Dungeons & Dragons is filled with a plethora of classes and subclasses that players can utilize to make their characters unique, providing them with special abilities and flavor. While subclasses are exciting ways to differentiate characters, not all subclasses conventionally fit all types of characters.
Though there are of course exceptions, for the most part, it’s hard to imagine certain subclasses such as Clerics of the Peace domain as evil. Luckily, for players looking to make evil-aligned characters and DMs looking to make character sheets for their villains, there are plenty of great subclasses that fit nefarious characters perfectly. So today, we’re going to examine subclasses perfect for evil-aligned player characters and villains!
Updated March 15, 2022 by Paul DiSalvo: When creating a character or key NPC, the selection of subclass can significantly impact not just the character’s abilities, but also how they are perceived within the context of a game. While any subclass can be played in any alignment, some subclasses available within D&D’s fifth edition offer abilities or themes that organically lend themselves to characters of evil alignment, allowing for the creation of quite evocative evil characters.
15 Barbarian - Zealot
Barbarians who walk the path of the Zealot are those who are able to channel the divine power of gods of war when raging. Most often inspired by gods of destruction or war, Zealots are known as being some of the hardest-hitting characters of the class, dealing either radiant or necrotic damage to their foes based upon the god who inspires them. Characters of this class can notably be revived without costly spellcasting components as their gods aim for them to continue fighting or to continue bringing about death. This subclass could be the perfect option for a bloodthirsty and destructive character, or perhaps a villainous warlord. If used as a villainous NPC, even if a character of this class is defeated in battle, they could likely return due to the subclass’s free revival clause.
14 Sorcerer - Aberrant Mind
Aberrant Mind Sorcerers are psionic spellcasters whose power was gained through the interference of a potent psionic being such as Mind Flayer or an Aboleth. While an Aberrant Mind Sorcerer could come in a wide variety of forms, one that embraces the origins of its power could certainly make for a great evil character. Perhaps an Aberrant Mind Sorcerer could ally themselves with a Mind Flayer colony an Aboleth, or other psionic aberrations, possibly serving as an emissary for such creatures.
13 Ranger - Drakewarden
Introduced in Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons, Drakewarden Rangers are known for their drake companions which they can fight alongside, and eventually even ride. While a Drakewarden isn’t required to have any connection to dragons, especially not dragons of a specific type, doing so could provide unque motivations for an evil character. Perhaps a Drakewarden’s companion was a gift from an Ancient Chromatic Dragon which the Ranger now serves. A character with such a strong tie to dragons could easily be written to have a substantial connection to Tiamat, providing further reason for a Drakewarden to carry out acts of evil.
12 Fighter - Cavalier
First and foremost, the Cavalier Fighter subclass excels at protecting their allies, serving as a party’s shield and defender. While the class is a perfect subclass option for heroic knights, an evil-aligned Cavalier could serve as a fiercely loyal defender to an antagonist or villain. While this defensive savior subclass can be used to protect others from harm, if such a character uses their skills in order to protect an evil aristocrat or the central villain of a campaign, they could sevre as an extension of such a villain’s will. This allows the Cavalier subclass to function quite well as the subclass for the lieutenant or second-in-command to the villain of a campaign.
11 Cleric -Death Domain
It’s quite common for Clerics in D&D to actively work towards their god’s ambitions. While in some cases this can lead to a Cleric selflessly helping others, if a cleric worships an evil god, there’s a strong chance that said cleric may act in a similar manner. When it comes to the Death Domain, nearly every god available is of an evil alignment with notable standouts including the likes of Shar and Myrkul. Though a cleric isn’t required to be the same alignment as their god, a devout follower of the teachings of a god of the Death Domain would more than likely be able to function as a villain within a campaign.
10 Wizard - School Of Enchantment
As the name would suggest, Wizards of the School of Enchantment focus on enchantment magic, the form of magic responsible for mental manipulation and charming. As there is already something morally questionable about using magics to control other people and this subclass provides additional ways of doing so, even gaining the ability to rewrite a creature’s memory, this Wizard subclass can easily lend itself well to an evil character.
9 Warlock - Undead Patron
One of the core aspects of the Warlock class is that characters of this class gain their magical abilities from a powerful patron. Recently showcased in an Unearthed Arcana and slated to be included in Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, Warlocks of an Undead patron gain their power from an incredibly powerful undead being such an ancient Lich or Vampire Lord.
As these beings are most often of some evil alignment, it would be easy to create a similarly villainous character who a powerful undead being would want to bestow power to.
8 Paladin - Oath Of The Crown
Rather than swearing their oath to a god, Paladins of the Oath of the Crown swear their oath to a country or people. While this can lend itself well to both good and neutral aligned characters, the Oath of the Crown can easily lend itself well to lawful evil Paladins who carry out the will of a corrupt kingdom.
7 Rogue - Assassin
As individuals who are professional killers, it’s not hard to reason a Rogue of the Assassin subclass as being evil. Adept with disguises and poisons, evil assassin’s can range from amoral and selfish killers who care more about money than people to those that take a little too much pride in their work.
6 Druid - Circle Of Spores
The most common archetype of evil druids tend to be nature worshipping extremists that are willing to actively harm civilization if it helps nature prosper. Appearing in both the Guildmaster’s Guide to Ravnica and Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, Druids of the Circle of Spores are an interesting alternative for an evil-aligned druid.
Wielding magics that utilize spores and fungi, these are necromantic druids, believing that undeath is simply a natural extension of the life cycle. This circle can lead to numerous interesting motives and goals for an evil aligned druid.
5 Cleric - Tempest Domain
While not the case for all Clerics, it is not uncommon for the most devoted clerics to have the same alignment as their god. As Clerics of the Tempest Domain frequently worship weather deities, there are several destructive weather deities such as Umberlee and Auril that tote evil alignments. With this in mind, it would make perfect sense for devoted acolytes of destructive nature deities to possess evil alignments as they aim to carry out the whims of their gods.
4 Rogue - Mastermind
Another rogue subclass, Masterminds make for excellent characters that aim to pull the strings from behind the scenes, plotting and scheming. This subclass excels at lying, organizing tactics, and going undercover, allowing a character to pass themselves off another. Experts at manipulation, evil Masterminds would make for an excellent mob boss or the D&D equivalent of Mafioso.
3 Warlock - Fiend Patron
Like Warlocks of an Undead patron, Warlocks with a fiendish patron don’t necessarily need to be evil, but it makes perfect sense for such a patron to bestow power to an evil individual. As these patrons actively seek destruction, it is quite reasonable for a character of any of the three evil alignments to be granted power by a fiend if said patron believes that doing so would result in more destruction.
2 Wizard - School Of Necromancy
No matter how you slice it, there’s something morally questionable about raising a mindless army of the undead. It’s no surprise that evil necromancers are among the most popular types of villains to include in a campaign. For players looking to make a playable evil necromancer or for DM’s looking to create a necromancer boss, look no further than Wizards of the School of Necromancy!
1 Paladin - Oathbreaker
Though every other entry of this list can theoretically be built in neutral or good alignments, Oathbreaker Paladins are one of the most overtly evil subclass options in all of D&D. Paladins who’ve turned their back on their sacred oath out of a darker ambition, these Paladins gain abilities that allow them to control undead and utilize fear, even gaining access to spells like Animate Dead, Bestow Curse, and Dominate Person.
