Writing heroes is usually the easy part. You give them flaws, a goal, and a reason to fight for something.
Learning how to write a good villain, though, is a different challenge.
A villain can’t just exist to cause trouble. They need purpose, conviction, and a belief that their cause is justified. That’s what turns them from a caricature into a real threat.
If your villain feels flat or forgettable, this guide will help you shape one that feels as complex as your hero.
Key takeaways: How to write a good villain
A villain works when their belief drives their behavior. Give them a specific goal, a reason that feels true to them, a method that hurts people, and enough wins to scare your hero. That is the core of how to write a good villain in any fantasy subgenre.
What’s the difference between an antagonist and a villain?
Not every antagonist is a villain. Sometimes the opposition isn’t evil at all, it’s just standing in the hero’s way.
An antagonist is any force that blocks the protagonist’s goal. That can include:
- A rival or competitor
- A corrupt institution
- The environment itself
A villain is an antagonist who crosses a moral line. They harm others intentionally to achieve their goal and justify it every step of the way.
In some stories, the line between antagonist and villain is thin.
Take Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter, for example. She isn’t trying to conquer the world. She believes she’s protecting order. What turns her into a villain isn’t her goal but the cruelty she uses to enforce it. She values control more than compassion, and that’s what crosses the line.
Understanding this difference helps you decide whether your story actually needs a villain or simply a strong opponent, which is the first step in how to write a good villain that feels believable.
What makes a good villain
A good villain is built on belief. They act from conviction, not convenience.
Here’s what makes them work:
- Clear motivation: They want something specific and personal, not just “power” or “revenge.”
- A logic that makes sense: Even if the audience disagrees, they can see why the villain thinks this way.
- Connection to the hero: The conflict hits harder when there’s emotional history or shared goals.
- Moral complexity: Readers should almost agree with them, at least for a moment.
- Real agency: They act, manipulate, and lead instead of waiting for the hero to show up.
If you’re brainstorming ideas for villains, start with a belief or wound. Their actions should grow from that root.
How to write a good villain in 7 steps
Step 1: Figure out what they want and why
Every villain wants something. The important part is understanding why it matters to them.
Ask yourself:
- What are they trying to protect or reclaim?
- Why can’t they achieve it in a moral way?
- What are they willing to sacrifice for it?
- What happens if they fail?
For example, in Harry Potter, Voldemort’s goal isn’t chaos for its own sake. He believes he’s restoring magical purity and protecting wizardkind from corruption. His reasoning is twisted, but it’s consistent.
When you start planning how to write a good villain, don’t focus on what they do first. Focus on what they believe.
Step 2: Connect them to your hero
The best villains reflect something about the hero.
They’re both shaped by the same question or fear, but they answer it in opposite ways.
Try these:
- What belief do they share?
- What flaw do they both have?
- How does the villain’s downfall force the hero to grow?
When your villain mirrors your hero, the tension feels emotional instead of mechanical.
Step 3: Give them a moral code
Your villain should have rules, even if they twist them.
Write down what they believe to be true. For example:
- “The world only works under control.”
- “Love makes people weak.”
- “Sacrifice is the price of peace.”
Then ask how that belief justifies everything they do. Once you understand their logic, you’ll know how to make every decision they make feel consistent, even the horrific ones.
If you want help building this out, my Villain Workbook walks you through prompts for motives, contradictions, and moral limits.
Step 4: Make them competent
A villain who only reacts isn’t a threat, and competency is a quiet non-negotiable in how to write a good villain that lasts.
Give them:
- A plan that’s already in motion when the story begins
- Influence, allies, or power the hero can’t easily match
- A skill or advantage that puts the hero at a disadvantage
Readers should never feel like the villain is just waiting to lose. Even if they’re doomed, they should make the hero fight for every inch.
That’s one of the main secrets of how to make a good villain: make them win small battles before they lose the war.
Step 5: Show their humanity
Evil is boring when it’s pure. Real people are messy, and villains are no different.
Show flashes of vulnerability:
- A relationship they care about
- A loss that shaped them
- A weakness they hide
- A brief moment of doubt
You don’t have to redeem them, but you can make them “human.” The reader should see who they could have been if they’d made different choices.
That touch of humanity turns a character from a cliché into a tragedy.
