Anime Villains With God Complexes, Ranked

Most villains in anime have such a thirst for power that no matter how much they feed themselves, it is never enough. But there are others whose actions are so questionable that they put themselves in a position where they consider themselves a god.

Whether through their strength, intelligence, or purely manipulation, these characters believe they are above humanity, and you see them often justifying their cruelty as part of their grand purpose. Some characters were born to have such power, while others clawed their way to this fake sense of divinity.

10

Ryo – Devilman Crybaby

Of course, Satan Would Think He’s A God

Ryo Asuka isn’t just an ordinary character, he’s the depiction of Satan himself as once an angel who revolted against God. So, staying true to his name, throughout Devilman Crybaby, he manipulates everything while being in the shadows, creating chaos for everyone around him.

With a detached, almost clinical view of humanity, he sees people as disposable and unworthy of existence. What makes his views of the world so unsettling is that he genuinely believes his actions are justified, even though they have led to destruction on an apocalyptic scale.

9

Dio Brando – JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

A God Complex With A Vendetta Against The Joestars

Dio Brando is a perfect definition of a power-hungry villain whose first name in Italian can literally be translated to God. From his early days tormenting the Joester family to ascending as an immortal vampire, Dio sees himself as an undisputed rival.

Dio’s Stand, The World, gives him the power to stop time, further strengthening his belief that he is beyond mortals. On top of that, his ego is boundless, as he treats his followers like pawns and speaks in a rather grandiose tone. Even when he’s just shouting his infamous “WRYYYY,” Dio wears the gown of a god.

8

Sosuke Aizen – Bleach

The Soul King Who Never Was

The greatest traitor of the Soul Society, Sosuke Aizen, is one of Bleach’s most cunning characters. From the start of the show, his goal is to dismantle the system of the Soul Society and set himself up as the new Soul King.

Aizen was such a mastermind that he used only his mind to manipulate the people to favor him. But, once he fuses with the Hogyoku, his god complex truly ascends to a level where he sees himself above humanity. He was so arrogant that even in his defeat Aizen simply believed the world wasn’t ready for his rule.

7

Meruem – Hunter x Hunter

The King Of The Chimera Ants

Hunter x Hunter introduces a world where becoming a Hunter is a prestigious title, but even the most powerful hunters fail against Meruem, the King of the Chimera Ants.

Introduced in the Chimera Ant arc, Meruem sees himself as the pinnacle of evolution, above both humans and his own kind. His initial interactions with humans showed that he views them as weak and disposable. However, his exposure to Komugi, a blind girl, gradually challenges his god complex. Unlike most villains, Meruem has character development, but his belief in his own superiority never fades, making him a very complex character.

6

Griffith – Berserk

The Charismatic Leader Becomes Femto, A Demon Incarnate

Griffith’s rise to godhood is probably one of the most disturbing moments in anime history. Originally the leader of the Band of the Hawk, Griffith always dreamed of becoming a powerful ruler of his own kingdom.

He always had this sense of superiority where he never even considered anyone his friend. His hunger for power eventually reaches such a level that he sacrifices his own comrades to be reborn as Femto, a member of the God Hand. This transformation makes him completely detached from the world and humans as he fully embraces his self-imposed divine status.

5

Madara Uchiha – Naruto

Madara Was Nothing Less Than A Shinobi God

Many villains in Naruto claimed they wanted to free the world from pain and war, but it was often just a way to justify their actions. Madara Uchiha was no different, as being one of the strongest shinobi wasn’t enough for him. Rather, he wanted to change the entire Ninja world.

Using his ultimate plan, the Infinite Tsukuyomi, he wanted to trap all of humanity in a dreamlike state to free the world of misery once and for all. He believed that he alone understood the world’s true nature and fed himself the notion of an undefeated god complex.

4

All For One – My Hero Academia

The Classic Omnipotent Villain

The animated series, My Hero Academia has the quintessential theme of the hero vs villain trope. This is evident from the character of All For One, a villain who doesn’t just seek domination, he already views himself as an omnipotent being.

Unlike more theatrical villains, All For One is disturbingly calm, speaking with the confidence of someone who sees himself as untouchable. His complete disregard for human life and his manipulative nature are rooted in his ability, using which he can steal and redistribute Quirks, giving him an almost divine level of power.

3

Ozai – Avatar: The Last Airbender

The Lord Of The Fire Nation

Fire Lord Ozai’s god complex comes from the fire itself, as it exists to dominate and destroy everything in its path, just as he believes he was meant to rule over all the nations.

As ruler of the Fire Nation, he uses his imperialistic powers to further rage the Hundred-Year War that his father started. He’s such a cruel and cold-hearted person that he even views his own children below his ambitions. Yet, in the end, the truth wins as he is defeated by Avatar Aang, proving that no matter how high evil rises, it can always be brought down.

Views Humanity Entirely As Flawed

Created from the entity known as the Dwarf in the Flask, Father’s entire existence revolves around his desire to suppress humanity and attain godhood. This desire makes him believe that he is above the very beings that gave him life, making him fall into a complex he can’t escape.

Originally a mere homunculus, he manipulates an entire civilization to create the Philosopher’s Stone, allowing him to absorb the power of a literal god. But, even after achieving what he wanted, he remained unsatisfied and wanted to rid himself of human flaws entirely.

1

Light Yagami – Death Note

The God Of Death & The New World

With the Death Note in his hands, a book that can kill anyone just by writing their name, Light Yagami or Kira sees himself as a person who can free the world of criminals and also be the judge of it.

Starting just as an idealistic boy, the anime series Death Note follows him slowly losing all sense of morality, just as power corrupts him. With the power over life and death, he becomes so cold that he even orchestrates a hard situation for his father, knowing fully that he will die.