5 Most vicious villains from The Lord of the Rings universe, ranked

The Lord of the Rings, based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s novel, has now expanded into many more films and TV shows. This resulted in more stories about the people of Middle-earth, and also introduced many more villains along the way.

From depicting the story of the origin of the rings that wreaked havoc in Middle-earth to their destruction, and all the crucial events in between that made the stories of the fantasy land more compelling, are being brought to screens through these projects. Furthermore, we have also been introduced to several villainous and evil characters, be it a dragon, a wizard, or the dark lord himself, who created various problems in the paths of other characters for their evil motives.

Here’s a list of 5 of the most vicious and feared villains from The Lord of the Rings universe.

Disclaimer: This entire article is based on the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.

5 Most vicious villains from The Lord of the Rings universe, ranked

5) Saruman

Christopher Lee in The Lord of the Rings trilogy | Image via New Line Cinema

Saruman is one of those characters who start on the side of the good but gradually, due to their greed and curiosity, end up siding with the evil. The chief of Istari and head of the White Council was a powerful wizard and had vast knowledge of magical elements in Middle-earth, including knowing Sauron’s elements as well.

As depicted with The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings films, Saruman sided with Sauron at the end, helping him in defeating Gandalf by capturing him. He helped Sauron in his evil motives, but with dubious intentions as he wanted Sauron to locate the ring and then use it for himself by discarding him, which makes him one of the vicious villains in the LOTR universe.

However, he couldn’t succeed and succumbed to his death when Wormtongue stabbed him.

4) Smaug

Smaug in The Hobbit trilogy | Image via New Line Cinema

Smaug, regarded as the last great dragon of Middle-earth, was the main villain in The Hobbit films. The greedy dragon took all teh treasures from the dwarves and captured the Lonely Mountain, resulting in the dwarves running away from their homes. When Thorin and his company awaken the Dragon, he tries to attack them and also wreaks havoc in the Lake-Town, until Bard kills him with a Black Arrow.

The fire-breathing dragon’s viciousness initially left the dwarves and later the folks of Lake-Town without any home, making him one of the most fearful villains of The Lord of the Rings universe.

3) Witch-king

Witch-king in The Lord of the Rings trilogy | Image via New Line Cinema

The Witch-king of Angmar was one of the deadliest creatures of Middle-earth and served Sauron. Throughout The Lord of the Rings films, the Witch-king and other Ringwraiths became the most frightening villains that threatened the lives of the Fellowship and the people who tried to help them.

In Fellowship of the Ring, he even attacked Frodo and stabbed him with a Morgul-blade in Weathertop, and again when Frodo nd Sam were in the Dead Marshes, Frodo felt the Witch-king’s presence when he experienced excruciating pain in the same place where he was attacked in Weathertop. As it was prophesied that the Witch-king could not be killed by a man, and later ended up dying after Éowyn slayed him during the Battle of Pelennor with Merry’s help.

2) Balrog

Durin's Bane in The Lord of the Rings trilogy | Image via New Line Cinema

Throughout the many The Lord of the Rings films and TV shows, we have twice seen the wrath of a Balrog. In the LOTR film, Gandalf fell into the depths of Moria, fighting a balrog. Later, in The Rings of Power, we saw how, after being corrupted by the Ring given by Halbrand, Durin III woke up the Balrog, living in the depths of Khazad-dûm.

Durin III’s greed for mining more Mithril became his bane as he died fighting the Balrog that he awakened.

1) Sauron

Charlie Vickers in The Rings of Power | Image via New Line Cinema

In The Lord of the Rings, we encountered Sauron’s hold on the evil around Middle-earth, trying to get hold of the One Ring. This created many problems in the Fellowship’s journey to Mordor to destroy the ring, as they lost several lives in their quest.

Later, in The Rings of Power, we were introduced to Sauron, who is just embarking on his journey to become the vicious Dark Lord by tricking and manipulating people along the way, as seen in how he tricked Galadriel and wanted to convince her to side with him.

He also created the Rings of Power that would further threaten the lives of the many people of Middle-earth. Therefore, Sauron is the most evil and the ultimate villain in the LOTR universe.