Damien Darhk (Arrowverse)/Synopsis

Hunted by Ras al Ghul
Before creating H.I.V.E., Darhk was a member of the League of Assassins. Ras al Ghul mentions that he and Damien Darhk were horsemen of Ra's' predecessor. Darhk thought himself worthy of taking the mantle of Ras al Ghul but his friend was the chosen one. Damien was to be killed but managed to escape, taking with him waters of the Lazarus Pit and some loyal followers.

Association with Vandal Salvage
In October 1975, Darhk planned on buying a nuclear warhead capable of producing a blast equivalent to 1 megaton of TNT from Vandal Savage in a terrorist auction at a Norwegian military storage facility. Savage put in an intial bid of $100 million and Darhk was one of the terrorists raising it. Eventually, only bidding to strenghten their cover as terrorists, Rip Hunter's time travelling team accidentally bought the warhead for $125 million when no one further outbode them. After the bidding, Darhk approached Dr. Martin Stein whom he believed to be the leader of Rip Hunter's "organisation". He asked him wo he was, to which Stein responded that he now seemed to be a nuclear power. Darhk continued, claiming that he did not recognize neither Stein nor his organisation and that he knew every terrorist group. Heatwave then interrupted, shoving Darhk while telling him to back off. Eventually, Savage joined Darhk, asking whether there was a problem, gaining them the attention of the entire facility. To avoid a fight, Leonard Snart told Savage that they would collect their nuclear warhead and be on their way, to which the auctioneer replied that they would have to pay first. Stein then claimed that they had to validate the capability of the warhead first, as he personally found it hardly to believe that Savage found enough material to create a nuclear warhead in this era. This caused Savage to realise that Stein's group were time travellers and he returned to the podium, claiming that he would provide a 25 percent discount to the person who would bring him the head of Stein's group.

This caused almost every group in the building to attack the intruders, excluding Darhk who fled with his H.I.V.E. guards.

H.I.V.E.
According to Ra's, Damien in the present-day commands a "hive of agents" around the world. He sent Milo Armitage to aquire Malcolm Merlyn's earthquake device, then hired Gholem Qadir to release nerve gas in Markovia. Some time later, he also hired Mark Shaw to steal A.R.G.U.S. documents, but each of his attempts were met with failure.

In 2015, he visits Starling City, having a whole hotel floor shot down for his purposes. He is tracked down by Ra's al Ghul who wants to kill him. Planning to capture Darhk to trade him for the virus in Ra's' possession, Oliver Queen and his team also try to find Darhk, but both Queen and Ra's are too late to find him. Having expected that Ra's wants to kill him, Darhk left the city and left one of his servants behind. Upon arriving in Darhk's suite, the agent mocks Oliver and tells him that Darhk left the city the moment he learned of Ra's' intentions and is then shot through a window by Ra's al Ghul.

Arrival at Star City
When Quentin Lance and other city officials discuss the city's future (including the threat of a highly skilled terrorist group dubbed "Ghosts") they are interrupted by Damien Darhk who enters the room. Upon being told that this is a private meeting, Damien replies that this suits him because he hates interruptions. He reveals himself as the leader of the so called "Ghosts" and tells the board that he wants to let this city die, comparing Star City to a dying dog you would put down instead of watching him suffer. Despite many warnings by the officials Darhk stays in the room. The District Attourney plans to call security when Darhk doesn't leave the room but is stopped by Darhk who calls her behaviour rude. Darhk then adresses the group, suggesting that if they, despite not being particularly likable, have friends or anyone who loves them it would be time to say goodbye. After telling them that his people will be in touch he leaves the meeting, leaving a group of shocked officials behind.

Later that day, the city officials are attacked on Darhk's orders. The attack of the Ghosts leads to the death of the District Attourney, the City Controller and the Head of Emergency Services. This events result in Oliver Queen's return as the Arrow.

At night, Team Arrow (which has located the Ghost's hideout) overhear Damien Darhk chastizing a soldier for almost getting caught by the Arrow on a previous mission. Darhk places his hand on the soldiers chest and uses magic to absorb the man's life force, which makes the soldier bleed out of mouth and nose, causing him to slump down to the ground mortally wounded. When Team Arrow attacks, Damien escapes while his soldiers are defeated.

Facing the Arrow
"Arrow: "Stop the train" Darhk: No, I don't want to! Even if I did, I couldn't. I destroyed the breaking system 20 miles ago." Arrow: "Willing to die to destroy a train station?" Darhk: No, that would be ridiculus." Arrow: "Then how are you planning on getting off the train? Darhk: Oh, you don't know who I am, do you?...I'm Damien Darhk...."

