Gul Darhe'el

Oh, no, no, Major... you can't dismiss me that easily. I did what had to be done. My men understood that, and that's why they loved me. I would order them to go out and kill Bajoran scum, and they'd do it, they'd murder them! They'd come back covered in blood but they felt clean! Now why did they feel that way, Major? Because they were clean! – DS9, Episode 1x19: Duet

This is a hard character to discuss because like I said, he doesn’t actually appear in the series. However, the enormity of this man’s crimes simply cannot be ignored. The commandant of Gallitep, a Cardassian forced labor camp during the Bajoran occupation, Darhe’el committed countless atrocities against the Bajoran people, earning him the nickname the butcher of Gallitep. His crimes were so appalling and so numerous that even after his death, the echo of his evil remains. Years after the death of Darhe’el, a filing clerk at Gallitep named Amon Maritza had been driven so mad by the atrocities he witnessed that he impersonated Darhe’el in the hopes of being punished, simply for the crime of inaction. That sort of evil would have been enough to top the list, but it remains here in the HM section for two reasons. 1. He doesn’t appear in the show. 2. The guy who is at the number 1 spot is far far worse.

Empress Hoshi Sato of the Mirror Universe

You are speaking with Empress Sato. Prepare to receive instructions - ENT, Episode 4x19 In a Mirror Darkly Part II

Maybe I spoke too soon in part one when I said that Seska was the master of seduction and deception. This character is not only a master of manipulating the characters, but the audience as well. Throughout the entire two-parter, she leads everyone to believe that she’s well… the office loose chick, spreading her legs for anyone in power. But this is all an act. She uses this persona to manipulate the ones with power until she finds her opportunity to seize it for herself. Unlike Archer in this episode, who’s nuttier that a payday bar, Hoshi is focused and goal oriented. Like a coiled snake she waits for her opportunity to strike, and when Archer lets his guard down, she sinks her venomous teeth in.

Nero

There was a tradition on Romulus that when a loved one died you would paint your grief upon your skin. Ancient symbols of love and loss. In time the paint would fade, and with it the period of mourning. Life would go on. We paint these symbols on our skin now. But we burn them deep. So that they will never fade. Because life does not go on. We died with our friends. We died with our families. We died with Romulus. And all that is left is revenge – Star Trek: Countdown

In the late 24 century, long after the defeat of Praetor Shinzon and the peace treaty between Romulus and the Federation, The Planet Romulus was in danger of being consumed by a supernova. A Romulan miner named Nero collaborated with Ambassador Spock in order to prevent the destruction of his home planet. When Spock failed in his task, Nero was stricken with uncontrollable grief at the loss of his home, including his wife and child. That grief quickly turned into rage and a deep desire for vengeance on Spock, whom he blames for everything. Using his powerful mining vessel, retrofitted with Borg technology, he tries to destroy Spock but both fall through a black hole and end up in the 23 century. After killing the crew of the USS Kelvin, including the father of James T. Kirk, Nero waited patiently, letting his hatred and madness grow, for 25 years until Spock falls through the singularity, just so they could force him to watch the destruction of Vulcan, just as Nero was forced to watch the destruction of Romulus. Unlike Soran and Annorax, Nero does not try to revive his wife and child, but instead only cares about making others suffer as he has. The only thing preventing this guy from being higher on the list is the fact that the movie incarnation does not reflect the darker origin presented in the prequel comic book. This guy has one of the biggest body counts, if not the biggest body count of any villain on this list. While Spock tried desperately to save Romulus and mourned the loss of life, Nero murdered countless innocents in cold blood. With a Rage that transcends time, there’s no question that Nero belongs on this list.

