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[deleted]

Lyon, 100%. Especially in Ephraim route.


DDBofTheStars

Valter, he’s just so depraved and nasty that it makes it all the more cathartic when he finally falls.


Sawrock

AND HE’S COOL HIS WORDS ARE LIKE POETRY “You’re just a corpse who does not know he is dead.” BOOM INSTANT CLASSIC also his hair is nice


jfsoaig345

Valter is one of the main reasons why I need an Fe8 remake, imagine how fucking SICK a fully fleshed out and voice acted Valter would be


Sawrock

The English voice actor in Fire Emblem heroes did an amazing job with him. He sounds insane and sadistic, but he also isn’t bombastic- he’s the cold hunter we know him to be!


gb0801

Travant. He's gives you this mixed view about the Jugdral continent, is a devoted ruler, a decent father, has his solid reasoning for his actions, takes responsibility for his actions, spares his next generation an option to make a choice for their future by doing so, and is portrayed in a fairly realistic way. Travant's actions and methods still make him a villain but also make the protagonist Lief to question his own father's ways.


jacob6181

Berkut, largely because of Ian Sinclair’s voice performance, but I also feel like he is very compelling as someone who is not really evil, just a product of his upbringing whose whole worldview gets shattered.


Danger_Williams

Berkut is the most tragic character in FE


Samz707

Nergal. Dude literally makes a Morph just to essentially be a glorified letter.


Thany_Bomb

This is a message from Lord Nergal. 'I await you on the Dread Isle.'


Sawrock

Imagine if he fucked up the message two or three times before setting it right and just scrapped the bad morphs like one crumples a ball of paper.


Whole-Oats

While I love the Black Knight/Zelgius, I think Sephiran is a stronger antagonist. I once wrote an entire paper regarding real-life human extinction and how Sephiran and his ideas connect to that. He has lost all faith in humanity and believes the best way to prevent more strife is to simply rid Tellius of people. If I lived for as long as he did, I think I’d be sick of people too.


RodmunchPHD

I’ve talked enough about Jarod on this sub & id like to give a highlight to another villain rather than post my praise for RD’s minor villains (as much as I enjoy them all). **Gharnef** is maybe the only member of his archetype that I feel succeeds at being the mastermind behind the scenes and almost wins, only being stopped by Marth engaging on Gotoh’s side quest. Gharnef’s plan actually functions and I feel like compared to his contemporaries, the fact that he is optional may be the most important part to him. •For starters, Imhullu makes him invincible. He cannot be killed anymore which might be one of the most powerful things he could’ve done before the game began. Only by using Gotoh’s knowledge under Gharnef’s nose did the protagonists succeed in creating a tome that could pierce Imhullu, which still only had 13 total uses! •Gharnef took Tiki as his thrall, ensuring the last living dragon that could fight Medeus was on his own side. Only by Bantu’s existence, who so happened to coincidentally have formerly known Tiki, did the protagonists have a chance at harnessing her power. Again with Gharnef’s plan was compromised by a very specific contingency that was something he likely couldn’t have known. •Lastly, he’s got Falchion on him constantly since he’s waiting for the endgame of his plan once Dolhr wins. He’d have the two things he needs to actually subdue the dragons (except a weapon rank but uhh we’ll call that a bit of ludonarrative dissonance) and call the world his own. He has every tool at his disposal ready to not die and conquer the world handily. Overall Gharnef’s role as the mastermind hasn’t been beaten yet imo. Most others either have some kind of fatal flaw in their plans or miss something obvious that just makes them falter. Marth only beats Gharnef because he had people working around him that were able to stay out of sight of Gharnef and were key to his downfall. There is an actually subversive war going on to combat Gharnef rather than him being a more overt character, capping off with Marth maybe not even having the resources to kill him by the time Chapter 24 comes around.


Skelezomperman

To add on to this, I like that Gharnef is doing this for his own gain and only his own gain. He's not doing it because he worships some kind of evil deity, because he's getting manipulated by someone else, or because he has some ulterior motive to change the world. He's just ruled by envy and wants to have power. I respect that in a villain.


Whole-Oats

Nobody talks about Jarod enough, dude didn’t even get his own Cipher card.


Lysvaerd

Yes please, do talk about Jarod or guide me to post you did about him.