- Darhk and the Arrow talk before fighting

By interrogating the dying soldier Team Arrow finds out that Darhk plans to blow up the Star City Central Station. Unable to find the bomb, the team ensures the evacuation of the station. Following a lead, Oliver boards an incoming train to fnd that it contains the explosives and Damien Darhk.

Queen aims at Darhk with his bow, telling him to stop the train wo which Darhk replies that he destroyed the breaking system 20 miles ago. When asked by Queen if he wants to die for the destruction of a station, Darhk responds by saying that that would be ridiculous. Arrow asks his opponent how he plans from getting out of the train to which Darhk replies: " You don't know who I am, do you? I'm Damien Darhk!". Realising whom he is facing, Queen lets go of the arrow but it is stopped by Darhk, who holds out his hand, freezing the arrow mid-air. Queen shoots three more arrows that are all blocked by Darhk and then engages with him in a fistfight where he is easily overpowered. Darhk then tries to kill the Arrow with the same life absorbing technique used on his agent, but is stopped by Diggle who silently entered the train and shoots Darhk in the back with a tranquilizer dart. Though temporarily weakened, Darhk manages to get off the driving train while Diggle helps Oliver up.

Ritual
Having returned to his base, his plan foiled, he later watches the news when Oliver proclaims himself "The Green Arrow". After, he visits a shrine hidden in a closet at his hideout. He takes a knife and slits his arm, letting the blood drip into a bowl. After mumbling words in an unknown language, glowing symbols briefly appear on his arm and the cut is healed. Darhk is then disturbed by a H.I.V.E. agent who reveals that he has a visitor. When the visitor is led in Darhk apologizes to the man in front of him for injuring his arm but states that it was neccessary to prevent anyone to suspect his involvement with H.I.V.E.. His opponent is then revealed to be Quentin Lance. Darhk states his disappointment that the train station was not destroyed, Lance however says that he's glad because he did not sign up for mass murder. Darhk then orders Lance to find out as much as possible about the Green Arrow and says that he wants him off the board before his associates arrive. Lance asks what happens if he declines but Darhk states that he thought that he had made sure that Quentin realised he did not have a choice.

Anarky
As part of his plans for the conquest of Star City, Darhk hires Lonnie Machin, an assassin, to kill mayoral candidate Jessica Danforth. However, Machin fails when Oliver Queen, whose mother was a friend of Danforth, intervenes.

After Lonnie Machin has failed to kill Danforth, he is visited by Darhk. Darhk sarcastically congratulates Machin on his dramatic attack but tells him that because of his failure only half the fee has been wired into Machin's account. He also states that because of his failure he is sadly not useful enough to join his organisation. Trying to prove his value, Machin tells Darhk that he is not done yet and just needs more time. Darhk grants him the time but also reminds him that H.I.V.E. does not believe in third chances. After Machin has kidnapped Danforths daughter to blackmail her into stepping down, he is visited by a furious Damien Darhk who demands to know what Anarky did with the girl. Machin proudly reveals that he kidnapped her and that he only needs to make one phone call to end Danforth's candidature as mayor. Darhk interrupts him, telling him that some lines are not to be crossed and that he now understands why Machin was banished by his former master. He further states that their business is concluded because Machin is sloppy and only represents anarchy. He tells Machin to clean up the mess he created and turns to leave but Machin grabs his arm and tells him to wait. Darhk coldly turns around, remarking the fact that Machin is touching him, causing Machin to realise he has gone too far. After Machin has removed his hand, Darhk once again tells him to clean up his mess before leaving the room.

While Darhk sits in his office at his headquarter, Lance bursts in and angrily threatens Darhk for Madison Danforth's disappearance. Darhk tells him that this is out of his control to which Lance replies that he too will soon be out of Darhk's control. He tells Darhk that he will leave their business to which Darhk calmly remarks that Lance will need a reminder that Madison Danforth is not the only vulnerable daughter in the city. Lance furiously tells him to stay away from his daugher, calling him a "son of a bitch". Darhk tells him to mind his language however, finding that the kidnapping of Madison lacks taste, he provides Lance with Madison's location. Nontheless, he calmly tells Lance to mind his tone the next time they meet.

