10 Best-Written X-Men Villains, Ranked

The X-Men are a staple of the Marvel Universe. While their greatest heroes, from Jean Grey to Wolverine and Professor Xavier, have contributed to their popularity, the Uncanny X-Men would be nowhere near what they are if not for the wonderfully written villains they’ve fought (and teamed up with) along the way.

Magneto was the first villain the X-Men ever fought, Apocalypse was the “first mutant,” and Mystique’s characterization has been built, torn down and rebuilt for decades, adding complexity to an already astonishing character. The X-Men villains are the gold standard of comic book villains, and many should be the archetypes for future Marvel enemies.

10 Madelyne Pryor Sparks An X-Men Clone Saga

Madelyne Pryor and Ben Reilly finally shared Marvel comic pages together during the Dark Web comic event, and for good reason: They’re both clones of major Marvel superheroes Jean Grey and Spider-Man. While Ben Reilly and Peter Parker fought over the Spider-Man suit, Madelyne Pryor suffered her own “Clone Saga” in X-Men comics.

From the epic Inferno event in the 1980s to her appearances in the Krakoa era, controlling Havok and further controlling Limbo, Madelyne Pryor/Goblin Queen has had quite the journey. Her recent appearance in X-Men ’97 has heightened her popularity even more, and she is a tremendous foil to Jean Grey, who also developed close relationships with X-Men, such as Cyclops and Cable.

9 Sabretooth & Wolverine’s Rivalry

On the surface, Sabretooth is an animalistic brute who takes his anger out on Wolverine, but he’s a surprisingly deep character who is far more than growls and bloody claws. His rivalry with Wolverine is legendary; fans of X-Men: The Animated Series can confirm.

Sabretooth’s origin has melded with Wolverine’s, strengthening their hatred for one another and cementing Sabretooth in Marvel lore concerning Weapon X. Sabretooth even became a hero during events like Age of Apocalypse and series like Exiles, where he hopped across Marvel’s multiverse.

8 Beast Became An X-Men Villain

Beast was one of the original members of the X-Men. Even though he has helped save the world many times, Hank McCoy is often a danger to the X-Men and the entire Marvel Universe. He disregarded the dangers to Marvel’s timeline by bringing the young X-Men to the present, and he teamed up with Dark Beast, his evil counterpart from the Age of Apocalypse Earth.

Beast even recently created an army of Wolverine clones to fight Logan and betray the X-Force. Beast is both a hero and a villain who often lets his intellect and hubris overshadow his heroism. However, he appears to have rejoined the X-Men in the latest promotional material that teases the next era of X-Men comics, “From the Ashes.”

7 Bastion Is The Fusion Of Nimrod & Master Mold

Bastion is a fairly obscure X-Men villain to casual Marvel comic readers, but longtime fans know him well. Bastion is the fusion of Master Mold and Nimrod, two of the most powerful versions of Sentinels ever. Bastion displays the worst attributes of hero and god complexes, believing himself to be the savior of humanity and willing to destroy any who stand in his way.

X-Men ’97 fans will recognize the villain after his recent appearance in the animated series, and he’ll likely gain more “screen time” in Marvel Comics because of it. Bastion is the culmination of the Sentinels’ anti-mutant war, and he represents the extent humans will go to maintain their dominance over the planet.

6 Scarlet Witch Nearly Erased The X-Men

Scarlet Witch may have served on several Avengers teams, from the Bronze Age Avengers to the Uncanny Avengers during the Marvel NOW! era, but to the X-Men, she’ll always be a villain thanks to her unforgivable act of nearly erasing the mutant population in House of M. After Scarlet Witch uttered the words “No more mutants,” she became a global threat to the X-Men.

Scarlet Witch has worked hard to regain the X-Men’s trust. Ironically, TheTrial of Magneto miniseries is not about Magneto but about Scarlet Witch trying to find a place within the X-Men’s Krakoa Era. Despite retcons and changes to her origins, Scarlet Witch is a perpetual bridge between the X-Men and Avengers in Marvel Comics.

5 Emma Frost Is The White Queen Of The X-Men

Emma Frost is as cold a villain as her name suggests, but she’s not heartless. She cares for her fellow mutants as long as they haven’t crossed her. She developed a brief, complicated romance with Cyclops, a rivalry with Jean Grey, a disdain for Sebastian Shaw and the rest of the Hellfire Club, a respect for Professor Xavier, and a friendship with Kitty Pryde while serving on the Krakoa Quiet Council and Marauders.

Emma Frost is the White Queen of the X-Men and conducts herself like royalty. She is one of the most powerful telepaths in the Marvel Universe and captivates the entire Hellfire Galas with her diamond form. Frost was once a villain, but now she is one of the most powerful (and ruthless) X-Men allies.

4 Mister Sinister Shows Many Sides In X-Men Comics

Mister Sinister is a terrifying X-Men villain, like an evil Dr. Frankenstein, and Sinister is a mad scientist who loves experimenting on the most powerful mutants. Cyclops and Jean Grey felt his wrath when Sinister attempted to use them to create the next mutant messiah.

Mister Sinister has many personalities thanks to an army of clones he’s created over decades. Mister Sinister can be as villainous and sadistic as the Green Goblin, as cold and calculating as Doctor Doom, and as ridiculous and hilarious as Deadpool––truly a villain flexible enough to fit any scenario and the voice of any X-Men writer at the time.

3 Apocalypse Is The Ultimate Mutant In Marvel Comics

Apocalypse is one of the greatest villains in Marvel Comics, and he has the power to back it up. Apocalypse claims to be the first mutant, giving him dominion over the X-Men and the remaining mutants. Apocalypse’s villainy spans timelines and universes. He has fought the present-day X-Men and X-Factor teams, caused wars and unleashed viruses in Cable’s dark future, and taken over the world in Marvel’s Age of Apocalypse comics.

Recently, Apocalypse displayed new wrinkles to his character when he sided with the X-Men to defend the Earth from his invading family. Apocalypse led the X of Swords story arc against his own wife and the original Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

2 Mystique Wears Many Faces As X-Men Villain, Anti-Hero & More

Mystique originally debuted as a Ms. Marvel villain. However, her mutant status and familial connections to Rogue and Nightcrawler brought her into the X-Men’s corner of the Marvel Universe. Mystique is one of the greatest villains and antiheroes in Marvel Comics.

Mystique is an extremely sympathetic character, and though her motives often clash with Magneto or Professor X, her story arc is compelling, and her connection with Destiny has turned into one of Marvel’s best romances. Whether it’s Dark Reign, All-New X-Men or the Krakoa Era, Mystique is usually around the X-Men, pulling the right strings for the wrong reasons.

1 Magneto Is Arguably The Best X-Men Hero Or Villain

Magneto has been a part of the X-Men universe from the very beginning. He starred as the main antagonist for many of the X-Men’s earliest comics, though it wouldn’t take long for Stan Lee and other Marvel Comics writers to add layers and layers of complexity. Magneto wasn’t just a villain who wanted to conquer the world; he wanted mutant superiority, a more violent, drastic version of Charles Xavier’s dream of mutant prosperity.

Over the years, Magneto has teamed up with the X-Men and led the superheroes into battle against common enemies like the Sentinels and Apocalypse during the Age of Apocalypse comics. Xavier and Magneto stood shoulder to shoulder in House of X, and Magneto continues to grow and evolve each passing year.