Every Mainline Pokemon Game Villain, Ranked From Least To Most Evil

Key Takeaways

  • Legendary Pokemon Necrozma acts out of its own will, seeking destruction in Ultra Megalopolis, making it one of the franchise’s most sinister foes.
  • Chairman Rose from Sword & Shield enacts a misguided plan due to the energy crisis, using a Steel-type team that’s challenging but lacks variety.
  • Ghetsis of Team Plasma tops the evil scale with manipulations and cutthroat methods, backed by powerful Pokemon in battles against players.

As someone who’s spent countless hours in the Pokemon universe, I can confidently say that the villains of these games have always added a thrilling layer to the adventure. However, if we’re talking about the most memorable and chilling Pokemon antagonists, I’d have to put Cyrus at the top of my list.

In the world of Pokémon, immense power often falls into the hands of careless villains. Throughout the series, these villains concoct devious schemes that require a young hero to intervene and prevent their success. Remarkably, despite numerous attempts, not one of these plans ever comes to fruition.

Different types of wicked plots vary in scale, with some schemes being more ambitious than others as the series progresses. The antagonists have come up with plans that range from illegally capturing and trading Pokemon, to crafting an entirely new universe, reflecting their diverse levels of ambition.

Prior to Game Freak unveiling the next chapter with their announcement of the 10th generation games, let’s reminisce about some infamous characters from the main series of Pokémon games who have posed a threat to the balance of the Pokémon world, arranged from least wicked to most wicked.

13. N

Simply A Misguided Friend To Pokemon

Other Names Natural Harmonia Gropius, King of Team Plasma
Team Affiliation Team Plasma
Pokemon Rapidash, Ninetales, Arcanine, Starmie, Cloyster, Tentacruel, Omastar, Kabutops, Politoed, Lanturn, Scizor, Shiftry, Ninjask, Cradily, Armaldo, Gastrodon, Hippowdon, Mamoswine, Froslass, Leafeon, Glaceon, Rhyperior, Abomasnow, Purrloin, Pidove, Timburr, Tympole, Sandile, Scraggy, Darumaka, Sigilyph, Boldore, Ferroseed, Joltik, Klink, Carracosta, Vanilluxe, Archeops, Zoroark, Klinklang, Zekrom, Reshiram
Game Appearances Black, White, Black 2, White 2, Masters EX

In essence, character N fits the bill as an antagonist in the games, Pokemon Black & White. Though throughout the storyline, N is portrayed as a rival to the player, it’s unveiled later that he is actually the leader of Team Plasma. His vision of separating humans and Pokémon leads him on a quest for Reshiram/Zekrom. However, by the game’s conclusion, N develops a more complex perception of what Pokémon truly desire.

Indeed, it’s Ghetsis, N’s father, who plays the antagonist in this story, using manipulation as part of his plan to rule the world. In the sequels Black 2 & White 2, however, N becomes a valuable ally for the player in thwarting Ghetsis’ ambitions over Kyurem. Despite his brief stint with the wrong team, N is not villainous; rather, he’s a compassionate individual whose affection for Pokemon guides him momentarily down an errant path.

12. Guzma

This Boss Doesn’t Have All The Power

Other Names Team Skull Boss
Team Affiliation Team Skull
Pokemon Golisopod, Ariados, Masquerain, Pinsir, Scizor, Vikavolt
Game Appearances Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon, Masters EX

In a more straightforward Pokemon scenario, Guzma could be a suitable adversary, given his position as Team Skull’s leader. Nevertheless, similar to character N, he functions primarily as a pawn for Lusamine, capturing Yungoos throughout the Alola region to keep players occupied while the Aether Foundation carries out its illicit activities unnoticed. Guzma later joins Lusamine in an Ultra Wormhole with aspirations of catching a Nihilego for personal gain, but instead, he becomes fearful.

It’s interesting to note that despite appearing menacing as a team leader, Guzma lacks the actions to back up his threats. However, he undergoes a transformation in both Sun & Moon and its variant versions, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. His most problematic trait is arguably his persistently unpleasant demeanor towards the player and his frequent kidnapping schemes across Alola.

