Villains of Legend: Ranking the Most Despicable Elder Scrolls Characters!2025
With its expansive worlds and complex lore, the Elder Scrolls series has produced some of the most memorable antagonists in video game history. Tamriel’s gallery of rogues is as varied as it is depraved, ranging from crafty manipulators to outright genocidal maniacs. Based on their deeds, motivations, and overall influence on the world, we are ranking the most heinous characters in the series in this in-depth analysis. Hold on tight, because this is going to reveal Tamriel’s darkest sides.
Master the Hunt
Lord Harkon (Skyrim: Dawnguard)
Lord Harkon, the patriarch of the Volkihar Clan, is the first person on our list. This ancient vampire lord’s complete disregard for mortal life is demonstrated by his obsession with the Tyranny of the Sun prophecy, which calls for blotting out the sun to create a vampire paradise. He is solidified as a heartless, cunning monster by his readiness to sacrifice his own daughter, Serana, in order to further his objectives. Harkon is especially reprehensible because of his conceit; he sincerely thinks he is bringing about a golden age, oblivious to the mayhem his scheme would cause. He is ranked number eight because, despite his lofty goals, he feels less personally invested in the conflict than other people on this list.
Ancano (Skyrim)
A prime example of smug villainy is the Thalmor agent Ancano, who appears in Skyrim’s College of Winterhold questline. His vicious ambition is demonstrated by his infiltration of the college to obtain the Eye of Magnus, a seemingly limitless source of magical power. Ancano is a despised character because of his contempt for “lesser” races and his readiness to upend an entire province in order to establish Thalmor supremacy. His vileness stems from his pettiness rather than his heinous crimes; he is the type of villain who would betray his supporters in order to advance in his career.
Mankar Camoran (Oblivion)
Tamriel entered the Oblivion Crisis when Emperor Uriel Septim VII was assassinated by Mankar Camoran, the head of the Mythic Dawn cult in Oblivion. As he opened the gates to Oblivion across Cyrodiil, his devotion to Mehrunes Dagon, the Daedric Prince of Destruction, resulted in innumerable deaths. Although Camoran’s intelligence and charm make him an interesting antagonist, his irrational notion that he is freeing Tamriel by giving it to a Daedric Prince is what really detests him. Gaiar Alata, his pocket paradise, demonstrates his cowardice by choosing to govern a fictitious utopia rather than take responsibility for his actions.
Mannimarco (Daggerfall, Oblivion, ESO)
In the Elder Scrolls universe, Mannimarco, the King of Worms, is a persistent nightmare. For centuries, a trail of bodies has been left behind by this master necromancer’s pursuit of godhood through dark magic. In Oblivion, he poses a direct threat to the Mages Guild by releasing undead horrors, while in Daggerfall, he is a cunning manipulator. His beginnings are revealed in The Elder Scrolls Online, where he betrays numerous allies in order to serve Molag Bal. Although Mannimarco is a notable villain due to his cold, cunning nature and complete lack of empathy, his repeated defeats prevent him from moving up the list.
Alduin (Skyrim)
The apocalyptic antagonist of Skyrim is Alduin, the World-Eater himself. The return of Alduin, who was prophesied to devour the world, puts Nirn as a whole in danger. His pettiness and destructive power are not the only things that make him reprehensible; instead of carrying out his cosmic duty, he subjugates mortals and demands worship from the Dragon Cult. He portrays himself as a self-centred tyrant because of his conceit, which causes him to undervalue the Dragonborn, and his refusal to accept his role as a force of renewal rather than destruction. Alduin has an unrivalled scale, but compared to those higher up, his personal malice Elder Scrolls seems less complex.
Molag Bal (Multiple Games, ESO)
Throughout the Elder Scrolls series, Molag Bal, the Daedric Prince of Domination, is a persistently evil force. Molag Bal’s influence is purely malevolent; he is well-known for inventing vampirism and taking pleasure in mortal suffering. His attempt to unite Nirn with the Planemeld, his realm of Coldharbour, would have enslaved all souls in ESO. He is a particularly heinous character because of his sadistic delight in corruption, which includes the defilement of souls and the creation of creatures like Lamae Bal, the first vampire. The only thing preventing him from taking the top spot is his status as a Daedric Prince, which is Elder Scrolls governed by cosmic laws.
Mehrunes Dagon (Oblivion, ESO)
One of Tamriel’s darkest periods, the Oblivion Crisis, was planned by Mehrunes Dagon, the Daedric Prince of Destruction. Cities like Kvatch were reduced to ash as a result of his invasion of Cyrodiil, which was made possible by the Mythic Dawn. Dagon is a terrifying force because of his unrelenting desire to subjugate and destroy, and his willingness to take advantage of mortal ambition and greed (such as the Septim assassination) demonstrates his shrewdness. Elder Scrolls Dagon’s destruction isn’t motivated by sadistic pleasure like Molag Bal’s; it’s just his nature, which makes him somewhat less personal but no less devastating.
Jagar Tharn (Arena)
The most unassuming character on our list is The Elder Scrolls: Arena’s primary antagonist, Jagar Tharn. It is a brilliant act of villainy for this imperial battlemage to have the gall to use illusion magic to pose as Emperor Uriel Septim VII for ten years. By usurping the throne, Tharn caused chaos throughout the continent, destabilised Tamriel, and imprisoned the emperor in Oblivion. His personal betrayal—he was a trusted advisor, not a far-off god or ancient evil—is what makes Tharn the most heinous. He is the quintessential villain because of his ambition, cowardice, and readiness to let Tamriel burn for his own gain.
Why These Villains Resonate
The greatest antagonists in the Elder Scrolls are more than just roadblocks; they are mirror images of Tamriel’s most fundamental weaknesses, including ambition, treachery, and the seductive allure of power. These characters leave a lasting impression on the player and the world, whether it is Dagon’s apocalyptic wrath or Tharn’s personal betrayal. It’s difficult to rank them because each one has a distinct flavour of evil, but Jagar Tharn’s grounded, Elder Scrolls personal villainy wins for sheer impact and audacity.
