Top 10 Best Call of Duty Villains

The Top Ten
1 Vladimir Makarov

Vladimir Makarov. A man, a single man who brought the world to the brink of WW3. Killed millions of innocents. Never afraid to get a gallon of fresh blood on his clothes. Perfect example of a cold hearted killer. Has forever loyal men, and a pack of combat experience. He managed to kill Soap and Yuri, hell, he was even at the second to last second at pulling the trigger on Price. Along with this feat, he traumatized General Shepard by nuking everyone single one of his soldiers. Makarov respectively also shows how easily one man could bring living hell upon the world. Anything that has a heart, is in Makarov's objective to kill. Ultimately the best example of a villain in general.

It was either Makarov or Menendez. But if people could sympathize for Menendez, then that doesn't make him the most evil. Plus, when we control that Arab undercover dude who was with Menendez, you could get your hands dirty, kill the navy seal main character and live. If it was Makarov, you're dead either way, so is the navy seal dude. With Makarov, no matter who you are, you have a feeling he's gonna kill you. You can't sympathize with him. Menendez may have followers. If Makarov had followers, he'd kill them all. He'd kill every innocent, anyone. He would destroy the world if he had the opportunity. It took 3 modern warefare series (and "in-story" many years) to finally stop him using PRICE (the Chuck Norris of MW who never dies when he's supposed to). Menendez is just more interesting. But not the most evil.

Makarov is the main antagonist of the Modern Warfare series. He's the mastermind behind WW3 and terrorist extraordinaire. He orchestrated No Russian and ordered the detonation of the nuke in Call of Duty 4. Tens of thousands died because of the will of a single man. How many of our playable characters has he killed... just think about it. No one else did as much damage as he did. From his great voice actor to his awesome quotes. He was definitely the best Call of Duty villain. Makarov even went out in a cool fashion.

Vladimir Makarov is the man who officially started WWIII. He was Zakhaev's successor. Responsible for the nuke going off in MW1, brilliantly organizing No Russian to start WW3, and surviving for so long up until the end of MW3. This man is always a step ahead of everybody. Every time you have him within your grasp, he knows what your plan, motivation, and what your skills are. He outsmarted the CIA, Joseph Allen, outsmarted our MW protagonists, and the entire world itself. There is no one more cold-hearted and smart as Makarov. Price may have been able to defeat him once but Makarov beat Task Force 141 countless times!

2 Raul Menendez

It was either Makarov or Menendez. But if people could sympathize for Menendez, then that doesn't make him the most evil. Plus, when we control that Arab undercover dude who was with Menendez, you could get your hands dirty, kill the navy seal main character and live. If it was Makarov, you're dead either way, so is the navy seal dude. With Makarov, no matter who you are, you have a feeling he's gonna kill you. You can't sympathize with him. Menendez may have followers. If Makarov had followers, he'd kill them all. He'd kill every innocent, anyone. He would destroy the world if he had the opportunity. It took 3 modern warefare series (and "in-story" many years) to finally stop him using PRICE (the Chuck Norris of MW who never dies when he's supposed to). Menendez is just more interesting. But not the most evil.

He wasn't an evil but a villain. He had a big heart and it was all for his sister, he was a real good guy and professional in his job and he knew what's he doing, something I don't understand is why did he wanted to annoy David? He was just a kid when woods killed Jossefina, even Hudson, Alex mason and the entire America were innocent! Makarov is a bloody bastard he deserves to be the first villain, but Menendez is very tough and powerful, he might tried to destroy the world but he had a reason, something I think Makarov didn't even think about it.

Hands down the best Call of Duty villain ever. While Makarov is great, Menendez is so much better simply because you can sympathize with his motives somewhat. He is not your typical bad guy. There is method to his madness. The world has destroyed everything he has cared about, so he seeks to destroy the world. Seeing how so many games have made the "end of the world" scenario seem so cliché, the character of Menendez seeks to destroy those who have destroyed his life by speaking out to those who should fear him the most. Never has a Call of Duty game created such a compelling villain, nor is it likely to again.

To be honest, I don't think I need to say why he's the best. Play B02 and BO Declassified. Pay close attention to his storyline. This guy is a mastermind. Makarov is evil, yes. But Raul is smart, cold, and loving of his innocent sister who Woods killed. He is a tragic villain through and through. But what makes him such a good antagonist is that, in the end he wins. No matter what, Menendez won. How? Well, Treyarch released a timeline of the Black Ops games a while back stating that it is canon that Menendez gets killed by Section at the end of BO2. Meaning that in the end, Cordis Die rioted, burnt the White House down and caused years and years of civil unrest in the US.

Then in one ending, If he is spared his virus shuts the US down and he murders Woods, one of his longtime goals. He wins. Plus, no matter what ending you got, he still severely damaged China and America with his drones (which he stole from the United States), and this damage was bad enough to were the D.E.A.D ...more

3 Nikita Dragovich

The main antagonist of Black Ops and for good reason. His first crime was for not sending reinforcements for Reznov at Red Square in WWII. Reznov's men were massacred but he and Dimitri Petrenko survived. Years later Dragovich once again screwed Reznov and Dimitiri Petrenko by testing Project Nova on Reznov's men. Dimitri was one of many that died from this betrayal even after surviving WWII. Then years after that, he brainwashed Alex Mason to kill JFK. Maybe he succeeded?

