Villain Generator

Press New villain for a brief to draw or print, from the archetype down to the lair.

Villain Generator: 30 villains

An old mentor gone sour. They want to never be forgotten. Method: teaching the town to distrust its heroes. Weakness: power fades at sunrise. Look: a helmet that hides the whole face. Lair: a space station parked behind the moon.

Padlock: keep a part. Arrows: change only that part.

Archetypeold mentor gone sour
What they wantto never be forgotten
Methodteaching the town to distrust its heroes
Weaknesspower fades at sunrise
Visual hooka helmet that hides the whole face
Laira space station parked behind the moon

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An old mentor gone sour. They want to never be forgotten. Method: teaching the town to distrust its heroes. Weakness: power fades at sunrise. Look: a helmet that hides the whole face. Lair: a space station parked behind the moon.
An old mentor gone sour. They want to pay off a debt to something worse. Method: locking the city gates from the outside. Weakness: can only run one plan at a time. Look: looks over the top of tiny spectacles. Lair: a nest of rope bridges in one giant tree.
An old mentor gone sour. They want to stop time at the last happy moment. Method: putting a toll on the only road. Weakness: keeps strict office hours. Look: purple robes with a yellow lining. Lair: inside the hill everyone picnics on.
A fallen hero who kept the uniform. They want to be left completely alone. Method: buying the only newspaper in town. Weakness: cannot resist explaining the plan. Look: robes embroidered with their own achievements. Lair: a disused platform on a working railway.
A supervillain on a tiny budget. They want to beat the hero once in front of a crowd. Method: leaving clues that point the wrong way. Weakness: cannot enter a home uninvited. Look: a cold blue glow from whatever they carry. Lair: a village hall booked under a false name.
An anti-villain with a noble cause. They want to make the council need them. Method: bringing statues to life as guards. Weakness: always accepts a formal challenge. Look: a cloak patched from stolen banners. Lair: a drowned palace under a lake.
A chief executive who bought the city. They want to stop a prophecy about themselves. Method: running a rigged contest. Weakness: a lair with exactly one exit. Look: a hat brim wider than their shoulders. Lair: an opera house bought for one performance.
A shapeshifter who forgets their own face. They want to prove the old experiment was right. Method: hiding the plan inside a charity ball. Weakness: never strikes first. Look: always eating an apple mid-threat. Lair: a village hall booked under a false name.
A dark lord in borrowed armour. They want to never be told no again. Method: forging letters in the hero's handwriting. Weakness: returns anything borrowed. Look: armour on one arm only. Lair: a black airship that never lands.
A sorcerer who traded away their name. They want to sit on the throne for one full day. Method: wearing a trusted face. Weakness: an army that obeys only written orders. Look: warm friendly colours on a cold person. Lair: a castle on a rock the tide cuts off.
An anti-villain with a noble cause. They want to own the last working engine. Method: replacing the council one member at a time. Weakness: power fades at sunrise. Look: steeples their fingers while listening. Lair: a submarine disguised as a whale.
A cat burglar who only steals left shoes. They want to finish the work their parents started. Method: offering deals that sound generous. Weakness: a lair with exactly one exit. Look: a coat lined in a colour nobody expects. Lair: a tower with no door at ground level.
A legacy villain finishing a parent's plan. They want to decide what goes in the history books. Method: wearing a trusted face. Weakness: the disguise shows true in mirrors. Look: twirls an umbrella they never open. Lair: a penthouse above the cloud line.
A prankster whose jokes stopped being funny. They want to stop a prophecy about themselves. Method: collecting secrets and keeping careful files. Weakness: an army that obeys only written orders. Look: gold on gold on gold. Lair: a nest of rope bridges in one giant tree.
A petty bureaucrat with one rubber stamp. They want to end all wars by winning the last one. Method: collecting secrets and keeping careful files. Weakness: an army that obeys only written orders. Look: a silhouette built from triangles. Lair: the space behind every mirror in town.
A head teacher with a locked drawer. They want to keep the lights on in a dying house. Method: hiding the plan inside a charity ball. Weakness: always accepts a formal challenge. Look: twirls an umbrella they never open. Lair: an ice palace in the middle of a desert.
A sorcerer who traded away their name. They want to decide what goes in the history books. Method: hiring away the hero's allies. Weakness: henchmen who are paid far too little. Look: a cape that reaches the floor and pools. Lair: behind the clock face of the town hall.
A self-crowned king of the scrapyard. They want to outlast everyone who doubted them. Method: hiding a spell in the town's nursery rhymes. Weakness: returns anything borrowed. Look: a personal crest stamped on everything. Lair: a walled garden with no gate.
A dispatcher who sends heroes to fail. They want to close the school that expelled them. Method: arriving early and rearranging the room. Weakness: believes their own posters. Look: a belt buckle shaped like a snake. Lair: a pirate galleon with a ballroom.
A petty bureaucrat with one rubber stamp. They want to ruin the rival who laughed at them. Method: keeping stolen echoes in jars. Weakness: mistakes kindness for stupidity. Look: keys hanging from every belt loop. Lair: a nest of rope bridges in one giant tree.
A master of disguise with one tell. They want to stop a prophecy about themselves. Method: collecting secrets and keeping careful files. Weakness: will not lie when asked directly. Look: a gardener's apron over court clothes. Lair: a disused platform on a working railway.
An iron-fisted mayor of a small town. They want to keep the lights on in a dying house. Method: framing the hero for the theft. Weakness: a rose garden they refuse to leave. Look: the hero's old colours worn inside out. Lair: an abandoned observatory.
An archivist who edits the records. They want to humiliate the hero on a stage. Method: rewriting the contract in very small print. Weakness: cannot resist explaining the plan. Look: steeples their fingers while listening. Lair: a corner office with a lovely view.
A rival with the hero's exact skills. They want to never be poor again. Method: telling each side a different story. Weakness: plans for heroes but never for weather. Look: black and yellow stripes like a wasp. Lair: a walled garden with no gate.
A vampire count short of guests. They want to own one of everything. Method: putting a toll on the only road. Weakness: never schemes on their day off. Look: removes one glove slowly to make a point. Lair: a pirate galleon with a ballroom.
A bitter neighbour with binoculars. They want to prove the old experiment was right. Method: buying up debts and calling them in at once. Weakness: cannot enter a home uninvited. Look: mismatched buttons taken from rivals. Lair: a night bus that is never in service.
A former sidekick tired of the shadow. They want to rename the city after themselves. Method: waiting for the hero to get tired. Weakness: cannot enter a home uninvited. Look: black and yellow stripes like a wasp. Lair: a tower with no door at ground level.
A carnival barker with a rigged game. They want to see their name cleared by any means. Method: challenging rivals to duels they cannot refuse. Weakness: believes their own posters. Look: shoulder pads cut to sharp points. Lair: a flower shop that never seems to sell any.
A self-appointed ruler of the pigeons. They want to keep a promise made to the wrong person. Method: sending henchmen in matching coats. Weakness: never reads their own small print. Look: a belt buckle shaped like a snake. Lair: a house where every door opens on one room.
A fairy noble who keeps bargains to the letter. They want to humiliate the hero on a stage. Method: offering deals that sound generous. Weakness: never looks up. Look: steeples their fingers while listening. Lair: a space station parked behind the moon.

