In anime and movies, the villain is the main character, in my opinion, because without a good villain, movies or anime feel pretty blad.
The villain’s story is a major part of any anime or movie because, without a good backstory of the villain, you will feel pretty bored.
The story is why he chooses to be a villain instead of a hero. I am the kinda guy who is biased and likes villains more than heroes or the main protagonist. Today we gonna explore the strongest anime villains and dark anime characters.
-20 Best Anime Villains of All Time-
The best anime villains are those characters who bring special depth, pressure, and uniqueness to their stories. This is what makes them as fascinating as the heroes they fight against.
One can see how the dreams of power lead even the brightest minds down dark paths: an example of Death Note is Light Yagami from Death Note, and another example may be Madara Uchiha from Naruto Shippuden.
Some other notable villains are saturated with so much power and cold reasoning that they will push heroes to the limits; examples include Aizen from Bleach and Frieza from Dragon Ball Z.
Indeed, many of the most iconic villains have sad or twisted backstories, like Meruem from Hunter x Hunter, whose journey leads to an unexpected philosophical depth.
These villains do not just pose obstacles but challenge the morals and emotions of those viewers, often symbolizing ambition, revenge, or existential questioning, and make them unforgettable characters in anime culture.
There is a thin line between pure evil anime characters, and in Naruto anime, I don’t think they have any villains.
20. Light Yagami-
Light Yagami, the protagonist of Death Note, is a tricky character. A brilliant student on the surface, he’s consumed by a dark sense of justice.
Finding a notebook with the power to kill by writing a name, Light, codenamed Kira, becomes a vigilante judge. He targets bad guys and seeks to establish a utopia free of bad peoples.
Light’s intelligence and charm push him to power. However, his situation turned out to become all the more brutal with each passing day.
The line between justice and murder becomes unclear as he manipulates others and gets rid of anyone who threatens his god-like status.
Light’s brilliance and ambition curdle into arrogance, revealing a character both fascinating and terrifying. He becomes a dark anime character and best anime villains in the series.
19. Askeladd-
Askeladd is a complex and cunning character from the anime Vinland Saga. He’s a skilled warrior and the leader of a band of mercenaries.
Askeladd has a sharp mind and uses his intelligence to manipulate people and situations to his advantage, often pulling off plans others wouldn’t even think of. He’s not just a typical villain he has a hidden depth and a unique moral code that makes him unpredictable and interesting.
His background is a mix of Viking and Welsh heritage, giving him a strong sense of purpose that drives his actions. Askeladd’s story adds an extra layer of intensity to the Vinland Saga.
If you guys want to watch a good anime Vinland Saga is one of the best underrated anime of all time, it’s a masterpiece in my opinion.
18. Dabi-
Dabi is a powerful character in the anime My Hero Academia. He’s a villain and a member of the League of Villains, known for his blue flames, which are hotter and more dangerous than regular fire.
Toya Todoroki is the real name of Dabi, and he is the estranged son of the famous pro-hero. He has a tough and mysterious personality, rarely showing his emotions but being pushed by a personal mission against heroes, especially his father.
Dabi’s background and goals make him one of the most interesting characters. Fans are drawn to his fierce abilities, complex past, and the intense grudge he holds.
17. Geto Suguru-
He is one of my favourite characters from Jujutsu Kaisen and is known for his strong beliefs and controversial choices. Once a jujutsu sorcerer and a very close friend of Satoru Gojo, Geto was thoroughly devoted to the protection of humanity from curses.
Things changed drastically for Geto with time. He began to view the non-sorcerers as weaknesses in the world. This made him walk down a dark road, planning to eradicate all non-jujutsu users and constitute a society for only jujutsu users.
His ideals tend to conflict with others, like Gojo, which increases the narrative tension greatly. Though his actions are very inhuman, Geto’s character shows the disillusions and what loss does to people, which makes him more than a one-dimensional villain.
The story outlines exactly how pain and idealism can take people down roads they would never have even considered going through. He is not a pure evil anime character, but I can, he is one of the best anime villains for a reason.
16. Dio Brando-
Dio Brando is an evil character from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and is one of the most iconic villains. He gains a mysterious artifact, the Stone Mask, which turns him into a vampire and gives him incredible strength, speed, and regeneration.
Starting out as a cunning, ruthless kid with a thirst for power, Dio’s ambitions grow as he gets older. Later, Dio develops his Stand, The World, which lets him stop time, making him nearly unstoppable.
