An antagonist can be classed on three orthogonal parameters:

* How much danger they, or their plans, pose.
* [[SlidingScaleOfVillainEffectiveness How effective they are.]]
* [[SlidingScaleOfAntagonistVileness How much the audience is supposed to hate them.]]

This is a method of quantifying the first one.
[[noreallife]]
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Franchise/{{Superman}} is locked in a battle with Lex Luthor, who is threatening to melt the polar icecaps and flood the world. Meanwhile, in [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Gotham]], the Joker is going to gas the city. Meanwhile again in space, the Franchise/GreenLantern is getting ready to defend against the invading Sinestro Corps. All of these examples have villains that are exhibiting differing levels of threat.

You can class various villains on [[JustForFun/SuperWeight tiers of the type of threat they present]] to the world and the heroes. The SortingAlgorithmOfEvil will usually ensure that the hero's successive opponents will each be higher on the scale than the last, but, due to the [=SAoE=]'s caring about effectiveness as well as scope, not always. In general, the hero will also have the same potential for destruction as his villains, but usually is slightly below them, because underdogs are more relatable. Having a wild range of villains may help avoid causing a feeling that TheWorldIsAlwaysDoomed because EvilOnlyHasToWinOnce. Having a hero with a StoryBreakerPower usually upsets this dynamic, or forces a jump in villain up the scale.

Most series that lean towards the realistic side of [[SlidingScaleOfSillinessVersusSeriousness the scale]] do not venture beyond villains that are [[ApocalypseHow Planetary Threats]], as villains that are Stellar Threats and above tends to put a lot of pressure on WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief. Shifting too far up the scale, especially over a short period of time, is an easy way to JumpTheShark.

When talking about some villains, this is very much related to how much they can [[JustForFun/AbusingTheKardashevScaleForFunAndProfit abuse the Kardashev Scale for death and maiming]]. Contrast with SlidingScaleOfAntagonistVileness, when you're talking about the audience's reaction to a character rather than the threat they represent, and SlidingScaleOfVillainEffectiveness when talking about how well they succeed. Villains who [[EvilLearnsOfOutsideContext learn that they are rather low on the scale]] may aspire to climb higher. If a villain ''does'' keep climbing higher, they are a SnowballingThreat.


!! '''Local Area Threat'''

The villain poses significant harm to a small group of people or a localized area.

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Examples ]]

* '''Multiple''': Most ''Series/RedDwarf'' villains, most {{serial killer}}s from {{slasher movie}}s, any normal person severely pissed off, the average [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampire]] who doesn't refrain from drinking human blood, [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Joe Chill, Catwoman, Mad Hatter, Deadshot, Penguin, Man-Bat, Black Mask]], [[Creator/MarvelComics Chameleon, Electro, Bullseye, the Scorpion, the Kingpin, the Vulture, the Green Goblin]], [[Franchise/BuffyVerse Spike]]
* '''AnimeAndManga''': Most villains from the first season of ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', [[Literature/SwordArtOnline Death Gun/Sterben]], All villains from ''Manga/HappySugarLife''
* '''Comic Books''': Most comic book {{Bad Ass Normal}}s
* '''Film - Animated''': [[Film/OsmosisJones Thrax]][[note]]Though since all of Frank's cells are anthropomorphized, he could also be interpreted as a City Threat, or even a Continental or Planetary Threat since there are over 10 ''trillion'' cells in an adult human body[[/note]], [[WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog Dr. Facilier]] (although he slips into a city threat by offering the souls of New Orleans to his "friends"), the more mundane [[Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon Disney]] villains (such as [[WesternAnimation/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians Cruella de Vil]] and [[WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast Gaston]]) and the not so mundane but violently petty ones (like [[WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs the Queen]] and [[WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty Maleficent]]), Most Pixar villains such as [[Franchise/ToyStory Sid Phillips, [=Al McWhiggin=], Stinky Pete, Lotso, and Gabby Gabby]]; [[Franchise/MonstersInc Randall Boggs and Mr. Waternoose]]; [[Franchise/FindingNemo Dr. Sherman and Darla]]; [[Franchise/{{Cars}} Chick Hicks, Jackson Storm, and Sterling]]; [[WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}} Chef Skinner]]; [[WesternAnimation/{{Up}} Charles Muntz]]; [[WesternAnimation/{{TheGoodDinosaur}} Thunderclap and his gang]]; [[WesternAnimation/{{Coco}} Ernesto de la Cruz]]; [[WesternAnimation/{{Onward}} The Curse Dragon]]
* '''Film - Live Action''': [[Franchise/{{Terminator}} The various Terminators]], [[Franchise/{{Alien}} The Xenomorphs]] [[Franchise/AlienVsPredator and]] [[Franchise/{{Predator}} Yautja]] [[note]]Larger groups of each species could edge much higher[[/note]], [[Film/TheWarriors Luther and the Rogues]], [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer the Trio]], [[Film/KamenRiderSaberTrioOfDeepSin Kamen Rider Falchion]].
* '''Literature''': [[spoiler:David]] from ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'', Franchise/HannibalLecter
* '''Live Action TV''': ''[[Series/TwentyFour 24]]'''s first-season villains (Ira Gaines, the Drazens. Then again, killing David Palmer could trigger significant civil unrest), [[Series/{{Angel}} Holtz]], [[Series/{{Outcasts}} The XPs]], [[Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger Basco ta Jolokia]][[note]]although he potentially escalates to Universal Threat when he comes dangerously close to obtaining the Greatest Treasure in the Universe[[/note]], Series/CobraKai
* '''Mythology and Religion''': {{Satan}} in UsefulNotes/{{Judaism}}
* '''Video Games''': [[VideoGame/{{Portal}} GLaDOS]], [[VideoGame/NetHack the Wizard of Yendor]], Nyarlathotep from the ''VideoGame/PhysicalExorcismSeries'' [[note]]although she later extends into a planetary threat due to also summoning Gla'aki before returning back to here in ''VisualNovel/ExtraCaseMyGirlfriendsSecrets''[[/note]], [[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys William Afton]], [[VideoGame/AmongUs the Impostor(s)]],
* '''Webcomics''': [[Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick The Linear Guild]]
* '''Web Animation''': [[WebAnimation/AlgicosathlonCamp Black, Blue, Brown]], most of the [[WebAnimation/BattleForDreamIsland BFDI]] villains
* '''Western Animation''': [[WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends The Diesels and Spencer]], [[WesternAnimation/{{TUGS}} the Zed Stacks, the Pirates, and Johnny Cuba]], [[WesternAnimation/GravityFalls Lil Gideon]][[note]](Although we never learned what exactly he planned to do with the journals once he had them all)[[/note]], most villains in [[WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog Courage the Cowardly Dog]], Most villains in [[Franchise/ScoobyDoo Scooby Doo]]

