Although he never wanted it, Batman has put together a Rogues Gallery that makes the Sinister Six seem like a boy band. Not only do they want to defeat the Bat, but these Gotham-based criminals also want to humiliate him. They want to rip off his cowl, stomp on it, then try it on to see if it fits them. Of course, the failsafes in Bruce's cowl will electrocute them. However, the pain would be worth it.
Yet, despite this single-mindedness, each Bat-villain is an individual with their own belief system and goals. One of the best ways to gauge these characters is to relate them to the Dungeons & Dragons alignment system. With that tool in place, here are the D&D moral alignments of the Dark Knight's villains.
10 Mr. Freeze: Lawful Evil
Throughout this villain's history, Freeze's underlying goal has been to find the means to revive his wife. He can only do this if Batman and other do-gooders are is out of his way? However, unlike other people who would give up this task after the 150th failure, Freeze keeps going.
He maintains a set of rules for his quest. Still, like the ice he emits from his various weapons, those rules have been chipped away over time. There may come a point where he goes past neutral evil and tips into chaos. Especially if Arnold Schwarzenegger plays him in another Batman movie.
9 Penguin: Neutral Evil
At least in the comic book world, Mr. Cobblepot has committed evil for Mr. Cobblepot's means. He never did it to save his waddling brethren in the Antarctic, nor to give the money to other evil and worthy causes. The Penguin only takes so he can invest in more henchmen to take more.
Even when he has tried to be somewhat legitimate, the Penguin always did things under the table with seedy individuals. It seems to be this way across the multiverse. For instance, in the Earth-One universe, Cobblepot is Gotham City's corrupt mayor. Well, it is Gotham, so criminal activity within the government is accepted in any alternate reality.
8 Catwoman: Neutral
Selina has two loves: Batman and crime. Unfortunately, these two don't mix well. Thus, Catwoman sits on the ledge between good and bad, otherwise known as gad. Where she goes depends on who has the best shiny things.
Yet, even when committing a felony, there's still some good that comes out of it. Should the shiny things be owned by a serial killer, she makes sure that person is taken care of. Plus, if already stolen, she tends to return the items to the rightful owners. Particularly when they aren't of much value. In a way, she's like Harley Quinn, except less bonkers.
7 Two-Face: Lawful Evil
That dang coin. If it wasn't for the coin Mr. Dent uses to determine the depths of his criminality, Two-Face would fall into the chaotic evil alignment. He'd also probably stop pairing all of his crimes in twos like he's channeling Noah.
The coin has determined his courses of action, be them big or small. It was most likely the coin that made him decide to get surgery to restore his face. It was also the coin that made him choose to help Batman against Hush. Unfortunately, the coin wasn't on his side when William Shatner voiced him in Batman vs. Two-Face.
6 Harley Quinn; Chaotic Neutral
Harley wasn't under this alignment at first. When introduced in Batman: The Animated Series, Ms. Quinn was aligned to chaotic evil due to her partnership with Mr. J. It's only when she entered the comic book world did she comprehend the Joker's ways weren't really her own.
Perhaps her previous career as a therapist led her to this conclusion. Or, perhaps it was the fact she was tired of dressing up like a jester. Regardless, she decided to make her own life, and that meant leaning toward the side of good once in a while. Thus, while she's aligned to chaotic neutral most of the time (refer to her smackdown of Booster Gold in Heroes in Crisis as an example), she also tilts toward neutrality.
5 Poison Ivy: Lawful Evil
Don't touch the trees. Don't step on the flowers. Don't breathe any of the oxygen they create. This is Poison Ivy's non-negotiable law. If a hero or villain breaks it, she makes sure they don't do it again. Ever. Even if it means they no longer breathe.
She wasn't always this way. When introduced in 1966, her role was revenge. Hence, the reason for the toxic kisses that affected most men, including one Bruce Wayne. Over the last few decades she has transformed into an elemental who performs her actions to save the flora and fauna she uses to attack others. After her last transformation in Heroes in Crisis, there's uncertainty about her alignment. Perhaps she'll host a gardening show for the BBC.
4 Scarecrow: Chaotic Evil
"Oh, I'm just experimenting," said Professor Crane when he started using chemicals to draw people's deepest, darkest fears out. "Really, it's only temporary. It won't cause you long-lasting damage or death. Plus, it's covered under your health insurance."
Unfortunately, no one went for the Scarecrow's excuses. So, he decided to make everyone fearful. He doesn't do it for money or prestige. In the end, Crane does it because it makes him happy to see others in mental pain. Especially that simp in the bat mask. Needless to say, he's not a highly recommended therapist.
3 Ra's Al Ghul: Neutral/Lawful Evil
Here's what happens when you constantly take a dip in a pool of rejuvenating chemicals to reverse your aging. You get a little, pardon the pun, batty. You start believing you're a true crusader who can make the world a better and cleaner place. You just have to kill everyone along the way.
This is Ra's Al Ghul, and he hasn't changed much since introduced to the Batman mythos back in the 1970s. Overall, Ra's believes his human waste smells like sunflowers and honey. He doesn't kill those who disobey him -- he lets his minions do it for him. Except when it's family. Damian Wayne knows this from personal death and life experience.
2 Bane: Lawful/Chaotic Evil
At the point of his introduction in the 1990s, Bane was definitely chaotic evil. His main goal was to figuratively and literally break Batman's back. Lately, Bane has leaned toward becoming some form of sadistic authoritarian mayor of Gotham City. He did it in The Dark Knight Rises movie and the "City of Bane" storyline in the comics.
As a leader, Bane relies on the work of his followers to destroy Batman and others who defy him. Granted, he doesn't hesitate to take someone down on his own every so often, but it gets harder to do when one takes over the city. Frankly, he's more concerned about sanitation pickup and the upcoming Thanksgiving day parade.
1 Joker: Chaotic Evil
There isn't a criminal more aligned with chaos than the Joker. Not only in the Batman's rogues gallery but across all comic universes. Think about all the things he's done to Bat-Fink and his family.
He killed Jason Todd, crippled Barbara Gordon, chained and stripped naked her father, cut off his own face, and supposedly killed himself and Batman. In addition, he never rings out the sponge when he's done washing the dishes. If there was an alignment below chaotic evil, the Joker would be on it for that last item.