The various pantheons of the D&D multiverse have complex histories and innumerable deities. 

It can feel impossible for newcomers to keep track of all the different gods and their long, intricate histories with each other.

If you’re looking for a simplified list to help you choose a big bad for your campaign, here are some of the evilest gods in Dungeons and Dragons history. 

5. Asmodeus, Supreme Master of the Nine Hells 

Presiding over the Nine Hells, Asmodeus is a god of indulgence, oppression, and power that rules over all devils. His ultimate goal is to become the supreme ruler of the multiverse, even if that means destroying it to create a new one. 

While his true form is that of a monstrous serpent, he instead chooses to appear as a charismatic, red-skinned humanoid. His manners and eloquence disguise the evil of his true intentions.  

Asmodeus Details: 

• Titles: Supreme Master of the Nine Hells, Lord of Nessus, The Raging Fiend, Lord of the Ninth, Lord of Lies, Prince of Evil
• Power level: Greater Deity 
• Alignment: Lawful Evil
• Domains: Knowledge, Order, Trickery
• Symbol: Three inverted triangles arranged in a long triangle

4. Bhaal, Lord of Murder

The god of murder, Bhaal is often worshipped by assassins. However, many common murderers also offer him their prayers and devotion. 

Prior to his godhood, Bhaal was an ambitious adventurer who petitioned the god of the dead along with his fellow mortals Bane and Myrkul. They divided the god's portfolio among themselves, with Bane choosing the domains of hatred, strife and tyranny, Myrkul choosing to rule over the dead, and Bhaal choosing the domain of death. 

Bhaal is despised even by the rest of the gods and is known as sadistic, cruel, and evil. His worshippers see murder as an act of duty and devotion to him. 

Bhaal Details: 

• Titles: Lord of Murder, Niynjushigampo
• Power level: Quasi-Diety
• Alignment: Neutral Evil
• Domains: Death
• Symbol: Skull surrounded by a ring of bloody droplets

3. Bane, The Black Lord

The god of tyrannical oppression, hatred, and strife, Bane is worshiped by tyrants and dictators who rule through fear and despotic control.  

Like many evil deities, Bane seeks to dominate all of Faerun and rule an empire that spans the multiverse. He aims to impose his will on all other creatures and considers himself the rightful ruler of the multiplanar system. 

Bhaals worship largely focuses on the individual act of murder, where Bane’s worship involves the subjugation of whole populations of people and the complete removal of their freedom of choice. Your big bad could be a worshipper of Bane, seeking to establish their own dictatorship. 

Bane Details: 

• Titles: Lord Bane, The Black Lord, Lord of Darkness, The Black Hand, The Dark One
• Power level: Quasi-Deity
• Alignment: Lawful Evil
• Domains: Order, War
• Symbol: Upright black right hand with the thumb and fingers together

2. Cyric, Prince of Lies 

Cyric is known for his cunning and trickery, which makes sense as the god of lies, deception, strife, and conflict. As a chaotic deity, he follows no laws nor order and can be unpredictable in his destruction, often acting with no thought of consequences. 

This is seen in his murder of Mystra, the goddess of magic who maintains the Weave. This terrible act led to the Spellplague, a cataclysmic disaster that lasted for years. 

As of now, Cyric has had much of his power stripped away. Many of his previous domains were granted back to Bhaal and Bane when they were restored to their full godhood, and Cyric is currently imprisoned in the Supreme Throne for 1000 years. His eventual freedom and inevitable attempt to regain power would be excellent material for a homebrew campaign. 

Cyric Details: 

• Titles: Prince of Lies, The Dark Sun, The Black Sun, The Mad God, Sirhivatizangpo, N'asr 
• Power level: Greater Deity
• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
• Domains: Trickery
• Symbol: White jawless skull on black or purple sunburst

1. Vecna, The Arch-Lich

Vecna is one of the most terrifying, iconic villains from the earlier editions of Dungeons and Dragons. More recently, he was used as the final villain for the first campaign of the Critical Role podcast and was included in the official campaign sourcebook Explorer's Guide to Wildemount.  

The powerful lich god rules over secrets and forbidden knowledge. Once a human, Vecna pursued the arcane arts, seeking immortality. 

When he achieved his goal and became a lich, Vecna used his power to amass armies of the undead and conquer multiple regions. He attacked the city that had executed his mother for witchcraft, showing no mercy despite the many generations that had passed since.

When city officials offered their own lives in exchange for sparing the citizens of the city, Vecna had one of them tortured in front of the others. He then proceeded to slaughter the entire city and display their severed heads to the officials left alive. 

While this is already despicable enough, Vecna’s current goal is to destroy the other gods and rule over the universe. He is so feared and hated by the other gods that worship of him is punishable by death. 

Vecna Details: 

• Titles: The Arch-Lich, Master of the Spider Throne, The Whispered One, The Undying King, Lord of the Rotted Tower, The Chained God
• Power level: Lesser Deity
• Alignment: Neutral Evil
• Domains: Arcana, Death, Knowledge
• Symbol: Hand with an eye in the palm

You may also be interested in: 

• The Best D&D Classes (Ranked from Worst to Best)
• Top 25 Best D&D Villains of All Time

• 32 Most Interesting Facts About Dungeons and Dragons!
• 25 Best D&D Games for PC That Every Fan Must Play!

• The 10 Best DnD Streams

• Most Powerful D&D Dragons For Adventurers To Defeat

• Top 10 Best DnD Campaign Ideas

• Top 5 DnD Most Useful Languages
• D&D Top 10 Most Damaging Spells That Obliterate Foes
• Top 15 Most Powerful D&D Spells
• The Best D&D Race for Every Class