!! '''City Threat'''

Villain possesses capabilities to do significant damage to or destroy a city.

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Examples ]]


* '''Anime & Manga''': [[Anime/PokemonTheSeries Team Rocket]] at their worst, [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure Yoshikage Kira]], most ''Anime/DigimonGhostGame'' [[MonsterOfTheWeek Monsters of the Week]] don't go beyond this level, most ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}'' villains are either this level or Continental
* '''Comic Books''': [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Riddler, Scarecrow, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy,]] [[ComicBook/TheFlash Captain Cold]], [[Creator/DCComics Doctor Light, Parasite, the Fearsome Five]], ComicBook/DoctorOctopus, [[Creator/MarvelComics Baron Blood]], [[ComicBook/TeenTitans Deathstroke the Terminator]]
* '''Film - Live Action''': [[Film/Se7en John Doe]], [[Franchise/{{Saw}} the Jigsaw Killers]], Film/{{Goldfinger}}, [[Film/TheWarriors Cyrus]] (if his plan to unite the gangs had gone anywhere), [[Film/MadMax2TheRoadWarrior Lord Humungus]], [[Film/JohnWick Viggo Tarasov]].
* '''Literature''': [[Literature/ConsiderPhlebas Kraiklyn’s Free Company]] ''would'' rank here if they were in any way competent.
* '''Live Action TV''': [[Series/TwentyFour Syed Ali, Vladimir Bierko, Samir]], the [[Series/{{Angel}} Los Angeles branch of Wolfram & Hart]] [[spoiler:until its change of management]], [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers Rita Repulsa]], [[Series/{{Lost}} The Others and Martin Keamy's mercenaries]], [[Series/GameOfThrones Daenerys]]
* '''Video Games''': Diego del Torro in 1701 A.D.: The Sunken Dragon, a typical NonMaliciousMonster (mitigated by the fact that, unless hungry, will never strike first and their TrueNeutral alignment, but increased due to their raw destructive power and being hard to kill), the alien ship from ''VideoGame/SimCity'', and bad guys from ''Comicbook/SinCity'' could also count for that matter, [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Dr. Robotnik/Eggman]] (although sometimes a Planetary Threat as well), most ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' "[[GoodAllAlong villains]]", [[VideoGame/{{Fallout}} the Enclave]] in Fallout 2, [[Franchise/{{Splatoon}} DJ Octavio]]
* '''Western Animation''': [[WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}} Demona]], some of WesternAnimation/{{Captain Planet|and the Planeteers}}'s RoguesGallery, most ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' villains, [[WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDameDisney the Disney version of Frollo]], [[WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003 Slade]], [[WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug Hawk Moth]]
* '''Multiple''': ComicBook/TheJoker