Feud with Mina Fayad
After returning from an operation in Markovia, Mina Fayad meets Darhk, though Darhk is clearly displeased. He is irritated because Mina brought a guard with her. Mina replies that she brought the asset as instructed. When Darhk responds that he did not instruct her, she replies that his associates at H.I.V.E. were responsible. Darhk asks for a demonstration of the talents of Fayad's associate on a H.I.V.E. agent who failed to take his cyanide capsule when captured. Fayad's guard, Jeremy Tell, then reveals himself as a Meta-Human when he kills the guard by throwing three playing cards into his chest which he draws out of his tattoos. Darhk is amused and agrees to send Tell to kill the Green Arrow. After Fayad has almost been killed by John Diggle and Tell failed to kill the Green Arrow, Darhk is furious at both of them. Being especially annoyed with Fayad, Damien says that she was almost compromised and that he lost many good men to protect her and that he only agreed to her idea of employing Tell because his associates are anxious to progress to phase 3 of "Operation Genesis". When Fayad tries to defend herself Darhk turns to Tell, stating that he will need another demonstration. Tell irritatedly asks if Darhk wants from him to kill Fayad to which Darhk responds that Tell should try to kill him. After making sure that he still gets paid in case of Darhk's demise, Tell thrusts a card at Damien who easily catches it mid-air with his powers. He then thrusts the card into Fayad's throat, executing her for her failure. He also lunges the now bloody card at Tell but stops it in time. Darhk coldly tells Tell that this demonstration was for Tell and that he now knows how Darhk rewards disappointment.

Partnership with Lance revealed
"Actually it has been a little more than too much now, me working with Darhk. Started out benign, said he had resources, he had people...money...! He held himself out as just another guy who wanted to help this city! And we needed help! About the time I figured out who he was...WHAT he was...Thats when he threatened Laurel!"

- Lance reveals the circumstances of his association with Darhk to Oliver

After having found out that Laurel revived Sarah but thereby turned her into a soulless monster, Lance initiates a meeting with Darhk at an abandoned sidealley at Star City. When Lance arrives, Darhk states that he was surprised that Lance came to him but also remarks that this could mean that their relationship took an important way forward. Lance reveals that he did some digging on Darhk and knows that he is a former member of the League of Assassins. As Darhk has knowledge about the Lazarus Pit, Lance asks him if there is any way to turn Sarah back normal. Damien is impressed, stating that it is a miracle that Sarah came back at all but Lance answers that it doesn't feel like a miracle. Darhk then tells Lance that though Sarah seems to be back her soul did not return and advises Lance from "father to father" to kill Sarah to bring her peace. Indeed, Lance later intends to kill Sarah but is talked out of it by Laurel. While Team Arrow watches traffic cameras to find out the location of corrupt Liza Warner and her team, Oliver sees footage of Lance's meeting with Darhk. Furiously he confronts Lance who reveals that when Darhk initially came to him he seemed like a guy of resources who wanted to help the city when it urgently needed help. When Lance found out about Darhk's true origins Darhk blackmailed him into service by threatening Laurel's life. Later, Quentin Lance tells Oliver that he will surrender himself to the authoritys but Oliver prevents him from doing so, stating that it would be of more use if Quentin stayed in Darhks organisation.

At the time Oliver Queen announces his candidacy for mayor, a H.I.V.E. agent brings Darhk an ancient box which he opens reverently. Sensing someone behind him he turns around to see that Lance has returned.

Revealing the truth about Andrew Diggle
With Lance once more at his disposal, Darhk once again calls Lance for a meeting. When Lance arrives, Darhk thanks him for coming but Lance answers that both of them know that he didn't have a choice. Darhk dryly replies that this is especially true shince Lance literally doubled the amount of daughters Darhk can threaten him with. He then tells Lance that he needs a favor. He hands him a USB drive and orders him to break into a nearby server farm and plug the drive into their network. Sensing that Lance is uncomfortable with this Darhk states that it won't cause the city's destruction. As Oliver does not want Lance to go alone he sends John Diggle with him. Diggle, who is not comfortable with going with Lance because he works for the organisation who killed his brother, asks Lance how he could possibly work with H.I.V.E.. As with Oliver, Lance tells Diggle that at first Darhk seemed to be the city's savior until revealing his true colors. He also tells Diggle that he found out Darhk's real intentions when Darhk asked him where a certain fire chief would go for vacation and the place blew up the day after Lance gave Darhk the adress. When confronting Darhk, Darhk showed Lance pictures of Laurel, at home and at work.

At the server farm, Lance plugs in the USB stick to see that it contains a virus deleting files on several people with military connections. Diggle sees that files of his murdered brother Andrew are also deleted but is unable to stop the process.