He’s known for his charisma, arrogance, and relentless drive to dominate others, especially the Joestar family. Dio’s confrontations with JoJo are intense and filled with dramatic battles, making him unforgettable.
15. Chrollo Lucilfer-
One of the best anime villains is Chrollo Lucilfer from Hunter x Hunter, the leader of the Phantom Troupe in Hunter x Hunter. Chrollo has a calm and strategic mind; his complexity in motives sets him outside the league of ordinary villains—raw power given all over.
He thinks and is clever, leading a band of thieves with a quiet intensity that keeps his team loyal and enemies wary. It does make him incredibly unique and unpredictable, as he can steal other people’s Nen abilities.
Chrollo is ruthless, but he does have depth—he is loyal to his Troupe members and has philosophical outlooks about life and death that give an interesting nuance to his personality.
The balance between strength, intelligence, and mystery makes Chrollo an unforgettable bad guy to the fans of the series Hunter x Hunter. Moreover, he is also popular in Instagram reels and has a good amount of fan following.
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14. Mahito-
Mahito, the character from Jujutsu Kaisen, is one of the best anime villains after Sukuna because of his unique approach to villainy, pure evil, and his unsettling philosophy about humanity.
He is a cursed spirit born from human fear and hatred, making him see humans as objects to experiment on without any empathy or guilt.
Mahito’s power, Idle Transfiguration, lets him reshape souls, which he uses to transform people in horrific ways. His actions aren’t just violent; they’re deeply personal, often targeting his opponents’ weaknesses and ideals.
He enjoys challenging the beliefs of others, especially Yuji Itadori, the protagonist. Mahito’s manipulative and carefree attitude makes him unpredictable and hard to beat, adding real stakes to the story.
He’s a villain who embodies a truly twisted perspective on humanity, making him a memorable part of Jujutsu Kaisen.
13. Hisoka-
The anime series Hunter x Hunter has an amazing character, Hisoka. He’s known for his unique mix of predictability and mystery, often leaving fans curious about his motives.
He is a capable fighter with a special sense that certainly made him one of the deadliest characters in the series, mainly with an interest in obtaining powerful rivals as a competitor to engage in very intimidating battles with.
Such an obsession with fighting stronger rivals sometimes blurs the line between friend and foe because he’ll make friends only if it benefits his purpose.
He is resourceful, versatile, and sharp at fighting, making him adapt in many ways to new situations. At times, he can appear selfish and ruthless, but often his moves are strategic to further his goal. Thus, it is an odd excitement to watch the series.
12. Muzan Kibutsuji-
Muzan Kibutsuji, a character from Demon Slayer, is a demon king. Ancient and powerful, he generates all demons, granting immortality but a burning hunger for human flesh.
Obsessed with conquering his one weakness, sunlight, to achieve immortality and become invincible. Muzan ruthlessly eliminates threats.
His walking style with the hat and cold vibe and amazing dressing style with cape look like a pure evil anime character. He is one of the strongest anime characters in Demon Slayer.
His cold, relentless drive to survive and destroy makes him a memorable villain who pushes the protagonists to their limits.
11. Donquixote Doflamingo-
Donquixote Doflamingo is one of the best anime villains in One Piece, known for his brutal ambition, dark and complex backstory. As a former Celestial Dragon, he has a privileged past, but he loses everything and develops a deep grudge against society.
With the power of the String-String Fruit, Doflamingo controls people and fights with ruthless skill, showing no mercy to enemies or even family.
His charisma and twisted sense of justice make him a dangerous, unpredictable force. He runs an underground crime network and manipulates people for his gain, adding layers to his villainy.
Doflamingo’s character is compelling because he reflects both privilege and resentment, displaying the darker side of human nature. His presence in One Piece brings out some of the series’ best moments, making him unforgettable among anime villains.
10. All for One–
One of the biggest characters in the anime, My Hero Academia, is All for One. He is a strong anime villains and thief of quirks. He can obtain another person’s quirk and use it for himself.
The person is dangerous because he can gather all sorts of powers to fight against his enemies. All for One is also a mastermind, working using his powers on others, though mostly to do so directly, while at other times, working behind the scenes.
His contribution to the plot makes it quite tensile and complicated, with an immense danger for heroes and society in general.
All for One runs throughout the series explaining the dark part of the world of quirks; he symbolizes power and control and how uncontrolled ambition affects the world.
9. Eren Yeager-
Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan anime series is one of my favourite animes on the list; it has fighting scenes and emotional moments. Eren is the main character in the anime.