!! '''Regional Threat'''

* Villain wields the capacity to be a significant threat to a part of a continent or landmass. This consists of two types:
** '''State/Province Threat''': Villain can wreck enough damage to destroy or otherwise defeat a large group of cities.
** '''National Threat''': Villain can destroy a country or [[VillainWorld take it over]] and [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny turn it into]] a CrapsackWorld. The path to DiabolicalMastermind tends to end here, but not always.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Examples of State/province threats ]]

[[Creator/MarvelComics The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants]], some of ''[[Series/TwentyFour 24]]'''s {{Big Bad}}s (Stephen Saunders, Habib Marwan, Abu Fayed, Jonas Hodges), the [[VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft Defias Brotherhood]], [[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Prometheus]], [[Anime/DigimonFrontier The Evil Hybrids]], [[WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb Heinz Doofenshmirtz]], [[WesternAnimation/AdventureTime the Earl of Lemongrab]], [[Literature/{{Worm}} The Slaughterhouse 9]], [[Literature/SwordArtOnline Akihiko Kayaba and Nobuyuki Sugo]], [[Film/{{Octopussy}} Kamal Khan and General Orlov]], [[Film/JohnWick The High Table]].

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Examples of National threats ]]


* '''Anime & Manga''': [[Franchise/{{Digimon}} Devimon and Etemon]], [[Anime/KillLaKill Satsuki Kiryuin and the Elite Four]], [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure Diavolo]], [[Anime/NowAndThenHereAndThere King Hamdo]]
* '''Comic Books''': ComicBook/LexLuthor, [[ComicBook/TheFlash Gorilla Grodd]], [[ComicBook/IronMan the Mandarin]]
* '''Film - Animated''': [[WesternAnimation/ABugsLife Hopper]], [[WesternAnimation/{{Brave}} Mor'du]]
* '''Film - Live Action''': Franchise/{{Godzilla}} and most other {{Kaiju}}, [[Film/TomorrowNeverDies Elliot Carver]], [[Film/GoldenEye Janus]]
* '''Literature''': [[Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire Littlefinger and Varys]], the [[Literature/{{Everworld}} Sennites]], [[Literature/TheCountOfYears the Eastern barbarians, including Itīrante]]
* '''Live Action TV''': [[Series/HenshinNinjaArashi Blood Wheel Clan]], [[Series/KamenRiderBuild Namba Heavy Industries Ltd.]], [[Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower Adar]], [[Series/SeigiNoSymbolCondorman Monster Clan]]
* '''Mythology & Religion''': [[Myth/ArthurianLegend Morgan le Fay]]
* '''Video Games''': [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Bowser]] (before ''VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine''), [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Ganondorf]], [[VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry King K. Rool]], [[VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft the Horde]] and [[VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft the Alliance]] in each others' eyes, most ''VideoGame/{{The New Order|LastDaysOfEurope}}'' baddies, [[VideoGame/PapersPlease The Order of the EZIC Star]]
* '''Visual Novels''': [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Kotomine Kirei]] in the Fate route
* '''Western Animation''': [[WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures Shendu and his Demon brethren]], [[WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}} Phobos]], many Creator/{{Disney}} villains such as [[WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}} Jafar]], [[WesternAnimation/TheGreatMouseDetective Professor Ratigan]], [[WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989 Ursula]], [[WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994 Scar]], and [[WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}} Shan Yu]], [[WesternAnimation/{{Arcane}} Silco]]
* '''Multiple/other''': Often countries at war in both fiction and real life

!! '''Continental Threat'''

Villain has the capabilities to destroy or [[VillainWorld take over]] an entire continent or even an entire landmass, with the ability to [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny turn it into]] a CrapsackWorld.

* '''Examples:''' ComicBook/BlackAdam, [[Manga/{{Naruto}} Madara, Obito, Sasuke, Orochimaru, the Akatsuki]], [[Manga/DragonBall The Red Ribbon Army and Piccolo Daimao]], [[Literature/SwordArtOnline Quinella]], [[Film/DieAnotherDay Gustav Graves]], [[Webcomic/GirlGenius The Other]], [[Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower Sauron]], [[Series/{{Inazuman}} The Phantom Army, The Despar Army]], [[VideoGame/PockyAndRocky Black Mantle, Dynagon]], [[Literature/TheCountOfYears Līxigōcas]].

!! '''Planetary Threat'''

Villain poses significant threat to the world at large, up to and including WorldDomination and/or EarthShatteringKaboom. In worst case scenario, is an OmnicidalManiac. Usually via large army, colossal superpowers, or a DoomsdayDevice. EvilOverlord tends to describe them. A fictional [[TheEmperor Emperor]] is likely to be portrayed as a villain of at least this threat level. At this point, you should start checking out ApocalypseHow.

