As World of Warcraft continues, the number of villains continues to stack up against Azeroth’s heroes. As we look back, we can think of many formidable opponents who have tried their hand against us. Let’s look at my list of Top 15 of these dangerous and powerful villains.

 

15. Blackhand (Warlords of Draenor)

 Blackhand runs the Blackrock Foundry. 

Blackhand has had a lot of history in WoW’s lore, even going back to the original Warcraft storyline. He has played many parts in the original Horde’s infiltration of Azeroth, and also played a role in the alternate storyline with the Iron Horde. Like many on this list, there’s a favoritism of power that motivates him.

Blackhand dwells in the Blackrock Foundry, where he makes large machines to aid the Iron Horde in the alternate timeline. In this part of history, he wants world domination for the Iron Horde and for them to invade and conquer all other worlds as well. 

Blackhand is a fun raid boss and is pretty difficult to beat, which makes him decently powerful, but low on the list. 

Blackhand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHJ_hqJewM0 

 

14. Kael’thas Sunstrider (The Burning Crusade)

Kael'thas committed the ultimate crime of betrayal. 

Formerly the King of the Blood Elves, Kael’thas has left the good behind and favored the Legion. He’s located in the Outlands, in the Eye of Tempest Keep. He seeks all the power he can hold, and even allows the corruption of the Sun Well, the Blood Elves main power source, in order to get the power he craves. 

With the Sun Well being his main crime, it was a completely heinous one. This downfall and near destruction of his own entire race makes him a pretty dangerous villain. Kael’thas’ crimes against his people and against Azeroth place him at number 14 on the list. 

Kael’thas Sunstrider: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMNWn5RAays 

 

13. Nefarian (Cataclysm)

Nefarian, much like is name, is nefarious. 

Nefarian is the oldest son of Deathwing, formerly known as Neltharion, and sought to follow his father in his work. Nefarian works in his lair in Blackrock Spire, and controls the Blackrock clan of ogres. The work he did in this lair is what makes Nefarian nefarious. 

He followed in his father’s footsteps and tried to mix the dragon types to get more powerful dragons out of it. His work in the Blackrock Spire was torturous, using unwilling specimens for his experiments. These awful events plus his raid difficulty are what place Nefarian at 13 on the list.

Nefarian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MQyH78aqT4 

 

12. The Jailer (Shadowlands)

The Jailer is a dangerous afterlife opponent. 

The Jailer is the mind behind the torn Veil between Azeroth and the Shadowlands. As a final boss, it seems unfitting for the Jailer to be so low on the list. However, I believe there are many other bosses that are more villainous and also more powerful than the Jailer.

For one, without Sylvanas and her need for revenge, he wouldn’t have been able to succeed at all. In fact, he was defeated hugely due to her betrayal, which shows his dependence on her. Not only that, he needed the help of many other worldly powers in order to get what he wanted. He was ultimately dependable on the strength of others rather than himself. 

He was still a pretty strong boss and threatened the life of Azeroth, which is a huge threat itself. 

The Jailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQlcUY5zDUk 

 

11. Sylvanas Windrunner (Shadowlands)

Sylvanas is cunning with a vengful spirit. 

While the Jailer is the final boss in the expansion, I would argue that Sylvanas is a more powerful villain when it comes to her feats on Azeroth. As the Banshee Queen and a dangerous foe, her name is to be feared. She seeks vengeance above all else and is ensnared by its grasp. 

In her quest for vengeance she burned down the great tree, Teldrassil, in order to start war with the Alliance, which furthered her progress for vengeance. She also cheated in her fight against Saurfang, and killed him against the terms of the Mak’gora, a sacred fight. Without Sylvanas, the Veil would not have been torn, and the Jailer would have no power over Azeroth. This makes her more powerful than him, and above him on the list. 

Sylvanas Windrunner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-z5vVJF5rE 

 

10. Azshara (Battle for Azeroth)

Azshara is a queen with a twisted obession of beauty. 

Azshara was a queen whose people were on the brink of collapse. In order to save her people, she made a deal with N’Zoth, an old god. This deal turned her people into snake-like water breathers who dwelled in the oceans and built up power in order to take over Azeroth. 

This deal is what she is most known for, and her people, the Naga, cause problems amongst Azeroth’s shores as they fight for their queen’s wishes, which is to rule the entirety of Azeroth. Her corruption by N’Zoth wasn’t necessarily hard, as she was already full of herself and her beauty beforehand and thought for her benefit. 

Her sway over the oceans and the help of N’Zoth make her a powerful foe. 

Azshara: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRzxQA1Y7V0 

 

9. Illidan Stormrage (Burning Crusade)

Illidan is a friend turned foe turned friend again.

Illidan, while he might be considered a hero now, was once considered a villain in the past, and a strong one at that. He seeks to destroy the Legion much like other heroes of Azeroth, but rejects the path that fate deems him to walk on. This defiance of fate and turning to the Legion for power makes him an initial villain to the other heroes. 

You don’t truly know Illidan’s motives until Legion, and from an outside perspective he becomes a demon and begins to make more demons, making his own army. This appears evil, which is why he is on the list. He rejects the Light which was supposed to be his path and instead takes in the Fel magic and uses it against the Legion. 

He is a powerful enemy turned friend once it’s made clear his intentions. He would be higher on this list if he remained an enemy to the heroes of Azeroth.

Illidan Stormrage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8_JbDiALkY 

 

8. G’huun (Battle for Azeroth)

G'huun is a leech attached to the planet. 

An old god with the power of corruption, G’huun seeks to destroy all. He’s one of the main villains and problems during the Battle for Azeroth expansion. His raid is no joke either, and I remember the amount of times I fought him in the Raid Finder. 