Next step Design the hero they are up against Give this villain a past

Archetype: all 85 archetypes

Schemers and masterminds 14

archivist who edits the records Small figure, huge shelves. The scale makes the point about who owns history.
banker who holds everyone's debts The ledger is the weapon. Give it more detail than the face.
collector of other people's secrets A listener's pose: head tilted, hands folded, nothing of their own on show.

Show all 85 archetypes (82 more)

Schemers and masterminds, continued

collector who must complete the set Show the one empty hook on the wall. That gap is the whole plot.
court astrologer who rigs the stars Instruments everywhere, all pointing where they were told to point.
head teacher with a locked drawer Kind face, tidy desk, one drawer the viewer's eye keeps going back to.
inventor whose best idea was stolen Ink on the cuffs, blueprints underfoot, the stolen version framed on the wall.
lawyer who never technically lies Every gesture is open and reasonable. The threat is in the paperwork.
patient mastermind who thinks in chess moves Draw them still. Everyone else in the frame moves; they do not.
puppet master who is never in the room Try drawing only their hands, or their shadow across someone else's desk.
quiet deputy everyone overlooks Place them at the edge of group scenes first. Move them to the centre later.
retired general planning one last campaign Civilian clothes worn like a uniform: every button done, shoulders back.
royal adviser who whispers Stand them half a step behind the throne, mouth level with the ruler's ear.
spymaster with a harmless day job Two versions of one outfit: the baker's apron, and what is under it.

Rulers and tyrants 14

chief executive who bought the city A glass office, a tiny figure, the whole skyline as their desk ornament.
conquering general who cannot stop Maps with nothing left to take. Draw them looking past the edge.
dark lord in borrowed armour The armour was made for someone else. Let the joins show it.
empress of a shrinking empire Old maps on the wall, with the borders drawn where they used to be.
factory owner who owns the town too Put the chimneys in every background, even the indoor scenes.
guild master who fixes every price Scales somewhere in every scene, and never quite level.
iron-fisted mayor of a small town A chain of office far grander than the town hall behind it.
pirate admiral with a stolen fleet Every ship a different make, all flying one flag.
queen who outlawed music A silent court: instruments locked in a cage behind the throne.
rogue commodore of a star fleet A bridge chair is a throne. Light the face from the screens.
self-crowned king of the scrapyard A throne welded from car doors. The crown is a hubcap, worn seriously.
sky-city governor who taxes the rain Dry and high up. Everyone below them carries a bucket.
usurping regent The crown does not fit. Draw it a size too big, or held and never worn.
warlord who calls it peacekeeping Parade armour that has never seen mud. The banners do the threatening.

Rivals and fallen heroes 14

anti-villain with a noble cause Their cause is one you could share and their methods are not. Draw them tired, not gleeful.
best friend who was left behind Keep one object from the friendship in every drawing of them.
champion who cannot bear to lose Trophies everywhere and one empty plinth lit like a shrine.
dispatcher who sends heroes to fail The one who hands out the quest and hopes nobody comes back. All smiles.
fallen hero who kept the uniform The hero's costume with one piece removed or reversed.
false hero who takes the credit The false hero claims someone else's deed as their own. Pose them mid-bow.
former sidekick tired of the shadow Redraw the sidekick costume scaled up to fill the frame.
knight loyal to a fallen crown Keep the old heraldry polished on a shield that is badly dented.
legacy villain finishing a parent's plan The role runs in the family. The costume is inherited and fits badly.
old mentor gone sour Same stance they taught the hero. Age it and harden it.
protege who outgrew the teacher The teacher's techniques with the safety catches taken off.
rival who came second once A silver medal kept where they see it daily. Composed face, tight jaw.
rival with the hero's exact skills A foil is there to show the hero up by contrast. Mirror the pose, flip the mood.
sibling who took the other road Share the hero's features; change the posture, the haircut and the palette.

Tricksters and thieves 14

carnival barker with a rigged game Striped jacket, big gestures, eyes on the crowd and never on the game.
charming con artist Open hands, easy smile, weight on the back foot, ready to leave.
double agent loyal to nobody Two badges, both hidden. Draw them at a door, neither in nor out.
forger proud of the signature Magnifier, steady wrist, and a hidden mark they cannot resist adding.
fortune teller who arranges the fortunes The crystal ball is a prop. The real work is the notebook under the table.
game show host of a rigged contest Perfect teeth, perfect hair, cue cards held like a hand of aces.
gentleman thief who got bored Evening dress, soft shoes and nothing in the hands. The hands are the tool.
impostor heir Clothes a little too correct, as if learned from a book.
master of disguise with one tell Pick the tell first: a ring, a laugh line, a way of standing.
prankster whose jokes stopped being funny Bright colours and a grin that has gone on a moment too long.
rumour-monger who never leaves the cafe Same chair every time. The town's trouble spreads out from that table.
shapeshifter who forgets their own face Keep one detail constant in every disguise so the viewer can play along.
stage magician who turned to theft Every flourish hides the other hand. Decide what that hand is doing.
travelling seller of cursed goods A cart that unfolds into a shop. Every item has a tag with small print.