[[folder:Examples]]
* '''Anime & Manga''': [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED Rau Le Creuset]], [[Manga/DeathNote Light Yagami]], [[Anime/DigimonAdventure Myotismon and the Dark Masters]], [[Anime/DigimonGhostGame AncientSphinxmon, Cthyllamon, ZeedMilleniumon and Regulusmon]], [[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist the Homunculi]], [[Manga/DGrayMan the Millennium Earl]], [[{{Manga/Monster}} Johan Liebert]], [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion SEELE]], [[Anime/DigimonTamers the D-Reaper]], [[Anime/DigimonXrosWarsTheYoungHuntersWhoLeaptThroughTime Quartzmon]] (Unlike most ''Digimon'' villains, he ''did'' successfully take over the world for a short while), [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure Kars, DIO, Funny Valentine]], [[Anime/KillLaKill the Kiryuin Conglomerate and the Life Fibers]], [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann Lordgenome]], [[Anime/PantyAndStockingWithGarterbelt Corset]], [[Literature/SwordArtOnline Gabriel Miller]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Principality of Zeon]], the [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Titans]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Neo Zeon]], [[Manga/Cyborg009 Black Ghost]], [[Manga/BlackClover Lucius Zogratis]]
* '''Comic Books''': ComicBook/VandalSavage, Amazo, Brainiac, Doctor Destiny, General Zod, Doomsday, Bizarro, Ra's al Ghul, [[Creator/MarvelComics Doctor Doom, Apocalypse, Kang the Conqueror, Ultron, Red Skull]]
* '''Film - Animated''': [[WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles1 Syndrome]], [[WesternAnimation/Incredibles2 Evelyn Endeavor]], [[WesternAnimation/{{WALLE}} AUTO]], [[WesternAnimation/Cars2 Miles Axlerod]], [[WesternAnimation/{{Lightyear}} Zurg]]
* '''Film - Live Action''': The Gyaos in the 90s Film/{{Gamera}} trilogy, [[Film/TheThing1982 The Thing]], [[Film/TheSpyWhoLovedMe Karl Stromberg]], [[Film/JamesBond Ernst Stavro Blofeld and SPECTRE]], [[Film/{{Moonraker}} Hugo Drax]].
* '''Literature''': [[Literature/EndersShadow Achilles de Flandres]], [[Literature/TheSilmarillion Morgoth]] and [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Sauron]], [[Creator/HPLovecraft Cthulhu]], [[TheCaligula Visser Three]] from ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'', [[{{Literature/Worm}} The Endbringers]], [[Literature/TheCountOfYears Amnās and Soxāeco]]
* '''Live Action TV''': [[Series/DoctorWho the Cybermen]], [[Series/{{Angel}} Jasmine]], [[Series/{{Lost}} the Man in Black]], [[Series/{{Heroes}} Adam Monroe]], [[Series/KamenRider SHOCKER]], [[Series/KamenRiderExAid Masamune Dan]], [[Series/SevenStarFightingGodGuyferd the Crown organization]]
* '''Mythology & Religion''': [[Characters/NorseMythology Loki]], {{Satan}} in UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}} and UsefulNotes/{{Islam}}, [[Myth/GreekMythology The Titans and Protogenoi]], [[Literature/TheBible The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse]]
* '''Tabletop Games''': [[TabletopGame/{{Exalted}} the Deathlords]], ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' villains are this level on an absolute minimum and will likely go higher
* '''Video Games''': [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]], [[VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon Darkrai]], [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Mother Brain, Ridley and the Space Pirates]], [[VideoGame/AdvanceWars the Black Hole army]], [[VideoGame/EarthBound1994 Giygas]], [[VideoGame/ChronoTrigger Lavos]], [[{{VideoGame/Contra}} Red Falcon]], [[VideoGame/CaveStory the Doctor]], [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Team Aqua and Team Magma]], most ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' villains, [[VideoGame/{{Touhou}} Utsuho Reiuji]], possibly [[VideoGame/{{Touhou}} Flandre Scarlet]], if she isn't lying, [[VideoGame/{{Touhou}} Yukari Yakumo]], [[VideoGame/CommandAndConquer the Brotherhood of Nod and the Scrin]], [[VideoGame/SystemShock SHODAN]], [[VideoGame/MegaManZero Weil, Omega, the Guardians]], [[VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft the Twilight's Hammer]], [[VideoGame/Splatoon2 Commander Tartar]], [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Bowser]] (after ''VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine''), [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Doctor Robotnik]], [[VideoGame/LuminousAvengerIX Demerzel]], most ''[[Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei Shin Megami Tensei ]]'' and ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' {{Big Bad}}s, [[VideoGame/DeBlob Comrade Black]], [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid Volgin, Skull Face, and the Patriots]], [[VideoGame/DigimonSurvive Haruchika Minase]], [[VideoGame/HenryStickminSeries The Toppat Clan]]
* '''Web Animation''': [[WebAnimation/AnimatorVsAnimation The Dark Lord]] (Human threat),
* '''Web Comics''': [[Webcomic/GeneralProtectionFault Trudy]] and [[spoiler:[[Webcomic/GeneralProtectionFault Nega-Nick]]]], [[Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick Xykon and the Snarl]], the [[VideoGame/{{Myth}} Fallen Lords]]
* '''Visual Novels:''' [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Gilgamesh]] in Unlimited Blade Works, [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Kotomine Kirei]] in the Heaven's Feel route
* '''Western Animation''': [[WesternAnimation/InvaderZim Zim and Tak]], [[WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain Brain]], [[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender the Fire Nation]], [[WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra Unalaq and Vaatu]], [[WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom Dark Danny]] (albeit only implied), [[WesternAnimation/CarmenSandiego VILE]], [[WesternAnimation/{{Trollhunters}} The Gumm-Gumms]]
* '''Multiple''': Most major {{Franchise/Nasuverse}} villains, most of the {{Big Bad}}s of Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer, [[Franchise/{{Danganronpa}} Junko Enoshima]]
[[/folder]]