11. Archer

He’s Barely A Wannbe Giovanni

Other Names Team Rocket Executive
Team Affiliation Team Rocket
Pokemon Raticate, Koffing, Weezing, Golbat, Muk, Electrode, Magmar, Houndour, Houndoom
Game Appearances Gold, Silver, Crystal, FireRed, LeafGreen, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Let’s Go Pikachu, Let’s Go Eevee, Masters EX, Pokemon Stadium 2

Following Giovanni’s loss in the Red & Blue game, Archer assumes leadership of Team Rocket. With this newfound authority, he makes a plea for Giovanni to come back, even engaging in questionable actions like amputating Slowpoke tails or seizing control of a radio station. These actions are merely strategies aimed at persuading Giovanni to return and reclaim his position as the top leader.

Archer has not been particularly creative with his Pokémon selection. In the games _Gold, Silver & Crystal_, he only has three Pokémon, which isn’t likely to be very powerful. A Koffing, a Houndour, and a Houndoom may not scare off players at this advanced stage of the game’s narrative, especially since their levels are in the lower 30s.

10. Lusamine

At Least She Has Room To Grow

Other Names Aether President
Team Affiliation Aether Foundation
Pokemon Clefable, Milotic, Lopunny, Mismagius, Lilligant, Bewear
Game Appearances Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon, Masters EX

Lusamine’s malevolence stems less from a desire to annihilate the world and more from personal struggles. Her search for the Ultra Beasts, driven by her intricate past, leads her down a dark path, with dire consequences. Notably, she is one of the rare Pokemon antagonists who eventually expresses remorse and strives to improve herself. In the games, “Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon,” she was replaced as the main villain by someone far more wicked.

During her final fight, Lusamine’s squad is quite tough to tackle. It’s worth noting that in this battle, each of Lusamine’s Pokémons has one of their abilities temporarily enhanced thanks to Lusamine’s influence after fusing with Nihilego. By the time players reach this stage in the game, they will be facing five Level 50 Pokémons, which significantly increases the challenge for the players.

9. Colress

A Man Of Science On The Wrong Side

Other Names N/A
Team Affiliation Team Plasma
Pokemon Magnemite, Magneton, Metang, Metagross, Magnezone, Rotom, Elgyem, Beheeyem, Klinklang
Game Appearances Black 2, White 2, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon, Masters EX

In the world of Pokemon, Colress stands out as a captivating character. Debuting in games like Black 2 and White 2, Colress is brought on board as a researcher, taking over the role previously held by Ghetsis within Team Plasma. His most notable achievement is the creation of the Colress Machine, a device that was briefly employed in the game to stir a sleeping Crustle from slumber.

Later in the series “Sun & Moon”, Colress appears, having dedicated his studies to Z-Rings. In “Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon”, he assists the player in merging Necrozma with one of the two box legendary Pokémon, using knowledge gained from his work with Kyurem in earlier games. Although Colress is not necessarily evil, his association with Team Plasma raises questions about his moral integrity.

8. Giovanni

The Most Iconic Criminal In Pokemon History

Other Names Team Rocket Boss, Viridian Gym Leader
Team Affiliation Team Rocket
Pokemon Persian, Marowak, Sandslash, Nidorino, Nidoking, Nidoqueen, Dugtrio, Golem, Onix, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Kangaskhan, Mewtwo, Hippowdon, Honchkrow, Gliscor, Garchomp, Rhyperior, Krookodile
Game Appearances Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed, LeafGreen, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Black 2, White 2, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon, Let’s Go Pikachu, Let’s Go Eevee, Masters EX, Pokemon Stadium

As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but acknowledge that Giovanni holds a special place as an iconic Pokémon antagonist, a status he’s maintained for years. Yet, when stacked against the villains that emerged after him, his schemes appear less menacing. In terms of sheer villainy style and presence, Giovanni is unmatched – a true mastermind. However, his scheme of stealing and selling Pokémon seems rather tame in today’s more complex narratives.

He remains incredibly wicked, yet his malevolence doesn’t seem as significant when compared to other franchise narratives where the world is at stake, such as the Pokemon Mafia. However, it’s important to note that the Giovanni who reaches this level in the Team Rainbow Rocket arc of Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon isn’t exactly the same one who lost to Red in the originals.