After successfully returning to Darhk, Lance asks him about Andrew Diggle. Stating that he will only tell Lance because of his resounding success, Darhk reveals that Diggle was in fact a crime lord selling people, drugs and weapons in Afghanistan. H.I.V.E. wanted to get into the market without any competitors and thus hired an Assassins to kill Andrew Diggle. Darhk also gives Lance Andrew Diggle's file which Lance later gives to John.

After restoring Sarahs soul, John Constantine tells Oliver that he sensed a presence of magic the moment he entered the city. When Oliver tells him that this would be Damien Darhk, Constantine is visibly disturbed and tells Oliver to leave the city while he still can.

Ray Palmer
Through secret messages sent to Felicity Smoak it is revealed that Ray Palmer did not die in the explosion at Palmer Technologies but was shrunk to minimal size. While sending distress signals to get Felicity's attention he instead drew H.I.V.E.s attention on him and was captured. H.I.V.E. needs him to get the technology from his suit but, due to his size, this is not possible. When Ray sends messages to Felicity, stating he is in trouble Team Arrow breaks into Kord Technologies to obtain a device able to bring back Ray to his actual size. While the team is busy, Felicity gets another message from Ray but is shocked when she sees that Ray is imprisoned in a glass cube and that Damien Darhk is looking at him. The connection is then lost. After the team returns, Oliver states that it is good that Darhk is the one to hold Ray captive because they still have Lance as an asset in Darhk's organisation.

Meanwhile, Darhk visits Ray and tells him that despite their best efforts his scientists were not able to restore Ray's size and asks Ray for some assistance. Ray dryly asks what this would gain him except death but Darhk tells him that it is not his life he should be worried about. He then reveals that he heard every message Ray sent to Felicity and rhetorically wonders if the same Felicity who was Ray's ex-girlfriend and former vice president is meant. Angrily Ray tells Darhk to leave her alone but Darhk interrupts him, telling him not to make empty threats as that is "small".

To draw Darhk out of his headquarter Lance sets up another meeting with Darhk. When Darhk arrives, Lance tells him that while Sarah has been mostly restored, not every part of her has returned. He states that he will halp Darhk if Darhk helps him, as Darhk has knowledge on this "magic mumbo jumbo". Insulted by Lance's casual tone, Darhk answers that he will think about it but tells Lance that this was the last time Lance summoned him.

Second encounter with the Green Arrow
"Didn't you learn anything from our last go-around? I guess not..."

- Darhk after having been attacked by the Green Arrow

Having been able to find the building Darhk holds Ray in, Team Arrow prepares its attack. Diggle disguises himself as a H.I.V.E. soldier and seemingly captures and knocks out Oliver when he tries to get into the building through the roof. He brings Oliver to the basement of the building and chains Oliver to the ceiling. When Oliver awakens he sees Darhk holding his quiver, congratulationg him for his weaponry before breaking an arrow with his hand. Darhk sends the disguised Diggle away and then walks towards Oliver, asking him if Oliver would mind if he looked under his hood to find out whether his speculations were accurate. However, when Darhk comes too close Oliver kicks him in the chest and breaks free from the chains. Darhk immediately gets back up and blocks an arrow Oliver shoots at him. He remarks that Oliver did not learn anything from their first encounter and uses his magical powers to strangulate Oliver with the metal chains he was previously held with. However, Oliver uses a flashbang device to temporarily stun Darhk. After Darhk's sight returns he sees that Oliver is gone, with the chains lying on the ground. However, while Oliver fought Darhk the rest of Team Arrow was able to restore Ray's size and to escape with him. His failure visibly disturbs Darhk.

Later, one of his scientists tells Darhk that they were able to recover some of Palmer's technology and to fuel it into a power source. Darhk then opens the box he was brought weeks ago and reveals it to be actually a folded wooden chart of some sort, containing many symbols. He tells the scientist to test the device on the chart.

Questioning Lance's loyalty
"Trust is an orchid. Beautiful but delicate, requiring ideal conditions in order to thrive. Without those conditions it dies. Tread carefully, Quentin. Believe it or not, the death of your daughter is not the most terrible thing I can threaten you with!"