!! '''Stellar Threat'''

Forces able to credibly threaten an entire solar system up to even an entire star cluster, but probably not able to dominate a galaxy. GalacticConqueror starts here.

[[folder: Examples]]
* '''Anime and Manga''': [[Anime/DragonBallZ The Saiyans and the Ginyu Force]], [[Anime/{{FLCL}} Atomsk]], [[Series/KamenRiderGaim Helheim Forest]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans Gjallarhorn]]
* '''Comic Books''': [[ComicBook/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders]] and most other non-Sith antagonists in the Star Wars EU also fall somewhere in this category
* '''Literature''': [[Literature/{{Everworld}} Ka Anor]], [[Literature/HonorHarrington the People's Republic of Haven]], the [[Literature/BlackFleetCrisis Yevetha]], the [[Literature/ConsiderPhlebas Idirans]].
* '''Live Action TV''': All major races in ''Franchise/StarTrek'' (Borg, Dominion, Klingons, Romulans, UFP, etc), the younger races in ''Series/BabylonFive'', [[Series/BattlestarGalactica1978 the Cylons]], [[Franchise/{{Godzilla}} King Ghidorah and Hedorah]] (Showa version), [[Series/GenseishinJustiriser the Hades Army]]
* '''Tabletop Games''': The [[Characters/Warhammer40000TauEmpire Tau Empire]] and the ancient [[Characters/Warhammer40000CraftworldEldar Eldar]] and [[Characters/Warhammer40000DarkEldar Dark Eldar]] from ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'', [[TabletopGame/BattleTech The Successor States, the Clans and the Word of Blake]]
* '''Video Games''': [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Bowser]] ([[VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy Galaxy]] [[VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2 games]]), Dr. Eggman/Robotnik, who has actually conquered [[VideoGame/SonicColors an alien planet and used its inhabitants as energy,]] [[VideoGame/HalfLife2 the Combine]], [[VideoGame/StarCraft the Zerg]], the [[VideoGame/StarControl Ur-Quan Kzer-Za]] and [[OmnicidalManiac Kohr-Ah]], the [[VideoGame/{{Marathon}} Phfor Empire]], [[VideoGame/SeriousSam Notorious Mental]], [[VideoGame/SwordOfTheStars the Suul'ka Horde]]
* '''Web Animation''': [[spoiler:Felix and Locus]] from season 11-13 of WebAnimation/RedVsBlue
* '''Multimedia''': [[Franchise/StarFox Andross]], [[{{Series/Firefly}} the Union of Allied Planets]], [[MagnificentBastard Grand Admiral Thrawn]] and the other post-Palpatine Imperial warlords of the Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse usually blurred the line between this and Galactic Threat: their ambition was usually galactic, but aside from Ysanne Isard, Thrawn himself, the Emperor Reborn and perhaps at a stretch [[ObfuscatingStupidity Warlord Zsinj]] they rarely had a credible chance of reconquering the galaxy, and by [[AntiVillain Admiral Pellaeon's]] time the Empire falls squarely into this territory.
[[/folder]]

!! '''Galactic Threat'''

The Villain has the capability to destroy or control the best part of the galaxy. {{Galactic Conqueror}}s are this threat level.

