The line between Light and Dark can be so very thin in the Destiny series. Yet, it seems that the pull of Darkness is far greater to succumb to, meaning the Guardians, the champions of Light, have plenty of villains they need to defeat across the Destiny games, and that’s not just for their exotic loot.
Some of the best Destiny villains have challenged Guardians in multiple ways. Whether that’s through personal grief, the promise of destruction, or the stealing of Light. Each Destiny villain has something to bring to the table and a reason that the Guardians need to take them out.
10 Crota, Son Of Oryx
Although Crota is mainly known as the Son of Oryx, he has accomplishments worthy of note. Crota was truly the first mainline Destiny villain thanks to The Dark Below DLC, which brought Crota into the spotlight, as a true threat that lurks with Hive forces on the Moon. It’s worth noting that Crota’s villainy was also his undoing, as he accidentally brought the Vex into the Ascendant Realm which saw him banished to the Moon in the first place.
Crota may not be the strongest of the Hive forces, but he had a loyal army, a talent for killing, and a dangerous family. Crota saw his demise at the Crota’s End raid, proving himself as not the best Destiny villain due to being killed by 6 Guardians with swords and rocket launchers. Crota would certainly stand no chance against the best strand weapons.
9 Nezarec, The Final God Of Pain
As a Disciple of the Witness, Nezarec harbors some incredible power. What makes Nezarec such a dangerous threat upon his resurrection is the fact that he was brought to life by the Traveler, whether intentional or by mistake, Nezarec was now imbued with Darkness and Light in his rebirth, bringing forth perhaps his most dangerous new form.
The initial Collapse of humanity occurred when Nezarec led the Black Fleet to Earth centuries ago. Some societies even worship Nezarec, showing how far his nightmare reaches into the minds of many. However, Nezarec was killed by Savathûn once, proving he is not all-powerful. Which is the motivation the Guardians needed when they killed him upon his resurrection.
8 Fikrul, The Fanatic
The Scorned Barons wreaked havoc in the Sol System for some time. As the leader, Fikrul made sure that the carnage was a merry one, with many Fallen corrupting into the Scorn, further growing the dangerous armies of the Scorn. Fikrul is the most powerful of the Barons because despite trying, he can never truly die, as he has inhumane resurrection abilities.
As it stands, Fikrul still lives, despite his numerous deaths at the hands of Guardians. What awaits Fikrul and his quest remains to be seen, but his goal seems to be the continuous vengeance of his murdered allies at the hands of the Guardians, a scary motivation, as he does not seem to care about ruling the universe, just the death of the Guardians.
7 Emperor Calus
For centuries, Calus led the Cabal through an era of perfection and power. Emperor Calus may have been exiled, but he has a loyal legion at his side. For years, Calus would study the Guardians and their power from an unknown location, seeing if they were worth recruiting to be by his side for his total desire to be alive during the end of all things.
Calus later joined the Witness as a Disciple, and the former gracious emperor was now just a pawn. Calus was a great villain who became blind to his greed and succumbed to the desperation to survive by any means. Calus’ death at the hands of the Guardians proved that despite his self-importance, he was but a tool.
6 Dominus Ghaul
As the Cabal who usurped the throne from Calus, Dominus Ghaul decided to take the Cabal into a new age of war and conquering. Dominus Ghaul decided that the greatest battle awaits the Cabal on Earth, in which they would fight the Guardians and their immortality. Dominus Ghaul did something no Destiny villain has achieved so far: sieging the Last City and bringing the Guardians to their knees.
Dominus Ghaul has no paracausal powers and only harbors a strong will and hatred. Dominus Ghaul was able to enslave the Traveler and steal the Light that he craved, isolating it from the Guardians that needed it. Dominus Ghaul was one of the best villains for Destiny but died of an ever-growing lust for power.
5 Prince Uldren Sov
The spymaster of the Reef and the brother to Queen Mara Sov, Prince Uldren Sov was always mysterious and untrusting of Guardians and disappeared after the supposed death of his sister. Yet, Uldren Sov returned, determined to find his sister through any means necessary, even if that meant murdering the beloved Hunter Vanguard, Cayde-6.
Uldren Sov is perhaps the only villain in Destiny where the Guardians have a personal vendetta. Uldren Sov has no great powers, his goals are puppeteered by Riven in the Dreaming City, but that does not stop the story of revenge from taking over, making Uldren Sov memorable for his feats. Uldren Sov now lives again with a new and renowned life as Crow, a Guardian who has to live with the regrets of Uldren Sov.
4 Savathûn, The Witch Queen
There are too many titles to name for Savathûn, and even the Witch Queen herself does not care about them all. However, perhaps the most important title of them all is the God of Cunning and Lies. Savathûn has deceived many and killed more.
Savathûn has a plan, unknown to the Guardians and even the Witness, one that Savathûn has taken to her grave. Yet, perhaps it is not her final death, as her Ghost, Immaru, still lives. Perhaps Savathûn is not the ultimate villain, as her motivations are unknown. Is she allied with the Traveler, or an enemy to all?
3 Rhulk, Disciple Of The Witness
The first Disciple of the Witness, Rhulk displays his power in his achievements but sees no reason to boast them. Rhulk is responsible for the destruction of his planet, proving just how devoted he is to the Witness. Rhulk only appeared in the Vow of the Disciple raid but made a strong impression as a Destiny villain.
Without Rhulk, the Hive would not be what they are. Rhulk was the subjugator, forcing the Hive Worm Gods into servitude of the Witness. Rhulk’s accomplishments are as incredible as they are evil, serving the Final Shape and the Witness, with no desire for anything else.
2 Oryx, The Taken King
Oryx brought war to the Sol System in seeking revenge for the death of his son, Crota. Oryx is perhaps one of the strongest villains in Destiny, an entity whose sheer will matches his conquering. Oryx has destroyed perhaps millions of planets and civilizations, all thanks to his powers born from the Darkness itself, and the unique ability to create Taken.
Oryx is an instrumental villain to Destiny, causing the near extinction of the Awoken people singlehandedly. Oryx brought the Taken to the Sol System, a race that remains a constant threat even after his death at the hands of the Guardians.
1 The Witness
The pinnacle villain of all of Destiny, the main antagonist to the series, the Witness. For eons, the Witness has pursued the Traveler, leaving death in its wake. The Witness may have a mysterious history, and a motive entirely unknown, but it does not care, nor will it even acknowledge those that lack a purpose in bringing about the Final Shape, the ultimate end goal of the Witness.
The Witness has extraordinary powers. Whether that involves physically dismantling a Guardian and a Ghost with just a thought, or traveling through space at an intense speed, the total powers of the Witness have yet been seen, because it does not need to prove itself. The Witness is the ultimate threat to the universe, and the fate of all things remains to be seen in The Final Shape.