Beerus is a visually interesting villain whose power is expressed through fun attacks and powers. Unlike other antagonists, Beerus has a personality and can be seen differently throughout the series: excited, happy, angry, serious, and even lazy. | © Toei Animation
As a former King of Curses, Sukuna is an iconic villain who showcases sadistic pleasure and strategic cunning. He's a formidable character whose actions always intrigue people around him. | © Shueisha
Goku Black is one of the most likable villains ever; people just find him cool because of his design, the way he acts, and his attacks. He is just pure evil, like Frieza. | © Toei Animation
Mahito embodies human hate and cruelty; he perceives human lives as trivial due to his ability to see souls. Mahito’s philosophical dialogue and his drive to understand the essence of his soul through the suffering of others contrasts with Yuji's ideals. | © Shueisha
Kiryu Setsuna is one of the best-written characters, who embodies the tragic figure of a hero who could have been. He receives no sympathy from those around him, leaving him as a beautifully tragic antagonist. | © Larx Entertainment
Initially introduced as the protagonist's closest friend, Ryo Asuka unfolds as a catastrophic villain who defines the series and symbolizes betrayal in anime. | © Discotek Media
The Major has an obsession with war and chaos, which makes him an embodiment of evil and destruction. The Major has no fear, even in the face of death, which makes him an unforgettable antagonist. | © Xebec
Eren Yeager is the worst, most evil, and horrible person to have ever existed. He killed hundreds more people than Hitler and brought light to sympathizing with his tragic character only in the end. | © Crunchyroll
Hisoka is a very interesting character with unique personal traits. He amuses himself by putting his life on the line against strong opponents. | © Madhouse
Envy is an iconic villain that represents one of the most destructive human emotions: extreme jealousy. Envy can manipulate appearances and identities, reflecting their deep-seated insecurity and desire to be someone else. | © Square Enix
Shogo Makishima was crafted with subtle depth and complexity, making players read between the lines to understand his true motivations. His actions are not born from a desire to destroy for sake, but from a need to be seen. | © MVM Entertainment
Muzan Kibutsuji was the first human to become a demon, and he was above everyone, human and demon alike. His manipulative nature and ability to change his appearance make him an unpredictable threat. | © Shueisha
Askeladd is a powerful anime villain who knows where he stands, and he never has been truly hated. He is charismatic and witty, and while he still kills Thors, he shows him quite a bit of respect. | © MVM Entertainment
Yohan Liebert just casually kills thousands of innocent people, and his actions have never been explained. Yohan also had the perfect appearance, great social skills, and off-the-charts intelligence. | © Madhouse
Yagami Light is an evil genius, almost a perfect anime villain. He's a hard-working, smart, entertaining, and complex character. He just defies people's expectations from the first scene. | © Shueisha
Nagato Uzumaki is a well-written character who transformed from an idealistic child to a main antagonist driven by despair and pain. His philosophy of achieving peace through suffering and destruction challenges the ideas of Naruto. | © Shueisha
Aizen Sosuke is one of the strongest villains who desperately wants someone to rival him. He helped Ichigo to get as strong as he did. | © Viz Media
Donquixote Doflamingo has stolen the show every time he appears on the screen. He was built up over hundreds of episodes, snippets, and teasers highlighting his cruelty. | © Crunchyroll
Meruem is one of the most developed characters in the Hunter x Hunter series. His arc with Komugi challenges traditional notions of villainy and makes him a philosophically deep character. | © Crunchyroll
Griffith has sacrificed his friends and crew for power, representing the dangers of unfettered ambition. He's an amazing antagonist who has an awareness of his capabilities and desires. | © MVM Entertainment
Dio Brando has killed a lot of people directly and indirectly, but he's quite a charming and attractive character. He’s a horrible and selfish person, but he's incredibly overpowered. | © Shueisha
Orochimaru is one of the strongest shinobi that ever existed. He was willing to do anything to increase power and get immortality. Despite being selfish and violent, he was very entertaining and compelling. | © Shueisha
Vicious was so powerful that he fought Spike equally and succeeded in taking over the Red Dragon Syndicate. All his appearances are truly memorable. | © Cartoon Network
Frieza is the most ruthless and evil enemy in the whole Dragon Ball series. He wasn't the most powerful in the universe, but he was the real incarnation of everything Toriyama feared as a child. | © Toei Animation
Madara Uchiha stands as someone who completely controls situations, even among the strongest characters in the anime universe. His immense power, complex motivations, and tragic backstory make him one of the founding figures in the villain's world. | © Shueisha
There are tons of different anime series, but not all of them have well-written villains. Here's our ranking of the most iconic anime villains that still stand out among others to date. Let's start!
