The Most Evil Characters From HBO's "Game Of Thrones" Universe, Ranked

    Who are among the worst and most wicked in Westeros?

    Ken W. Hanley
    by Ken W. Hanley

    BuzzFeed Contributor

    With House of the Dragon, the bloody and scandalous power struggle of the fantasy world of Westeros has returned to critical and fan acclaim, reigniting many people's fervent passion for HBO's Game of Thrones universe.

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    Yet besides the political intrigue, the swordfights, and the compelling twists and turns, it has been fantastic to see House of the Dragon maneuver through laying the groundwork for villainous characters without explicitly embracing the label. With this in mind, this writer has gone ahead and ranked the most prominent villains of HBO's Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon to find out just who may be the most despicable character throughout George R.R. Martin's televised epic.

    32. Jamie Lannister

    A stoic man in ornate armor stands near several soldiers on a foggy day.
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    By the end of Game of Thrones, Jamie Lannister had essentially fully redeemed himself for his initial villainous deeds, having fought bravely alongside the "heroes" of the series in the Battle of Winterfell and stood beside his often maligned brother at every turn, even to his own personal detriment. Yet we can't overlook that Jamie did indeed have some of the more villainous actions in the first and second seasons, from his provocation and assault of Ned Stark, the murder of his own cousin, and, of course, pushing Bran Stark out of a tower, nearly killing him and permanently paralyzing the young boy.

    31. Alicent Hightower

    A young woman wearing a fancy green dress looks concerned near a well-crafted royal chair.
    HBO Max / Ollie Upton / THA / Alamy

    This one is fairly low on the rankings as it's not quite clear how villainous Alicent could become, with her moral standing leaning toward "complicated" rather than straightforward good or evil. However, she isn't quite the most innocent character in House of the Dragon either, with her manipulation of the grieving and ailing King Viserys, covering up her son's sexual crimes and fiendish proclivities and politically maneuvering an underhanded coup from her former best friend raising more than a few eyebrows about how far she'll go to protect her family.

    30. Mance Rayder

    A man wearing a coat assembled from fur pelts observes a situation in a frozen tundra.
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    To his credit, Mance Rayder doesn't personally do much to garner his villainous reputation in Game of Thrones, as he is shown to be a rather reasonable (though bull-headed) figure fighting for sovereignty and survival of the free folk to an uncompromising extent. However, the actions of his underlings with his approval, including massacring innocent farmers, slaughtering the Night's Watch, and fostering cannibals in their tribe, are certainly far below nobility.

    29. Maester Pycelle

    An old, bearded man in long robes sits at a table near some scrolls.
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    Maester Pycelle certainly registers on the villainous scale due to his betrayal of Jon Arryn, which sparked the central crusade pit the Starks against the Lannisters, as well as his blind loyalty to the Lannisters to help bend the laws of Westeros to their advantage. That said, Pycelle's occasional incompetence and "stooge"-level standing in the political hierarchy of Game of Thrones cements him as a self-serving lower-tier villain at best.

    28. Aemond Targaryen

    A young, slender blonde man with an eyepatch and leathers raises a toast at a dinner table.
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    While the series itself had not-so-subtly begun visually teasing Allicent Hightower's second-born son as their bloodline's equivalent to the impulsive and dangerous Daemon Targaryen, the show has also been very patient in portraying the character's untoward nature in an explicitly villainous fashion. Alas, with his instigating actions at Storm's End officially drawing first blood in the war known as "The Dance of the Dragons," it certainly seems that Aemond's brash and bad behavior is only going to escalate in the coming seasons.

    27. Melisandre

    A woman in a red dress and cloak rides her horse alongside a man in all-black leathers and a cape.
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    Melisandre falls in line with the earlier points about Jamie Lannister in terms of her redemption, as her resurrection of Jon Snow and contributions at the Battle of Winterfell put her on the side of the more noble Westerosi throughout the latter seasons of Game of Thrones. Nevertheless, let's not forget Melisandre's birthing of a shadow assassin to kill Renly Baratheon, her attempts to torture and murder Gendry, and, in her most unforgivable action, her cold-blooded and ill-advised sacrifice of the young Shireen Baratheon, all of which makes her deserving of a spot on this list.

