The 10 BEST Soulsborne Villains

10 Best Soulsborne Villains

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re counting down our picks for the characters from Souslborne games that can easily be categorized as villains. Not victims, not mindless monsters, but honest to Gwyn antagonists. Spoilers ahead!

Great Shinobi Owl

“Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice” (2019)

Wolf’s adopted daddy is not exactly a nice guy. Sure, he saved Wolf when he was a war orphan waiting to die, but has never seen him as anything more than a tool to be used, instilling in him the Iron Code, so that when push came to shove, Wolf would obey the will of his parent over that of his master and any sense of honor. Conniving and highly skilled, Owl betrayed the Ashina Clan in search of power, and was more than willing to slay any in his way to do so – son included.

The Dung Eater

“Elden Ring” (2022)

Never let it be said that all Tarnished are noble souls who have been dealt a bad hand. Some are, quite literally, pieces of shit. The Dung Eater lives for two things – death and defilement, and in doing so, spreads the foul Seedbed Curse, all in the hope that the populace shall be inherently afflicted. If you, for some reason, agree with his sentiment, you can use the Elden Ring to bring about the Age of Despair, infecting everyone until the end of time with the demonic pox. Guess you really are what you eat.

Nashandra

“Dark Souls II” (2014)

Behind every good king is apparently a heinous queen whispering poison into his ear and throwing his rule into chaos. Or maybe that’s just Nashandra. Originally a fragment of Manus, she eventually took the form of a beautiful woman, and through a lust for power, led both Venrick and his kingdom to destruction. Manipulative, though not afraid to get her scythe bloody from time to time, she almost got her slimy claws on the Throne of Want, if not for the timely intervention by a certain Undead.

Godrick the Grafted

“Elden Ring” (2022)

Turns out that even demi-gods have inferiority complexes. Cowardly in the face of his superior siblings, Godrick retreated to claim Stormveil Castle for his own. As for what he did with its residents…let’s just say many of them now have trouble reaching the top shelf. Grating the limbs of innocents alike onto his body, Godrick is truly a sickening individual, who will go to any length to keep his flimsy pride appeased, including lopping off his own arm to replace with a dragon’s head. Which, admittedly, is pretty metal, but he’s still a prick!

Seath the Scaleless

“Dark Souls” (2011)

What this dragon may lack in scales, it makes up for in genocide. Having no love for his kin, likely due to lacking the traditional features of his ancient race, Seath aided Gwyn in the massacre of the Everlasting Dragons. This turned out rather well for him, as he was granted wealth, power, and most critically – a place to continue his research into immortality. You’d think the worst a beast like him could do would be to blast his foes with crystal breath, but in his madness, Seath began to experiment on anyone it could get its claws on, creating hideous, misshapen entities in the process.

Mohg, Lord of Blood

“Elden Ring” (2022)

Look, we know that Marika’s kids all have their issues, but Mogh is a special case. As an Omen, he was already destined to be discarded, but that didn’t stop him from learning blood magic courtesy of a wicked Outer God. From there, his ambitions only grew, plotting to create an empire of his own to rival the Golden Order. To do so, he kidnapped his half-brother Miquella, planning on using his eventual godhood to rule over all, all the while acting as consort. Let me repeat that, Mohg’s master plan involved abducting his sibling, who is perpetually in the form of a child, marrying them, and creating a dynasty from their union. Yikes.

Aldrich, Devourer of Gods

“Dark Souls III” (2017)

There really needs to be a better structure in place when it comes to determining who holds the title of Lord of Cinder, because giving this thing such reverence only resulted in a lot of people getting eaten. A cannibal with bloodlust so immense that he turned into a sludge monster, Aldrich was hailed as the Saint of the Deep, even inspiring a religious movement in his honor. Eventually, his appetite expanded towards that of the divine, hence why we find the half-devoured body of Gwyndolin being used as Aldrich’s puppet. That’s a bad way to go…

Manus, Father of the Abyss

“Dark Souls” (2011)

The OG villain of this fantastical tale of ashes and undead, and wouldn’t you know it, he packs quite a wallop. Originally human, Manus was in possession of a Dark Soul so immense that following his death, and a few poor choices by a certain royal family, that it went wild – creating the Abyss in the process. It’s impossible to ignore the weight and magnitude of the corruption he unleashed - which was so intense that it even broke someone as battle-hardened and pure of spirit as Artorius.

Pontiff Sulyvahn

“Dark Souls III” (2017)

There’s been no greater manipulator in Souls history quite like that of this duel-wielding bastard. With subterfuge, deception, and the use of the Profaned Flame, Sulyvahn worked his way into the heart of the royal family, whilst also coercing the worshippers of Aldrich to support his cause. In fact, he’s the one who fed Gwyndolin to Aldrich in the first place. If that wasn’t enough to make you hate him, he also turned one of the princesses into his personal dancer, and we all what became of her…

Gwyn, Lord of Cinder

“Dark Souls” (2011)

While one could make the argument that the war against the Everlasting Dragons, while gruesome and committed for the sake of power, was a necessary act of violence so humanity could flourish, it’s Gwyn’s handling of the First Flame in the aftermath that truly cements him as one of the Age of Fire’s true tyrants. Fear of losing his newfound power and legacy led the Lord of Sunlight to do whatever necessary to keep the Flame lit. Countless sacrifices, defying the natural order, and the rise of the Undead Curse – all Gwyn’s doing.

Which Soulsborne character do you love to hate? Let us know in the comments!