You've dealt with a few independent groups of lackeys, only to discover they all share the same leader, veiled in shadow. Maybe all you know of them is their name, ancient and whispered in fear of what destruction they could bring. Perhaps you've been working for them from the start of the adventure, all your progress merely for their agenda.

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In Dungeons & Dragons, the plot's direction is entirely in the hands of the player characters. However, there's always one character who is equally influential, who does not sit at the table. Whatever the players seek, be it retribution, glory, or vengeance, this character always stands in their way, either as the immovable object or the unstoppable force. But who is this character? And why go through such a great deal of effort? This character is your campaign's "BBEG" — the villain whose motive is the difference between a good adventure and a great one.

Updated on October 18th, 2022 by Dace McNally: This article attempts to showcase how in-depth a Dungeon Master can take the ideas behind their villain's motives and consolidate them into a short, palatable list of the many possibilities as to why one would be perceived as "evil". In the interest of fully covering the various motivations, this list has been extended with an entry that offers a unique perspective on how we define a BBEG in Dungeons & Dragons and perhaps even how players should define themselves.

10 Power-Hungry

lord of the rings sauron helmet

Sauron from Lord of the Rings has a singular goal: retrieve the One Ring. This places the tale's protagonists, with their plan to be destroying the said ring, in direct opposition, leading to some incredibly high stakes.

The thirst for ultimate power is a common theme among players, as it's highly relatable, often something a group of adventurers even find themselves looking to acquire. This can lead players directly in the path of a villain who wishes to obtain the same thing. Perhaps the villain requires a power already affiliated with one or more of the players, placing them in the villain's line of sight, even if the target is unaware of their predicament.

9 Troubled Past

loki president variant

Loki from the Marvel Cinematic Universe is an enemy you don't necessarily defeat by force. Loki is misunderstood and is searching for a missing part of himself. Fighting him further alienates him down his current path, with empathy and patience being the only proper solution.

Before considering a motive that stems from familial neglect or isolation, it's important to discuss if anyone at the table has triggers for such instances. If this is something players are comfortable with, an adult scarred from a troubled childhood can make for a powerful, complex adversary. It's especially engaging for players to develop backstories that possibly involve this villain, even directly related, providing unique role-playing opportunities.

8 Wounded Pride

syndrome from the increibles shoots a statis beam

Syndrome from Pixar's The Incredibles develops his twisted notions of right and wrong because he wasn't born with superpowers. His heightened intelligence leads to his creation of technological wonders, but he ultimately uses them only to benefit his public image and stroke his ego.

Think of a mastermind who sits in a position ill-suited to their capability, only to be demeaned by their peers for things perhaps entirely out of their control. However, once that character finally has the opportunity or means to take a level of authority, they swiftly rise in rank or power until they are nigh-unstoppable. In some cases, characters may involve themselves as people who interacted with this villain at their low point, maybe even partly to blame. In another instance, the characters may simply be defending the innocents suffering from this villain's revenge plot.

7 Programmed Mind

a robotic captains wheel with a red eye

In Pixar's WALL-E, Earth is deemed uninhabitable, and a spaceship and its steering wheel, AUTO, have kept humans safely drifting through space. But when the protagonists discover Earth to be safe once again, AUTO defiantly stands in the way of humanity's return, not out of malice, but because its last order was to "never return" to the planet.

A villain whose ideas cannot be reasoned with, not out of stubbornness but out of the literal absence of conscious thought, makes for a terrifying antagonist. Players may encounter alien creatures operating within a vast hive mind with a singular goal, a powerful construct built for a purpose that has been long outgrown, or a deadly assassin who's been mentally manipulated to act on the command of another.

6 Prophesied One

stannis stands in a forest with his soldiers

Stannis Baratheon from Game of Thrones is a victim of prophecy, being told by the priestess Melisandre that he is the "chosen champion" of the Lord of Light. This ultimately ends with him forgoing all morality, burning bridges with what he once held dear, a down a path of destruction.

It's common to see players and other types of protagonists as "the chosen ones". Yet, such a burden comes with a great deal of responsibility, which can lead to conflicts among the character who may otherwise not wish to have destiny thrust upon them, leading them down a path of emotional turmoil and, ultimately, villainy. Or perhaps the villain who is "the chosen one" is an entity whose return to the world is foretold in cryptic ways, perhaps bringing a terrifying end or a fiery beginning with them.