[[folder:Examples]]
* '''Anime & Manga''': The ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' villains, [[Anime/DragonBallZ Frieza and Cell]]
* '''Comic Books''': [[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Despero]], [[Creator/MarvelComics the Skrull Empire]], [[Creator/DCComics Sinestro, Parallax]]
* '''Literature''': [[Franchise/{{Dune}} the Fremen]], [[Literature/AFireUponTheDeep the Blight]], [[Literature/{{Excession}} the Excession]], [[Literature/FoundationSeries the Empire, Foundation, Second Foundation, Gaia]], [[Literature/{{Lensman}} Boskone]], [[Literature/HonorHarrington the Solarian League and the Mesan Alignment]] (at least for the known galaxy from humanity's point of view)
* '''Live Action TV''': [[Franchise/StarTrek The Borg (again), Species 8472]], [[Series/BabylonFive First Ones]], [[Series/DoctorWho the Dalek Empire]], [[Series/ChouseiKantaiSazerX Neo Descal]], [[Series/UltramanMebius Alien Empera]], [[Series/ChikyuuSentaiFiveman Galactic Imperial Army Zone]], [[Series/StarFleet Imperial Alliance]]
* '''Tabletop Games''': Several races from ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' (the [[Characters/Warhammer40000Necrons Necrons]], the [[Characters/Warhammer40000Tyranids Tyranids]], the unending tides of [[Characters/Warhammer40000ForcesOfChaos Chaos]], the [[Characters/Warhammer40000Orks Orks]], and even the [[Characters/Warhammer40000Imperium Imperium of Man]] itself)
* '''Video Games''': Most of the non-Heartless ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' villains (sort of), [[VideoGame/SpaceChannel5 Purge]], [[VideoGame/{{Gradius}} the Bacterions]], [[Franchise/MassEffect the Reapers]], [[Videogame/{{Mardek}} the Governance de Magi]], [[VideoGame/{{Marathon}} the W'rkncacnter]] (low-level estimate), the [[VideoGame/{{Metroid}} Metroids/X-Parasites]], the [[VideoGame/{{Stellaris}} Crisis Factions]]
* '''Western Animation''': [[WesternAnimation/TeenTitans Trigon the Terrible]], [[WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce the Highbreed and the DN Aliens]], [[Franchise/{{Halo}} The Covenant]], [[WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack Aku]], [[WesternAnimation/InvaderZim the Irken empire]], [[WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder Lord Dominator]] and [[WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder Lord Hater]]
* '''Multiple:''' [[Franchise/StarWars Emperor Palpatine, most other Sith Lords]], [[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse the Yuuzhan Vong]], any major villain group in the Franchise/StargateVerse, [[Franchise/{{Transformers}} the Decepticons]]

[[/folder]]

!! '''Universal Threat'''

Villain can [[DimensionLord conquer the universe]], or even cause TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt -- all of creation blinked out or ground beneath an iron boot. {{Dimension Lord}}s are this threat level.

[[folder:Examples]]
* '''Anime & Manga''': [[Literature/DateALive Isaac Ray Peram Westcott]], [[Anime/DragonBallZ Majin Buu]], [[Anime/DragonBallGT Baby and Omega Shenron]], [[Franchise/{{Digimon}} Apocalymon]], [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann the Anti-Spiral Collective]], (only at this level because it is uninterested in other realities. Power-wise, it can reach up to Multidimensional levels), Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya if she ''ever'' finds out about her powers, Kriemhild Gretchen from ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure Enrico Pucci]]
* '''Comic Books''': [[Creator/DCComics Mr. Mxyzptlk, Darkseid]], [[Creator/MarvelComics Galactus]]
* '''Film''': [[Film/{{Dogma}} Azrael]], [[spoiler:Ego]] from ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2'', Thanos from ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar''
* '''Literature''': [[Creator/StephenBaxter the Xeelee and Photino birds]], [[Literature/LifeTheUniverseAndEverything the Krikkits]], [[spoiler: Senna Wales]] from ''Literature/{{Everworld}}''
* '''Live Action TV''': [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Glory]], [[Franchise/PowerRangers United Alliance of Evil]], [[Series/DoctorWho The Master]], [[Series/DoctorWho Weeping Angels]] when given something big enough to feed on, Walternate in ''Series/{{Fringe}}'', [[Series/KamenRiderBuild Evolt]], [[Series/NinpuuSentaiHurricaneger Space Ninja Group Jakanja]]
* '''Tabletop Games''': [[TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering Yawgmoth]] (while his creation Phyrexia steps into Multiuniversal), [[TabletopGame/{{Scion}} The Titans]], [[TabletopGame/{{Exalted}} the Balorean Crusade]]
* '''Video Games''': [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyV Exdeath]], [[VideoGame/StarOcean the Ten Wise Men/Luther]], [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Bowser]] in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' [[note]]He could have also gotten himself killed with the entire galaxy trying to conquer it (and getting himself killed is obviously not part of his plan) [[KickTheDog and is happy to endanger innocent lives]], but that also makes him a more universal threat[[/note]] [[spoiler:King Boo]] as of ''VideoGame/LuigisMansionDarkMoon'', [[Franchise/{{Halo}} The Flood]], [[VideoGame/StarCraft The Zerg]] (again), [[VideoGame/FZero Deathborn]], [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Cyrus]], [[VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}} U-DO, the Gnosis]], [[VideoGame/{{Arcaea}} Hikari]], [[VideoGame/{{Meteos}} the planet Meteo]], potentially [[VideoGame/FirstEncounterAssaultRecon Alma Wade]] if she gets around to it, [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} The X Parasites]], the monsters from ''VideoGame/{{Evolve}}'' (though they initially appear to simply be on the Planetary scale)
* '''Web Comics''': [[spoiler:The Seer]] from ''Webcomic/KidRadd''
* '''Western Animation''': [[WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}} Nerissa]], [[WesternAnimation/ObanStarRacers Canaletto]]
* '''Multiple''': Many {{Eldritch Abomination}}s, [[Creator/MarvelComics Thanos]] when in possession of the [[CosmicKeystone Infinity Gauntlet]]
[[/folder]]

