are similar and hard to differentiate which makes it hard on us, as to whether regeneration is occuring or just simply healing.

However, there's some with both offensive and defensive abilities (as all abilities are based on yoki amount/power and not the type of warrior):
Helen, an offensive type, is seemingly able to regenerate (see abilities in the Helen Article for the source).

Rafaela, an offensive type, is able to regenerate (back Claymore body parts, not merely human body parts), according to Rubel. (see abilities in the Rafaela Article for the source).

Galatea, a defensive type, uses her yoki to enhance her offensive power, her strength, as she says to Dauf, ~"The rate at which my yoki rises is the highest of all the warriors". (source needed, it's during her battle with Dauf after Clare went to go get jean, during the Witches Maw section/arc/chapters)

Audrey, a defensive type, has her Gentle Sword sword technique, which usually only offensive warriors have.

Undine, probably originally a defensive type based on her past, uses her yoki to keep her muscles bulked up for more offensive power, strength, at least while in public and in battles.

Priscilla, if she's a defensive type, used her yoki to bulk up her muscles too (like Undine), giving us the near Awakened "Orcish" Claymore Priscilla.

Deneve, after the Pieta battle, seems to really increase her offensive power, strength, as well as learning to use dual (two) swords (in "Undine's memory", aka like Undine had used two swords).

Note: these below are not Claymores

Priscilla, if she's an offensive type, is obviously able to regenerate extremely well as an Awakened. Though, as a Claymore, the manga never shown whether Priscilla could regenerate or not.

Of course most of the Awakened Beings, and the three Abyssal Ones can regenerate, even if they are offensive types. Even Rigardo and Dauf are able to regenerate. Rigardo isn't able to regenerate in the short time-frame of a battle, however he is able to regenerate (unless it is just healing and reattachment. need to go back and examine that special-extra chapter showing Priscilla devouring a 4th town in the north land and easily defeating Rigardo and Dauf) as his battle with Priscilla happened before the Pieta battle.

update about Dauf: of what can be seem, he's missing his left arm and maybe his left leg. The missing left arm is seen, but it's in at least two pieces (arm and elbow?). So, whether he can simply reattach it or if regeneration is also needed is unknown. Since it is unknown about whether his left leg is severed off or not, is not clear whether regeneration or just reattachment was used if he is even missing his left leg or not. In the later pics of this extra-special chapter, Rigardo has his missing left arm back and it seems both legs back as well. It seems like he is getting and maybe standing up though as well.

Lastly, there's also the Abyss Feeders/Eaters whom can regenerate extremely well (seemingly equally to Priscilla's own regenerative abilities), despite being extremely offensively powerful as well (able to change their body parts into weapons like Isley does with his arms).

Claymore Generations
Claymores' ranks are based on their strength and ability. They can obtain higher ranks as they become stronger, but when they are surpassed by other Claymores, their rank is lowered. Claymores are known to belong to different "generations" marking the time they joined the organization, but not all the Claymores who are active at the same time necessarily belong to the same generation. Characters listed in bold are the Northern Campaign survivors.