Luther Sloan

I'll spare you the 'ends justify the means' speech and you spare me the 'we must do what's right' speech – DS9, Episode 7x16: Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

It’s easy to see the egomaniacal dictator or the vengeance obsessed madman as your enemy, but what about the evil in your own ranks. Luther Sloan is the leader of the covert Federation group known as section 31. This organization exists to do the morally questionable things that the higher ups in the federation cannot do, lest they lose their image of a peaceful and diplomatic force in the universe. To quote Captain Picard for a moment

The first duty of every Starfleet officer is to the truth, whether it's scientific truth or historical truth or personal truth! It is the guiding principle on which Starfleet is based! And if you can't find it within yourself to stand up and tell the truth about what happened, you don't deserve to wear that uniform! – TNG, Episode 5x19: The First Duty

This is the moral standard that every Starfleet officer claims to uphold, when in reality, several of the higher-ups are looking the other way while Luther Sloan and his group are planning assassinations and biological warfare. Starfleet claims to be the moral authority of the Alpha Quadrant, but section 13 shows their true colors. Sloan himself is quite a scumbag, putting poor doctor Bashir through the mental ringer just as part of his recruitment drive, and even after he refuses, Sloane still uses him as a tool for his twisted goals. With the existence of section 31, the moral utopia that Gene Roddenberry originally envisioned the future to be crumbles at the feet of Luther Sloan.

The Female Changeling

You may win this war, Commander; but I promise you, when it is over, you will have lost so many ships, so many lives, that your victory will taste as bitter as defeat – DS9, Episode 7x25: What You Leave Behind

In the Gamma Quadrant, countless planets and races have been conquered by a powerful force known only as The Dominion. At the head of this destructive and oppressive force is a race of shape shifters who call themselves The Founders. They can take any shape they desire and use this talent to breed mistrust among their enemies. Their leader, or rather their representative, is identified only as the Female Changeling, and she is one evil bitch. The Changeling modus operandi is a pretty nasty one, utilizing powerful soldier race known as the Jem’Hadar to take planets by force and place their agents, a clone race called the Vorta, in positions of power. They don’t really wish to conquer because of a lust for power so much as a sense of entitlement. They simply do not understand why the “Solids” resist them, believing themselves to be inherently superior. They do not care about the suffering of others, they only care about themselves. I guess when you’re entire race exists as a giant ocean of brown slime it’s pretty easy to wash the blood off your hands.

Lore

The reign of biological life-forms is coming to an end. You, Picard, and those like you, are obsolete! – TNG, Episode 7x01: Descent Part II

Those of you who are only casual fans of Star Trek are probably thinking, “Why is Data on this list, isn’t he one of the most memorable and beloved characters of the TNG era?” I got news for you guys; this ain’t Data. Before the genius cyberneticist, Dr. Noonian Soong built everyone’s favorite socially awkward science officer, he built the android known as Lore. Unfortunately, Soong’s first attempt to simulate emotions in a positronic brain worked all too well. Lore could experience emotions like jealousy, greed, megalomania, but that shouldn’t be a problem should it? Soong built him with an ethical subroutine, that’s foolproof isn’t it? Those of you who said yes, go sit in the corner. Lore has all of Data’s strength and intelligence but has a mind filled with evil thoughts. That alone would be enough to make him a serious threat, but let’s pile on his ability to communicate with the powerful Crystalline Entity, that has the power to destroy entire planets. Not enough for you? Okay, let’s add on the fact that in his final appearance, he is not only leading an army of renegade Borg but also using the emotion chip that he murdered his creator to steal to take control of his brother Data. Now let’s get to why Lore is really on this list. Lore is a dick. That sounds so simple and crude but it’s true. Lore is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocents and all the while grinning that smug grin of his. But why does he do it? I don’t know. Lore doesn’t really have a clear-cut motivation beyond general desire for power and destruction. Really, everything he does in this series, he does simply because he’s an asshole. Lore is another example of “the face of a friend turned into the face of the enemy” but that’s only a small portion of what makes him who he really is, and who he really is, is the twisted fusion of Doctor Doom and Bender from Futurama. Douchebaggery on a cosmic scale, that’s more than enough to earn Lore the number six spot on this countdown.