He's a smug jerk, I wanted to to choke him in the water longer.

Not my #1 favorite but he is definitely in the top 5 for me.

This man was truly evil

4 General Shepherd

Now I'm not a huge fan of how he was used in MW2. MW2 needed a little more if they were going to make Shepherd a bad guy and his reasons for betrayal just weren't good enough. That aside, he was still a pretty good villain. His betrayal of Task Force 141 on Estate Takedown is one of my favorite video game moments period. Price told Ghost and Roach not to trust Shepherd even if it was already too late.

He's one of the worst villains because he betray taskforce 141 and he killed Ghost and Roach. But he didn't do enough bad stuff to be at number three. All he did was really betray task force 141 and kill some of the most important people in MW2 but he didn't try to destroy the world or anything.

General Shepard was real bad if he would stay on the SAS's side for about 15 years and then kill hundreds of people in 3 missions that altogether lasted an hour and a half (average). He is villainous put HIM on dlc in ghosts.

Shepherd was mad cool, and the twist where he kills Ghost and roach is very well written. My only complaint is that they didn't explain his motives very well.

5 Imran Zakhaev

Makarov took a few notes from this man. Zakheav's ideals of a return to Soviet ways eventually led to WWI even after he had died. He even launched two ballistic missiles at the east coast of the US. The casualties would have been over 41 million. Not to mention he survived an assasination attempt that cost him his left arm.

This guy rocks. Plus Makarov never would have became leader of the ultranationalists if he had not been shot on the bridge. Would shoot Rorke with a fragile before Rorke even knew what happened.

Imran Zakhaev is one of my favorite antagonists in modern Warfare. Not much too say though considering that he was only in one game.

The man who started it all. Even in death he manages to torment the 141 through his protege.

6 Lev Kravchenko

Sure he was Dragovich's lackey, but he still played a big part in all of the bad acts that Dragovich carried out.

He now helps Menendez with selling guns.

Extremely clever and helps Dragovich and faked his death to get off the list of wanted

7 DeFalco

Come on, this guys the best, From the start we see him meet with menendez so we all thought this guy was pretty mysterious and cool. Then just a little later we see this guy all of a sudden barge into a party, shoot a hostage in the head, take, Chloe, shoot a guy in the face over the security feed, and if you aren't fast enough to catch him, you watch him fly away into the sunset. And if this wasn't bad enough when you find out that Salazar is a traitor he cuts Chloe's throat with a smile on his face. This guys more evil then makorov, he just didn't have the same resorces. In the end this guys a machine who will do anything to get his missions done

This guy is the ultimate killing machine. Menendez should be his minion. Not he be Menendezs minion.

8 Tian Zhao

He was America's primary strategic rival in the year 2025.

I don't think this guy should be in the top ten. But he did get woods to kill mason

9 Gabriel Rorke

Rorke survived falling into the flood with a helicopter falling on top of him when the terrorists shot the dam, survived the initial impact from the LOKI strike, survived the crashing of the train, survived getting shot through the chest, and was left for dead 100 meters underwater, and he still came out on top, brainwashing logan, plus he killed two ghosts and really screwed up the other 2. He was the first to brainwash anyone in the series, survived several events that should have been lethal, killed or incapacitated your team, and I think he is the first villain that hasn't been beaten by the series end.

Rorke can kill anybody with his bare hands. He's been brainwashed and now he's a machine who's only mission is to kill our heroes. He got shot through the chest and was subsequently plunged into the ocean, but he turned up alive and forced Logan, the main character, to join his side--which no other villain has been able to do. He's a guy who uses brute force and could take out any of the ghosts in a one-on-one fight--and for the record he succeeded in killing two ghosts, injuring two, and brainwashing another. Rorke's a boss who doesn't need anyone to help him.

Dude, he was a terrible villain. No sympathetic traits, terrible personality, bad actor (okay the other actors weren't that great either, but still), and is probably the most generic villain we've ever seen in a Call of Duty campaign. Oh, he's an ex ghost who got left behind on a mission and was brainwashed so now he wants revenge against the leader of the... Oh god, just saying that makes me feel like I'm reading a story for a Disney villain.
Overall, Rorke is the most bland villain I've ever seen in Call of Duty, and quite possibly one of the worst villains I've ever seen period.

This guy should be higher because he betray the ghost, killed two, broke Merriks ribs, and brainwashed logon into becoming a pawn in the federation. This guy is a tank because he's been hit in the head with a fire extinguisher, shot in the chest, drown, and got blown up in a train. But he still lived.

10 Friedrich Steiner

This man was a Nazi scientist who created Nova-6... Enough said.

He's actually a savage. He should be higher up in the list.