    26. Otto Hightower

    A bearded man in sleek clothing grins deceptively by candlelight
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    Otto Hightower has certainly revealed his dangerously self-serving tendencies throughout House of the Dragon thus far, including manipulation tactics, intimidating and executing enemies of the throne, essentially instructing his young daughter to seduce the king, and even underhandedly setting the stage for a full-on usurping of the throne for his family's benefit. However, Otto has been seen to be less of a hands-on villain, and we have yet to see if his untoward actions may indeed be in the best interest of their nation, even if they also directly benefit him and his kin the most.

    25. The High Sparrow

    An older man in dirty clothes scowls while standing near some stone steps.
    HBO / Alamy

    It takes a real piece of work to make you feel sympathetic for Cersei Lannister, given all of the pain she has caused to beloved characters throughout Game of Thrones, but The High Sparrow's sadistic and controlling moral policing and political angling feels particularly villainous even at the expense of more traditionally terrible characters on the series as it exploits religion and spirituality at its center. In fact, as soon as he begins waging his war against the crown in King's Landing, fans began chomping at the bit for the character to receive his comeuppance, which eventually came in the form of wildfire.

    24. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish

    A middle-aged man stands pensively in a tight-fitting black overshirt.
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    Littlefinger is another agent of chaos in Westeros who is not exactly as overtly bloodthirsty or villainous as he is self-serving to a fault, disposing of anyone in the way of his interests and ambitions. But that doesn't mean he hasn't been villainous, including the effective destruction of the Arryn household, the betrayal of Ned Stark, his wedding of Sansa Stark and Ramsay Bolton, and his attempt to pit Sansa against Arya all showcase his duplicitous and, frankly, creepy behavior at its worst.

    23. Pyatt Pree & Xaro Xhoan Daxos

    A stout and skinny man in unique clothes stand menacingly in a dimly-lit chamber
    HBO

    During Daenerys Targaryen's time in Qarth in Game of Thrones' second season, she ultimately butts heads with these two unsettling, power-hungry lords, who initially attempt to win her favor before stealing her dragons, killing her friends and imprisoning her to control the dragons to their whims. Alas, their plans ultimately backfire, with Xaro Xhoan Daxos receiving one of the most psychologically torturous ends in the entire series as a result.

    22. Daemon Targaryen

    A blonde man stares disapprovingly in a great hall while placing his hands above his sword.
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    Time will tell if Daemon Targaryen's plans may reveal themselves as somewhat altruistic if that's even possible, but the cold-blooded murder of his ex-wife, the manipulation of his mistress, the seduction of his own niece, and the use of the City Watch as his own personal goon squad have certainly showcased Daemon's unhinged and reckless tendencies.

    21. Tywin Lannister

    A man with a red cape and armor rides in on a white horse.
    HBO / Alamy

    Tywin Lannister is certainly a calculated and power-hungry man who is responsible for the collective Lannister's greed and blood-spilling ambition throughout Game of Thrones, although he is personally depicted as a more level-headed, rational and benevolent man in the series, even going as far as to personally put the kibosh on torturing innocent children. However, his betrayal of his own son, Tyrion, by sleeping with his former paramour and ostensibly having him executed for a crime he did not commit, as well as his manipulation of his unstable grandson, Joffrey, elevates his standing in Game of Thrones villainy.

    20. Qyburn

    A skinny older man in black robes walks outside the gates of a castle.
    HBO

    One of Cersei's most loyal servants, Qyburn gives off a Wormtongue-esque slimy disposition as he indulges in illicit spycraft, awful medical experiments, designing terrifying weapons, and plotting toward domination regardless of casualties and consequences for others. Yet Qyburn is ultimately just a pawn in the battle for the Iron Throne, which puts him lower than those who profit and gain from his lurid talents.

    19. Locke

    A bearded man in a fur coat stares intensely in torchlight
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    The Bolton's most cruel minion, who is also responsible for cutting off Jamie Lannister's hand, harassing Brienne of Tarth, and attempting to assassinate Bran Stark, may have gone through the entirety of Game of Thrones without a redeemable moment, though his actions may not have been as genocidal or nightmarish as others on this list.

