The best anime villains of all time include Johan Liebert from Monster, Griffith from Berserk, Meruem from Hunter x Hunter, Light Yagami from Death Note, Shogo Makishima from Psycho-Pass and Askeladd from Vinland Saga. What makes them great is not raw power but a clear belief system that makes you understand them, even when you hate them.
Light spoilers ahead: we talk about each villain’s goals but avoid major plot twists where we can. We have also added where each anime streams in India as of October 2026, and one newer villain who has earned his place.
Best anime villains: quick facts
| Villain | Anime | Where to stream in India |
|---|---|---|
| Shogo Makishima | Psycho-Pass (2012) | Crunchyroll, Prime Video |
| Johan Liebert | Monster (2004) | Netflix |
| Griffith | Berserk (1997) | Not confirmed |
| Meruem | Hunter x Hunter (2011) | Crunchyroll, Netflix, Sony LIV |
| Yoshikage Kira | JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure | Netflix, Crunchyroll |
| Utsuro | Gintama | Sony LIV, Crunchyroll, Netflix |
| Lelouch vi Britannia | Code Geass (2006) | Crunchyroll, Sony LIV |
| Light Yagami | Death Note (2006) | Netflix |
| Obito Uchiha | Naruto Shippuden | Crunchyroll, Netflix, Sony LIV |
| Askeladd | Vinland Saga (2019) | Netflix, Crunchyroll, Prime Video |
| Ryomen Sukuna | Jujutsu Kaisen (2020) | Netflix, Crunchyroll, JioHotstar |
1. Shogo Makishima (Psycho-Pass)
Psycho-Pass is set in a future Japan where the Sibyl System scans citizens and scores how likely they are to commit crimes. Makishima is the rare man the system cannot read. He commits terrible crimes while his score stays clean.
He quotes books, debates philosophy and wants people to choose their own actions instead of living by a machine’s numbers. That makes him frightening and, at times, hard to disagree with.
2. Johan Liebert (Monster)
Johan is the coldest villain on this list. Dr Kenzo Tenma saves his life as a child, and years later learns that the boy has grown into a killer who manipulates people into destroying themselves.
Johan rarely raises his voice and almost never fights. His power is in how calmly he takes lives apart. Monster, based on Naoki Urasawa’s manga, streams on Netflix in India.
3. Griffith (Berserk)
Griffith is the charismatic leader of the Band of the Hawk, a mercenary group that rises through war. His bond with Guts is the heart of the story, which is why his betrayal during the Eclipse is so painful.
He wants his own kingdom and is willing to sacrifice anyone to get it. The manga gives the fullest version of his story, and many fans still recommend reading it over watching.
4. Meruem (Hunter x Hunter)
Meruem is the king of the Chimera Ants, born to rule and wipe out humanity. Then he starts playing the board game Gungi with Komugi, a blind girl, and slowly begins to question what it means to be human.
The Chimera Ant arc is often called the best in the show, and Meruem’s change is the reason.
5. Yoshikage Kira (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
Kira, the villain of the Diamond Is Unbreakable part, just wants a quiet life. He is also a serial killer who hides in plain sight in the town of Morioh.
His Stand, Killer Queen, can turn anything it touches into a bomb. The contrast between his polite office-worker life and his crimes is what makes him unsettling.
6. Utsuro (Gintama)
Gintama is mostly a comedy, which makes Utsuro hit harder. He is an immortal being who has lived for so long that he wants to die, and he is ready to destroy the world to make it happen.
His link with Shoyo, Gintoki’s beloved teacher, turns the final arcs into something much darker than fans expected.
7. Lelouch vi Britannia (Code Geass)
Lelouch is a prince in exile who gains the power of Geass, which lets him command anyone once. As the masked Zero, he leads a rebellion against the Britannian Empire, which has conquered Japan.
Is he a hero or a villain? Fans still argue about it. His methods are ruthless, but his ending changes how you see him.
8. Light Yagami (Death Note)
Light is a top student who finds a notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it. He decides to rid the world of criminals and become the god of a new world.
His mind games with the detective L are among the most famous in anime. Death Note streams on Netflix in India.
9. Obito Uchiha (Naruto Shippuden)
Obito was once a cheerful kid who wanted to be Hokage, much like Naruto. Loss turned him into the masked man behind the Fourth Great Ninja War, chasing the Infinite Tsukuyomi, a dream world where no one suffers.
He works as a mirror of what Naruto could have become without the people who believed in him.
10. Askeladd (Vinland Saga)
Askeladd kills Thorfinn’s father, Thors, and then raises the boy as part of his Viking band. Thorfinn lives only for revenge, and Askeladd keeps him close anyway.
He is smart, funny and ruthless, with his own hidden goals for Britain. Many fans rank him as the best character in the show, villain or not.
New entry: Ryomen Sukuna (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Sukuna, the King of Curses, lives inside the hero Yuji Itadori. He has no grand plan to save anyone. He simply enjoys his own strength and cruelty, and the Shibuya Incident arc showed how much damage he can do. He is the most talked-about anime villain of the 2020s.
For more, browse our series section and listicles.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the most evil anime villain of all time?
Johan Liebert from Monster is the most common answer, because he destroys people psychologically without any visible remorse.
Is Light Yagami a villain?
Yes. Light starts out wanting to stop crime, but he kills anyone who gets in his way, including innocent people.
Who is the best anime villain in Hunter x Hunter?
Meruem is usually ranked highest, with Hisoka and Chrollo also popular picks.
Where can I watch Vinland Saga in India?
As of October 2026, Vinland Saga streams on Netflix, Crunchyroll, Sony LIV and Prime Video in India.
Sources: Monster, Wikipedia, Vinland Saga, Wikipedia, Death Note, JustWatch India.
