Unveiling the Ultimate Evildoers: Castlevania's Most Sinister Characters, Ranked!
Discover the darkest depths of the Castlevania game series as we delve into the realm of malevolence Unearth the most wicked characters to have ever graced the games, and prepare yourself for a chilling encounter with true evil
Highlights
In the realm of Castlevania games, Shaft, Walter Bernhard, Death, and Carmilla all stand as manifestations of wickedness and malevolence. Each villain possesses their unique traits and employs distinct methods to sow chaos and torment.
These villains wield dark magic, manipulating and deceiving others, driven by an insatiable thirst for power and control, making them formidable adversaries for the heroes.
Nevertheless, amidst this menacing lineup, none rival the unparalleled malevolence of Dracula, the vampire king. His profound rage and unstoppable yearning for utter destruction render him the paramount and most frightening antagonist in the realm of Castlevania.
Castlevania: Nocturne offers a fresh saga for fans of the popular franchise. As Richter Belmont battles formidable adversaries in the new Netflix spin-off series, it is worth reflecting on the menacing villains from the retro classics. Seasoned players may recognize or be reminded of the notorious antagonists from the games while watching the anime adaptation.
The Castlevania games introduce a range of menacing and wicked characters, be they allies or enemies. Despite varying moral objectives and evil schemes, there is no denying the dark nature that permeates most of their beings.
5 Shaft
Shaft, a recurring antagonist in the Castlevania series, serves as a malevolent priest under the command of Dracula. He initially appears in Castlevania: Rondo of Blood and is fiercely devoted to Dracula's belief that the world's salvation lies in its consumption by darkness. With his mastery of dark magic, Shaft manipulates and deceives others, exploiting their weaknesses and altering events to sow chaos and confusion among the masses.
In addition to his manipulative tactics, Shaft can hinder the heroes by summoning demonic forces that mindlessly protect the evil rulers and wreak havoc. However, Shaft's most wicked trait lies in his ability to corrupt innocent and pure hearts. He entices them with promises of wealth, deceitfully fulfilling their desires in order to achieve his own goals. Through his corruption, dark magic, and unwavering commitment to advancing Dracula's agenda of enveloping the world in darkness, Shaft emerges as a truly villainous character.
4 Walter Bernhard
In Castlevania: Lament of Innocence, Leon Belmont faces his greatest challenge in the form of Walter Bernhard, the vampire lord. Driven by an insatiable thirst for power and immortality, Walter seeks to defy the natural order by harnessing the Crimson Stone's extraordinary power. Throughout the game, he commits numerous vile and malicious acts.
Similar to Shaft, Walter possesses the ability to corrupt pure souls and recruit them for his own purposes. However, Walter takes it a step further by deriving pleasure from the suffering and anguish of his innocent victims, revealing a sadistic nature. He sustains his castle and himself by draining the life force of countless maidens, showing no remorse or consideration for their well-being. To further exploit Leon's vulnerability, Walter tricks him into entering his castle with the promise of saving his loved one, Sara. Yet, he ultimately betrays Leon, placing him in a precarious predicament.
3 Death
Death, with its ominous presence, embodies doom, chaos, and destruction, making it an unmistakable symbol of evil. Dracula's goals are intricately intertwined with Death, who consistently supports the vampire lord in various games like Castlevania (1986), Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, and in the reboot, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. Throughout the Castlevania series, this skeletal figure clad in a cloak and wielding a scythe spreads plagues and curses, leaving a trail of suffering in its wake.
In terms of amassing armies of undead followers, manipulating unsuspecting mortals by exploiting their vulnerabilities, and deriving pleasure from the terror and misery inflicted upon its hapless victims, Death proves to be just as formidable as Walter or Shaft. In an unexpected twist in Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, Death defies convention and strives to resurrect Dracula, thereby plunging the world once again into a state of darkness and turmoil.
2 Carmilla
Carmilla, an unyielding and merciless vampiress, serves as Dracula's lieutenant in most of the games. She initially appears in Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest, revealing her power-hungry and manipulative nature. In Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Carmilla relentlessly torments the protagonist, Nathan Graves, while also desiring Dracula's powers for herself to become the sole Queen of vampires.
In Castlevania: Dracula's Curse, Carmilla expands her army of servants by abducting and brainwashing young village girls, turning them into creatures known as "Liliths." While corruption, sadism, and deceit are present in other evil villains of the Castlevania series, such as Death, Walter, and Shaft, Carmilla stands out as the only one who betrays her own allies. In the final game, Lords of Shadow 2, Carmilla's quest for absolute domination leads her to betray Dracula and form an alliance with Satan.
1 Dracula
Despite the evilness of the foes in the Castlevania series, they are all ultimately pawns of Dracula, the vampire king who desires complete annihilation. Dracula, also known as Vlad Dracula Tepes, became a vampire after the death of his beloved, leading him to resent and stand against humanity for eternity. This deep-rooted anger and distrust make him a truly terrifying villain.
Dracula's relentless pursuit of immortality knows no boundaries. Whether it be through forbidden rituals, alliances with dark forces, or draining the souls of countless innocent beings, he stops at nothing. In games like Aria of Sorrow and Curse of Darkness, he possesses the protagonist, harnessing their powers for his own gain. In Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Dracula exploits the abilities of the main protagonist, Soma Cruz, using them to revive himself, fueled by the belief that his life and capacity for destruction will never cease. In essence, without Dracula and his unwavering thirst for power and world domination, it is uncertain whether evil could even exist in the world of Castlevania.