    18. Larys Strong

    Actor Matthew Needham poses at the premiere of "House of the Dragon"
    Stephen Chung / EMPICS / Alamy Live News

    If there's any character from House of the Dragon thus far with the potential to really become the breakout villain of the spin-off series, look no further than Larys Strong, whose political savvy and ruthlessness have led to some of the series' most shocking moments thus far, including the brutal murder of his own brother and father.

    17. Alliser Thorne

    A haggard man in a feathery black coat stares at a fight as part of the Night's Watch
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    From the beginning of Game of Thrones, Alliser Thorne was just a complete jerk, setting up Sam Tarly to be victimized and oppressing Jon Snow, but his transition to full-blown villain came by orchestrating the violent assassination of Snow after the latter showed compassion to the wildlings, a crime he stood by until his eventual death by hanging.

    16. The Crabfeeder

    A masked and sunburnt man stares at a sunrise on the beach
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    Arguably the first malicious villain in House of the Dragon, the short yet nightmarish tenure of The Crabfeeder on the series will likely be burnt into the brains of viewers for quite a while, though he can certainly drop lower onto this list as the series eventually introduces stranger and more savage villains down the line.

    15. Daenerys Targaryen

    A young woman with platinum blonde hair sits on a rocky throne
    HBO / Alamy

    Daenerys Targaryen will remain a controversial figure on this list, as she arguably is a hero within the series for the majority of its story and is pushed to the brink of insanity after almost all of her friends are systematically murdered by her enemies. That said, her command over the sacking and slaughter of innocents during the Battle for King's Landing remains one of the more harrowing scenes in Game of Thrones, and her eventual heartbreaking demise is that of an antagonist.

    14. Roose Bolton

    An older man in a fur cloak stands next to his son and daughter-in-law in a medieval village
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    The man that stuck Robb Stark with his killing blow, Roose Bolton's turncoat nature and despicable enabling of his son (who we'll get to later) has made him one of the top heels of the show, even if his limited ambitions and ability to pass the buck on his more heinous actions kept him from becoming a true monster.

    13. Viserys Targaryen

    A platinum blonde haired young man stares intently within a desert landscape
    HBO / Alamy

    After essentially selling his sister into sex slavery in exchange for power and status, Viserys Targaryen further establishes his villainy by becoming filled with jealous rage, physically and emotionally lashing out at his sister as soon as she shows her own agency in life. Though his tenure on the show was brief (and his comeuppance was incredibly memorable), Viserys still made enough of an impact to become one of Game of Thrones' most hated villains in short order.

    12. The Waif

    Actor Faye Marsay at the 2016 Season Premiere for "Game of Thrones"
    David Bro / ZUMA Wire / Alamy Live News

    The Waif is another lower-tier villain but one who ranks higher than most on this list for her unrelenting nature, having repeatedly caused nothing but grief for Arya, whether it be through violence, insults, or psychological warfare. Certainly, The Waif is at least as memorable enough as a villain that we had all collectively rooted for her demise during Arya's time with the Jaqen H'gar.

    11. Karl Tanner

    A skinny man in black leathers stares with rage while unsheathing his sword
    HBO

    One of the sickest and most exploitative villains in Game of Thrones, this rogue Night's Watch officer gladly kills his commanding officer and commits unthinkable acts against Craster's daughters before meeting his deservedly brutal end at the hands of Jon Snow. Hell, the man even drinks out of a human skull; there's not much more one can do to define themselves as an irredeemable villain in fiction, is there?

    10. Euron Greyjoy

    A bearded man in a dimly lit room makes a deceptive plea
    Helen Sloan / HBO / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy

    Coming in hot toward the end of Game of Thrones' run as the oddly charismatic, yet clearly demented usurper of the Greyjoy throne, Euron kills women with a smile on his face, torments almost all his in his company (including allies) and even kills one of Daenerys' dragons during his limited time on the series. In fact, the reason he's not higher on this list is that he's borderline cartoonish in his schadenfreude, which can't be said about some of the other vile characters in George R.R. Martin's roster.