Step 6: Show what it costs them
Villains rarely start off evil. They grow into it.
Show what each choice takes away from them. Maybe they lose love, trust, or peace of mind. Maybe they notice and keep going anyway.
This progression makes their downfall believable. When readers see how far someone can fall while thinking they’re right, that’s when your story starts to linger.
If you’ve read my post on creating fantasy characters, this will sound familiar. The same principles apply: the stronger the motivation, the stronger the impact.
Step 7: Illustrate their power through story moments
Readers learn who your villain is by watching them act, not hearing about what they’ve done.
Here are a few ways to reveal their power and philosophy through scenes:
- Show how they treat allies. Look at how Voldemort treats his followers in Harry Potter. He rewards loyalty one moment and punishes failure the next, often cruelly and in public. His control over the Death Eaters isn’t built on respect but on fear. Readers see instantly what kind of leader he is: ruthless, paranoid, and utterly certain of his own superiority.
- Give them victories. In The Lord of the Rings, Sauron wins long before the final battle. His armies overrun kingdoms, his influence twists the minds of men, and even good people like Boromir bend under the weight of his power. Each small victory reminds the reader that he’s a real threat and forces the heroes to grow stronger or lose everything.
- Let readers see what they believe. Maybe your villain rescues a child but kills the parents, claiming it’s “mercy.” That single act can say more than five pages of exposition.
When you’re learning how to write a good villain, focus less on monologues and more on small, meaningful actions that reveal what they value.
How to handle multiple villains and antagonists
Epic fantasy often juggles more than one villain, so writing a good villain sometimes means designing a network of threats, not just one big bad guy (or gal).
Each one represents a different kind of threat (i.e., political, personal, or divine).
If you’re writing on that scale, keep these in mind:
- Give each villain a unique motivation and tone. The scheming priest shouldn’t sound like the warlord.
- Let them clash. Villains fighting each other adds realism and keeps tension fresh.
- Make sure the reader understands whose story they’re inside. If you switch perspectives, every villain’s arc should feel distinct, not like a recycled motive.
You can even start a story where readers think one villain is the ultimate threat, only to discover someone worse behind them. Just make sure both matter to the hero’s journey.
Brainstorming new ideas for villains
If all your concepts sound like “evil king” or “dark wizard,” push yourself a little further.
Try starting with contradictions or strange motives. For example:
- A healer who spreads disease to force evolution.
- A queen who hoards magic to stop death from taking her name from history..
- A general who stages wars just to feel alive.
- A revolutionary who destroys his own system after realizing it worked too well.
- A scholar who burns libraries to stop knowledge from falling into the wrong hands.
The best ideas for villains usually come from mixing something noble with something selfish.
Quick checklist: How to make a good villain
Before you finalize your antagonist, check these boxes:
- Do they want something specific and personal?
- Do their actions make sense to them?
- Do they actively drive the plot?
- Do they challenge your hero’s core belief?
- Do they reflect your story’s tone and scale?
- Do they make readers feel something, even briefly?
If you can answer yes to most of those, you’re well on your way to making a good villain.
Use a villain workbook
Villains are people first. They make choices, justify them, and live with the results.
When readers understand their reasons, even if they hate them, you’ve done your job.
If you want step-by-step support for how to write a good villain, check out my Villain Workbook. It includes prompts, examples, and guided sections to help you map out motives, contradictions, and the perfect downfall for your fantasy world.
Grab the villain workbook here
Frequently asked questions about how to write a good villain
How do I write a villain that readers secretly like?
Give them a reason that makes sense. Readers connect to villains who feel human, not hollow. If their goal is understandable, such as protecting someone or fixing a broken system, even their worst actions become interesting.
Should I write scenes from the villain’s point of view?
Only if it adds tension or reveals something the hero cannot know. A few short POV scenes can make your villain feel real, but too many can ruin the mystery. Keep them focused and meaningful.
How do I avoid making my villain sound like every other dark lord?
Start with contradiction. Make them kind to animals but cruel to people. Let them preach mercy but punish failure. Contrast is one of the fastest ways to make a villain feel new and believable.
Does my story need a villain?
Not always. Many stories work perfectly with rivalries, moral clashes, or internal conflict instead of a clear villain. What matters most is opposition that tests your hero and pushes the story forward.
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