7. Rose

He’s Pragmatic, But Not So Malicious

Other Names Chairman Rose
Team Affiliation Galar Pokemon League, Macro Cosmos
Pokemon Escavalier, Ferrothorn, Klinklang, Perrserker, Copperajah
Game Appearances Sword, Shield, Masters EX

As a gamer, I found Team Yell’s leader, Rose, somewhat underwhelming as the main antagonist in Pokémon Sword & Shield. Despite his villainous actions, it’s apparent that he’s not purely evil – he’s driven by a compelling motivation: preventing an energy crisis looming over the Galar region. His methods might be questionable, but the urgency of averting this potential disaster seems to be his primary concern. It’s just unfortunate that the path he chose to take was far from ideal.

Rose’s team has room for improvement, much like Giovanni, as they primarily rely on one type (Steel) in battles. However, they are effective at covering their vulnerabilities. Ferrothorn can be a difficult opponent if it’s given the chance to linger, and Gigantamax Copperajah poses a challenge if players have already utilized their Dynamax abilities, but overall, they aren’t excessively challenging.

6. Archie & Maxie

Definitely Evil, But Maybe Not Smart

Other Names Aqua Leader (Archie), Magma Leader (Maxie)
Team Affiliation Team Aqua (Archie), Team Magma (Maxie)
Pokemon Muk (Archie), Weezing (Maxie), Golbat, Crobat, Mightyena, Sharpedo (Archie), Camerupt (Maxie), Kyogre (Archie), Groudon (Maxie)
Game Appearances Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon, Masters EX

These two supposed Pokemon antagonists appear to lack foresight in their schemes. For instance, they swipe the incorrectly colored orbs for the Pokemon they aim to awaken. It wouldn’t require a rocket scientist to understand that the blue Pokemon responds to the blue orb, not the red one (and vice versa), but these two seem blind to this fact.

Beyond this, their misconceived ideas about the benefits of acquiring more land or ocean for the globe seem rather naive. In fact, such expansion could lead either to a scarcity of living space for humans, or to widespread death due to a drastic reduction in available water resources. It’s questionable whether their actions were entirely intentional, but it’s evident that they were deeply harmful. However, it’s challenging to discern the degree of maliciousness involved in their actions given their starkly opposing viewpoints. Regrettably, their efforts mirrored each other in terms of underperformance.

5. Lysandre

The Thanos Of The Pokemon World

Other Names Team Flare Boss
Team Affiliation Team Flare
Pokemon Gyarados, Murkrow, Honchkrow, Mienfoo, Mienshao, Pyroar, Xerneas, Yveltal
Game Appearances X, Y, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon, Masters EX

Lysandre stands out among the franchise’s villains due to his enigmatic objectives. While he expresses a desire for a more aesthetically pleasing world, his methods involve eliminating all life. Interestingly, despite having the power to hinder the player in their quest to thwart him, Lysandre consistently refrains from using these resources.

In terms of wickedness, his actions of eliminating those not loyal to him, including both humans and Pokemon, place him near the peak of evil. What’s more puzzling, though, is that when he uncovers the key to eternal life, it seems nobody is interested or even slightly curious. Granted, death is essential for its function to work, but wouldn’t at least a few individuals be intrigued? In comparison, Lysandre pales in infamy compared to his animated counterpart.

4. Necrozma

A Pokemon With Powers Beyond Belief

Type Psychic
Forms Dusk Mane (Psychic/Steel), Dawn Wings (Psychic/Ghost), Ultra (Psychic/Dragon)
Known Moves Stealth Rock, Iron Defense, Sunsteel Strike, Smart Strike, Moongeist Beam, Wring Out, Morning Sun, Prismatic Laser, Photon Geyser, Psychic, Psycho Cut, Night Slash, Power Gem, Dragon Pulse
Game Appearances Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon, Sword, Shield

Although Legendary Pokemon often engage in malicious activities, they usually aren’t acting independently. Instead, they are typically controlled or influenced by human villains for their own gain. However, unlike other Pokemon, Necrozma acts autonomously and desires destruction. What sets Necrozma apart as evil is that it allows players to explore Ultra Megalopolis, a world drained of light by Necrozma itself.