Weyoun

The Dominion has endured for two thousand years and will continue to endure long after the Federation has crumbled into dust, but we’ll leave that to history – DS9, Episode 4x22: To the Death

Deep Space Nine fans are probably feeling very puzzled right about now. I know what you’re thinking. “Why is this guy higher on the list that the Female Changeling, isn’t he the Founder’s servant and spend most of the series sucking up to them?” Well you’re absolutely right on that account. Weyoun is fiercely loyal to the Founders and is pretty much their stooge, but I still think he deserves a spot above his masters. While the Founders rule their world silently from their ocean of apathy, Weyoun and the other Vorta are acting as the movers and the shakers of the Dominion. Weyoun loves every minute of what he does. As the dominion conquers more worlds, the Founders just take Solace in the fact that the rightful order is falling into place. Weyoun on the other hand takes great pleasure in every act of evil that is perpetrated by himself and his masters. Not to mention the fact that he’s such an oily bastard that I’m surprised he’s able to sit in chairs without slipping out. Like Garak, he comes to you as with a friendly and happy-go-lucky demeanor. Unlike Garak, he cannot hide the enormity of the dominion’s evil behind that serpentine smile. And did I mention that if you kill him the founders will just clone him back, making it damn near impossible to get rid of this asshole. A conniving scumbag gleefully serving a race of apathetic dictators with a god complex, Weyoun is one puddle of slime you’ll wish you never stepped in.

General Chang

Oh, now be honest, Captain, warrior to warrior. You do prefer it this way, don't you, as it was meant to be? No peace in our time. Once more unto the breach, dear friends – Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)

This guy is a lot more like what Kruge should have been. A Klingon general who so hated the idea of peace with the federation that he was willing to partake in a conspiracy to assassinate the Klingon high chancellor in order to keep the war going. In many ways he represents a dark mirror for Captain Kirk. Kirk despises the Klingons for killing his son and hates the idea of peace just as much as Chang does, but unlike Kirk, Chang is willing to take it one step further. Unlike most Klingons we see in the series, who are usually loud and short tempered, Chang is very subdued, which makes him much more intimidating. With a powerful ship that can fire while cloaked and a penchant for menacingly quoting Shakespeare, Chang has a lot of the classic villain bases covered. The things he was willing to do in the name of hatred and fear make him one of the strongest Star Trek villains ever, more than worthy of the number four spot.

Khan Noonien Singh

I've done far worse than kill you. I've hurt you. And I wish to go on hurting you. I shall leave you as you left me. As you left her. Marooned for all eternity at the center of a dead planet. Buried alive...buried alive – Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

You all knew this one was coming. This is quite possibly the single most recognizable villain in the history of Star Trek. During the Eugenics Wars of the 1990’s, (What? You don’t remember?) the genetically enhanced superman known as Khan Noonien Singh ruled most of Asia with an iron fist. After the war, Khan escaped into space with his loyal servants in the sleeper ship, the Botany Bay. Two hundred years later, Khan was awakened by James T. Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise. He tried to take the Enterprise for himself and use it to reclaim his empire and nearly succeeded if not for the intervention of Kirk. Kirk marooned him on the planet of Ceti Alpha V where he remained for several years with only vengeance on his mind. When Khan finally escaped his exile, he took control of a Federation Starship and stole a powerful bio-weapon. This would have been enough for most bad guys, but Khan needs his vengeance. He needs to not only kill Kirk, but look into his eyes as he dies. See that look of shock and terror when he knows exactly who defeated him. Khan’s obsession with vengeance is both his greatest strength and his Achilles heal. It is what drives him, what motivates him, what gives him purpose, but it will also ultimately destroy him. Kirk is essentially the White Whale to Khan’s Ahab. There’s almost no point in talking about Khan at length as so many have done it already. Suffice to say he’s a powerful threat and a perfect rival for Kirk. Kirk may not believe in a no win scenario, but the genetically enhanced monomaniacal madman almost made a believer out of him.