The Contenders
11 Edward Richtofen

He's one of the main reasons zombies exist in the first place (as in the BO zombies mode), and even managed to become a god temporarily by manipulating, brainwashing, and charming those around him to do his bidding. Those who were experimented on by him referred to him as "The butcher", which should already give some explanation of his cruelty towards those unfortunate enough to end up as one of his test subjects. His former allies (whom helped him become a god without knowing due to his manipulation) became desperate enough that they blew up the earth in order to stop him making humanity his own personal playground. It did not. Everything got worse from then on.

Some may not see him as a villain but I do. If everything throughout the zombies story line is taken into account, then he's a villain. He tried to kill both Maxis and Sam. All along he wanted to control the zombies and after completion of the Easter egg on Moon, he somewhat accomplished this goal. He's my favorite zombies character to play as because his quotes are just hilarious and he is crazy.

By the course of black ops 3, he actually became a good guy trying to stop the evil version of himself.

He's cool and evil

12 Jonathan Irons

Kevin Spacey, nailed it! After losing his son in the North Korean conflict, he goes totally insane without showing it. Head of a PMC company that dominates the planet, he swears no loyalty to anyone but Atlas, and the world kneels before him!

To be honest, Kevin Spacey's portrayal of Irons is stunning, coupled with the amazing new motion capture and exo-features makes the advanced warfare campaign an intense and thought provoking experience.

He is like a philosopher with a knack for destruction of any democracy. I agree and disagree with what he says.

Until now nobody knew that Kevin Spacey was potraying Donald trump under the alias of Jonathan irons, is it just only me?

13 Al-Asad

He executed a president on national T.V. with a Deagle. He was the leader of Saudi Arabia after seizing power along with OpFor. His actions were very believable and he's one of the more realistic villains in Call of Duty. Who keeps a nuke in their own palace?

I love how captain price beats the living crap out of him and then shoots him dead! That is my all time favorite call of duty moment!

He's definitely the most realistic villain in the entire Call of Duty franchise.

In my opinion the scariest call of duty villain. He's freaky!

14 General Amsel

He might have been only seen for a minute just so he could be assassinated but what he was responsible for is what mattered. He orchestrated the massacre of Russian soldiers and civilians across Stalingrad. A typical Nazi bad guy.

15 Daniel Clarke

Although we don't see him much in Black Ops, he is a big reason why Steiner, Dragovich and Kravchenko recreated Nova 6, without him it may have not happened.

16 Corvus

Corvus destroyed the whole packed DNI group, for which Taylor, Diaz, Hall, Hendriks, Merrati, Kane includingthe protagonist died due to their anomal behaviour. BUT! It was the actual thrill of the game!

The ultimate devil

17 Victor Zakhaev

He is Imran Zakheav's son, but I have no idea why he wears a jogging suit.

He's a cliche. Irresponsible son of the big bad guy.

18 Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 - April 30, 1945) was a German politician who was the leader of the Nazi Party, Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and Führer of Nazi Germany from 1934 to 1945. As dictator of Nazi Germany, he initiated World War II in Europe with the invasion of Poland in September ...read more.

Adolf Hitler would have made an amazing villain but he never physically appeared in a Call of Duty game. I'd probably vote for him if he did make physical appearances. My hopes are up for that in Call of Duty WW2.

This guy was real so he should be number one because he was real. And he had gas showers to kill people with. He cooked people in ovens. He also burnt people's skin off.

Can't believe they aren't already on the list! If he had modern weapons we would have nuked and taken over the world

He isn't a Call of Duty character because he never made a physical appearance.

19 Fidel Castro Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, known as Fidel Castro (August 13, 1926 – November 25, 2016), was a Cuban politician and revolutionary who governed the Republic of Cuba as Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976 and then as President from 1976 to 2008. Politically a Marxist–Leninist and Cuban nationalist, he also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from 1961 until 2011. Under his administration, Cuba became a one-party Communist state; industry and business were nationalized, and state socialist reforms implemented throughout society.

We all know who he is in real life. He doesn't have a major role in Black Ops but he's still a villain and cracks this list.

In real life, the invaders of Cuba were the villains. Fidel Castro was a hero.

20 Javier Salazar

He betrays his own Seals and is on Menendez's side. He, if you shot Menendez's on the mission Odysseus, will kill Chloe, if you killed De Falco, and is just generally a traitor. He will also injure Admiral Briggs if you don,t shoot him in the head or leg or arm... I don't understand that he is not higher on the list as betrayal is quite a heavy price to pay.

This guy nothing like a navy seal as what he was supposed to be a guy who pretends to be a navy seal but he fakes it petraeds his team mates.

21 Khaled Al-Asad
22 Metz
23 Joseph "Hades" Chkheidze

Badass leader of the KVA who destroys Seattle and wins match of hand to hand combat against an exo suit. Also the reason Mitchell finds out about Itons.

Hands down most evil

24 Salen Kotch

This guy launched an attack on Geneva, and waged war on the Earth. Not even Makarov did something that crazy

25 Alexei Borodin

Does anyone Notice he is American.

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