Summary
Dungeons & Dragonshas no shortage of iconic characters and NPCs that you may use in your campaigns. But, DND villains are far and away the best. From villains that belong to specific modules, to long-running characters that make appearances in many different iterations of the game, these characters are highly memorable, and some of the most fun to roleplay and run as a Dungeon Master.
But, which DND villains are the best, or rather, the worst? These iconic Dungeons & Dragons villains are among the most dastardly in the tabletop rogues' gallery, so break them out when you really want to scare your players.
Defining Characteristic
Pirate Cunning
Jarlaxle is a relatively uncommon villain for Dungeon Masters to employ, but his cunning and superior intellect make him a great character to roleplay for DMs. You can, of course, use him in the Waterdeep: Dragon Heist module by running the fall adventure, but nothing is saying that you can’t port him over into other campaigns throughout the Forgotten Realms.
Jarlaxle is characterized by his shrewdness and his desire to take over the Lords' Alliance. Because of this, he makes for a great palace intrigue character and is greatfor heavy roleplay campaigns.
High-Intellect
Just like Jarlaxle, Xanathar is another iconic villain who makes an appearance as an antagonist in Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. However, most DMs and players are probably familiar with him as the namesake for Xanathar’s Guide to Everything.
Xanathar is a powerful beholder who is the mastermind behind various deadly plots, particularly within Waterdeep. However, you can easily employ Xanathar or any number of beholders like him in your own campaigns. Xanathar is great for mystery and intrigue-based campaigns, as he often has a cabal of rogues and assassins employed in his service.
Dungeon/Lair
Halaster Blackcloak is perhaps the most iconic mage in all of Dungeons & Dragons. If you have a powerful spell-casting focused party, you’ll want to make use of Halaster. Halaster doesn’t always make sense out of context from his lair, but his magnificent lair is perhaps his most valuable asset.
The best way to run Halaster is, of course, to lead players through the Dungeon of the Mad Mage adventure. However, you should be warned, this adventure can span from levels five to 15, meaning you’ll need to commit heartily to the adventure if you want to use Halaster. However, his engaging stat block (he’s a challenge rating of 23) is well worth the reward for DMs.
Multi-headed Dragon
Tiamat is a lawful evil goddess who takes on the form of a multi-headed dragon. She is known throughout the Forgotten Realms for her tyranny and all-around lack of mercy. She is also the sister of Bahamut, a good-aligned dragon who rules over metallic dragons.
Tiamat makes for a great patron or deity of evil-aligned characters or NPCs, so make sure to employ her as a DM if you need someone for your maligned cleric to worship. Also, you can find adventures to run with Tiamat as the antagonist in the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guidewithin the Greyhawk campaign setting.
Warmongering Fiend
Zariel is, in many ways, the equivalent of Satan in the DND universe. She is the Archduchess of Avernuss, and one of the main players in the Blood War between devils and demons. Much like Lucifer, Zariel was once a good-aligned angel who fell from grace into the Nine Hells, corrupted by the hell’s influence.
Descent Into Avernus is a fantastic adventure you can use that leads players through the tortured history of Zariel. Or, you can employ her as a patron for maligned warlocks. Either way, Zariel is a villain that’s bursting with personality thanks to her tragic backstory and warmongering ways.
Undead Lich
Vecna is perhaps best known for being the endgame antagonist for the first campaign of Critical Role. Vecna is an undead lich who attempted an ascension to godhood in Exandria. However, beyond Exandria and Critical Role, Vecna has a long, storied history within the world of Dungeons & Dragons.
Vecna is quite well known across the multiverse and is often reviled and cursed wherever he may be. Vecna is sometimes also known as a demigod of secrets and deceit, making him great for use in mystery campaigns, or even evil-aligned campaigns. Vecna is so well-known throughout the multiverse that even his hand and eye are well-known legendary magic items.
Goddess of the Drow
Lolth probably has the most distinct appearance on this list, making her a fantastic antagonist to use against your players. She resembles a half-woman, half-spider-like entity often entangled in a vast cobweb. Lolth is known as the Queen of Spiders and is the goddess of the drow elves. She is known for her excessive cruelty throughout the Abyss. She not only makes for a great combat encounter, but also a great roleplay one as well.
What’s probably most interesting about Lolth is her relationship with the drow. If you have a player who’s playing a drow elf, you should consider employing Lolth in your campaign and exploring the ramifications of their dynamic.
Demigod of Deceit
Iuz is another powerful and iconic DND wizard similar to Halaster. Iuz is singular to the Greyhawk setting and is technically a demigod. What’s perhaps most interesting about Iuz is that Iuz cultivated a vast network of worshipers, assassins, and clergy of his own, making him a formidable influence throughout the realm of Greyhawk.
While Iuz is another villain that can be employed in any number of settings, he is most at home in Greyhawk. There is an adventure in the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide that includes Iuz as the primary antagonist if you want to find a way to incorporate him into your home game.
Demonic Prince
Orcus is probably one of the most iconic demons in all of Dungeons & Dragons. He serves undeath, sowing discord and suffering wherever he goes, or from his lair in the Abyss. Like many of the villains on this list, Orcus also makes for an excellent patron or deity for evil-aligned characters or NPCs to worship.
Orcus is probably also the most flexible character you can use from this list for your own campaign. He’s not necessarily singular to one module, and can show up in any pantheon if you so desire. Like Vecna, the Wand of Orcus is another powerful legendary magic item you can use in tandem with Orcus to give your players a motivation to hunt him down.
Vampire Lord
Though not necessarily the most powerful on this list, there could be no villain more iconic in all of Dungeons & Dragonsthan Strahd von Zarovich. There’s just something so fitting about a powerful vampire villain sitting at the head of this list. From his dastardly personality to the engaging module, Curse of Strahd, there’s just nothing so exciting as a duel with this powerful vampire.
The only downside to Strahd is that you can’t really bring him out of his home turf, the valley of Barovia. According to DND lore, Strahd is imprisoned in Barovia. So, if you want to use him for your campaign, you’ll likely just have to run Curse of Strahd. But, as Curse of Strahd is one of the most fun modules out there, you’re not likely to regret this choice.
