IMPORTANT: THIS TIME THERE WILL BE NO FIGHTS. YOU WILL SIMPLY VOTE FOR YOUR TOP 4 CHOICES HERE. PLEASE TRY TO USE UP ALL 4 VOTES. THANKS.
THE BRACKET
Lucius Zogratis – Black Clover
VS
Kabuto Yakushi – Naruto
VS
Light Yagami – Death Note
VS
Rien – Jigokuraku (Hell’s Paradise)
VS
Akaza – Demon Slayer
VS
Maximillion Pegasus – Yu-Gi-Oh!
VS
Pain (Nagato) – Naruto
VS
Schneizel el Britannia – Code Geass
THE BRACKET
Lucius Zogratis – Black Clover
Lucius Zogratis emerges as the darkest mastermind in Black Clover, embodying nihilism and divine authority. As a member of the Spade Kingdom’s Shadows, he manipulates sibling rivalry and orchestrates national wars to reshape the world according to his draconian vision. He sees life as fragile, emotions as unnecessary, and humanity as expendable—his ultimate goal being the eradication of the current world order.
He stands apart from other villains due to his self-declared godhood. Possessing four devil powers in a single body, Lucius transcends traditional mage abilities and becomes a spiritual enigma. He views individuals not as people, but as pieces on a cosmic board, moving them as if their hopes and sufferings carried no weight. This detachment amplifies his terror—not because of what he does to others, but because he cannot see their loss.
With his calm, philosophical monologues and unstoppable power, Lucius tests the heroes beyond magic. He challenges their morality, resilience, and belief in hope itself. His intimacy with world-altering concepts makes him not just a threat to kingdoms, but a litmus test for meaning in a chaotic universe.
He stands apart from other villains due to his self-declared godhood. Possessing four devil powers in a single body, Lucius transcends traditional mage abilities and becomes a spiritual enigma. He views individuals not as people, but as pieces on a cosmic board, moving them as if their hopes and sufferings carried no weight. This detachment amplifies his terror—not because of what he does to others, but because he cannot see their loss.
With his calm, philosophical monologues and unstoppable power, Lucius tests the heroes beyond magic. He challenges their morality, resilience, and belief in hope itself. His intimacy with world-altering concepts makes him not just a threat to kingdoms, but a litmus test for meaning in a chaotic universe.
VS
Kabuto Yakushi – Naruto
Kabuto Yakushi is a villain defined by identity, or rather, the lack of it. Introduced as a seemingly meek medical ninja, Kabuto is quickly revealed to be a manipulative spy with immense talent and deadly ambition. Initially serving Orochimaru, Kabuto evolves into a villain in his own right—eventually mastering forbidden jutsu and becoming a key figure in the Fourth Great Ninja War.
Kabuto’s arc is one of transformation, both physically and psychologically. Obsessed with becoming someone “worthy,” he fuses himself with others’ abilities, literally stitching together fragments of powerful figures to craft his ideal self. His insecurity drives him to seek recognition through strength and influence, yet he remains painfully hollow inside.
What makes Kabuto compelling is his eventual self-realization. Through his encounter with Itachi, he comes to understand that identity cannot be borrowed or stolen—it must be discovered. His redemption doesn't undo his crimes, but it reveals a tragic truth: Kabuto was never truly evil—just lost in the desperate search for self-worth.
Kabuto’s arc is one of transformation, both physically and psychologically. Obsessed with becoming someone “worthy,” he fuses himself with others’ abilities, literally stitching together fragments of powerful figures to craft his ideal self. His insecurity drives him to seek recognition through strength and influence, yet he remains painfully hollow inside.
What makes Kabuto compelling is his eventual self-realization. Through his encounter with Itachi, he comes to understand that identity cannot be borrowed or stolen—it must be discovered. His redemption doesn't undo his crimes, but it reveals a tragic truth: Kabuto was never truly evil—just lost in the desperate search for self-worth.
VS
Light Yagami – Death Note
Light Yagami is perhaps one of the most iconic and chilling villains in anime history, not because of his brutality, but because of how easily he slips into it. He begins the story as a high-achieving student with a rigid sense of justice. Upon gaining the Death Note, he convinces himself that he can create a utopia by killing criminals, thus purging the world of evil. But what makes Light dangerous is how quickly that ideal becomes twisted into a justification for power, ego, and tyranny.