Small-time and comic 14

bitter neighbour with binoculars A net curtain, a notebook and a very good view of your front door.
cat burglar who only steals left shoes The lair is a wall of single shoes, neatly labelled.
crooked referee The whistle and the pocket are the two things to draw clearly.
food critic who closes restaurants One raised fork and a very small notebook. The chefs are the scared ones.
hall monitor who never grew out of it A sash or badge they had made themselves. A clipboard completes it.
henchman promoted by accident The boss's cloak on a henchman's shoulders, dragging on the floor.
landlord who raises the rent for fun A ring of keys the size of a dinner plate.
mad scientist with a very small laser Goggles, wild gestures and a device you need to squint to see.
pantomime villain who loves the hissing Panto crowds hiss the villain, who enters from stage left. Play to the back row.
petty bureaucrat with one rubber stamp A desk like a fortress wall. The stamp hovers and never quite lands.
rival baker at the village fete Flour as war paint. The rolling pin is held like a sceptre.
self-appointed ruler of the pigeons A park bench as a throne. The pigeons look loyal, or at least hungry.
supervillain on a tiny budget A cardboard death ray. The ambition is real and the cape is a curtain.
understudy after the lead role Always drawn in the wings, mouthing someone else's lines.

Uncanny and otherworldly 15

alien ambassador with a hidden clause Formal robes and perfect manners. Get one proportion slightly wrong.
ancient dragon in human disguise Human shape, dragon habits: they sit on their money and watch the door.
android butler who knows best Perfect posture, perfect service. Every helpful act removes one more choice.
changeling raised as the heir Dress them exactly like the family portraits. Let the ears or the eyes disagree.
clockwork queen who outlived her makers Visible winding key, flawless posture, a court of stopped clocks.
fairy noble who keeps bargains to the letter Beautiful, polite and exact. The danger is in what you agreed to.
forest spirit who wants the farmland back Build them from the place: bark, antler and moss, with a fence post caught in it.
ghost who refuses to leave the house Let the edges fade into the wallpaper. Keep only the eyes and hands sharp.
necromancer who hates being alone A crowded room where only one figure casts a shadow.
reflection that wants to swap places Draw the mirror version a half second out of step.
scarecrow who got tired of waiting Stitched smile, straw at the cuffs, crows on the shoulders like advisers.
sea witch who trades in promises Knotted cords hang from every beam, one for each promise. Hair and cloth drift as if underwater.
sorcerer who traded away their name Leave a blank where a name would go: an empty nameplate, a scratched crest.
vampire count short of guests A table laid for twenty. One chair is used.
winter spirit who hates the thaw Frost spreads from the feet. Warm colours stop at a line around them.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. Every entry is a type and not a person: none is a named character from a book, film, show or game, and some are stock figures of the genre. No entry makes a villain out of a disability, a scar, an illness, a body shape, a faith or a nationality: the villainy is in what they choose to do. The terms false hero, dispatcher, anti-villain and foil were checked on 2026-09-18 against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villain and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foil_(narrative), and the pantomime conventions (the audience hisses the villain, who enters from stage left) against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantomime. Legacy villain is our own label for a villain who inherits the role. The staging notes are our own suggestions, in our own words. Licence: own work

What they want: all 75 motives

Power and control 13

to be obeyed without having to ask A raised finger or a glance does the work. Give them still hands and servants already moving.
to be the only one who knows the truth Locked books, burnt pages, a finger to the lips. They always look faintly amused.
to control every road in and out A map table with pins at every gate. They dress like a toll keeper promoted far too high.

Show all 75 motives (72 more)

Power and control, continued

to decide what goes in the history books Ink on the fingers, a red pen behind the ear. The portraits in their lair have been repainted.
to have the final say on the weather A barometer on a chain and a coat for the wrong season. The sky behind them matches their mood.
to hold the only key One key, worn where everyone can see it. Design the whole costume to frame that spot.
to make the council need them Helpful posture, document case, a seat just behind the important chairs. They lean in to whisper.
to never be told no again Chin high, arms already folded. Everyone around them nods a little too fast.
to own the last working engine Oil-dark gloves and a polished machine behind glass. Everyone else in the scene travels on foot.
to pick the next ruler and the one after They stand behind the throne, never on it. A hand on the back of the chair is the whole pose.
to rename the city after themselves Put their initials on everything they own: cuffs, gates, cutlery. The new signs are painted and waiting.
to rule the sea lanes Salt-stained finery and a coat printed like a chart. Give them a telescope and a harbour window to stand in.
to sit on the throne for one full day Draw them rehearsing: a kitchen chair, a paper crown, perfect posture. The want is small and total.

Grudges and old scores 13

to be apologised to in public They have built the stage and written the other person's speech. Draw them waiting beside an empty chair.
to beat the hero once in front of a crowd Dressed to be seen from the back row. They count the audience before they look at the hero.
to close the school that expelled them The old school tie, worn as a belt or a bookmark. Plans of the building, corrected in red.
to erase a rival from the record books Scissors, paste and a stack of yearbooks. Each group portrait in the lair has one neat hole.
to humiliate the hero on a stage A showman's coat and a trapdoor lever. They rehearse the reveal, arm flung wide at an empty spot.
to make the town remember what it did They carry the date everywhere: on a locket, a ledger, a stopped clock. The costume is from that year.
to outlast everyone who doubted them Patient, tidy, in no hurry. A pocket book of names, most of them crossed through by time alone.
to prove the old experiment was right A singed lab coat kept for years, notes in a fist. The patched-up apparatus is the second character.
to repay a mentor's betrayal with interest They still use the mentor's stance and tools, a little sharper. One gift from those days, kept and hated.
to ruin the rival who laughed at them They keep the moment: a clipping, a portrait turned to face the wall. The smile is practised in a mirror.
to see their name cleared by any means A folder of papers gone soft at the corners. They stand like someone giving evidence, even at home.
to take back the family estate A faded family crest on new clothes. They hold the old front-door key though the locks were changed.
to win back a title they were stripped of An old sash or medal ribbon with the medal missing. They still stand like the champion.

