The best Darklords in D&D, ranked

Key recommendations

• The Dark Lords of the Realms of Teriri reign with cruelty and delight in tormenting their subjects.
• Some Darklords, like Dear Salt-Biter, have ironic fears or unique stories that add depth to their villainy.
• Darklords like Strahd Von Zarovich are complex and intriguing villains with unique abilities and characteristics that make them memorable.

The Dread Realms are often placed where despair, corruption, and injustice are irrevocably rooted in the foundations, impossible for anyone to remove. Those unfortunate enough to be born in this place or drawn through the mists find themselves suffering the tyrannical cruelty of the Lords of that domain.

These Dark Lords often harbor the power and abilities necessary to impose their draconian rule, delighting in the torment of anyone who is born or wanders too far into the mists. From vampires to pirates and doctors to ancient lichs, these Darklords are among some of the best villains of all Dungeons and Dragons.

8 Dear Salt-Biter

A WereShark with a rather ironic fear

Of all the Darklords, Dear Salt-Biter is among the least evil, even though he has committed many dastardly deeds throughout his years as a pirate and later as a Darklord. On board the ship he treated his men fairly, even though he might have been a madman. It was simply the non-crew people who suffered from his wrath, for he truly enjoyed the life of a pirate. The only thing he despised about his life in the ocean was the sharks that swam in the ocean, despite being a werewolf shark himself.

This conflicting fear persisted even as he took over the domain of Saragossus, reigning insensibly in the melancholy company of his, even more terrified now of sharks. But those who dared to tread his land might find themselves face to face with a megalodon, for although he fears them, he can muster up the courage to use them as weapons against his enemies.

7 Tristen ApBlanc

He leads a cursed existence of both vampire and ghost

Although the smallest Realm of Teriri, Forlorn is by no means insignificant. It was the second domain to become part of the Demiplane, after Barovia. It became a temporary refuge for Jander after his failed attempts to kill Strahd, and is home to the strange humanoid Tristan, who hangs between the living and the dead. During the day, he is a living vampire, but each night he rises as a ghost, only to return to vampire at dawn.

This contradictory nature would drive anyone mad, so it's no wonder Tristan kills anyone who gets too close, even family members. But there is also the fact that Tristan is not evil because he was born with the curse of vampirism. This fact does not diminish Tristan's status as an outstanding Darklord and an enjoyable villain. The time shifts that occur to adventurers entering his castle allow them to see parts of Tristan, revealing different facets that could make him more likable or insulting.

6 Tsien Chiang

She uses the bodies of her enemies to build her house

Even before becoming a Dark Lord, Tsien was a twisted individual, usurping his entire family to secure his seat of power in the kingdom of Chiang Kara-Tur. Once she obtained the throne by killing her father and weakening the minds of the rest of her family, her reign was filled with cruelty and savagery. Any suitors who wanted to win her hand had to survive the fight and were just a means for her to bear daughters. Once they outlived their usefulness, they were killed and their bones, blood, and flesh used to decorate their homes.

Now she continues to ruthlessly rule the Dread I'Cath Domain, instilling fear in all who dwell in the cursed land and falling back into her pattern of literally painting with the blood of her enemies. The face of such brutality she boasts makes Tsien one of the most fearsome and savage Dark Lords that people can't help but admire, even if they don't fully agree with every single one of them. her beliefs.

5 Mother Lorinda

A contender for worst mother figure of all

All is not as it seems in the land of Tepest. Those rolling green hills hide dark secrets and whispers of a great evil lurking wherever the sun's golden rays don't reach. Mother Lorinda has claimed the villagers as her own children, but there doesn't seem to be a maternal bone in her body. Rather, she uses these villagers as livestock for her own cursed offspring.

A Christmas ostracized from her clan for coveting the love of her own children, there are few lengths Mama Lorinda won't go to in order to secure her dreams of a loving child, even if she has to threaten, coerce or force love. from others. She certainly stands out as unique among the Dark Lords, and her warped interpretation of motherhood opens up interesting ways to interpret and interpret her character.

4 Frantisek Markov

A doctor who does more harm than good

Markovia might just be the most annoying domain adventurers might have the misfortune of stumbling upon. While most of the other Realms of Dread have spawns of life other than their Dark Lords, Markovia is more desolate in this regard. The inhabitants of Markovia not only suffer from poverty or disease under his rule, but are the unwilling victims of his depraved experiments. Athisttwisted doctor has a vision to create a creature that is both man and beast and so far he has not been very successful.

So in this world, it's just Markov and the Broken, whose mental state degrades from the trauma of the experiment until they're nothing more than mindless, savage beasts. Even though Markov is a one-track mind, he is still a fascinating Darklord. Players will be haunted by the curiosity of why this project means so much to him and what his ultimate goal is. But is there really any method to Frantisek's madness?

3 azaline

The most Draconian Dark Lord

Ruler of a domain with strong ties to death and darkness, Azalin is as deadly and dark as the characters, from his skeletal appearance to the iron fist he wields to rule his domain, Darkon. Even before he became the feared Dark Lord, Azalin was far from a benevolent and gentle being. Overlooked by his parents as a child, he turned his mind to the pursuit of magic, something not welcomed with open arms in his family's kingdom.

His fanatical pursuit of immortality led him from the path of humanity to lichdom, leading him inevitably to the mist realms and finding his own kingdom after falling out with Barovian's own ruler, Strahd Von Zarovich. With quite an interesting history in his story and a character that has not once been completely corrupted, Azalin remains one of the most intriguing Darklords with an interesting domain.

2 Ivana Boritsi and Ivan Dilisnya

Common rulers are equally cruel and frightening

Unfortunately for the people of Borza, they get two Darklords for the price of one – Ivana Bortisi and Ivan Dilisnya. Also, unfortunately for them, the class gap between the poor and the rich is so wide that not even an aasimar could make the leap. The poor suffer severe poverty, while the nobility indulge in the finer things in life, ignorant or apathetic to the struggles of the new.

No one is more hardened in their situation than the rulers. Ivana is a skilled poisoner who won't hesitate to use her skills for her own gain, and Ivan, though bedridden, makes creepy toys that aren't the kind a child would want to find under the tree on Christmas morning. As cruel as they are unsettling, this terrifying duo are not only among the best Darklords, but also the best villains in Dungeons and Dragons with everything.

1 Strahd Von Zarovici

A deceptively charming vampire

This Darklord is the most famous, featured in two campaigns from Advanced Dungeons and Dragonsand D&D 5e. Ruling over the desperate and bleak land of Barovia, the Barovians live in fear of this tyrannical vampire who has lured many of the citizens to his castle. None other than Ireena Kolyana suffers more from Strahd, who pursues her because of her resemblance to Tatiana.

If this story sounds familiar, that might be because of its similarity to Draculawhich was most likely a great source of inspiration. Fortunately, Strahd's story and character have enough differences to make him a truly unique and intriguing character. Although skilled in combat with many spells at his disposal, Strahd prefers to toy with his prey rather than kill them, which makes him such a fun villain and the best Darklord of all.