In one of the games, a Pokemon displayed an incredibly frightening behavior that was unprecedented. This Pokemon managed to control and dominate Solgaleo/Lunala at a crucial point in the narrative. This fight was not only terrifying but also one of the hardest boss battles the franchise has ever seen. Waiting for a Pokemon to become the true antagonist of the story was challenging, but it was definitely worth it.

3. Sada & Turo

A Big Twist Awaited Scarlet & Violet Players

Other Names Pokemon Professor
Team Affiliation N/A
Pokemon Sada: Slither Wing, Scream Tail, Brute Bonnet, Flutter Mane, Sandy Shocks, Roaring Moon, Koraidon Turo: Iron Moth, Iron Bundle, Iron Hands, Iron Jugulis, Iron Thorns, Iron Valiant, Miraidon
Game Appearances Scarlet (Sada), Violet (Turo)

In the game Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, the roles of version-exclusive professors Sada and Turo take an unexpected turn. At first glance, they appear fixated on researching Paradox Pokemon, leading to their isolation in Area Zero. However, it is later revealed that both Sada and Turo perished during their pursuits. Their positions have since been taken over by artificial intelligence replicas designed initially for research assistance.

In the course of their confrontations with Sada or Turo in the games Scarlet and Violet respectively, these robotic adversaries have solidified their status as the most unsettling antagonists throughout the franchise’s history. The robotic Sada is driven by a desire to resurrect ancient Pokemon from the past, while Turo yearns for futuristic ones. Both of them are backed by teams composed of unique Paradox Pokemon specific to each game, ensuring an exceptionally challenging final showdown.

2. Ghetsis

Few Redeeming Qualities For This Megalomaniac

Other Names Ghetsis Harmonia Gropius, Seventh Sage
Team Affiliation Team Plasma
Pokemon Drapion, Toxicroak, Seismitoad, Eelektross, Cofagrigus, Bouffalant, Bisharp, Hydreigon, Zekrom, Reshiram, Kyurem
Game Appearances Black, White, Black 2, White 2, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon, Masters EX

In terms of malevolence without remorse, Ghetsis excels in every aspect. He openly acknowledges his villainous role, yet remains unfazed. If deceit or manipulation serves his purpose of becoming the sole owner of Pokémon, even his own son N will not be spared. The situation worsens when he uses Team Plasma’s ideology, “no Pokemon for anyone,” as a disguise for his selfish intentions.

In terms of Pokemon villains, Ghetsis stands out as particularly impressive, especially when it comes to his battle teams. The roster in Black 2 & White 2 is noteworthy, but his original team truly shines. As the final boss in the main game, he delivers a formidable challenge. Despite the player having a Legendary Reshiram or Zekrom on their side, Ghetsis’ Hydreigon can effortlessly slice through them as if they were made of butter.

1. Cyrus

At Least He Gets What He Deserves

Other Names Galactic Boss
Team Affiliation Team Galactic
Pokemon Houndoom, Golbat, Gyarados, Murkrow, Sneasel, Crobat, Honchkrow, Weavile, Dialga, Palkia
Game Appearances Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon, Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, Masters EX

Cyrus is an extraordinarily imposing figure as he is a villainous character in the Pokemon universe, primarily because he has deliberately suppressed his emotions and spirit. Under his leadership, Team Galactic carries out some of the most heinous acts that any evil group has ever perpetrated. These crimes range from detonating sites where Pokemon were flourishing, to subjecting the Lake Guardians to cruel treatment, all the way to manufacturing the Red Chain and subsequently using it to command Dialga and Palkia.

What makes it even worse is that Cyrus is also lying to his followers, who believe Cyrus is looking to take them to a new world where they can thrive as one, when in reality, he just wants to destroy the existing world and create a new one, just for himself. Weirdly, in Platinum, he gets his way by electing to remain in the Distortion World, as it has that spiritless, hopeless vibe that he was searching for.

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2024-11-30 05:54