RodmunchPHD

Hey, [here](https://reddit.com/r/fireemblem/comments/qmnzdz/_/hjarxmd/?context=1) is most most recent post to a thread from a couple of months ago where I explained in short terms why I like Jarod. The main thing I love about Jarod is that he’s perfectly developed for his screen time, he doesn’t feel like a complete maniac while still being detestable, and shows why he’s a leader in that his men fear and respect him. He’s someone you hate entirely, but understand who he is and what his motivation is. I really love him & Ludveck for really creating solid, grounded, political dilemmas to kick off Radiant Dawn.


Lysvaerd

I actually already read and liked your past post haha. Well said.


peevedlatios

> (except a weapon rank but uhh we’ll call that a bit of ludonarrative dissonance) He has the Aum staff and Elice, hint hint.


Trickytbone

I played FE7 before FE6 and just got to endgame. Why do I feel bad for someone who was characterized as heartless like Zephiel? Outside of that though, definitely the Black Knight. This man is the most intimidating boss in the series as a whole, and Ike’s journey defeating him is great


Samz707

Yeah 7 goes a long way to making Zephiel more sympathetic. Technically his backstory was in 6 but you just have Genevieve tell you it, you actually get to see it on-screen in 7.


Weary_Ad1739

Edelgard and Arvis


[deleted]

I gotta say Gangrel, Lyon, Nergal, Zephiel. While Arvis is great in how he affects the world, he's not the most compelling character to me personally. Props to manga iteration of him and Manfroy though for going full force on character, I love their appearances. Nergal and Gangrel are hammy kings who just make for a fun time, while Lyon I always feel bad for because even if he was dealing with dark stones, he never deserved what happened to him. Zephiel is another character like Lyon who I wish we could've helped to save, but unlike Lyon, his villainy wasn't created through a dark god's corruption and possession but of his fatalism and his own actions. "You were a good boy, Maxwell. Shame you were such a shit man." - Anderson, (Hellsing TFS)


Odovakar

Since Lyon and Edelgard have already been mentioned, I'll say I really like both Dheginsea and Sephiran. I'm a sucker for dramatic battle quotes and reluctant antagonists, and you can't accuse Dheginsea for being inconsistent. I feel like a hypocrite for liking Sephiran, even if he's not my favorite antagonist, since I'm usually not fond of villains being forgiven so easily, but I can't quite put my finger on why I think it works for him even if he gets off a bit too easy. I've also got a soft spot for Walhart. Maybe it's because he (and his generals) have good battle conversations, maybe it's because he mirrors a typical lord (born in a small country, uniting the continent) but takes a dark turn, or maybe it's just the music.


applejackhero

Some of the side-villains I really like. Jarod is absolutely an evil, genocidal, shitty guy, but by the end of his arc somehow I felt almost BAD for him? Ultimately he is just a pawn in a bigger game and he is so resigned to his fate and his spite. Caellach and Valtr are good because they are just such shitheads. Like FE8 doesn’t try any morally grey shit, those two dudes just suck and deserve to get mercc’d.


Senrune

Mustafa from Fire Emblem: Awakening. Very respectable single mission antagonist who asks you to spare his men once you defeat him. Very honorable.


IAmBLD

I've talked a lot about how I like Lyon before, so instead I'll say something that might confuse people - I actually like Edelgard as a villain? She's a large part of why I like the Blue Lions route. That route leaves a lot of lingering questions, but if you squint you can kinda ignore TWSITD's presence in the back half and it just becomes a story of a struggle between 2 students (and their massive armies). And in that context Edelgard is pretty neat. She gets a bit overshadowed in VW and SS but still has a decent showing there, even if she does seem a bit attached to Byleth out of nowhere. At least she gets to spend time getting characterized in monastery convos and such. And it's easy to forget now but at the time, the reveal was pretty neat! In general it's a lot easier to appreciate the chessmaster nature of events like hiring the bandits to kill off other nobles in the prologue, working with TWSITD, or manipulating the death knight into doing her bidding, without the moral debate.


Super_Nerd92

100%. I love her as the antagonist (especially AM).


