The world of anime is famed not only for its exciting and relatable protagonists, such as shonen heroes, but also its powerful, compelling, and scary villains, from the mighty Frieza to the cunning Sosuke Aizen and the nuanced ant emperor, Meruem.
Some anime villains follow a code of honor, and while "honor" is a somewhat abstract and subjective concept, many anime fans agree that villains such as Grimmjow Jeagerjaques and even Seto Kaiba have a sense of honor. Other anime villains, though, have no code of honor at all, and they are likely to lie, cheat, and betray others to get what they want. Even other anime villains might be disgusted by these dishonorable actions.
10 Nnoitora Gilga Always Fights Dirty (Bleach)
The 5th Espada, Nnoitora Gilga, sometimes known as Nnoitra, shares Grimmjow's dream to become Hueco Mundo's strongest and most famous warrior in all of history. However, while the bloodthirsty Grimmjow plays fair and wants an honorable fight, Nnoitora routinely fights dirty.
It was Nnoitora who betrayed and injured the former Espada Nelliel, and Nnoitora attacked an exhausted Ichigo without mercy right after Ichigo's final fight with Grimmjow. Nnoitora's only positive moment was when he warned his minion, Tesla Lindocruz, to run away from Kenpachi and avoid an unwinnable fight. But Tesla didn't listen.
9 Annie Leonhart Does Whatever She Must (Attack On Titan)
The deadly Female Titan wielder Annie Leonhart is a warrior of the Marley Empire posing as a soldier of Paradis Island. Like Reiner and Bertholt, Annie is playing both sides at once, but unlike Reiner, Annie doesn't care about either side. To her, politics and war have no winners.
Instead, Annie fights only for the sake of her foster father and little else. She has no interest in a fair fight or honor, and she will do anything and everything to get her way, such as deceiving and killing her would-be friends. She's too jaded for honor or friendship.
8 Orochimaru Puts His Own Ambitions First (Naruto)
The snake Sannin himself, Orochimaru, gave off bad vibes from the very start. He is a power-hungry and self-centered scientist shinobi who has one goal - to learn all ninjutsu in the world and thus become invincible. Orochimaru routinely exploits, abuses, and kills his subordinates and allies.
Orochimaru is untrustworthy at best, and he is also rather honorless, using extreme and dishonest methods to get what he wants, such as betraying the Kazekage and taking his place. Any agreement or pact involving Orochimaru is a deal with the devil, plain and simple.
7 Muscular Tried To Kill A Kid (My Hero Academia)
The brawny villain Muscular is one of the scariest members of the League of Villains, given his overwhelming combat prowess and his bloodthirsty, merciless attitude. There's nothing nuanced or sympathetic about this villain - Muscular's only aim is to shed blood and enjoy killing.
That shows a total lack of honor, dignity, or restraint, and it's a good thing Izuku defeated Muscular when he did. Muscular even tried to harm Kota Izumi, a defenseless child, and only the most honorless villain would even consider doing that. Even Stain would be disgusted.
6 Askeladd Will Fight Dirty If He Must (Vinland Saga)
In some scenes, the Viking warrior Askeladd does seem to have a sense of honor, but overall, he cares little for warrior honor, especially when the Welsh people are threatened. Askeladd is, above all else, a scheming opportunist, and he even killed Thors in the Faroe Islands with a volley of arrows. That's hardly honorable.
Askeladd soon became a gruff foster father for Thorfinn and taught the boy some vital lessons about history, war, fate, revenge, and more. In his final scene, Askeladd met King Sweyn, then skewered the king with his sword to prevent an invasion of Wales, a shocking and dishonorable act. For once, though, Askeladd was betraying people for a fair cause.
5 Jose Porla Took Lucy Hostage & Attacked The Fairy Tail Guild (Fairy Tail)
Jose Porla was one of the Ten Wizard Saints and the master of the villainous Phantom Lord guild, the same guild that Gajeel Redfox and Juvia Lockser once belonged to. The best thing that can be said about Jose is that he didn't trick any other guilds into helping him crush Fairy Tail.
Overall, Jose Porla is a dishonest, cruel, and honorless anime villain who attacked the Fairy Tail guild out of petty envy and little more. He took Lucy hostage and destroyed the Fairy Tail guildhall while the best Fairy Tail wizards were away, and Jose treated Lucy rather badly, too.
4 Hammerhead Stole Advanced Armor So He Could Be Lazy (One-Punch Man)
The minor villain Hammerhead used lofty pretenses to justify his attack on the modern corporate world. Hammerhead claimed that corporations and CEOs were ruining life for the working class, but his real aim was selfish and petty. He just wanted to avoid doing any work and remain a NEET without consequence. He's no revolutionary.
Hammerhead also stole a high-tech and expensive suit of armor to fight his way to victory, a rather dishonest and honorless move indeed. He also played dead when Speed-O-Sound Sonic slaughtered his men, and then he ran away.
3 Demon Lord Clayman Used Lies & Exploitation To Get Ahead (That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime)
The flamboyant villain Clayman is one of Rimuru's worst enemies, and no fancy words or diplomacy will convince him to cooperate with Rimuru as a friend or political ally. Clayman wants Rimuru dead, period, and he will resort to highly dishonorable and despicable methods to get the job done.
Clayman has many minions, but he tends to exploit and abandon them, and he never rewards them for their loyalty, not even Yamza or Adalman. He also tried to control Demon Lord Milim with a mind-control necklace and treated her badly. Right to the very end, Clayman fought only for his own sake as a liar and schemer.
2 Princess Malty Used Horrible Lies To Get Naofumi Exiled (The Rising Of The Shield Hero)
Princess Malty stands as one of the most widely-hated anime characters of all time, since she used scandalous lies to turn the entire Melromarc kingdom against Naofumi and get him exiled. That was the last thing the kingdom needed in light of the upcoming Waves, but Malty did it anyway, and her father helped, too.
Malty and her father have no honor at all, using despicable lies and manipulation to get what they want, and they showed no remorse for it later. Malty even teamed up with the sleazy and foolish spear hero, Montoyasu, which wasn't the best move.
1 Envy Cruelly Toys With Humanity (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Envy the homunculus slightly redeemed himself in the end, but on the whole, it's easy to say that Envy is a despicable liar and schemer, like Father, and he needed to be taken down at any cost. It was Envy who ignited the Ishval Civil War by posing as an Amestris officer and shooting an Ishvalan child dead in broad daylight.
Envy continued to act dishonorably from there, using all kinds of manipulation and lies with his shapeshifting powers to torment humanity. He even assumed the form of Maes' wife, Gracia, to trick Maes into lowering his guard before getting killed.