- Darhk to Lance after beginning to questioning his loyalty

After having been summoned to Darhk once more, Lance greets Darhk upon his arrival. Darhk asks since when Lance has decided to be polite to which Lance answers that after having been put down so many times he has realised who's the boss. Darhk replies that this is apparently not so and tells Lance that after the meeting Lance initiated, Darhk had an unpleasant visit from the Green Arrow and his team, with his security team suggesting that Lance only called for a meeting so that the Arrow could track Darhk. Lance says that it is uninportant what the securety team thinks but whether Darhk trusts him, to which Darhk replies that trust requires ideal conditions to thrive, elsewise it dies. Before leaving he tells Lance to tread carefully as the death of Laurel is not the most devastating thing he can threaten him with. While Darhk leaves, Lance glances at a note between Darhks files which reads "Starling Dock - Slip 52". Lance later passes this information to Oliver Queen, when Oliver asks him to find the location of Andrew Diggle.

Meeting Oliver Queen
After Oliver holds a speech at a GCPD gala, he is approached by Damien Darhk who tells him that he has some ideas how to contribute to Oliver's mayoral campaign. In their conversation, Darhk says that he is not just talking about financial support but that he has strong relations in business and media as well.

Darhk asks Oliver to think about how much they could accomplish together and remembers him that many things have changed since his parents held sway at the city. He also reminds Oliver that ignoring that fact was what doomed Jessica Danforth's candidacy. After bluntly asking Darhk what he wants, Darhk tells him that he read about Oliver's planned project to save Starling Bay and tells him that he wants Oliver to leave the bay as it is. Oliver asks what Darhk will do if he declines to which Darhk replies that in that case he will no longer be unopposed. Darhk then bids Oliver farewell and leaves.

Later at the Arrowcave, Oliver tells Felicity that he plans to use this new connection to Darhk to get into H.I.V.E. as Lance has lost Darhk's trust. Felicity calls this the worst idea Oliver had in the last three years, including fighting Ra's al Ghul on a frozen mountain, and reminds him to tell of the last time he tried to destroy an evil organisation from the inside.

Indoctrination at the docks
Having found out that Andrew Diggle is not dead but in fact a H.I.V.E. agent, Oliver tries to bring John Diggle to fight to get back his brother but Diggle has lost his faith and all his respct for his brother. However, Oliver manages to bring him to visit the docks to get some information on Andrew. When Diggle and Oliver follow Lance's lead in order to find Andrew, they witness Darhk indoctrinating new members to the Ghosts. He gives each of them a yellow pill, telling them that the pill will alter their mind to ensure absolute loyalty. He tells them that though they all volunteered, he thinks that they all agree that in any chain of command there can never be too much compliance. He then, as a demonstration, orders them to kneel which they all do without hesitation. A Ghost then sees Diggle and Oliver spying on them and opens fire. Andrew Diggle then orders the Ghosts to attack, but tells them only to kill "the green one". During their escape Diggle and Oliver fight many Ghosts but are able to flee from the docks, leaving Darhk and his new recruits behind.

Base attacked by Team Arrow
"This usually works..."

- Darhk after his life-absorbing magic backfires

When Ray Palmer finds a probable location for the Ghost's operation base,Team Arrow assembles to get Andrew Diggle out of there, not planning to attack Darhk himself because they don't have the manpower. However, while infiltrating, Thea encounters Darhk after having tranquilized Andrew. Darhk tells her that by her fighting style he recognizes her as trained by the League of Assassins. He grabs her at the throat and tries to uses his life-absorbing technique but is shocked when Thea is unharmed but he himself is drained. Silently exclaiming "This usually works..." he sinks to the ground which gives Thea time to flee. Darhk regenerates seconds later. Unbeknownst to Darhk, he thereby stalled Thea's bloodlust, giving her a few months without the neccessity of taking a life in order to survive. Later, that night, Thea tells her father about her encounter with Darhk. She tells him while Darhk's magic backfired, it took away the bloodlust from her for a short time and ask Merlyn how to make that permanent.

On a press conference the next day, Oliver proclaims that he will continue his campaign for saving Starling Bay, thereby openly declaring war to Darhk, who is present in the crowd.

Stealing a bomb from ARGUS
"Oh gosh, that's fun. I really could do this all day...Open it up! They could've at leat tried to hide this chemical bomb. Serves them right, it's getting stolen and used against them..."

- Darhk about the chemical bomb his men are stealing

He and H.I.V.E. agents steal a chemical bomb from an A.R.G.U.S. facility with Darhk personally interfering, draining the life out of one of the security guards. During the heist, Darhk is in high spirits like a child. After the Green Arrow and his team show themselves, he sarcastically remarks that they brought arrows to a gunfight, which leads Oliver to activate a magnet developed by Felicity, which rips the gun out of the hands of the H.I.V.E. agents. Darhk admits that this was quite clever. While the team fights the agents, Oliver takes on Darhk personally, but Damien is able to place his hand onto Oliver's chest. Darhk starts draining the life out of Oliver and almost kills him. In the last moment, Oliver is saved by the Flash, who has come to Star City to ask Oliver for help against Vandal Savage. After Flash has saved Oliver, Darhk is completely oblivious to what has just happened and remains nonplussed.