As the body count rises, Light loses touch with his original goal. He begins killing anyone who threatens his plans, including innocents, allies, and even those who once believed in him. His transformation into Kira isn't just a descent into villainy—it's a corruption of idealism. He genuinely believes he is the chosen one, the god of the new world, even as he commits increasingly horrific acts.
What elevates Light as a villain is how grounded and believable his transformation feels. He's not driven by madness or supernatural influence; he’s consumed by pride and ambition, masked as justice. His fall serves as a haunting reflection of how power, especially when unchecked, can corrupt even the most intelligent and well-intentioned individuals.
As the body count rises, Light loses touch with his original goal. He begins killing anyone who threatens his plans, including innocents, allies, and even those who once believed in him. His transformation into Kira isn't just a descent into villainy—it's a corruption of idealism. He genuinely believes he is the chosen one, the god of the new world, even as he commits increasingly horrific acts.
What elevates Light as a villain is how grounded and believable his transformation feels. He's not driven by madness or supernatural influence; he’s consumed by pride and ambition, masked as justice. His fall serves as a haunting reflection of how power, especially when unchecked, can corrupt even the most intelligent and well-intentioned individuals.
VS
Rien – Jigokuraku (Hell’s Paradise)
Rien is transformation personified—a former saint reborn into twisted purpose on Jigokuraku’s cursed island. She starts as a warrior seeking enlightenment, then becomes a harbinger of the island’s own malice. With each family secret and survival requirement, her shifts from camaraderie to threat go undetected—until it’s too late.
Her descent is sudden, but logical. Rien embraces the island’s law: might makes survival. She adapts, mutates, and merges fractured ethics with violence. Her final moves are tactical and unflinching, yet still shadowed by grief at her lost identity.
As a villain, she is intimate—someone you fought alongside, someone you trusted. That betrayal haunts more than any proclamation of evil. Rien becomes inhibitor of fellowship, showing how survival can destroy the ties that once bound.
Her descent is sudden, but logical. Rien embraces the island’s law: might makes survival. She adapts, mutates, and merges fractured ethics with violence. Her final moves are tactical and unflinching, yet still shadowed by grief at her lost identity.
As a villain, she is intimate—someone you fought alongside, someone you trusted. That betrayal haunts more than any proclamation of evil. Rien becomes inhibitor of fellowship, showing how survival can destroy the ties that once bound.
VS
Akaza – Demon Slayer
Akaza is a demon defined by pride in combat. Once a martial artist who found emptiness in life, he embraced immortality to find life’s heft in violence. He fights humans to validate his existence, not for bloodlust—and that makes his brutality poignant rather than senseless.
His speeches are direct: respect through combat. He offers zen‑like philosophy while erasing humanity with celestial bullet‑speed. He grieves strength lost—his last exchange with Tanjiro is not hatred but regret. He kills not out of cruelty, but because his version of purpose dies alongside each opponent.
He represents the horizon of demon degeneration: his soul is full of longing, not hate. His death is quiet. His arc compels us to ask whether meaning found in conflict can justify the destruction left behind.
His speeches are direct: respect through combat. He offers zen‑like philosophy while erasing humanity with celestial bullet‑speed. He grieves strength lost—his last exchange with Tanjiro is not hatred but regret. He kills not out of cruelty, but because his version of purpose dies alongside each opponent.
He represents the horizon of demon degeneration: his soul is full of longing, not hate. His death is quiet. His arc compels us to ask whether meaning found in conflict can justify the destruction left behind.
VS
Maximillion Pegasus – Yu-Gi-Oh!
Maximillion Pegasus is more than just the eccentric creator of Duel Monsters—he is a refined, manipulative genius who uses games, not brute force, to break his opponents. Behind his flamboyant style and playful demeanor lies a deeply tragic figure driven by grief and obsession. His invention of Duel Monsters is less a game and more a tool for control, allowing him to orchestrate others' fates while hiding behind a cultured smile.
What makes Pegasus truly dangerous is his Millennium Eye, which lets him read minds and exploit his enemies' deepest vulnerabilities. He doesn’t simply play to win—he plays to dismantle. By stealing the souls of Yugi’s grandfather and others, he forces his enemies into emotionally charged duels, turning each match into psychological warfare. His approach is elegant and indirect, making his menace feel deeply personal and theatrical.