Locutus of Borg

I am Locutus...of Borg. Resistance...is futile. Your life, as it has been...is over. From this time forward...you will service...us – TNG, Episode 3x26: Best of Both Worlds Part I

The phrase “Face of a friend, face of an enemy… blah blah blah” has been thrown around quite a bit in this list. The idea adds interesting dimensions to certain villains and sometimes shows the heroes what they may have become if their lives had been different. However, at the end of the day, Lore is not Data, Sela is not Tasha Yar and Shinzon is not Picard. Locutus on the other hand IS Picard. No matter how many times Picard tries to forget the thousands of noble Starfleet officers who died by Locutus’s hand, no matter how much he convinces himself that the thousands more that lost their very souls when he assimilated them into the collective were because he was under the influence of the hive mind, he cannot escape the fact that he did all of these evil deeds. But do not think that the memories of Locutus haunt only Picard. During the battle, a young Benjamin Sisko lost his beloved wife at the hands of Locutus and the Borg. Years later when he meets Picard, instead of seeing one of the most decorated and respected Starfleet officers, all he sees is the monster that took his wife from him. Locutus may be long gone, but the memory of him and the destruction caused will plague Picard and several others for years to come. Resistance is futile.

Gul Dukat

I'm so glad we had this time together, Benjamin, because we won't be seeing each other for a while. I have unfinished business on Bajor. They thought I was their enemy? They don't know what it is to be my enemy, but they will. From this day forward, Bajor is dead! All of Bajor! And this time, even their Emissary won't be able to save them! – DS9, Episode 6x11: Waltz

Where… do I even… start? Not only is Gul Dukat the greatest villain in the entire Star Trek franchise, bar none, he is also a strong contender for the most well developed and complex villain in the history of fiction. The episode quoted above is called Waltz, in which Dukat and Captain Sisko are trapped on a planet together and Dukat is forced by his own insanity to confess to the atrocities he committed during the occupation of Bajor. At the end of the episode there is another quote relevant to Dukat’s character.

Sometimes life seems so complicated, nothing is truly good or truly evil. Everything seems to be a shade of grey. And then you spend some time with a man like Dukat, and you realize that there is such a thing as truly evil ­– DS9, Episode 6x11: Waltz

Yeah, that just about sums it up. Really, anything that the 19 other villains on this list are capable of, Dukat can do it better. During the Cardassian occupation of Bajor, Dukat committed nearly every act of evil that an invading force can commit towards the people of the occupied territory, including forcing Major Kira’s mother to become his sex slave, and she probably was not the only one given how many illegitimate children this guy has fostered. There are times during the series where he seems like a sympathetic, even good man, but then he starts lusting after major Kira or reminding everyone of the occupation. The sickest part about the latter, he believes that for atrocities the Bajoran people suffered under his rule, he should not only be thanked, but worshipped. He genuinely believes that he did the Bajorans a favor when he occupied their planet and placed them into forced labor camps. When the Dominion makes its presence known, Dukat sees an opportunity to regain the power that his people have lost, and so he joins their side. He knows he cannot trust them, but does not care. He knows that this will make him the power in the universe that he believes he deserves to be. When Sisko and the federation retake Deep Space Nine and Dukat’s daughter Ziyal is killed in the ensuing chaos, Dukat’s sanity finally cracks. When alone on the planet with Sisko in Waltz, he begins hallucinating and he confesses his hatred for the Bajorans. He says that he should have killed every last one of them because they didn’t appreciate what he did for them. Through it all, he has no regrets. After that, he becomes a desciple of the Pah Wraiths, who are pretty much the closest thing in the Star Trek universe to The Devil. This new-found faith leads him to murder Jadzia Dax and manipulate Kai Winn into freeing his gods and unleashing an unholy fire in which the entire Alpha Quadrant will burn. In the fire caves, he is granted all the power of the Pah Wraiths for a final confrontation with the Emissary of the Prophets, Ben Sisko. Dukat has let his own evil consume him until he has become evil incarnate. Dukat stands alone as the only character to act as the main villain for an entire Star Trek series. The closest Next Generation had was Q, and we’ve been over him. Dukat is one of the most complex villains ever conceived. He has multiple layers to his character, but at the end of the day, he is pure, unabashed evil.