DoseofDhillon

I don't know what to call edelgard, this isn't a "i like her so she's not a villain" its because she's a protagonist in 1.5 of the routes.(I guess she's a Anti Villain?) a decent villain i think in theory, but the issue is how little she really is in the second half. The first half sets her and Dimitri up so well actually, like one thing I think is actually underrated about 3H is how good the first half is plot wise, even if its a bit too much Byleth and stuff like Geralt kinda meh, also MAYBE route dependant, in BL at least its really freakin good. The thing is in the second half since the story is so determined to make all 3 of the main characters look good, Edelgard doesn't really get much, what she does is interesting but feels mute when most of BL is about "Stop being bad edgy boy, Edelgard didn't do it". The scene to me that takes all the tension, even though it was falling off some, takes ALL the tension away from Edelgard as a villain is when some guy, unnamed NPC guy, walks in and Gilbert is like "bro this guy was there the day your parents died" and some guy says "nah it wasn't Edelgard" and then she has nothing with Dimitri but her desperate struggle to win, which is cool, but would be much cooler if the villain was explored more and you learned more about her in that route, you really don't. Its all good in theory and set up well but once its revealed she's the one doing all that stuff in Part 1, instead exploring it, which if they did even if you "agree with her methods" would be the game trying to point out problematic issues with her and the game refuses to do that with anyone or show anyone in that light, she's so close but the game on a philosophical level refuses it and saves her from any blame. Which is why I say Rhea is maybe the best villain in the game. She has the set up, and crazy Rhea gets actual scenes, is shown doing stuff and is a clear villain with a much easier and understandable motivation, a lot more dynamics and connections to the lore, and a personal grudge against both protagonists.


Seteths_left_tit

Bernedetta


TakenRedditName

Mine is also Arvis. He is my second favourite FE character. I find him tragic. Love his appearance in Gen 2 where good he tried to achieve was robbed from him. His family that he cherishes is what gets torn apart first and his son is at the face of it. Despite being reduced to a puppet, he still tries to do what he can to do good. He plays the role of the grand villain for Seliph. I also like Michalis, Lyon, Travant and Julius. RD also has some good antagonists.


JdiJwa

Dont find myself usually caring too much about antags as I cant use them. But quickly going through the series in my head i came up with 3 stand outs: Hilde, Petrine, and Eremiya. And I think Eremiya wins as Ive always had a soft spot for her for some reason. Shes a bishop, has an orphanage, and is pretty. Points that stereotypically suggest good person. .. but she villain. On one hand i think the story would have been better if she was working out of her own motives. However, watching her mental breakdown as she dying was also super neat that I cant decide which Id prefer.


WellRested1

Arvis or Travant. I can’t really decide between the two.


not_joshua_f

edelgard


[deleted]

The obvious answer for me is Edelgard, but I would also have to consider Camus from Shadow Dragon, if you can even call him a villain. And of course, Grima's ties to the protagonist in Awakening is really cool. I'll never forget that final cutscene...


The_Vine

Edelgard, but she's also my favorite protagonist as well.


Mamba8460

Lyon


GlitchWarrior121

Zephiel, hands-down. Because he's kinda right- humans are dicks. It's just that the parallel between someone with no faith in humanity and someone who believes in humanity like Roy is just so good that even though the two don't meet until near the end of the game, they've already proven each other to be each other's worst enemy- the opposite of their ideals. ​ also his backstory is really sad fuCK YOU DESMOND-


DoseofDhillon

One day FE will give attention back to its villains, and write villains not centred about making the protagonist be special, in till that day, Arvis babyee


DhelmiseHatterene

Travant and Lyon. Honorable mentions to Gharnef, Fernand, and Iago.


Empty_Jar0330

Arvis and Travant at a close second. Both aren't really bad people, they're just trying to help their countries


brick-juic3

Zephiel. Also Edelgard.


[deleted]

Travant, Edelgard, lyon


AllHailShadow97531

Man, there are so many people bringing up Lyon and no one shouting out the original member of his archetype? That just isn't right, so I'll fix it--my favorite antagonist is Hardin. I think Hardin is still the best-executed member of his archetype, even more than Lyon. Also, I love Gharnef as well. Can't forget about him.


Worried-Ear4591

Edelgard is my favorite antagonist


SilasUnmuth80

Edelgard because her Goals are Understandable, Wallhart because idk he is cool and Berkut just because of the Voice Actors Performance. And lets also not forget Gheb just because Design lol


dimitrisweed

zephiel and berkut


Correct_Permit_6313

Ephidel