!! '''[[TheMultiverse Multiversal]] Threat'''

Just to one up those small-timers above, these guys won't stop at a single universe; they'll cross time and space to either take control over or just smash [[TheMultiverse the entire Multiverse]] to pieces. See MultiversalConqueror.

[[folder:Examples]]
* '''Anime & Manga''': {{Anime/Noein}}, [[Anime/SerialExperimentsLain Masami Eiri]], [[Manga/{{Bokurano}} Zearth]]
* '''Comic Books''': The [[ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths Anti-Monitor]],[[ComicBook/MightyMorphinPowerRangersShatteredGrid Lord Drakkon]], [[ComicBook/JudgeDredd Judge Death and the Dark Judges]]
* '''Film''': [[Film/TheOne Gabriel Yulaw]], [[Film/Ghostbusters1984 Gozer]], [[Film/EverythingEverywhereAllAtOnce Jobu Tupaki]], [[spoiler:[[WesternAnimation/SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse the Spot]]]]
* '''Literature''': [[Literature/TheWheelOfTime the Dark One]], [[Literature/RodAllbrightAlienAdventures BKR]], [[spoiler:the Authority]] in ''Literature/HisDarkMaterials'', The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Version 2.0 in ''Literature/MostlyHarmless'', [[Literature/TheChroniclesOfAmber Brand]], the [[Literature/YoungWizards Lone Power]], [[Literature/TheDresdenFiles The Outsiders]], The Mad Mind of Creator/ArthurCClarke's ''Literature/TheCityAndTheStars'' (who may not be able to do this alone, but the blowback of his clash with his benign alter-ego Vanamonde might well "ring down the curtain on Creation" when and if it happens)
* '''Live Action TV:''' [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries The Guardian of Forever]], [[Series/{{Sliders}} the Kromaggs]], [[Series/DoctorWho the Time Lords]] (pre-time lock), [[spoiler:the Silence]] of ''Series/DoctorWho'', [[spoiler:The Machine and First People]] from ''Series/{{Fringe}}'' ([[spoiler:although it was an unintended side effect, and is resolved in two episodes]]), [[Series/StrangerThings Henry Creel/Vecna]], [[Series/KamenRiderDecade Dai-Shocker]], [[Series/KamenRiderZiO Ohma Zi-O, Swartz]], [[Franchise/UltraSeries Ultraman Belial]] in ''[[Film/UltramanZeroTheRevengeOfBelial The Revenge of Belial]]''
* '''Tabletop Games:''' [[http://www.enworld.org/forum/2873260-post1.html the Mortiverse]] and [[GameBreaker Pun-]][[http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19869366/The_most_powerful_character_EVER pun]] from [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]] 3.5, [[TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}} Rovagug the Rough Beast]], [[TabletopGame/MageTheAscension the Nephandi as whole, especially the Aswadim]], [[TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering Nicol Bolas as well as Phyrexia]] (assuming each plane counts as a universe)
* '''Video Games:''' [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Bowser]] ([[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam after becoming Dreamy Bowser]]), Dr. Eggman again, not [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 once]], not [[VideoGame/SonicRush twice]], but [[VideoGame/SonicGenerations THREE TIMES]], [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWars Kaiser Ephes, Dark Brain, The Edel Bernal, Gaioh, Euzeth Gozzo]], [[VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs Regime Superman]], Count Bleck [[spoiler:and Dimentio]] in ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'', [[Franchise/KingdomHearts the Heartless and Xemnas]], Professor Calamitous in the ''VideoGame/NicktoonsUnite'' series (not so much in his [[WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius source material]]), [[Franchise/{{Disgaea}} Baal]], [[VideoGame/StarOceanTillTheEndOfTime Luther Lansfeld]], [[VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}} Father Balder inside Jubileus]] and [[VideoGame/Bayonetta2 Loptr]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona2}} Nyarlathotep]] (it has been said but never shown on-screen as being true or false), [[VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunandUltraMoon Giovanni]], [[spoiler:the Mega Bug]] from ''VideoGame/MarioPlusRabbidsKingdomBattle'', [[spoiler:Xenos]] from ''VideoGame/DragaliaLost'', [[VideoGame/{{Arcaea}} The girl in white]] (the world she unwittingly created affects multiple universes), [[spoiler:Hyness and Void Termina]] from ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'', [[VideoGame/WorldofWarcraft The Burning Legion]] and the Iron Horde, [[VideoGame/HalfLife2 the Combine]], [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate Galeem and Dharkon]]
* '''Visual Novels:''' All the high ranked witches from ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'', such as Bernkastel and Lambdadelta
* '''Web Animation:''' [[WebAnimation/AnimatorVsAnimation King Orange]]
* '''Web Comics:''' [[spoiler:Pandemonium]] in ''Webcomic/GeneralProtectionFault'', [[spoiler:Lord English and Jack Noir]] from ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}''
* '''Web Original:''' [[WebOriginal/ProtectorsOfThePlotContinuum Mary Sues, the League of Mary Sue Factories and the Enforcers of the Plot Continuum]], [[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Lord Vyce and the Entity]], [[{{TabletopGame/Exalted}} the Neverborn]]
* '''Western Animation:''' [[WesternAnimation/TurtlesForever Ch'rell/Shredder]], [[Comicbook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesMirage Galactouse]], [[Comicbook/FantasticFour Abraxas]], [[WesternAnimation/GravityFalls Bill Cipher]], Infinity Ultron in WesternAnimation/WhatIf2021
* '''Multiple:''' [[{{Franchise/Transformers}} Unicron]] (somewhere between this and the above; he's a multiversal being that devours realities one universe at a time)
[[/folder]]