Greed and collecting 12

to be paid twice for the same job Two purses, two handshakes, one shrug. Give them a coat with a matching pocket on each side.
to buy the mountain and close it A deed tube under one arm and a padlock bigger than their hand. Walking boots that have never walked.
to complete the collection A display case with one labelled gap. White gloves, a lens, and no interest in anything else.
to corner the market in something dull Ledgers, a grey suit, a warehouse of string or salt. Make the dullness the menace.
to empty the vault and leave a thank-you note Good stationery, a fountain pen, perfect manners. Draw the note propped where the gold was.
to hang the one painting that is not for sale An empty frame with a lamp already aimed at it. They stand before it as if the picture were there.
to have the biggest hoard on the continent They wear almost none of it. A plain figure on a huge pile reads greedier than one dripping with rings.
to melt the crown jewels into one coin A furnace apron over court dress. They weigh things in the hand without looking at them.
to own every bridge on the river A chain of toll tokens worn like a necklace. Draw them leaning on a parapet as if it were a shop counter.
to own one of everything Pockets, pouches and a catalogue under one arm. Their eyes are on the viewer's belongings.
to steal the thing nobody thought to guard They look at the hinges while others look at the jewels. Plain clothes and soft shoes.
to win every prize at the fair Rosettes pinned from collar to hem, and a trolley for the cups. The smile is for the judges only.

A good cause gone wrong 13

to bring back someone long gone One empty place kept ready: a chair, a coat on a hook. Play them as sad first and dangerous second.
to bring back the old ways at any cost Dress them a century behind everyone else, and spotless. They correct other people's manners mid-scheme.
to bring order to a very untidy kingdom Labels on everything, including people. A ruler, a clipboard and a fringe cut dead straight.
to build a perfect city and fill it later A model city under glass with no figures in it. They hold a tiny tree with tweezers.
to cure boredom forever Bright, restless, too many props. Their idea of fun is compulsory, and the grin does not switch off.
to end all wars by winning the last one A uniform with no decoration and a calm, tired face. They truly believe this is the kind option.
to finish the work their parents started Tools a generation old and a portrait watching the workbench. The coat was cut for someone taller.
to keep the city safe by locking every door A ring of keys as wide as a plate. They check each lock twice and look relieved, never cruel.
to make everyone equal by making them identical One grey pattern for one suit, repeated on every henchman. The villain wears it too, and means it.
to protect a secret that should be told Arms crossed over a satchel or a sealed box. They stand in doorways, always between you and it.
to save the forest by emptying the valley Leaves and bark worked into the costume, eviction notices in hand. Muddy boots and a clean conscience.
to spare everyone the burden of choosing Soft voice, open hands, a menu with one item. Draw them as the kindest face in the room.
to stop time at the last happy moment Stopped watches on every wall, all at one time. Years on, they still dress for the party held that day.

Fear and survival 12

to be left completely alone High collar, deep hood, a door with nine locks. The schemes exist to make visitors stop coming.
to get home whatever it costs others Travel-worn and out of place: the wrong coat for the climate, a picture of somewhere else in a pocket.
to hide a mistake before anyone notices A sweating, smiling figure standing in front of something under a sheet. The cover-up has outgrown the mistake.
to keep a promise made to the wrong person A ring, a ribbon or a signed page they touch before each bad act. Reluctant posture, steady hands.
to keep the lights on in a dying house Grand clothes gone thin at the elbows. One lit window in a dark frontage is their whole story.
to never be forgotten Their face on coins, walls and teacups. In person they look smaller than the statues.
to never be poor again New money worn all at once, over one old mended item they cannot throw away. They count without meaning to.
to never go back to the bottom of the ladder They keep their first work boots under the desk. Every chair they own is higher than the guest's.
to pay off a debt to something worse They keep glancing over one shoulder. Draw a second, larger shadow in the scene that is not theirs.
to stay one step ahead of their old crew Bags half packed, back to the wall, eyes on the door. One crew token they never took off.
to stay young for one more century A flawless face and clothes cut in a fashion long out of date. Every mirror gets a glance in passing.
to stop a prophecy about themselves The prophecy is copied out and carried, underlined in three inks. They jump at anything that matches it.

Petty and small 12

to be feared by at least one person A cape slightly too long and a practised loom. Small children and cats are not impressed.
to be invited for once Best clothes, a wrapped gift, nowhere to go. Play it straight and the scheme turns sad and funny at once.
to be thanked for once They hold doors and hover for a moment afterwards. The hurt look is small and well practised.
to cancel the festival they were left out of A rain machine or a stack of cancellation notices. Bunting trails from one boot.
to get a better table Dressed for dinner, glaring across a restaurant at a window seat. The reservation book is the thing they steal.
to get the good parking space A clipboard, a whistle and a traffic cone held like a sceptre. The grander the pose, the better the joke.
to have a nemesis of their own They audition heroes. A scrapbook of other villains' rivalries, and a blank page headed with the word nemesis.
to have the last word One finger raised, mouth already open, halfway out of the door and coming back.
to make everyone else late too Pockets full of stopped watches and a bag of other people's keys. They alone look unhurried.
to prove they were right about the hedge A measuring tape, shears and a folder of dated sketches of one hedge. The feud is older than the hero.
to see their name on a plaque They carry a small brass plate and a screwdriver just in case. Draw them polishing it on a sleeve.
to win the village fete at last A giant marrow in a wheelbarrow and years of second-place rosettes. The rival's prize leeks are in danger.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. Each motive is something a person could want for reasons they would defend, because a villain needs a motive the reader can follow (the point is made in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villain, checked 2026-09-18). None refers to a real event, a real group or a real person. The staging notes are our own suggestions: each names a prop, a costume detail or a pose that lets the motive show in a drawing. Licence: own work

Method: all 63 methods

Force and numbers 13

blockading the harbour A line of hulls across the harbour mouth, seen from the quay. Inside it, idle cranes and empty nets.
challenging rivals to duels they cannot refuse A glove on the floor or a card on a tray. The villain is already dressed for it and the rival is in slippers.
hiring every mercenary before anyone else can A long pay table and a longer queue. The villain's prop is a purse, never a sword.