Identity revealed to the public
"For six months we have been besieged by a nameless and a faceless organisation that seems hellbent on destroying our city - you know them as the Ghosts. And while they may be anonymous, their leader is not. He has a face and he has a name and I think it is high time that the people of Star City know who he is! His name is Damien Darhk. He controlls the Ghosts on behalf of an organisation known as H.I.V.E."

- Oliver gives Darhk to the media

To punish Oliver for declining his offer, Darhk sends a H.I.V.E. drone that attacks the volunteers cleaning the bay of Star City, wreaking havoc until Felicity manages to hack the drone and steers it into the ocean. After everyone is safe, Oliver begins to wonder why the bay is so important to Darhk that he would bother to attack civilians for it.

After talking it through with Team Arrow, Oliver reveals to the media that Darhk is the leader of the Ghosts and also delivers a picture of Darhk to them. Darhk, who has been visited by the H.I.V.E. leadership who want to see his progress, watches this live on TV and melts the television in his fury. One of the leaders then congratulates Darhk and sarcastically remarks that Darhk is now famous.

The same night, Thea is visited by her father who tells her that his men in the League found out that Darhk's effect on Thea's bloodlust had nothing to do with her exposure to the Lazarus pit.

Revenge hit on the holiday party
"Nice! How did you know that was my favourite brand? So full-bodied, so full of life. Unlike your security outside. Oh, and in my defense, they fired first!"

- Damien crashes Oliver's party

To pay Oliver back for revealing Darhk's identity, Damien and H.I.V.E. soldiers attack Oliver's mayoral holiday party. Darhk quickly disarms two security guards with magic and then mocks Oliver, remarking that he killed the guards outside and that he supposes his invitation got lost in the mail. When Oliver asks him what he wants, Darhk answers that obviously he can not get what he wants: Olivers allegiance and loyalty. Oliver asks Darhk to let the party guests go as it was him who defied Darhk. Darhk responds that he wishes he could do that but he tells Oliver, that in order to punish someone it is much more effective to hurt those close to the person than the person himself. He then blasts Oliver through a window and leaves while his soldiers take Diggle, Thea and Felicity captive. When Oliver regains consciousness, Darhk and H.I.V.E. are gone.

With the help of Malcolm Merlyn, Oliver is able to get a secure phone of a H.I.V.E. agent. He calls Darhk, who is just in a meeting with the H.I.V.E. leaders who came to supervise his progress on Operation Genesis. While welcoming them to the city, Darhk is interrupted by Ms. Nixon who tells him that they did not come to watch Darhk's vendetta against a mayoral candidate but Darhk assures them that through his mayoral campaign Oliver became a threat. They are then interrupted by Oliver's call and Darhk agrees to a meeting with Queen.

The gas chamber
In accordance to their deal,Oliver surrenders himself to Darhk, who brings him into a H.I.V.E. headquarter. Darhk brings Oliver to a room containing a gas chamber. He calls this a demonstration of the project Oliver is going to help him with once H.I.V.E. has installed him as mayor. He tells Oliver to think of it as a life insurance policy for his friends. A H.I.V.E. member then steps forward and Darhk deeply thanks him for believing in him. He tells the man that he will be forever be a part of their hive before the man enters the gas chamber where he dies in seconds. Darhk then thanks Oliver for his "leg work" for skimming the bay, as his people were using the harbor to create a type of algea used for their experiments. After the demonstration, Darhk leads Oliver to a cage where Felicity is held and leaves the room to give them the privacy for saying their farewells. When the H.I.V.E. guards bring Oliver and Felicity back to the main chamber, they are shocked to see that Darhk put Thea and Diggle into the gas chamber. Oliver screams at Darhk that they had a deal but is held back by guards. While other soldiers grab Felicity and shove her into the chamber, Darhk states that their 'deal' was at best implied and reminds Oliver that Darhk after all is the bad guy. He then tells Oliver that as long as his friends live, has has something to fight for and tells Oliver that he is taking this away from them. However, he assures them that their death will be almost completely painless. He then allows Oliver to run towards the chamber where he can only watch his friends slowly suffocating. They are interrupted by the arrival of Malcolm Merlyn, disguised as the Green Arrow, and Laurel who attack the nearby guards. Darhk and his associates leave the room, knowing that Oliver has no chance to free his friends in time. However, with the Black Canary's scream Oliver is able to break the glass and to get all his friends out of the chamber alive while Malcolm goes after Darhk. While leaving with the H.I.V.E. leaders, Darhk is stopped by Malcolm who shoots an arrow in front of their feet. Darhk remarks that he was about to call things even. He then dismisses the board, stating that he got the situation under control. Malcolm fires an arrow at Darhk who holds it at bay with his magic, but while Darhk is about to lecture 'The Green Arrow' for having learnt nothing out of their fights, the arrow explodes and knocks Darhk to the ground. However, when Malcolm tries to finish of Darhk the latter teleports behind Merlyn and then easily overpowers him by use of his magic. He proceeds to strangulate Merlyn mid-air but Oliver tackles him to the ground which forces Darhk to release his hold of Merlyn. Darhk then knocks down Oliver and severely beats him but Malcolm regains consciousness and shoots Damien into the chest. Darhk falls to the ground and Malcolm plants another explosive arrow right next to him before he and Oliver leave the facility. Moments before the whole building blows up, Darhk is able to mutter the words which he used weeks ago to heal himself from the self-inflicted cut. The entire building then explodes, with no body of Darhk to be found.