    9. Janos Slynt

    HBO

    From the heartless henchman of Joffrey Baratheon to the cowardly henchman of Alliser Thorne, Janos Slynt murders an infant in front of her mother (in one of the series' most upsetting sequences), hides during the Battle for the Wall and wilfully participates in the killing of Jon Snow, all of which makes him one of the most hateable bad guys in Game of Thrones.

    8. Meryn Trant

    A bearded henchman in armor stares aggressively in a stone village
    HBO / Alamy

    Along the same lines as Janos Slynt, Meryn Trent is one of the most disgusting and amoral figures in Game of Thrones, conducting the majority of the Lannisters' dirty work, even going as far as to commit undue punishments to help Joffrey and Cersei save face in public. However, Trent goes even above Slynt when it is revealed that he sexually abuses minors, a horrid revelation that is exploited by Arya during his assassination.

    7. Walder Frey

    HBO

    David Bradley has made a quite a career out of playing characters that you love to hate, but few earn the moniker more than Walder Frey, a character responsible for one of the most jaw-dropping episodes of television history. From his general terrible treatment of others to his pride in his substantial role in The Red Wedding, Walder Frey's eventual demise at the hands of Arya Stark remains one of the most satisfying moments in Game of Thrones.

    6. Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane

    Hafthor Julius Bjornsson arrives on the red carpet at the Season 8 premiere of 'Game of Thrones' at Radio City Music Hall
    John Angelillo / UPI / Alamy

    "The Mountain" is a character whose misdeeds on Game of Thrones usually came from secondhand testimonies, as various characters woefully recounted his bloodlust, sadism, and deviancy. But even in person, we watch Gregor Clegane crush heads, select children to undergo excruciating torture, and intentionally lance a man in the throat during a supposedly friendly jousting competition. Plus, his unseen torture of Septa Unella counts among one of the chief hair-raising moments of horror in the series.

    5. Craster

    HBO

    A crude and stomach-churning character whose existence alone was going to send him to the top of this list, Craster's incestuous ways and manner of disposing of unwanted infants make him not only an awful Game of Thrones villain but one of the most reprehensible characters in television, period.

    4. The Night King

    The demonic Night King smiles as he emerges from the flames during the Battle of Winterfell
    HBO / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy

    Though some consider The Night King to be a force of nature, there's not much more villainous than wanting to destroy every living thing on the planet, especially when some of those living things are characters that we know and love. The only reason he doesn't rank higher on the list is that his wrath is somewhat impersonal compared to the top three Game of Thrones villains.`

    3. Cersei Lannister

    A blonde haired woman sits atop the Iron Throne next to her brother
    HBO / Alamy

    Easily the most callous, dastardly, and self-destructive villain in HBO's Game of Thrones universe, Cersei Lannister was, at points, television's most despised character, as her thirst for power and hatred of her brother, fan-favorite Tyrion Lannister, put her at direct odds with the heroes of our story. Her place among TV's top villains rose until the bitter end, executing another fan favorite, Missandei, and refusing to surrender as her city burned during her final appearances on the show.

    2. Joffrey Baratheon

    A petulant child king sits in anger on the Iron Throne
    HBO / Alamy

    We all knew Joffrey Baratheon would be high on this list. From forcing sex workers to commit grievous harm to one another to making Sansa Stark stare at her father's decapitated head on a pike to his abuse of almost everyone around him, Joffrey Baratheon was an unrepentant monster in the form of a child king, and one that will go down in the annals of television as one who made viewers' blood pressure rise at his mere appearance. 

    1. Ramsay Bolton

    A young man forces an uncomfortable teenage prisoner to run across a battlefield
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    Surprised? You shouldn't be. As bad as Joffrey Baratheon could be (and he certainly was), he cannot hold a candle to Ramsay Bolton, who gleefully flayed surrendering soldiers, murdered Rickon Stark, relentlessly tortured Theon Greyjoy and Sansa Stark, and even killed his own father when he no longer found a use for him. Joffrey Baratheon's nightmarish nature was fueled by his own status, but Ramsay Bolton was driven by his own sociopathic ambition, which made every fan count down the seconds until he received his just desserts.