!! '''Omniversal Threat'''

Just to go ''even further'' than those small fries above, these villains will not stop at a single [[TheMultiverse Multiverse]], but they will cross all of reality to take over or simply destroy the totality of {{The Verse}}/{{Series Franchise}} (if said totality exists beyond a Multiverse), taking control over or obliterating all alternate dimensions, planes of existence, parallel universes, possible universes, timelines, alternate continuities, realities, and Multiverses within said totality. This is often enough to put a villain firmly into CompleteMonster territory regardless of the work's heinous standard, assuming they have no other redeeming/mitigating factors.
** Examples: [[spoiler:The Crimson King]] in ''Franchise/TheDarkTower'', Lord English from ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', Featherine Augustus Aurora from ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'' ([[AmbiguouslyEvil sorta]]), [[Comicbook/DoomPatrol the Decreator]], [[Franchise/CthulhuMythos Azathoth]], Bartleby and Loki from ''Film/{{Dogma}}'', [[Series/DoctorWho Davros and the Daleks]] (in the series 4 finale of the new series), [[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueCrisisOnTwoEarths Owlman]], ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}'' in ''ComicBook/DeadpoolKillsTheMarvelUniverse'', [[Anime/DragonBallSuper Goku Black and Zamasu]], [[VideoGame/Bayonetta3 Singularity]], [[WesternAnimation/Ben10 Vilgax]], Spider-Carnage from ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'' (who actually ''succeeds'' at destroying the entirety of reality, it's only because [[spoiler:Beyonder]] returned back in time that the heroes can stop it), [[Characters/DarkNightsMetalTheBatmanWhoLaughs The Batman Who Laughs]] (After becoming The Darkest Knight), [[Film/KamenRiderZiOOverQuartzer The Quartzers]], [[WebAnimation/AnimatorVsAnimation The Dark Lord]] (Internet threat)[[note]]Because The Dark Lord exists as a computer program, his plan is to take over the entire internet on Earth with an army of [=ViraBots=] infecting every single video, website, video game-- potentially every single computer like phones, consoles, and televisions with each world having their own set of inhabitants. Since he would be invading existing pop culture icons, he's going beyond the boundaries of his own web animation where he's from.[[/note]], [[Literature/MyInstantDeathAbilityIsSoOverpowered Ultimate Extermination God]], and many K-Class scenarios from [[Website/SCPFoundation SCP Foundation]].

See also JustForFun/SuperWeight, which is more about measuring characters (including villains) in terms of raw power.

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