Progress on Genesis
"Thanks to the algae from Star City Bay the air down here is now perfectly breathable. We are right on schedule! Phase four begins now..."

- Darhk shows the board the progress he made with Genesis

After the explosion, Team Arrow states that despite the explosion, Darhk has most likely survived. This is proven true when hours later, a completely unharmed Darhk leads the heads of H.I.V.E. into a gargantuan bunker filled with wheat plants. While Darhk leads them through the field, the H.I.V.E. leaders talk about that while the air seems surreal, it is completely breathable thanks to the algea they bred down at the harbor. Darhk then tells them that they can proceed with the next phase of Operation Genesis. Nixon then asks him what will happen to Oliver Queen.

Oliver, who has just proposed to Felicity and left a party with her by car, is attacked on the open street by H.I.V.E. agents who shoot up the car, killing the driver. Oliver manages to drive the car out of the ambush but, after having reached safety, realises that Felicity has been shot. He carries her out of the car and cradles her lifeless body. While Oliver is ambushed, Darhk returns home to his wife and daughter to celebrate Christmas with his loved ones.

Hunted by the Green Arrow
While doctors are performing surgery after surgery to save Felicitys life, Oliver intends to find his nemesis. Now hunting down Darhk without mercy, Oliver attacks multiple Ghosts and violently beats them to find out where Darhk is, going as far as pushing one into a electrical box. However, all Ghosts rather kill themselves than betraying their master. Unable to find any trace, Oliver turns to Quentin Lance. Though knowing that it would mean that Darhk found out that Lance betrayed him, Lance gives Oliver the location where he met with Darhk during the past weeks. However, when Oliver arrives at the place, he finds dead Ghosts lying all around, with the Anarky symbol sprayed to the wall. Realising that Machin is still alive, determined to get revenge on Darhk, Oliver decides to go after Machin first as they could get information from him. Though Team Arrow is able to capture Machin, he reveals no information. Oliver eventually frees him, knowing that Machin will want revenge on Darhk and will lead Oliver right to him. However, Machin destroys the tracker and is therefore free again. This causes Oliver to break down, as following Machin was the only plan he had.

Own home attacked
"I wanna be clear about something. I've shown you repeatedly that you cannot beat me. You saved my family, so I give you a couple of weeks to spend with yours. Enjoy your time. What's left of it..."

- Darhk to Oliver, after finding out that Oliver saved his family

Determined to make Darhk suffer, Machin breaks into Darhk's house and captures Darhk's daughter and his wife Ruvé. After calling Darhk and making sure he gets home, Machin plans to hurt Darhk's family with his flamethrower as a means of revenge. However, the Green Arrow and his team arrive in time, having found the location through a tip from Andrew. While Oliver and Thea engage Machin in a fight, Diggle and Laurel bring Darhk's family to safety. When Machin flees, Oliver and Thea split up to find him again, only for Oliver to stumble upon Damien, who has arrived to save his family. Oliver and Darhk engage in a furious fistfight, in which Oliver seems to defeat Darhk. However, when the two of them separate, Darhk, although with a bloody nose, uses his magic to draw arrows from Oliver's quiver and lunging one of them into Oliver's body, meanwhile furiously demanding to know where his family is. Oliver rips the arrow out and tells Darhk that he saved them, causing Darhk to stop attacking. Making clear that they are still enemies, Darhk recognizes that Oliver saved his family and for this grants him a few weeks so Oliver can spend a few weeks with his own family. Darhk then leaves the scene.