Show all 63 methods (60 more)

Force and numbers, continued

holding the town's only bridge to ransom One figure on a chair in the middle of the span. A lever, a rope or a raised drawbridge is the threat.
knocking down anything in the way A ruled line across a map, through everything. The vehicle or creature that follows it is the design job.
locking the city gates from the outside The villain outside the walls, pocketing the key and strolling off. The panic is all on the far side.
parking a fleet just offshore Sails or funnels along the horizon, doing nothing. The threat is in how still they sit.
seizing the toll gates one by one A map with gates inked out in order. New uniforms on the keepers, badly fitted.
sending clockwork soldiers door to door Design one soldier and repeat it. A winding key in the back and a polite knock make them worse.
sending henchmen in matching coats One coat design, many body shapes. Pick a colour and a collar the hero will learn to dread.
stealing a landmark overnight The morning after: a clean-edged gap in the skyline and one giant bolt left behind.
storming in at the worst possible moment Doors flung wide, backlit, cake mid-cut. Draw the room's faces, not the villain's.
unleashing a monster they barely control A chain pulled tight and the villain's heels dragging. Who is walking whom?

Lies and disguises 12

faking their own disappearance An empty coat and hat left on a riverbank or a chair. Somewhere in the crowd scene, a new moustache.
forging letters in the hero's handwriting Practice sheets pinned up, the same signature again and again. Ink on the cuff is the giveaway.
framing the hero for the theft A planted glove, a cape thread or a boot print in the hero's size. The villain is first to look shocked.
hiding the plan inside a charity ball Evening dress, a guest list and a floor plan under the seating chart. The smile is a host's.
planting a spy in the hero's kitchen A cook's hat, a listening ear at the hatch, notes written on the backs of menus.
pretending to be the victim A handkerchief, a wobble in the voice and a torn sleeve they tore themselves.
running a rigged contest A bent measuring stick, a tilted table or a judge's wink. The prize sits on a cushion nobody will ever lift.
selling the fix for a problem they caused A cart of bottles with a friendly label. In the lair, the matching cart is labelled with the problem.
spreading a rumour and waiting The villain sits with tea while the background gossips in pairs. Whispering heads lean in a chain.
swapping the real one for a copy Two identical objects, one bag. Decide the tiny flaw that marks the copy and hide it in plain view.
telling each side a different story A two-sided costume or two hats. Draw them mid-street, smiling both ways.
wearing a trusted face Draw the borrowed face perfectly and get one habit wrong: the wrong hand, a smile held too long.

Money, law and leverage 13

becoming the only employer in town One logo on every apron, cap and cart. The villain wears it too, slightly larger.
bribing the judges one favour at a time Gift baskets with discreet cards. The villain never hands one over in person.
buying every lantern before the long night A warehouse glowing through its cracks in a dark town. The price board outside has been chalked over twice.
buying the only newspaper in town A press behind them and tomorrow's headline already in hand. It is about them, and it glows.
buying up debts and calling them in at once A satchel of IOUs and a calendar with one date ringed. They knock politely.
collecting secrets and keeping careful files A wall of small labelled drawers. They tap one without opening it, and that is enough.
hiring away the hero's allies Better uniforms, shown on a rail. The villain holds one up against the sidekick for size.
offering deals that sound generous An open hand and a pen offered cap first. The paper is turned so the other person cannot read it.
outbidding the hero at every auction A numbered paddle raised without looking up. A bored face and a very full store room.
passing a law nobody read A very thick book and a very small rubber stamp. Everyone in the chamber is asleep or at lunch.
putting a toll on the only road A striped pole, a booth and a very comfortable chair. The queue runs to the horizon.
rewriting the contract in very small print A magnifying glass, a very fine nib and a scroll that reaches the floor.
suing anyone who complains A flock of clerks with writs rolled like batons. The villain stays seated and points.

Machines and magic 13

bottling the weather Shelves of stoppered jars: a storm, a fog, one square of blue. The sky outside is blank.
brewing a fog that makes people agree Green-grey mist at ankle height and a town square of people nodding. The villain wears a peg on the nose.
bringing statues to life as guards Empty plinths across the city. The guards still fall into their carved poses when they stop moving.
building a machine that does one terrible thing One huge lever, one dial with two settings. Design the machine so its purpose can be guessed from its shape.
growing a hedge maze around the town Seen from above, the town is the centre of the puzzle. The villain carries shears and a watering can.
hiding a spell in the town's nursery rhymes A chalk circle on the pavement with the rhyme written round it. The villain's tally marks are on the wall behind.
keeping stolen echoes in jars Jars that hum and rattle on the shelf. Out in the valley, a shout comes back as silence.
painting doors that lead where they choose Wet paint on the fingers and a brush behind the ear. One painted door stands ajar on a blank wall.
sending the city to sleep with a music box A small box with a huge horn. Citizens doze upright in the street, mid-errand.
shrinking landmarks and pocketing them A coat with many small padded pockets. A clock tower pokes out of one like a pen.
taking over every screen in the city The same face at every size, from a wristwatch to the side of a tower. They have practised their good side.
turning rivals into well-behaved frogs A row of frogs on cushions, each with a tiny item from its old life: a monocle, a sash, a whistle.
winding time back an hour whenever they lose A pocket watch worn smooth on one side. They look tired: this is not their first go at today.

Slow games 12

arriving early and rearranging the room Chairs moved, a rug rolled back, the exits noted. When the hero walks in, the villain is already seated.
becoming everyone's most helpful friend Sleeves rolled, carrying someone's shopping. Keep the design warm and let one detail sit wrong.
doing favours and keeping count A small notebook and a stub of pencil. Every kindness ends with a tick.
leaving clues that point the wrong way Footprints made with someone else's boots on sticks. A trail neat enough to make a good detective doubt it.
letting the heroes win the wrong fights The villain applauds from a balcony as the heroes celebrate. The real work goes on behind the curtain.
making small rules until nothing is allowed Signs on every post, each one reasonable. The villain adds one more with a small, tidy hammer.
moving the boundary stones a foot each night A wheelbarrow, a lantern and soft shoes. By day their garden is visibly larger than last year.
replacing the council one member at a time A group portrait updated yearly. By the last one, every face shares the villain's smile.
teaching the town to distrust its heroes Posters, a pointer and a worried tone. The villain plays the concerned citizen, hat in hand.
training an apprentice to take the blame The apprentice wears the villain's old coat and stands exactly where the evidence will be.
waiting for the hero to get tired A deckchair, a flask and a calendar. The villain looks rested, so draw the hero with shadows under the eyes.
writing themselves into every will A bedside manner, a bunch of grapes and a pen ready. They know every lawyer in town by first name.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. The methods are the stuff of adventure stories: theft, tricks, leverage, strange machines and patience. Nothing here is graphic, and nothing refers to a real crime or a real event. Some are stock devices of the genre. The staging notes are our own suggestions: each says what to put in the picture so the method can be read without a caption. Licence: own work

Weakness: all 62 weaknesses

Pride 13

always makes the dramatic entrance Which means everyone knows exactly when and where they will arrive.
believes their own posters Draw the poster behind them: taller, calmer and better lit than the real thing.
cannot leave an insult unanswered Easy to lure. A rude note will bring them anywhere.

