Being RPGs, theDark Soulsgames usually don’t paint a fine line between good and evil. In fact, it can even be argued that the games' biggest villain is the protagonist, depending on the point of view. However, there are simply some bosses or NPCs that deserve the deepest circle in the Abyss for their immoral, inconsiderate, or infamous acts.
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Sure, most players would probably pickall enemiesinDark Soulsgames as evil scoundrels after making playthroughs too difficult, but let’s be fair here. Some of those enemies were merely victims of circumstance or reluctant malefactors. The worst ones are those who knowingly and voluntarily did something deplorable and are unapologetic sociopaths about it. Particularly these guys – don’t feel bad killing them again.
Updated July 16, 2025 by Sid Natividad:Several weeks afterElden Ringwas released, people are probably craving for more of the same formula. Luckily, the Dark Souls franchise is always there and is ready to offer even more villains. TheseDark Souls charactersare darker than black and more despicable than even some of the most frustrating bosses.
Somehow, that’s a testament to the strong yet subtle characterization of the Dark Souls trilogy. AllDark Souls villainshave their own show-don’t-tell personality and they pop out a lot more because of this. So for those going for a Dark Souls playthrough, watch out for these malefactors.
15Seath The Scaleless
Seath the Scaleless was prominently featured inDark Souls’intro and as early as that phase in the game, players will have already guessed that there’s something wrong with him. Because apart from being a scaleless dragon, Seath got drunk on power and indulged in his perverse nature as he enjoyed his seat among Gwyn’s allies
Seath has this disturbing predilection for maidens — “pure” maidens whom he uses to conduct his experiments. He even orders his cronies and minions to kidnap women for some twisted and obscure purpose — perhaps something that involves human-dragon hybrids. In any case, the fallout of Seath’s experiments is scattered all over his laboratories and some of them are in a sorry state, begging to be killed.
14Leonhard
There’s always that one shady character hanging around in Firelink Shrine or the hub in aSoulsgame. That would be Leonhard inDark Souls 3and if it wasn’t clear already, he doesn’t want his intentions to be known or discerned by the Unkindled. So it can come as a shock that he kills Rosaria later on for some vague reasoning.
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To that end, he’s basically theDark Souls 3equivalent of Lautrec inDark Souls. Moreover, Leonhard is the NPC whotells players to invade others just because they can. It’s well known that invasions inDark Soulsgames equate to a crime among the community, one that is always met with cold retribution.
13Petrus Of Thorolund
Petrus of Thorolund is a statement fromDark Soulsthat not all who don a holy guise are actually good people. He’s a cleric who was tasked to escort and protect a noblewoman named Reah but it’s implied that he ends up betraying her and leaving her for dead in some skeleton-infested cave or tomb.
Petrus even claimed that he wouldn’t mind if the players “had their way” with Reah, meaning he was harboring some nasty thoughts about the poor defenseless woman. His appearance and demeanor just make it worse and he’ll soon attack the players if they discover his true self.
12Gwyn
One could argue that despite his radiant regality, Gwyn is one of the biggest offenders inDark Souls. He’s so obsessed with the Flame and with keeping his position of power that he wouldn’t hesitate to burn his subjects and use them as kindling to prolong what remained of the Fire.
In doing so, Gwyn caused a curse to rise among the downtrodden population of Lordran. Eons prior to that, Gwyn also spearheaded the Genocide that erased all the dragons in existence and appointed Seath as a royal official, thereby condoning the pale dragon’s depraved experiments.
11The Players
Let’s not point fingers but remain blind to our own sins. Because in all threeDark Soulsgames (though more obviously in the first and third), the players are just as terrible as some of the most deplorableDark Soulsvillains. Even if they didn’t choose the Age of Dark ending, they will have continued what Gwyn was perpetuating, using people as kindling to prolong an era that should have been extinguished.
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And even before that, the players, in their existential journey to rise from their destitute status as a Hollow, will kill, betray, and lie their way to the top of the hierarchy. Everything the players are in allDark Soulsgames is built on a foundation of the souls of once-innocent Hollows and beasts. Then again, that should’ve been obvious already from the moment theymaimed and murdereda good and loyal dog for their souls and some keys.
10Patches
Patches, whether he’s Unbreakable, Trusty, or a Hyena, is the scum of the earth in anyDark Soulsgame. He notably appears in the first and third games and he’s more than a troublemaker there. He’s a menace who will introduce himself tothe player as a friendand then stab them in the back immediately afterward.
He’s not just hostile to the player but also to other benevolent NPCs. InDark Souls 3, he even fooled Siegmeyer of Catarina and stole his armor to be more efficient with his friendly-backstabber facade. To make matters worse, he’s incompetent at plotting his victims' downfall and usually fails.
9Knight Lautrec Of Carim
Don’t be fooled by the shiny and golden armor, Knight Lautrec of Carim is a nasty individual. He’s capable of causing plenty of damage to one’s playthrough as his goal is to kill the Firekeeper for what he thinks is right. That very well means he’s the worst kind of evil because he’s unaware of his villainous actions and even thinks his conduct is justified.
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Even before killing the Firekeeper, Lautrec’s dialogue and manner of speech alone should be a telltale indication of his demeanor. He’s also aware of some of the evil NPCs in the game (such as Petrus or Patches) and does nothing about them and even lets the player fall into their traps.
8Darkstalker Kaathe
Two serpents inDark Soulswill attempt to wrestle with the player’s morals. One of them is Kingmaker Frampt and the other is Darkstalker Kaathe. It should be pretty obvious who’s up to no good. Kaathe, from the very beginning, has been plotting to unleash Manus and the power of the Abyss in Anor Londo.
In fact, he and his Darkwraiths are even responsible for the bad things that happened in New Londo. It’s not just New Londo he ruined but also Oolacile. InDark Souls' timeline, Kaathe now wants to manipulate the player into ruining what remains of Anor Londo as well.
7Manus
The general lore consensus is that Manus is the Furtive Pygmy and is the bearer of the Dark Soul. How and why this compels him to be a one-sided force of destruction and literal darkness remains puzzling but one thing is for certain: he should never be allowed near any kingdom.
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He’s the Father of the Abyss and yearns to spread that void into all living and warm things. Through Kaathe, he has succeeded on multiple attempts, namely Oolacile and New Londo. Moreover, those he cannot outright destroy, he corrupts and turns into mindless, berserk husks of their former selves. That’s pure chaotic evil.
6Executioner Smough
Gwyn liked to keep Smough around because he’s one of the most loyal knights in Anor Londo. Along with Ornstein, he’s one of the few knights who remained to guard the throne and keep things in order. Except, he helps himself to some of the transgressors, usually grinding their bones and then adding the dust to his diet.
Even before things went bad in Anor Londo or Lordran, Smough had a reputation for torturing his victims and eating their remains. That’s why he was never promoted to Ornstein’s status. When Ornsteindies first in the boss fight, Smough even sadistically smashes the remaining life out of his comrade to absorb his power. He could have taken poor Ornstein to the hospital first if he actually cared.