He starts as a young, determined boy who dreams of freedom beyond the walls that protect humanity from Titans, giant creatures that prey on humans.
It is his will that inspires him to join the army, where he becomes a great soldier. As the anime progresses, Eren becomes intense and layered, often questioning what true freedom is and how far he is willing to push to achieve it.
His journey only touches his inner battle, loyalty, and desire for change, making him a character who evolves in ever-so-astonishing and powerful ways.
He gains the power to turn into a Titan, which gives him true strength to fight head-on against humanity’s enemies. He would sacrifice the entire world for family and friends.
That is why we fans love Eren and how he became the best anime villain and protagonist in the whole series.
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8. Father Fullmetal Alchemist-
The Father in Fullmetal Alchemist is mysterious as well as the main figure in the story. He is the final antagonist (anime villain) of tough ambition and almost godlike power.
His personality is introduced first as a being with incredible knowledge and mastery over alchemy. Besides, he is highly connected to the main ideas of human desire, knowledge, and the goal of power.
Father is a being who sees himself above humanity and seeks to surpass human limitations. His desires would come with the credulity that he believes in mastering or ruling over nature, for which he can do anything.
His character shows both a lesson of unchecked aspiration and caution about losing one’s grip on one’s humanity. As the story unfolds, Father’s intentions and actions are pretty obvious in their indication of the world of Fullmetal Alchemist.
7. Grand Zeno–
Grand Zeno, or the Omni-King, is one of the strongest and most mysterious characters in Dragon Ball Z and its sequel, Dragon Ball Super. He was the supreme ruler over all universes.
He wielded authority over gods, mortals, and even great beings like Kai and the Gods of Destruction. He just looks like a child and has a whimsical nature.
Grand Zeno has the power to erase the vast universe with a mere thought. He is generally curious and friendly, particularly when around Goku, to whom he usually gives some respect by treating him in a casual manner that no other person dares to do.
Grand Zeno’s role serves to introduce a cosmic scale to the Dragon Ball series, highlighting the vastness of its multiverse and setting up new challenges that test the heroes in unique ways beyond physical strength.
6. Blackbeard-
Blackbeard / Marshall D. Teach is a character in One Piece. He is shown as a pure evil anime character, but his true intention is not shown currently.
Driven by ambition and a ruthless desire for power, he starts as an ordinary pirate but quickly rises to one of the series’ most feared antagonists.
Unlike other anime villains, Blackbeard doesn’t follow a strict moral code—he’ll betray, manipulate, and take whatever he wants to achieve his goals.
His journey reflects raw ambition; he’s willing to go to any length, making him both unpredictable and dangerous. Blackbeard’s rise to power includes stealing the powerful Devil Fruits and taking over territories, directly challenging Luffy’s dreams and values.
As a villain, Blackbeard brings real chance and represents the idea of a ruthless pirate, making him one of the most memorable and impactful figures in anime.
He currently has two devil fruits—Yami Yami no Mi and the Gura Gura no Mi—after stealing the whitebeard devil fruit.
5. Imu-Sama-
Imu-sama is a pretty mysterious character who rarely appears in the extremely popular anime and manga One Piece, written by Eiichiro Oda.
The World Government rules the world in one piece. However, Imu-sama takes an unusual place in it. He sits on an empty throne, signifying absolute power, which makes him the highest power in the world of One Piece.
Actually, secretively, he is above even the Five Elders, who often make key decisions for the government. He destroyed the whole island by just sitting on his throne.
We fans know very little about the intentions, abilities, or character of Imu-sama. He or she rarely appears and remains in the background quite often, with hardly anyone even knowing that she, too, is one such figure.
The covering of Imu-sama has fans speculating over what role this character really plays in the whole story. What kind of influence she or he would have upon Luffy and the world dynamics of the journey.
4. Ryomen Sukuna-
Ryomen Sukuna, often called Sukuna, is a powerful villain in the anime Jujutsu Kaisen. He’s known as the King of Curses, they feared him for his immense strength and dangerous curse techniques.
In the story, he’s an ancient sorcerer who became a cursed spirit after death. His power was so overwhelming that his body couldn’t be completely destroyed, leading to his remains being preserved as 20 indestructible fingers.
Each finger holds a portion of his power, making him a major threat. When Yuji Itadori, the protagonist, accidentally consumes one of Sukuna’s fingers, Sukuna revives and shares Yuji’s body.
Despite being trapped, Sukuna constantly seeks ways to regain his full strength and is ruthless, cunning, and always ready to manipulate situations to his advantage.