Show all 62 weaknesses (59 more)

Pride, continued

cannot resist explaining the plan Give them a pointer and a diagram. The hero only has to keep them talking.
cannot stand being laughed at One giggle from the back of the hall and the composure goes.
keeps trophies that prove everything The display cabinet is the evidence room. Light it proudly.
must sign their work A monogram hidden in every scheme. Someone observant will start to collect them.
needs an audience No plan starts until someone is watching. Empty the room and it stalls.
never reads their own small print The trap they wrote for others has their name in it too.
refuses help even when losing Show the henchman holding the answer, two steps away and ignored.
sure that no plan of theirs can fail Hubris: pride grown so large it has stopped checking its own work. There is no plan B to draw.
underestimates whoever serves the tea The most dangerous person in the lair is carrying a tray.
will not run even when they should Feet planted, cloak still. Everyone around them is already leaving.

Ties and soft spots 12

a childhood home kept exactly as it was One sunny room in a dark lair. Nothing in it has moved in years.
a portrait they talk to Decide who is in the frame. That person still has a vote.
a rival they would miss The final move is never quite made. Both of them know why.
a rose garden they refuse to leave The evil schedule is planned around pruning season.
a sibling who knows all the old stories Including the embarrassing ones. Draw the sibling unimpressed.
an old friendship with the hero They pull the blow at the last second, every time.
cannot harm anyone who plays the old song Find the tune and you can walk straight in.
dotes on a small and fearless pet The pet goes where it likes, and the villain follows.
hopes the apprentice will turn out better Pride and dread in the same glance, usually from a doorway.
loyal to a crew that is not loyal back They will go back for them. The crew will not return the favour.
one henchman they cannot bear to lose Every plan has a quiet clause that keeps this one out of danger.
still writes to their mother every week A writing desk, a stack of replies, a gentler face than anywhere else.

Rules they will not break 12

always accepts a formal challenge Glove on the floor, plan on hold.
always gives a sporting head start A slow count to ten with the eyes properly closed.
always pays debts to the penny Do them a favour they did not ask for, and they owe you.
cannot refuse a riddle They will stop mid-chase to work it out.
keeps strict office hours The lair is unguarded after five.
must honour any bet Even a silly one. Especially a silly one.
never breaks a promise So the hero's job is to get one in writing.
never harms a guest under their roof Getting invited to dinner is the safest way into the lair.
never schemes on their day off Draw the day off: slippers, a crossword, the doomsday device under a dust sheet.
never strikes first Patient heroes can stand in front of them all day.
returns anything borrowed Which means anything lent to them comes back, along with news of where it has been.
will not lie when asked directly Everything depends on asking exactly the right question.

Practical limits 13

a lair with exactly one exit Good for defence, bad on the day the hero holds the door.
a power source the size of a teacup It is carried on a cushion by someone very nervous.
an army that obeys only written orders Take the pen and the army stands still.
can only run one plan at a time Two problems at once and everything stops.
cannot cross running water Another rule from vampire folklore. Every stream on the map is a border.
cannot enter a home uninvited A folklore rule from some vampire traditions. A doorstep becomes a wall.
the disguise shows true in mirrors Some vampire stories deny them a reflection. Here the mirror simply tells the truth.
everything depends on one key Draw the key plainly, worn round the neck where a hero can see it.
henchmen who are paid far too little Draw the henchmen reading a better job offer.
the machine needs winding every hour Someone has to hold the key. Decide who, and how tired they are.
magic that needs total silence A dropped spoon ruins an hour of work.
power fades at sunrise Put a clock or a window in every scene so the viewer can count down.
the spell breaks if their true name is spoken Somewhere there is a register with the name in it.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. Every weakness is a flaw of character, a tie, a rule or a practical limit. None is a disability, an illness or a feature of anyone's body. The definition of hubris was checked on 2026-09-18 against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubris, and the three folklore limits (no entry without an invitation, no crossing running water, no reflection) against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire, which notes that each holds only in some traditions. The hints are our own suggestions. Licence: own work

Visual hook: all 69 visual hooks

Silhouette 14

a cape that reaches the floor and pools Hide the feet and the figure seems to glide. Keep the hem as one clean shape.
a collar that frames the head like a shield A high collar widens the shoulders and sends the eye to the face.
a hat brim wider than their shoulders The brim throws the eyes into shadow. Light only the mouth.

Show all 69 visual hooks (66 more)

Silhouette, continued

a headdress of bare branches Treat it like antlers: two main beams, then smaller forks.
a helmet that hides the whole face All the acting moves to the tilt of the head and the hands.
a long coat that hides the feet Draw the coat as one tall wedge first and add the person afterwards.
a silhouette built from triangles Points and diagonals read as threat. Curves read as safe.
a soft round cloak with one sharp brooch A gentle outline with a single point in it. The eye goes straight to the point.
a tall staff that doubles their height A strong vertical beside the figure. Tilt it and the pose gains a diagonal.
a train of fabric carried by nobody The cloth has to move on its own. Draw it like a slow wave.
armour on one arm only The armoured side leads in every pose.
one oversized gauntlet Asymmetry makes a silhouette easy to recognise. Decide what the glove is for.
shoulder pads cut to sharp points Fill the figure in black. If the points still say trouble, the design works.
sleeves that swallow the hands No visible hands means no visible intentions. Let one fingertip show.

