After binge-watching Arcane season 2 for the umpteenth time in 2026, I found myself spiraling down the rabbit hole of League of Legends lore again. And let me tell you, Runeterra isn't all sunshine and rainbows—some champions are just plain evil. I'm not talking about the ones you hate to play against; I mean the ones whose very existence is a nightmare. So, grab a cup of coffee, and let me walk you through the most despicable characters Riot has ever created.
Mordekaiser: The Original Big Bad
I have to start with the big guy himself. Mordekaiser, once known as Sahn-Uzal, is the definition of pure evil. He conquered the world just to prove his faith, only to find out the afterlife was a foggy void. Instead of chilling, he decided to build an undead empire using the souls of his victims. Even LeBlanc, who's no saint, is obsessed with stopping his return. I mean, seriously? That's how you know he's bad news.
Naafiri: The Darkin Who Lost Her Edge
Naafiri is a tricky one. She's a Darkin, an ancient evil sealed in a weapon, but due to some unfortunate circumstances, she ended up controlling a pack of Shuriman Dune Hounds. Now her consciousness is fractured across multiple beasts, and she's actually learning to respect the pack mentality. Over time, she's becoming less evil. I know, right? A Darkin with a soft spot. But don't get me wrong—she still thirsts for blood.
Xerath: The Betrayer of Shurima
Xerath is probably the best-written evil character in the game. He was Azir's sworn brother and slave, but he spent his whole life scheming. He even used dark magic to prevent Azir's mother from birthing a more worthy heir. Then, on the day of Azir's Ascension, he pushed his brother off the platform, killing him. The ritual turned Xerath into a being of pure energy, but it also wiped out the entire city of Shurima. Talk about a grudge.
Singed: The Mad Scientist
Singed is a favorite from Arcane, and for good reason—he's twisted in both the show and the game. He believes in alchemical science over magic, and his experiments are sickening. He's the ultimate mad scientist, and his obsession with innovation has led him down a dark path. Trust me, you don't want to be his test subject.
The Demons of Runeterra
Demons in Runeterra are born from the suffering of the Rune Wars. They feed on specific emotions, and each one is terrifying in its own way. Here's a quick rundown:
| Demon | Emotion | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fiddlesticks | Fear | A boogeyman who makes victims feel maximum fear before devouring them. |
| Evelynn | Lust | Uses a seductive human form to feast on lust and life. |
| Nocturne | Terror | Feeds on fear through nightmares and endless sleep. |
| Tahm Kench | Greed | An endless stomach who makes deals and contracts in Bilgewater and Zaun. |
Veigar: The Tiny Tyrant
Veigar was once an innocent Yordle who studied celestial magic. But Mordekaiser kidnapped him and forced him to be his immortal enchanter for centuries. His memories and magic became twisted, and now he believes he's a villain—even though he doesn't actually commit much villainy. It's kind of sad, really. But hey, he's trying his best to be evil.
The Voidborne: Hunger Incarnate
The Voidborne aren't evil by choice—they're just following their biology. But their deeds are heinous. Here are the five that fit the bill:
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Cho'Gath: An ancient being whose only purpose is to eat and grow.
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Vel'Koz: A scout who studies and deconstructs everything for the Watchers.
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Kog'Maw: A tiny version of Cho'Gath who devours to understand the world.
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Kha'Zix: A hunter created to assassinate the most capable warriors.
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Rek'Sai: A bloodthirsty shark that tunnels by eating.
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Bel'Veth: The leader of the Voidborn, a 'perfect' being who devours and converts all of Runeterra.
The Shadow Isles' Finest
The Shadow Isles used to be the Blessed Isles, but now it's a nightmare of Black Mist. While characters like Viego and Vex are complex, these three are pure evil:
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Elise: A Noxian noble who murdered her husband and became a spider abomination. She sacrifices victims to her spider god.
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Hecarim: A glory-obsessed warrior merged with his steed, leading every Black Mist invasion.
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Thresh: A fiend who tortures souls for eternity in his lantern.
Jhin: The Psychopath Artist
Finally, Jhin is the closest thing to a pure human psychopath in Runeterra. He's a serial killer who believes he's creating art through murder. Using his gun as a brush, he's one of the most sadistic characters Riot has ever released. I get chills just thinking about him.
So there you have it—my personal list of the most evil champions in League of Legends. Of course, evil is subjective, and some of these characters have tragic backstories. But at the end of the day, I wouldn't want to meet any of them in a dark alley. Or anywhere, really. Who knows? Maybe a future champion will out-evil them all. I'll be watching.