In addition to being an incredibly deep and engaging card game,Magic: The Gatheringis also a vessel for rich fantasy storytelling. Though not readily apparent, especially in recent times when the accompanying novels for each set have been discontinued, there’s a detailed story there in the background, found in each set’s art, flavor text, and online articles.
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This story varies from set to set and features a range of interesting characters, always engaged in conflict with the latest threat to the Multiverse. These threats are, in many ways, the heart of Magic’s story; the glue that holds the narrative together across different sets (and sometimes even blocks); the cackling evil that we love to shake our heads at while fighting to keep a smile from our faces. Today, we’re celebrating the baddest of the bad: the greatest villains ever to wreak cardboard chaos across the Multiverse.
10Nicol Bolas
Undoubtedly the most recognizable villain in the modern era of the game,Nicol Bolasis the Thanos of the Magic world. Beginning as an Elder Dragon back in the hazy days of Legends, Bolas began working on a grand scheme in the background, hints of his villainy creeping into the background of many sets.
This scheme played out across the Amonkhet, Ixalan, and Kaladesh blocks, with Bolas assembling the pieces he needed for his ultimate goal: the conquest of Ravnica and the mass harvesting of Planeswalker sparks to ascend to godhood. His plans were thwarted at the last minute by the Gatewatch during the War of the Spark, leaving Bolas powerless and imprisoned in the Meditation Realm. While neutralized for now, there’s no doubt that Magic’s most diabolical Dragon will be back to wreak more havoc in the future.
9Oko
A rare instance of a villain in both narrative and gameplay terms, Oko was the primary antagonist during the Eldraine block, using his tricksy shapeshifting and mind control abilities to manipulate the Plane’s royalty, as well as fellow Planeswalkers Garruk, Will, and Rowan. His plans to overthrow the established monarchies of the Plane were, of course, foiled, and Oko planeswalked away and hasn’t been seen since.
His real crimes, however, were those he inflicted on the game itself: Oko, Thief of Crowns was perhaps the most broken card of all time in terms of multi-format impact, its ability to transform problem creatures into harmless Elks landing the card a ban in Standard, Explorer, Historic, Pioneer, Modern, and even Legacy.
8Emrakul
As the greatest of the Eldrazi, Emrakul represents the entirety of hereldritch, world-devouring raceon this list. They serve as formidable ‘force of nature’ villains in Magic, in the same vein as Game of Thrones’ White Walkers, wreaking destruction with little regard for anything other than sating their endless hunger.
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The most powerful of the three Eldrazi titans, Emrakul has the ability to warp organic, living matter to her will, as seen in the horrific mutations undergone by the residents of Innistrad during the events of Shadows Over Innistrad and Eldritch Moon. Her in-game appearances consistently reflect her awe-inspiring might, both ranking as some of the most powerful individual creatures in all of Magic.
7Baral
An officer of Kaladesh’s consulate, and the sworn nemesis of iconic red Planeswalker Chandra Nalaar, Baral is one of the more grounded, realistic interpretations of evil in the Magic universe. Tasked with tackling aether smuggling on Kaladesh, Baral secretly hunted mages in the background, making use of cruel methods to persecute them behind the scenes.
In the course of this, he murdered Chandra’s father, Kiran Nalaar, and captured her mother, Pia. During the events of Kaladesh block, he worked alongside Tezzeret to progress the machinations of Nicol Bolas and was defeated and captured by the Gatewatch in the process. His brand of authoritarian, state-approved evil is all too familiar in the modern world, ensuring that, while his time as a villain is brief, Baral still stands out as a memorable antagonist.
6The Phyrexian Praetors
Five separate leaders, each representing a different ideology on the future of Phyrexia, the Praetors carry on and evolve, Yawgmoth’s legacy of flesh and metal. Emerging during the Phyrexian corruption of Mirrodin, before going on to conquer the Plane in Mirrodin Besieged, they claimed ultimate victory, renaming Mirrodin ‘New Phyrexia.’
The Praetors are unique in that they essentially serve as one villain split into five; five faces, five voices, and five philosophies, all coming together to represent Phyrexia. Their differences and internal conflicts make them more interesting than a single focal-point villain and ensure that every hint of new Phyrexian appearances is greeted by excitement from the fans.
5Tibalt
One of the most twisted villains ever to (dis)grace the Multiverse, Tibalt enacted unimaginable cruelty on unfortunate residents of Innistrad, subjecting both humans and animals to sadistic tortures and vile experiments. Spurred on by the counsel of Innistrad’s Devils, his work grew in scale until it inevitably caught the notice of the authorities, whose attempt to execute Tibalt triggered his Planeswalker spark, letting him escape his demise.
Free to travel the Multiverse, Tibalt became a Loki-sque trickster figure, spreading his cruelty to unsuspecting victims wherever he could. His travels eventually led him to Kaldheim, where he impersonated their God Valki, inadvertently becoming part of a chain of events that could bring Phyrexia back to power.
4Heliod
One of the manyGods of Theros, Heliod ostensibly represents justice, honor, righteousness, and the other virtues commonly associated with the color white in Magic. In reality, however, he’s a deeply, tragically flawed character, frequently overextending himself in fits of passion, seen perhaps most notably in his shocking betrayal, and murder, of Elspeth at the end of Theros block.
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All of the Theros Gods did a great job of capturing the human complexity that makes Greek mythology so enthralling to this day, but it’s Heliod that stands out the most. Not just because of his dazzling attire but also because of the clever subversion of white’s typical color identity in his arc.
3Ob Nixilis
One of the most dynamic and prolific villains in Magic, Ob Nixilis has almost as many forms as he has appearances in the story. Beginning as a Human warlord, Ob Nixilis’ Planeswalker spark was ignited following the eradication of all other life on his home Plane by demonic forces. Free to go where he wished, Ob became an interplanar conqueror, claiming many worlds for himself.
His story would go on to be a tumultuous tale of demonic transformation, Planeswalker sparks gained and lost, before eventually leading him to New Capenna, where he’d play a key role in the conflict there. Though he isn’t celebrated as much as some of his pitiless peers, Ob Nixilis is undoubtedly one of Magic’s most interesting villains.
2Olivia Voldaren
A ruthless Vampire with ambitions to rule all of Innistrad, Olivia Voldaren played minor roles during the first two Innistrad blocks before stepping into the blood-red spotlight in Crimson Vow. Her grand plan, which involved marrying Edgar Markov to assume control of Innistrad’s Vampires, then using blood magic to control the Plane’s Angels as well, was ultimately foiled by the joint efforts of Sorin Markov, Arlinn Kord, and Kaya Cassir.
Her cunning, manipulative nature is best embodied in her original card, which lets her turn opposing creatures into Vampires before taking control of them. She’s a compelling antagonist and a great face for one of Magic’s most ubiquitous creature types.
1Yawgmoth
The Father of Phyrexia, The Ineffable, The Lord of the Wastes; Yawgmoth has more titles than some Magic villains have appearances, and he’s more than earned them all. Rising from humble beginnings as a doctor for the Thran Empire, his extreme methods led to his exile, and, eventually, his discovery of the Plane that would one day be called Phyrexia.
Creating an entire race through his cruel experiments, Yawgmoth rose to become a God, waging a long-running war with Dominaria that would eventually end in his defeat. As the original major Magic villain, Yawgmoth set the standard for all who followed him. A standard which, one could argue, none have surpassed since.