G’huun seeks to consume the world. Like a leech, he sucks the life out of the part where he dwells in Zandalar. Perhaps I’m biased for putting him so high, but he caused a lot of pains in my neck during BfA, and he also has a direct connection to Azeroth and her suffering. If we didn’t defeat him, she would’ve died due to his leech-like tendencies and his corruption. 

G’huun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RubXDO7TYVs 

 

7. Garrosh Hellscream (Mists of Pandaria)

 Garrosh has a hunger for power, and lots of it. 

Garrosh Hellscream is a classic case of too much power going to someone’s head. He wants war, as a warchief, and nearly destroys any essence of peace in order to get it. He’s crazy, and it makes him extremely dangerous.

Garrosh’s lust for war and blood drives the Horde against the Alliance. Not only that, but this lust for war nearly destroys Pandaria, with the negative energy causing the Sha to stir up and wreak havoc on the island. This, combined with his control of the Horde, made him extremely dangerous (and his raid was difficult as well). 

Garrosh Hellscream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jQYObKTIG8 

 

6. Gul’dan (Legion)

Gul'dan is the most universally hated villain in the game. 

Gul’dan was a villain that caused everyone to rejoice when he died, that’s how much we hated the guy. His influence on Azeroth goes back to Warcraft times, and this guy didn’t have to die once, but twice in order for us to completely get rid of him. His search for power was completely consumed by anger, and that anger turned into destruction. 

He was the head of the charge into Azeroth during the Legion expansion, but also played a role during Warlords of Draenor as well. He is possibly most famous for his killing of Varian Wrynn, King of Stormwind, who many players loved. This made Gul’dan extremely hated, and a well crafted villain is one that gets the entirety of players to hate them unconditionally.

This and his command of parts of the Legion make him a powerful enemy. His boss fight was one to remember. 

Gul’dan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5BTdavXUSc 

 

5. Kil’jaeden (Legion)

Kil'jaeden is a corrupted draenei who thirsted for power and ended up losing himself to it.

Kil’jaeden is one of the most influential and infamous villains in WoW’s history. His effects go back into Warcraft age, and he continued to be a menace until he was defeated in Legion. As the second in command of The Burning Legion, he’s responsible for much suffering. 

His initial draw to the Fel magic was its power, after his corruption he sought to expand the Legion’s domain. Kil’jaeden is responsible for the destruction of the Draenei’s home planet, Argus, which then became the hive for the Legion. His continued torture of the draenei and chasing them across the universe makes in a very fear villain and our number 5 spot. 

Kil’jaeden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8it5rki5I10 

 

4. N’Zoth (Battle for Azeroth)

N'Zoth seeks power and to cover the world with his all-seeing eyes. 

Our second old god on the list and coming in at number 4 is N’Zoth. This god wants total control over Azeroth and to turn it into a wasteland of eyes and tentacles(which might be a dream world to some people but not to many). With the promise of power, he lures people to his side and mind controls them into doing his bidding.

N’Zoth is responsible for Azshara, Deathwing, helping with the Emerald Nightmare, and the Black Empire, which are all major problems for Azeroth. While he might be considered weak compared to his peers, he’s the only one of them that we’ve defeated and the only one that’s entirely shown itself.

Not to mention, the creation of Deathwing is no joke, as you’ll see later on this list. That in itself makes a powerful foe of N’Zoth, plus his interference in the world during Battle for Azeroth. 

N’Zoth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgzm2XP1hMo 

 

3. Arthas, The Lich King (Wrath of the Lich King)

Arthas is a man who lost his way trying to save his people. 

The Helm of Domination was made with that exact idea in mind, domination. The power to control and completely dominate the world with the Scourge. The Lich King’s entire idealism is to have power over the entire world, and this threat isn’t one that can go unmanaged.

Arthas, initially a prince with a hope to save his people, is brought to the Helm of Domination. With this tempting power, he becomes the Lich King and destroys many people in his wake. He destroys his own home, Lordaeron, and is even responsible for making Sylvanas Windrunner a banshee.

Without the heroes of Azeroth, he would’ve spread his rein and continued his torment on the world, with the Scourge as his weapon. He is certainly an infamous foe to remember in WoW lore.

The Lich King: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlxcNMltpU8 

 

2. Deathwing (Cataclysm)

Deathwing sought power and destroyed his very body in order to hold it. 

Deathwing is definitely one of the most powerful villains in all of WoW history. Just by moving he causes tidal waves and earthquakes. He has the power of all the dragonflights in his body and is falling apart because it’s so much power.

It’s insane to think that just by moving he can cause huge things to happen, but with his crimes against the dragonflights it makes sense. Each dragonflight controls an element, and since he stole the power from each of them, he can control each of those elements. That’s a lot of power, and that’s a lot of damage. 

Not to mention the Deathwing raid is a pain, and his spine itself is the hardest boss in the raid.

Deathwing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZHeTNr7xzM 

 

1. Sargeras (Legion)

Sargeras doesn't need power, he just needs to destroy the universe. 

Sargeras is the leader and mind behind The Burning Legion. As the Titan who heads off the charge, he is the entire reason that Azeroth has had to fight the Legion so many times. He seeks to destroy the universe in order to keep it from the Void. 

He has corrupted many planets and has the largest army in the universe. Sargeras has been the main villain and is the creator of other powerful villains on this list. He is without a doubt the most powerful villain in the WoW universe, and was only defeated in the Legion expansion. 

While there isn’t a boss fight for Sargeras, there is a pretty epic cutscene. 

Sargeras: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1XmubgIyq4 

 

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