Yet, at the heart of his cruelty lies unresolved sorrow. Pegasus is a man consumed by the loss of his beloved Cecelia, and his descent into villainy is motivated by the desperate wish to reunite with her through the power of ancient magic. His complexity lies in this contradiction: he is both tyrant and mourner, an antagonist whose elegance masks a fractured soul seeking what no game can restore—genuine connection and peace.
What makes Pegasus truly dangerous is his Millennium Eye, which lets him read minds and exploit his enemies' deepest vulnerabilities. He doesn’t simply play to win—he plays to dismantle. By stealing the souls of Yugi’s grandfather and others, he forces his enemies into emotionally charged duels, turning each match into psychological warfare. His approach is elegant and indirect, making his menace feel deeply personal and theatrical.
Yet, at the heart of his cruelty lies unresolved sorrow. Pegasus is a man consumed by the loss of his beloved Cecelia, and his descent into villainy is motivated by the desperate wish to reunite with her through the power of ancient magic. His complexity lies in this contradiction: he is both tyrant and mourner, an antagonist whose elegance masks a fractured soul seeking what no game can restore—genuine connection and peace.
VS
Pain (Nagato) – Naruto
Pain is a villain born from tragedy. Once an idealistic child dreaming of peace, Nagato becomes the leader of the Akatsuki, using overwhelming force and fear to bring about what he sees as true stability. His doctrine—peace through shared pain—is both haunting and, to an extent, understandable.
What makes Pain compelling is his philosophical weight. He doesn’t revel in destruction; he believes it’s necessary. His devastation of Konoha is not just a show of power, but a twisted lesson. When he says “those who do not understand pain can never understand peace,” he means it—and he forces the world to listen.
Pain is not a madman or a brute. He’s a broken idealist whose fall mirrors Naruto’s potential future. That contrast—between hero and what-hero-could-have-been—makes Pain one of Naruto’s most unforgettable and thought-provoking villains.
What makes Pain compelling is his philosophical weight. He doesn’t revel in destruction; he believes it’s necessary. His devastation of Konoha is not just a show of power, but a twisted lesson. When he says “those who do not understand pain can never understand peace,” he means it—and he forces the world to listen.
Pain is not a madman or a brute. He’s a broken idealist whose fall mirrors Naruto’s potential future. That contrast—between hero and what-hero-could-have-been—makes Pain one of Naruto’s most unforgettable and thought-provoking villains.
VS
Schneizel el Britannia – Code Geass
Schneizel is the epitome of a cold, calculating villain. As the charismatic and intelligent older brother of Lelouch, he commands the Britannian Empire with an air of superiority and poise. Unlike his impulsive sibling, Schneizel’s manipulation is rooted in calm, precise strategy, making him a formidable opponent. His calm demeanor hides his ruthless desire for control, and his primary goal is to ensure a world dominated by order, even if it means sacrificing millions.
Schneizel is not motivated by vengeance or hatred but by his belief that he can bring peace and stability to the world—by force. His adherence to this twisted sense of “peace” makes him morally ambiguous and much more chilling. He uses diplomacy and manipulation, rather than brute strength, to achieve his goals, and this makes him one of the most intelligent and dangerous characters in Code Geass.
What makes Schneizel truly terrifying is his ability to outmaneuver Lelouch, who is often seen as the genius tactician of the series. Schneizel’s belief in a “greater good” makes him a perfect foil to Lelouch, and his methodical, no-compromise approach to power is what ultimately makes him an unforgettable villain.
Schneizel is not motivated by vengeance or hatred but by his belief that he can bring peace and stability to the world—by force. His adherence to this twisted sense of “peace” makes him morally ambiguous and much more chilling. He uses diplomacy and manipulation, rather than brute strength, to achieve his goals, and this makes him one of the most intelligent and dangerous characters in Code Geass.
What makes Schneizel truly terrifying is his ability to outmaneuver Lelouch, who is often seen as the genius tactician of the series. Schneizel’s belief in a “greater good” makes him a perfect foil to Lelouch, and his methodical, no-compromise approach to power is what ultimately makes him an unforgettable villain.
