Reincarnation manhwa more often than not, showcases heroes reincarnating as younger versions of themselves. But what happens when former villains reincarnate with a new perspective and decide to become the hero chosen to defend the world, or redo their lives and become successful through effort and kindness?
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This ranked list spotlights stories where the hero is a reincarnated villain or a regressed one who decided to turn over a new leaf. These stories about unlikely heroes who were former villains, or villainesses trying to make it different in their second or third chance in life, are filled with exciting twists, intense drama, and some comedy as well.
In this case, “villains” just refers to characters who were generally bad people, even if they were not the worst of the worst.
5
Standard Of Reincarnation
Reincarnating As The Son Of His Rival Family Is Perfect For Him
- Genre: Adventure, Shonen, Dark Fantasy, Sword And Sorcery, Action, Reincarnation
- Author: Ilhwang
- Artist: Ramwoo
This story begins with the death of the One-Armed Devil and the hands of the Samion family. The Devil was an outlaw and enemy of the kingdom who tried to murder his whole family for rejecting him. After being killed, he is summoned by the spirit of a boy named Vincent Adenca, the son of a rival family to the royal lineage.
He is to occupy the body of Vincent, and he will become a Guardian Spirit, a previous stage of the ascension to godhood. Together they plan on resuming their plans for revenge against both families who rejected them for being “weak.” So, the story of two villains inhabiting a single body begins, but as things turn out, they end up becoming the heroes of this story.
4
66666 Years: Advent Of The Dark Magician
The Devil You Know, Wearing The Face Of An Innocent Child
- Genre: Action, Dark Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, School Life, Drama
- Author: Hwabong
- Artists: Taru
Diablo Volpir is the name of an ancient dark wizard who ascended to godhood and challenged the gods, attempting to overthrow them and free humanity from their wicked power plays. Since he was too strong to be killed, all the gods gathered their forces to banish him, but they were only able to contain his power for 66666 years. After that time, the dimension holding him at bay collapses, and Diablo is free. Only, he doesn’t descend upon the world as his former self. Instead, his soul reincarnates in the body of a young noble: Jamie Welton.
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The heir of the prestigious Welton family is quickly regarded as an envoy of the gods, since he receives the blessing of one of the Goddesses he despised the most, he cannot refuse an interesting proposal: to help her rid the world of other deities. Now, the former villain turned hero will gather allies (former and new) in a crusade to destroy the corrupted divines once and for all.
He Was A Minor Villain, Now He Has Become The School Hero
- Genre: Adventure, Drama, Dark Fantasy, School Life, Reincarnation, Isekai
- Author: Korita
- Artist: GREEN KYRIN
Ed Rothstaylor was a minor villain in a School Life Fantasy RPG until a pro player reincarnates as him, and he goes from being the trash character/villain of Act 1 to becoming a centerpiece in the plot. The new Ed, a fan of “the good endings,” will do whatever it takes to prevent all the bad outcomes throughout the story.
He cannot fall in love, he cannot trust anybody, since everyone can be a potential enemy/boss if the story turns towards a bad ending. Despite that, little by little, this villain outshines even the hero and protagonist of the story, and his survival lifestyle attracts the attention of several important heroines.
2
The Villainess Is A Marionette
A Third Chance To Mend Her Mistakes
- Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Drama, Political Intrigue, Reincarnation, Reverse Isekai, Isekai
- Author: Han Yi Rim
- Artist: Manggle
Kayena is the villainess of a romantic fantasy novel, a princess of a Kingdom sundered by a succession war, and she was betrayed and murdered for being foolish and selfish. Reincarnated as a Korean citizen, she lived a life full of regret, then died for the second time being a lapdog for others.
But, returning once more to play her role as Kayena, she decides to take a 180-degree turn and becomes the master of her fate. She becomes kind, patient, and cunning; most importantly, she knows how to play the game. Once everyone sees her absolute transformation, she becomes the heroine destined to save the kingdom from ruin.
1
The Greatest Estate Developer
A Vicious Professional Decides To Transform The World
- Genres: Fantasy, Isekai, Comedy, Action, Slice of Life, Reincarnation
- Author: Lee Hyunmin (novel), Yama (adaptation)
- Artist: Kim Hyunsoo
An engineering student reincarnates as Lloyd Frontera, a third-rate Villain destined to be forgotten as the trash character he is. But not that he is ‘possessed’ by the soul of an ambitious capitalist, things are going to be better, right?
A fun story about second chances, where a villain becomes a hero of a doomed fiefdom by using his engineering knowledge and building skills to generate riches. Lloyd manages his territory with audacity and intelligence but is sometimes seen as fiendish, ruthless, barbaric, and greedy. Though, there’s no doubt he is destined to become a hero.
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