His personality is cruel and sadistic, but he’s undeniably charismatic, drawing both fear and intrigue from fans. He is a pure evil anime character with immense power without fear of anything.
3. Sosuke Aizen-
It is impossible that Aizen’s name does not appear in the list of best anime villains. Sosuke Aizen of Bleach is especially considered for clever planning and strong influence over the storyline.
If you haven’t seen the Bleach anime, then you must have seen Aizen on some Instagram reel because of his popular fan following.
He begins as a respected leader within the Soul Society, but the shocking twist that he suddenly betrays everyone to gain power beyond what anyone would ever imagine makes it even more interesting.
He’s calm and strategic and rarely loses his composure, making him a serious threat that keeps fans on edge. Aizen manipulates people and events with expertise and lets loose advanced year planning, all to test and surpass the limits of his world.
Unlike those who are only driven by revenge or anger, Aizen lives on with a great purpose: to be powerful as well as reshape reality, which makes the villain unforgettable and lets his presence impact fans immensely in securing him a position among the best villains in anime.
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2. Madara Uchiha-
Madara Uchiha is one of the best anime villains in Naruto Shippuden, and his character has a big impact on fans. As a legendary leader of the Uchiha Clan, Madara starts with a dream of peace.
But after seeing endless conflict, he believes true peace can only be achieved through control and power. This leads him down a darker path where he plans to create an illusionary world of “peace” using the Infinite Tsukuyomi, a plan that would rob people of free will.
Madara’s unmatched strength and powerful ideals challenge every hero who faces him, especially Naruto and Sasuke. His actions force viewers to question the price of peace and the cost of absolute power.
Madara remains an unforgettable villain because he’s driven by ideals that make sense but lead to drastic, dangerous actions.
1. Yhwach-
Yhwach is a powerful character in the Bleach anime series, known as the leader of the Quincy and the main villain of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc.
He is superior to Sosuke Aizen in every aspect, and he is introduced as the son of the Soul King. With the unique ability to share his soul and powers with others, as well as reclaim them when needed.
Yhwach’s primary goal is to reshape the world according to his own vision. Yhwach is ruthless in his approach, willing to sacrifice anything to achieve his vision, including his own followers if necessary.
His ability to see and manipulate the future makes him an overwhelming opponent. He represents the ultimate threat to Soul Society, forcing the heroes to confront their limits and team up against his immense power.
He is one of the best anime villains and the strongest anime characters of all time.
Conclusion-
The best anime villains grab our attention because they have depth and unique motives, with a sense of purpose that often challenges heroes in completely unexpected ways.
These antagonists aren’t evil for the sake of being evil; they come with personal backstories, ideologies, or goals that make them real.
Some reflect the darker shadows of human truth or the darker side of human character, adding depth to the story and forcing us to consider right from wrong.
Pure evil characters will scare us because we never know what they’ll do next, making us wonder how dark it can go. Villains often push heroes to grow and step outside their comfort zones, creating lasting memories.
Yet the villains, in the end, give such an impression to anime because of the thin line that describes a hero as a villain at times, which makes the stories very thought-provoking and engaging.
FAQ:-
Who is the Father of Fullmetal Alchemist?
In Fullmetal Alchemist, “Father” is the primary antagonist. He’s a powerful Homunculus who originally emerged from a flask, created by manipulating the essence of an ancient being. Father seeks godlike power and freedom from human limitations, often clashing with the Elric brothers in his quest for ultimate dominance.
Who is the most evil anime character?
The most evil anime character often cited is Johan Liebert from Monster. He’s a brilliant, manipulative sociopath who causes chaos for personal pleasure, psychologically tormenting people and driving them to ruin. Unlike many villains, Johan lacks a clear motive, making his actions feel chillingly random and terrifyingly real.
Strongest anime villains?
Some of the strongest anime villains include Madara Uchiha (Naruto) for his mastery of powerful jutsu, Meruem (Hunter x Hunter) with his unmatched intelligence and strength, Kaguya Otsutsuki (Naruto) for her god-like powers, Aizen (Bleach) with mind control abilities, and Beerus (Dragon Ball) as a literal god of destruction.
Most Popular anime villain?
One of the most popular anime villains is Madara Uchiha from Naruto. Known for his immense power, complex motives, and desire for a “perfect” world, Madara is both feared and respected. He’s a skilled strategist and an unstoppable fighter with abilities like the Rinnegan and Sharingan.