The Call of Duty campaigns don't get as much love as they should. It's a multiplayer game first and foremost, and some players won't even try the story-mode. But we've had some iconic moments and characters over the years. And they've been especially good at giving us baddies to fight. But who are the very best villains in Call of Duty?
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5. Khaled Al-Asad
In one of the most fantastic opening's of shooter history, we see Khaled Al-Asad publically execute Al-Fulani. This is the first event that kickstarts the original Modern Warfare's trilogy, and for that alone, he deserves a place on the list. Also, he founded OpFor, who would go on to become one of the main organizations you fight against in modern Call of Duty games. | © Activision Blizzard
4. J12
J12 is a Russian soldier from Modern Warfare 2019, and while he doesn't have the power that other villains on this list do, we see him commit some of the worst on-screen atrocities in CoD history. He kills Walid, Farah and Hadar's father and then chases after the children trying to find and kill them. You actually play as a young Farah in this mission and have to duck and hide around the house while J12 hunts for you. It's traumatic stuff. | © Activision Blizzard
3. Imran Zakhaev
How could we not include Imran Zakhaev? He's your target in the best Call of Duty mission of all time. Unfortunately, you all know how that mission ends. Zakhaev survives and goes on to start the Second Russian Civil War, before then attacking the American homeland in Modern Warfare 2. | © Activision Blizzard
2. Vladimir Makarov
You probably recognize the image above. In the most controversial CoD mission of all time (it was actually censored out of the game in many regions), you gun down civilians in an airport under the instructions of Vladimir Makarov. And that's the most evil thing we will ever see in Call of Duty. | © Activision Blizzard
1. General Shepherd
Shepherd is objectively less evil than Makarov… but he's without doubt the most despised villain in Call of Duty history. If you haven't played Modern Warfare 2, then sorry to ruin the story for you, but General Shepherd is the one responsible for killing Ghost. This was an absolute gut-punch. An entirely unexpected betrayal. And one that I don't think I could handle again if they repeat this little maneuver in Modern Warfare II. | © Activision Blizzard
The Call of Duty campaigns don't get as much love as they should. It's a multiplayer game first and foremost, and some players won't even try the story-mode. But we've had some iconic moments and characters over the years. And they've been especially good at giving us baddies to fight. But who are the very best villains in Call of Duty?