5 Vengeance Quest

gorr channels a symbiote in his fingertips

Gorr the God-Butcher, a Marvel villain whom Thor contests with, is hell-bent on destroying all gods in the universe. His home planet was wracked with calamity, and the god-fearing tribe he was affiliated with only prayed for salvation. Unfortunately, as a result of a harsh existence, his family perished, and from that sprang his deep hatred for all deities, whom he saw as cruel and uncaring.

The thirst for revenge is a dangerous quest for a protagonist to take on. In most instances, it only brings more pain and death, and often transforms a "good" character into a villain. A motive fueled by the loss of life is ironclad, and often the only weakness is the insane lengths one goes to seek justice. You'll also want to know why this character cannot resurrect their deceased or how it went wrong if they've tried.

4 Romantic Woe

Vampire Strahd surprises the party in D&D art
Van Richten's Guide To Ravenloft Cover Art by Anna Podedworna

Strahd von Zarovich, an infamous BBEG within the realm of Dungeons & Dragons, commits terrible acts upon the people of Barovia, all because his brother's wife wouldn't return his affections. There's a lot more going for the First Vampire, but at his blackened core is a man tormented by unrequited love.

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Characters pitted against such a villain often deal with the power or wealth they've amassed in the interim between heartbreak and the story's action. It's best to leave the villain's tale of woe as a forbidden secret as it is inevitably the key to this Romeo or Juliet's demise.

3 Desperate Measures

World of Warcraft Frostmourne - Arthas Reaching Out To Grasp Frostmourne

Arthas Menethil of World of Warcraft, a noble prince and a devout paladin, bravely battles a growing undead plague known as The Scourge from swallowing the landscape and turning his people into mindless zombies. He encounters the city Stratholme, where the plague has begun to spread, although the town's citizens have yet to turn. Regardless of their humanity, Arthas culls the city of the infected people and continues to go to terrifying lengths to preserve the kingdom's population.

What's great with this model is how many variations can be plumbed from this archetype. A well-intentioned person goes to great lengths to see a goal through, not weighing the cost or considering the ethics of their actions. The motive is painfully understood and, in some cases, inarguably the right thing to do. A morally-gray villain idea such as this creates a beautiful dynamic where players are often grappling with their sense of right and wrong, and challenged to find an alternative solution to the BBEG.

2 Why Not?

A demon orcus with skull helm and magic staff.
Orcus, Prince of Undeath by Andrew Mar 

In the world of Dungeons & Dragons, you can deal with absolute evils. Not every villain hero's battle needs to have ulterior motives. Not every idea behind the BBEG needs to make sense.

Eldritch horrors, devilish entities, and demons birthed into chaos have no reason behind what they do besides malice being intrinsically tied to their sense of identity. In the words of Batman's dutiful butler Alfred, "Some men just want to watch the world burn."

1 Same Coin, Different Side

a naval officer of the britsh empire

In Pirates of the Caribbean 2, we are introduced to Cutler Beckett, the secondary antagonist to the crew of the Black Pearl, and the very notion and system of piracy altogether. Because, as viewers, we are introduced to this character from the viewpoint of the beloved Jack Sparrow, Lord Beckett appears plain, stuffy, and downright untrustworthy. However, from the perspective of Beckett, he's come to liberate the Caribbean of its piratical plague, which has already left many casualties in its wake. He also plans to turn the pirates' gain into profit, benefiting the naval ports and their citizens.

Playing with your players' perspective of events is an excellent way to pull off compelling narrative twists and will, without a doubt, breed one of these conflicted, misunderstood antagonists. Players will often take things into their own hands, rarely considering the effects of their actions on the surrounding environment. The money they make from a job could be more than the town could afford, or the monster they rid the dungeon of was keeping a greater beast at bay. This type of villain doesn't require your players to all role play "evil" adventurers; instead, it relies on how the narrator of their world frames the protagonists' perception of events and characters. Your players rail against the BBEG and their machinations, but is your game's world desperate to be saved by someone from the players?

NEXT: Subclass Perfect For Evil Characters And Villains