Summary
Throughout its eight seasons, Arrow pitted Oliver Queen against several high-profile foes pulled from the pages of DC Comics. While all of these villains posed a serious threat to Team Arrow, it's obvious that some of them didn't live up to the high bar set by the comic book source material. Meanwhile, others far outshone their original counterparts and helped to redefine how comic fans relate to these sinister characters.
Then again, expecting TV show characters to surpass their comic book counterparts usually turns out to be an exercise in futility. Both versions are supposed to be different — having a character replicate their personality and backstory in the source material isn't necessarily the best narrative option. Whatever the case, all eight Arrow villains can be ranked from worst to best, based on their respective depictions in the Arrowverse's debut series.
Updated on August 29, 2023, by Ajay Aravind: The Arrowverse franchise includes six individual TV programs, each of which is crosslinked with the others through a complex narrative tapestry. Although all series have currently reached their conclusions — or been canceled — there are upcoming shows that might still link back to the Arrowverse. In any case, The Arrow contains some of the most iconic TV villains in recent years, in addition to some truly forgettable ones. As such, we've updated this list with more relevant information.
Ricardo Diaz/The Dragon
Ricardo Diaz, also known as the Dragon, first appears in Arrow Season 6 as a drug dealer looking to take over Starling City's underworld. As things progress, he is revealed to actually be a brilliant mastermind who has orchestrated almost everything bad that happens to Team Arrow over the course of the season. Diaz survives to menace Starling City into Season 7, only to be killed off by the season's real main villain. While Diaz's ability to manipulate events from behind the scenes sets him up as an incredibly dangerous foe, he ultimately proves to be a pretty disappointing character when he steps out of the shadows. Kirk Acevedo's performance is solid, but Diaz is never really given enough to do to prove himself as a city-threatening force.
Emiko Queen
In Arrow Season 7, Emiko Queen is first introduced as an imposter Green Arrow, with Oliver taking her under his wing after learning that she is actually his sister. Unfortunately, as the season progresses, Emiko is revealed to actually be the ruthless leader of the Ninth Circle, with a plan to ruin the legacy of the Queen family once and for all. While Emiko's arc starts off strong, things start to feel pretty rushed and a bit sloppy towards the end of the season. Further, her last-minute reconciliation with Oliver shortly before her death feels like a case of "too little, too late." Emiko could have been great if only the show hadn't gotten in her way.
Mobius/The Anti-Monitor
While the Anti-Monitor is the primary threat of the Arrowverse's multiverse-spanning "Crisis on Infinite Earths" event, he also serves as the main antagonist of Arrow Season 8. He ends up destroying the multiverse in "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Three," but the Paragons regroup and retaliate against him, allowing Oliver (who has become the Spectre) to recreate the multiverse. The Anti-Monitor's immense power places him as one of the Arrowverse's most powerful villains, but he ultimately ends up feeling somewhat underdeveloped in the TV series. He never even physically crosses paths with Green Arrow until the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" is well underway.
Damien Darhk
Damien Darhk makes a big entrance in Arrow Season 4, complementing his larger-than-life personality with some incredibly powerful magical abilities. While Neal McDonough's performance as the H.I.V.E. leader was met with widespread praise, the character ultimately ends up dragging the season down with his over-the-top plan to nuke the entire world. His final fight with Oliver Queen in the streets of Starling City is seen by most fans as a particularly underwhelming moment. Luckily, Damien ends up becoming a recurring character on Legends of Tomorrow — a show that is much better suited to his exaggerated brand of villainy.
Ra's al Ghul
After being mentioned several times throughout Arrow's first two seasons, Ra's al Ghul makes his presence known in a big way in Season 3. Following the death of Sara Lance, the Demon's Head challenges Oliver Queen to a swordfight atop a snowy mountain, brutally beating the archer and kicking him off the summit. Despite this, Oliver manages to survive and goes undercover within the League of Assassins in order to take down Ra's once and for all. Matt Nable's take on Ra's highlights the cold, calculating nature that fans have come to expect from the iconic villain. The Arrowverse's Ra's is unquestionably one of the most dangerous men alive.
Malcolm Merlyn/Dark Archer
Malcolm Merlyn was the Arrowverse's first major villain, having begun menacing Oliver Queen all the way back in Arrow Season 1. Since then, he has frequently jumped back and forth between the sides of good and evil, even taking over the title of Ra's al Ghul for a while. Part of what makes Malcolm so compelling to watch is his unpredictability, but this is also one of the most frustrating parts of his character, as it makes him feel rather inconsistent in later seasons. Luckily, John Barrowman's incredibly charismatic performance makes Malcolm a must-watch character even at his most detestable, and his Arrowverse legacy carries on even after his death in Arrow's Season 5 finale.
Adrian Chase/Prometheus
Arrow's version of Prometheus is probably the main antagonist most divorced from their comic book counterpart. However, in this case, it completely works in the show's favor. Season 5 introduces Starling City's new district attorney, Adrian Chase, who initially appears to be on Oliver's side in the hunt for the city's mysterious new serial killer, Prometheus. However, the two are eventually revealed to be one and the same, with Chase having enacted a prolonged and methodical scheme to destroy both the Green Arrow and Oliver Queen. The season finale ends with Prometheus blowing up Lian Yu with all of Oliver's closest friends and allies on it. This devastating move cements Chase as one of Arrow's most dangerous villains.
Slade Wilson/Deathstroke
Slade Wilson is not just the best Arrow villain, but he's also one of the show's best characters overall. His journey through Seasons 1 and 2 is one of the series' most tragic storylines, culminating in a brutal war between him and Oliver. Their past as brothers-in-arms on Lian Yu makes their present-day confrontations feel deeply personal, helping demonstrate just how far Slade has fallen. Slade also takes the title of the show's most vicious physical combatant, thanks to his years of training and his use of the Mirakuru drug. Years after being defeated in Season 2's finale, Slade returns in Seasons 5 and 6, this time as an ally. Full of regret for the things he did under the influence of Mirakuru, Deathstroke manages to redeem himself by consistently proving his loyalty to the Emerald Archer, with the two even going on adventures again just like old times.