Top 10 Greatest Yu-Gi-Oh Villains
Top 10 Yu-Gi-Oh Villains
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Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Yu-Gi-Oh Villains. For this list, we’ll be looking at those antagonists who made life hell but also entertaining for Yugi, Jaden, Yusei, and the rest of “Yu-Gi-Oh’s” heroes. Certain characters like Seto Kaiba will not be included as they are rivals rather than traditional villains. Which “Yu-Gi-Oh” villain is the most terrifying? Let us know in the comments!
#10: Noah Kaiba
“Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters” (2000-04) Seto and Mokuba's brother got dealt a terrible hand in life. After a car crash left the original heir to the Kaiba fortune on death's door, Noah's consciousness was uploaded to a VR world and left to rot. Noah then dragged the heroes into his prison to get revenge on his replacement. As the main antagonist of a filler arc, Noah holds little relevance to the rest of the anime, but the villain is the most entertaining part of the "Virtual World" arc. Noah manages to be a fun mix of competent, sadistic, theatrical, and, to a lesser extent, sympathetic.
#9: Diva
“Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Dark Side of Dimensions” (2016) Although not given too much time to shine due to being a movie-only villain, Diva leaves quite an impression. "The Dark Side of Dimensions" takes place six months after "Duel Monsters'" ending and sees Kaiba trying to bring back the Pharaoh, a course of action that would cause nothing but trouble for Diva and his friends. Along with having the power to send people to other dimensions, Diva proves to be a worthy obstacle for Kaiba and Yugi. The villain's personal history with Bakura also adds a touch of nuance to their character.
#8: Rex Goodwin
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“Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's” (2008-11) Often the best villains think of themselves as heroes. After Roman turned into a Dark Signer, he entrusted his brother, Rex, with defeating him by gathering the Signer. In pursuit of this goal, Rex becomes a legend, a manipulative Director, and eventually a wannabe god with plans of world domination. The Dark Signers are mostly a fun bunch of antagonists with intriguing backstories, and while Rex bides his time before joining their ranks, he is a constant presence throughout the first half of "5D's." It’s also neat to see an antagonist who is not just pure evil and is capable of recognizing his mistakes.
#7: Sartorius
“Yu-Gi-Oh! GX” (2004-08) "Yu-Gi-Oh" loves its evil alter personas. Sartorius, the human, is a rather kind person with a sympathetic past; conversely, Sartorius possessed by The Light of Darkness wants to either kill or brainwash everyone on Earth. Armed with an array of psychic powers, Sartorius is a threat that falls only a duel short of nuking the world. The villain is also pretty great at Duel Monsters, even managing a rare Zero Turn Kill. Ultimately, the Light of Darkness is the real villain here, with Sartorius turning a new leaf once the alien's influence is removed.
#6: Z-one
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“Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's” (2008-11) The power of science can be terrifying. Hailing from a future where human greed led to its destruction, Z-one seeks to change the timeline; unfortunately, the scientist's plan happens to involve destroying a city. Putting aside what he becomes, Z-one was once an idealist who was willing to do anything, including discarding his own identity and face, to stir humanity towards salvation. Z-one becomes a villain out of desperation, pain, and isolation. The character's Timelords deck is pretty awesome and should have been shown off more in the anime; in fact, Z-one, in general, could have used more screen time.
#5: Maximillion Pegasus
“Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters” (2000-04) There’s no forgetting your first. Maximillion Pegasus set the standard for central villains in "Yu-Gi-Oh," and he even created the Duel Monsters game. Driven by a relatable motive to see his deceased lover and boasting a memorable Toon deck that is far stronger in the anime than in real life, Pegasus' propensity for over the top theatrics are reminiscent of the Saturday morning cartoons the villain used to watch. Pegasus genuinely feels like a final boss, the ultimate opponent designed to test Yugi's skills. Most importantly, Pegasus has the best hair in the anime, which is saying something.
#4: Yubel
“Yu-Gi-Oh! GX” (2004-08) Apparently, being transformed into a Duel Monster spirit, then turned into a card, and finally shot into space is not great for someone's mental health. Yubel's whole existence revolves around Jaden and his ancestors, and the human-turned-card will do anything to make sure nobody keeps her apart from "GX's" protagonist. While she is eventually saved by Jaden, during her villainous phase, Yubel is one of the craziest and most gleefully sadistic antagonists in "Yu-Gi-Oh." Although her descent into madness is amplified by The Light of Destruction, Yubel's emotions and obsession are all her own.
#3: Vector
“Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal” (2011-14) Now, this villain is the definition of a fun time. Vector has a complicated backstory that involves kingdoms at war, dead parents, twisted memories, and a corrupted protector. While all of these things are interesting, this villain's awesomeness lies in the fact that he is just so unpredictable and unabashedly cruel. Vector spends a large chunk of "Zexal" pretending to be Yuma's close friend, Ray, and the villain trolls the heroes every step of the way. Vector is not only really charismatic, but the character embraces the role of the villain with every fiber of his being.
#2: Yami Marik
“Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters” (2000-04) "Duel Monsters" is packed to the brim with alter egos, but Yami Marik stands out as his existence is not directly linked to a Millenium item. Yami manifested from Marik Ishtar's hatred, the result of a life defined by suffering and a lack of control. While other antagonists generally have some concrete motives, usually of the world eradicating kind, Yami Marik only wants the freedom to make everyone's life as painful as possible. "Yu-Gi-Oh" has plenty of more complex antagonists, but Yami embodies evil like nobody else.
#1: Yami Bakura
“Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters” (2000-04) Some villains prefer to play the long game. Through Bakura Ryuou, the Millennium Ring's Yami Bakura is a constant presence that lurks throughout the entirety of the "Duel Monsters" anime. Seeking to reunite the seven Millennium items to revive Zorc, Yami Bakura takes a backseat for most of the series but becomes the definitive villain by the final season. Directly tied to the Pharaoh's origin and destiny, Yami Bakura's greatest asset is the mystery surrounding him. "Yu-Gi-Oh" lets Yami Bakura exist in this universe for a very long time, permitting the tension and intrigue surrounding the villain to fester.
