The Best Darklords in D&D, Ranked

Key insights

• Dark Lords in the Domains of Dread rule with cruelty and delight in tormenting their subjects.
• Some Darklords, like Draga Salt-Biter, have ironic fears or unique backstories that add depth to their villainy.
• Dark Lords like Strahd Von Zarovich are complex and fascinating villains with unique abilities and characteristics that make them unforgettable.

The domains of terror are often found where despair, corruption and injustice are irrevocably rooted in the foundations and cannot be removed by anyone. Those unlucky enough to be born in this place or drawn into it through the mists suffer the tyrannical cruelty of the lords of this domain.

These Darklords often possess the power and skills necessary to enforce their draconian rule, and delight in tormenting all who are born or wander too far into the Mist. From vampires to pirates, doctors to ancient lichs, these Darklords are some of the best villains around Dungeons and dragons.

8 Draga salt biter

A wereshark with a rather ironic fear

Of all the Darklords, Draga Salt-Biter is one of the least evil, although 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 if he was a bit harsh at times. It was simply people who were not part of the crew who suffered from his wrath, as he truly enjoyed the life of a pirate. The only thing he despised about his life in the sea were the sharks swimming in the sea, even though he was a wereshark himself.

This contradictory fear continued even as he took over the domain of Saragoss and ruled with callousness in the melancholy society of himself, now even more afraid of sharks. But those who dared to enter his lands may find themselves face to face with a megalodon, for although he fears them, he can muster the courage to use them as weapons against his enemies.

7 Tristen ApBlanc

Leads a cursed existence of vampire and ghost

Although Forlorn is the smallest domain of terror, it is by no means insignificant. After Barovia, it was the second domain to become part of the demiplane. After his failed attempts to kill Strahd, it became a temporary refuge for Jander and is home to the strange humanoid Tristan, who lies on the border between the living and the dead. During the day he is a living vampire, but every night he awakens as a ghost, only to become a vampire again at dawn.

This contradictory nature would drive anyone insane, so it's no wonder Tristan kills anyone who comes near him, even those who are family. But there's also the fact that Tristan is unapologetically evil, having been born with the curse of vampirism. This fact doesn't detract from Tristan's status as a notable Darklord and entertaining villain. The time shifts that occur to adventurers who enter his castle allow them to glimpse parts of Tristan's castle and reveal different facets that could make him more sympathetic or reviled.

6 Tsien Chiang

Uses the bodies of her enemies to build her home

Even before Tsien became a Dark Lord, she was a twisted individual who usurped her entire family to secure the seat of power in the Chiang Kingdom of Kara-Tur. Having gained the seat by murdering her father and weakening the spirit of the rest of her family, her reign was full of cruelty and cruelty. Any suitor who wanted to win her hand had to survive the fight and they were only a means for her to produce daughters. When they outlived their usefulness, they were killed and their bones, blood and flesh were used to decorate their home.

Now she continues to rule the realm of terror I'Cath with ruthlessness, instilling fear in all the inhabitants of the cursed land and falling back into her habits of literally painting with the blood of her enemies. The face she enjoys in such brutality makes Tsien one of the more fearsome and fierce Darklords that people can't help but admire, even if she completely contradicts every single one of their beliefs.

5 Mother Lorinda

A contender for the worst mother figure of all

In the land of Tepest, not everything is as it seems. These rolling, green hills hide dark secrets and whispers of great evil that lurks wherever the golden rays of sunshine can't quite reach. Mother Lorinda claimed the villagers as her own children, but there appears to be no maternal bone in her body. Rather, she uses these villagers as livestock for her own cursed offspring.

Mother Lorinda is a witch who was expelled from her coven because she desired the love of her own children. There is hardly any effort that mother Lorinda will not go to in order to achieve her dreams of a loving child, even if she has to threaten, coerce, or coerce love from others. She certainly stands out as unique among the Darklords, and her twisted take on motherhood opens up interesting possibilities for interpreting and roleplaying her character.

4 Frantisek Markov

A doctor who does more harm than good

Markovia is perhaps the most disturbing domain an adventurer could stumble into. While most other Domains of Dread have some semblance of a different life than their Darklords, Markovia is bleaker in this regard. Under his rule, the inhabitants of Markovia not only suffer from poverty or disease, but are also unwilling victims of his depraved experiments. A twisted doctor has a vision of creating a creature that is both human and animal, and so far has not had much success.

So in this world there are only Markov and Broken, whose mental states deteriorate from the trauma of the experiment until they are nothing more than mindless and savage beasts. Even though Markov is one-sided, he's still a fascinating Darklord. Players are tormented by curiosity about why this project means so much to him and what his ultimate goal is. But is there really a method to Frantisek's madness?

3 Azalin

The most draconian Darklord

Azalin rules over a domain strongly associated with death and darkness. He's as deadly and dark as characters get, from his skeletal appearance to the iron fist with which he rules over his domain, Darkon. Even before he became the feared Dark Lord, Azalin was anything but a benevolent and gentle creature. Neglected by his parents as a child, he turned to magic, which was not welcomed with open arms in his family's kingdom.

His fanatical pursuit of immortality led him from the path of humanity to the Lichdom and inevitably led him to the realms of the Mist and the search for his own kingdom after his dispute with Barovian's own ruler, Strahd Von Zarovich. With some pretty interesting lore in his backstory and a character who wasn't even completely corrupt, Azalin remains one of the most fascinating Darklords, with an interesting domain to boot.

2 Ivana Boritsi and Ivan Dilisnya

The shared rulers are equally cruel and scary

Unfortunately for the residents of Borza, they get two Darklords for the price of one – Ivana Bortisi and Ivan Dilisnya. Unfortunately for them, the class gap between rich and poor is so great that not even an Aasimar could make the jump. The poor suffer great hardship while the nobility indulges in the finer things in life and is ignorant or indifferent to the struggles of the nobility.

Nobody is more hardened than the rulers. Ivana is a skilled poisoner who doesn't hesitate to use her skills to her own advantage, and Ivan, despite being bedridden, makes spooky toys that are not the kind a child would want to find under the tree on Christmas morning. This cruel and disturbing duo are not only among the best Darklords, but also among the best villains of all Dungeons and dragons in total.

1 Strahd Von Zarovich

A deceptively charming vampire

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

If this story sounds familiar, it may be because of its similarity to Draculawhich was most likely a great source of inspiration. Luckily, Strahd's story and character have enough differences to make him a truly unique and fascinating character. Although Strahd is proficient with many spells in battle, he prefers toying with his prey rather than killing them outright, which is what makes him such an entertaining villain and the best Darklord of them all.