Costume 14

a cloak patched from stolen banners Each patch is a place they took. Let the pattern clash on purpose.
a coat lined in a colour nobody expects The lining only shows in movement. Save it for the turn or the exit.
a gardener's apron over court clothes Two jobs in one outfit. The secateurs hang where a sword would.
a lab coat with too many pockets Fill each pocket with a tool and let two of them glow.
a mask with a painted smile A fixed expression is most unsettling when the body language disagrees.
a scarf long enough to be a hazard A free line to draw the wind with. It can also point at what matters.
a spotless white suit White shows every mark, so a clean one says other people do the dirty work.
a uniform from an army that no longer exists Invent the insignia, then fade it. The pride outlasted the army.
boots polished to a mirror The reflection can show something the rest of the frame hides.
formal evening wear at all hours Bow tie at breakfast. They are always dressed for the big scene.
gloves that never come off Decide why. The reason can stay secret but it shapes how they hold things.
the hero's old colours worn inside out Seams and lining on show. A foil contrasts with the hero, and this one does it in cloth.
mismatched buttons taken from rivals Tiny trophies. Give each button a different shape and metal.
robes embroidered with their own achievements The hem is a comic strip of past victories. Leave space for one more.

Colour and light 13

a cold blue glow from whatever they carry Let the glow be the only cool light in a warm room.
all black with one thread of red One small accent in a dark design pulls the eye harder than a bright costume.
all grey except one bright accessory Desaturate everything, then pick the one object they care about.
always backlit so the face stays dark A rim of light and no features. The outline has to carry the character.
black and yellow stripes like a wasp In nature, stripes like these tell a predator to keep off. On a costume they tell the hero the same.
gold on gold on gold Vary the surface instead of the hue: matte, brushed and mirror.
the hero's palette two shades darker Same hues, lower value. Side by side they read as a pair.
lit from below in every scene Underlighting flips the usual shadows: bright chin, dark brow.
purple robes with a yellow lining Yellow and purple are complements on the traditional wheel. Each makes the other brighter.
red gloves against a green coat Red and green are complements too. Keep one of them small or the pair fights.
soft pastels worn without warmth Friendly colours on a cold character. The mismatch does the work.
warm friendly colours on a cold person Orange cardigan, steady stare. Let the viewer work out what is wrong.
white where everyone else wears colour In a crowd scene they become the blank the eye keeps returning to.

Motifs 14

a belt buckle shaped like a snake A loop with a head fits almost anywhere: buckle, ring, door handle.
a calling card left at every scene Design the card: one symbol, one colour, no name.
a dead rose in the lapel Replaced daily with another dead one. Someone has that job.
a personal crest stamped on everything Design the crest first. It belongs on doors, cups and henchmen.
a pocket watch on every chain Set every watch to a different time and one to the right time.
a raven feather tucked into every outfit A small black diagonal. Move it between hat, lapel and cuff.
a spider motif on every fastening Repeat one motif three times at three sizes: brooch, buckle, floor tiles.
an open eye embroidered on the back It watches whoever is behind them. Make it the only symmetrical thing.
chess pieces for buttons Decide which piece they think they are. Put that one at the collar.
keys hanging from every belt loop They should sound before they are seen. Draw the keys mid-swing.
mirrors sewn into the lining When the coat opens, the room appears inside it in pieces.
moth wings patterned on the cape Spread, the cape becomes a pair of eyespots.
puppet strings trailing from the fingers Thin lines leading out of frame. The viewer imagines what is on the other end.
thorns worked into every hem A border pattern that says do not touch without a single weapon in sight.

Manner and habits 14

a glaring pet always under one arm The pet shows the feelings the villain hides.
a shadow that arrives a second early Draw the shadow in the doorway and leave the doorway empty.
a smile that arrives a second late Draw the eyes first and neutral. Add the smile as a separate decision.
always eating an apple mid-threat Casual chewing says the threat costs them no effort at all.
always seated higher than the guest Raise the eye line: draw the scene from the guest's low chair.
hands always clasped behind the back Chest open, nothing to hide, and nobody can see the hands.
looks over the top of tiny spectacles Chin down, eyes up. The glasses are there to be looked over.
never blinks first Heavy upper lids, level brows, head perfectly straight.
never seen without a cup of tea The saucer never rattles. That steadiness is the unsettling part.
perfectly still while everyone else fidgets Blur or repeat the others. Draw the villain with the cleanest line on the page.
removes one glove slowly to make a point Spread it over three panels. Nothing else moves.
steeples their fingers while listening Fingertips together, elbows wide. It builds a triangle under the face.
twirls an umbrella they never open A prop that keeps the hands busy and draws circles in the composition.
walks down the exact middle of any room Aim every floorboard and ceiling line at them, so the whole room points their way.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. Every hook is something the character chose: clothes, colours, a motif or a habit. None is a scar, a disability, a skin condition or a body shape. Two colour notes were checked on 2026-09-18: the complementary pairs of the traditional red, yellow and blue wheel and the way complements brighten each other, against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complementary_colors, and the use of bright contrasting colours as a warning signal in animals, against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aposematism. The design hints are our own suggestions, in our own words. Licence: own work

Lair: all 63 lairs

Grand and obvious 13

a castle on a rock the tide cuts off Draw it at high tide and at low tide. The causeway is where the story happens.
a drowned palace under a lake Light falls from above in shafts. Colours cool and fade with depth.
a floating island chained to the ground The chains give the scale. Draw a figure climbing one link.

Show all 63 lairs (60 more)

Grand and obvious, continued

a fortress carved into a glacier Blue shadows, no warm light at all, and breath showing in every room.
a glass dome on the moon The horizon is close and curved, and the sky is black even at noon.
a hollowed-out volcano with a lift A cross-section works best: crater, lift shaft, living floors, the glow below.
a library the size of a railway station Ladders on rails, galleries four storeys up, one reading lamp lit.
a mountain fortress reached by one cable car The cable is the composition: a single line from corner to corner.
a palace where every room is a throne room Repeat the throne down a corridor of doorways until it is a dot.
a penthouse above the cloud line Floor-to-ceiling glass and nothing outside but white. The city is an idea.
a tower with no door at ground level Show how they get in. A basket on a rope says more than a drawbridge.
an abandoned observatory The dome slit is a ready-made spotlight. Put the villain in it.
an opera house bought for one performance Two thousand empty seats, one occupied box.

