Wizards are one of the most popular archetypes in history, spanning almost one thousand years. Masters of mystical and magical wonders, Wizards attract those with fancies of fantasy. Many mediums showcase wizards in many different ways; for example, they appear in Dungeons and Dragons as NPCs and Classes. They also appear as memorable characters in novels, movies, and video games. However, one of the most memorable manifestations of Wizards is of the great Merlin and his mentorship of the King of Kings, Arthur Pendragon.
But Wizards are not always portrayed in such a bright light; there are moments where even the pure power of magic can be twisted for vile purposes. Sometimes, a Wizard can stare into the abyss too long and become twisted himself. As a result, dark Wizards exist as villains of stories or conquerers of worlds.
8 Horvath – The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Horvath was one of the three apprentices of the great Wizard Merlin. He betrayed Merlin and his best friend Balthazar, serving Morgana and Evil Witch. Horvath and Balthazar have been at war for nearly a thousand years, with Horvath trying to retrieve the Grimhold and release Morgana into the present world. Jealousy turned Horvath to Morgana as he and Balthazar fell in love with the same woman, Veronica, but she chose Balthazar, which deeply wounded Horvath. Horvath killed Merlin and betrayed Balthazar, costing him his mentor and relationship.
7 Saruman – The Lord Of The Rings
Saruman the White was once the mightiest of wizards, former leader of the White Council, and the first member of the Istari. He held immense power in magic and deep knowledge of the mystic arts of Middle-earth, both light and dark.
Unfortunately, Saruman became tempted by the One Ring and sought to claim it for himself. Seeking out the ring led him to the Dark Lord, Sauron, who twisted the once-great mage under his servitude. He turned against everything he once stood for, even his greatest and oldest friend, Gandalf.
6 Randal Flagg – The Dark Tower
Randal Flagg is the main villain in several stories by Stephen King. Most notably, in the film The Dark Tower, Randall Flagg is an old and powerful magic user who sought to create interdimensional travel and bring destruction to a new plane of existence.
He displays the power of life and death, animals, and prophecy. Randal Flagg has spent thousands of years serving a supernatural force called the Outer Dark and has acted as the main threat to the entire universe.
5 Vortigern – King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword
Vortigern is the brother to King Uther, and uncle to his son Arthur. After betraying Uther for his selfish ambition, he seized the throne and slaughtered Uther and his wife. He would have killed Arthur as well if it had not been for his father keeping Vortigern at bay.
Vortigern sacrificed his wife to an evil deity for strength and power that instructed him on the dark arts, allowing him a powerful Lich form. When Arthur returned for his birthright along with the sword Excalibur, he sacrificed his own daughter for more power to face the destined King.
4 Gargamel – The Smurfs
Gargamel is a pure evil being with no desire but to eradicate Smurfs and cause chaos on the land. He is a loathsome individual who will stop at nothing to wipe out Smurfs or cause them as much pain and misfortune as possible.
Along with his sidekick cat Azrael, Gargamel has sought to upend smurf life at every turn. However, Smurfs are resilient and put up a fight and fend him off. He has targeted Papa Smurf, manipulated Smurfette, and even gone as far as to attack babby Smurf with no remorse. He is a strong Wizard able to cast catastrophic spells and travel dimensions.
3 Medivh – Warcraft
Medivh is one of the most powerful beings in the World Of Warcraft universe. Appearing in the film Warcraft by Blizzard, based on the popular video game title, he was influenced by a dark force and opened a dark portal to bring the Orc Horde to Azeroth.
Medivh was a powerful Wizard skilled in all forms of magic. He was charged with being the last Guardian of Trisfal like his mother and wielder of the Atiesh, the Great staff of the Guardian, but could still not combat the dark influence of Sargeras. His friends slew Medivh to save his soul and sever the influence of the Burning Legion on his mind.
2 Grindelwald – Fantastic Beasts
Grindelwald is a powerful and sinister wizard with appalling racial views and ideology about humankind. At a young age, while still a student, Grindelwald was reprimanded and expelled for cruelly experimenting on students.
Grindelwald's villainy comes second only to Voldemort in the Harry Potter universe as he attempts to rally an army of strong dark wizards, thrust the magical world into the sunlight, and make humans subservient Wizards. Coincidentally he even attempted to draw Albus Dumbledore into his scheme, the two having a long-standing history with each other.
1 Voldemort – Harry Potter
He who should not be named makes the number one spot. Voldemort is known for his viciously evil nature. He has wiped out entire generations of Wizards for standing against him, and his power in the dark arts knows no equal.
Fluent in all spells that cause pain and misery, even the three forbidden curses of the Wizarding world, Voldemort is capable of prolonging his own life and cheat death. Legions of loyal servants, known as Death Eaters, stand ready to do his malevolent bidding.