Hidden 12

a bunker under a perfectly ordinary shed Draw the shed honestly: spades, flowerpots, one suspiciously clean floor.
a cave with very good carpets Rock walls, stalactites and proper furniture. The contrast is the joke.
a cellar that goes down further than it should Each level older than the last: brick, then stone, then something else.
a disused platform on a working railway Trains pass without stopping, and their light sweeps the room.
a sewer junction fitted out like a drawing room Armchairs, a rug, a chandelier, and a brick arch dripping behind them.
a vault under the museum they donate to The plaque upstairs thanks them by name.
a walled garden with no gate Seen from above it is a green square in a grey city.
an old lighthouse with the lamp taken out A spiral stair is a useful drawing exercise. The lamp room is the office.
the back room of a closed-down theatre Painted backdrops stacked like pages: forest, palace, storm.
behind the clock face of the town hall Backwards numerals and huge gears, lit from outside through the dial.
the floor the lift never stops at The button panel jumps from 12 to 14. Draw what is in between.
inside the hill everyone picnics on Families on the grass above, a war room below, and one air vent between.

Always moving 12

a barge that never moors twice in one place Low, slow and easy to overlook. The cabin is far smarter inside.
a black airship that never lands Draw its shadow crossing the town before anyone looks up.
a caravan of identical wagons Only one holds the villain, and it changes daily.
a house on tall mechanical legs Work out the knees first. Then decide how the front steps cope.
a night bus that is never in service Blank destination board, all the lights on, one passenger.
a pirate galleon with a ballroom Chandeliers swing with the swell. Everything else is bolted down.
a private train with blacked-out windows A long horizontal. Give each carriage one job.
a space station parked behind the moon Half lit, half lost against the black. Only the windows give it away.
a submarine disguised as a whale The eye is a porthole. Someone is looking out of it.
a travelling circus that leaves a day early By the time anyone notices, there is only flattened grass.
an icebreaker frozen in on purpose A red hull in a white field, and a single trail of footprints leading away.
the inside of a storm cloud No floor, no walls, furniture on platforms. Lightning is the lamp.

Hiding in plain sight 13

a bakery that opens at odd hours Warm light at three in the morning, and flour sacks that clank.
a corner office with a lovely view The view is the map of everything they intend to own.
a flower shop that never seems to sell any The blooms are perfect and the till is dusty.
a greenhouse at the botanical gardens Steamed glass hides who is inside. The plants have been encouraged.
a hotel suite they never checked out of Room service trolleys stacked outside. The staff ask no questions.
a rented office above a laundrette Frosted glass with an invented company name lettered on it.
a suburban garage with too many locks The car lives on the drive. It has not fitted inside for years.
a sweet shop with a very deep basement Jars at the front, a trapdoor behind the counter, a bell that warns below.
a village hall booked under a false name Stacking chairs, a tea urn and a plan for world domination on the flip chart.
the mayor's own office The portrait on the wall and the person in the chair do not quite match.
the museum where they work as director They walk past the thing they plan to steal every single day.
the nicest house on an ordinary street Trimmed hedge, fresh paint. The only clue is the number of aerials.
the reading room of a museum nobody visits Green lamps and long tables. Henchmen whisper out of habit.

Strange places 13

a carnival that only appears in fog Lights first, then shapes, then nothing solid. Soft edges throughout.
a clock tower stuck at five to midnight Dust hangs in the air without falling. Nothing in the room casts a moving shadow.
a dream the whole town shares Ordinary streets with one rule broken: stairs into sky, or rain falling up.
a forest where every path leads back to them Bend every line of the composition toward one clearing.
a house where every door opens on one room The villain is already in the room, whichever door you try.
a nest of rope bridges in one giant tree Platforms at every height and nothing level.
a pantry that goes back further than the house Jars on the first shelves, then more shelves, then a desk. The lit end is a long walk away.
a staircase that arrives somewhere new each time Draw the same top landing twice, with a different door waiting on it.
an ice palace in the middle of a desert Cold blue against hot orange. Blue and orange are complements, so both glow.
an upside-down tower hanging from a cliff The top floor is the lowest room. Stairs climb down to it.
the hollow inside of a comet on a very long orbit Ice walls lit blue from within, and one round window with the stars sliding past.
inside a painting in the city gallery Brushstrokes on everything, and a frame-shaped window onto the gallery.
the space behind every mirror in town Everything reversed and slightly dim, with windows onto hallways and shop floors.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. None is named after a real building or a place in a book, film, show or game. Some use stock settings of the genre, such as the volcano base and the walking house. One colour note (blue and orange are complements on the traditional wheel, and complements make each other look brighter) was checked on 2026-09-18 against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complementary_colors. The staging notes are our own suggestions. Licence: own work

How it works

This villain generator deals a brief in six parts: an archetype, what they want, their method, the weakness that will undo them, one visual hook and a lair. All six lists are printed below, with a note beside every entry.

Read the full guide

Start with what they want

A villain is easier to draw once you know what they are after. The motives run from ruling the sea lanes to getting the good parking space, and the small ones often draw better: a dark lord in borrowed armour who wants to be invited for once already has a posture.

Build the look from choices

Every visual hook is something the character chose: a collar that frames the head like a shield, a smile that arrives a second late. None is a scar, a disability or a body shape. Fill the figure in black to check it still says trouble, then let the lair answer the look. A spotless white suit in a cave with very good carpets tells one joke twice.

Drawing the hero too? Lock an archetype from the rivals group and reroll the look until the pair contrast.
Print 30 gives a rogues' gallery: thirty villains in one list.
The timer starts at 5 minutes: enough for the silhouette and the hands. The lair is a second drawing.

Questions and answers

What is an anti-villain?

An anti-villain wants something you could agree with and goes about it in a way you cannot: see the motive group A good cause gone wrong. Pair one with a weakness rule, such as never breaks a promise, for an opponent to respect.

Why does every villain get a weakness?

A villain who cannot lose leaves the hero nothing to do. Each weakness is a flaw, a tie, a rule or a limit, such as keeps strict office hours. None is a disability or an illness, and no list treats faith or nationality as evil.

Does it invent a new villain every time?

No. As a random villain generator it picks one entry from each of six fixed lists. They allow more than 100 billion combinations, so repeats are rare. No entry is a named character, though some are stock types of the genre.