The same night, Darhk and his family drive to the new safehouse. Darhk tells Ruvé that they will be safe there. After promising them that Machin will never come for them again, Darhk is surprised when his wife chides him for not having killed the Green Arrow. Darhk justifies his actions, claiming it would be bad sport to kill the Arrow the same night he saved his family, but Ruvé tells him that with Operation Genesis coming to a close, there is too much at stake to be playing games. Damien then asks his wife if she remembers what he promised her, and she answers that he promised her a new beginning. Damien says that she will have it once they've brought the world to it's end.

Ruvé's candidature
To gain control of Star City, Darhk's wife Ruvé enters the preelection for mayorship, thereby becoming an opponent to Oliver. When Oliver recognizes Ruvé on her promotional posters, he dons his uniform and approaches Ruvé outside of her campaign office, telling him that he wants to meet with Darhk. Ruvé claims that Oliver would not survive another meeting with Darhk but Oliver tells her that he merely has a proposition for Darhk. However, the meeting does not come to pass.

After the League of Assassins has been disbanded by Nyssa al Ghul, Malcolm Merlyn, furious at Oliver for his part in the scheme, meets with Damien Darhk, claiming to know what person Oliver loves most. Darhk tells that he knows as well and that his men did a pretty good job on her at the holidays, but Merlyn tells him that the person Oliver loves most is not Felicity Smoak but Oliver's son William.

Conference with H.I.V.E.
To inform the H.I.V.E. leaders on the progress on Genesis, Darhk organises a conference, not just with the leaders in Star City but also those spread into the world attend via screen. Malcolm Merlyn is also present. While telling them that phase four is proceeding according to their plan, he is interrupted by Milo Armitage, who claims that there is still some concern about the Star City operation. Telling Armitage to elaborate, he is again interrupted by another leader who says that Armitage is too polite to say that the entire phase depends on Ruvé's questionable political knowledge. Darhk then turns to the man's screen, claiming that he remembers taking a siesta in the man's Madrid office once and that he can still picture the room as if he was there in person, stressing the last part. By use of his magical powers, Darhk then kills him, breaking his neck by the sounds of it. The meeting then continues as if nothing has happened. Armitage and Ms. Nixon then adress the matter of Quentin Lance, claiming that he clearly aided the vigilantes. Merlyn confirms that. Darhk tells them that Lance will soon be dealt with.

Indeed, Lance is soon after called by dispatch and led to an abandoned house, where he is apparently needed. However, the house falls apart once Lance is inside and he barely survives the crash. The Demolition Team, being the ones responsible for the attack on Lance, are next tasked to destroy the building the mayoral debate takes place in to kill everyone except Ruvé, who can then gain sympathies by playing the lone survivor. The scheme is foiled however, and Oliver wins the debate.

After the debate, Darhk returns home and introduces his daughter Nora to Oliver's son William, claiming that William's mother asked him to take care of him for a while. While Nora and William walk away to play, Darhk grins victoriously.

Blackmailing Oliver
"You two just melt my stone-cold heart, you almost make me believe in love again. Nice to see you, Mr. Queen, how was your christmas?"

- Darhk provokes Oliver

When Oliver and Felicity return leave the building where Curtis Hold's husband works, they are approached by Damien Darhk in the parking garage. Darhk provokes Oliver by reminding him he's the reason why Felicity is in her current position. Furious, Oliver attempts to reach Darhk but is defeated by Darhk's powers before he can make more than two steps. Darhk briefly adresses Felicity, suggesting her to use a motorized wheelchair. Felicity tells Darhk that he does not know who he's messing with and Darhk tells her that the messing ends today. He then turns to Oliver, claiming that Darhk tried to bring Oliver into the fold but acknowledging that nothing Darhk tried worked. Oliver then receives a text message with a picture of William. Darhk reveals that he took William, who thinks that he's a friend of William's mother. He then tells Oliver to hold a press conference on Friday 6 pm to drop out of the mayoral race or Darhk would kill the boy. Damien claims that he will watch the conference through his brand-new television to make sure Oliver indeed drops out. Oliver ensures the assistance of Vixen, who manages to track down William by use of magic. She finds out that William is still in the city and tells Oliver that she thinks that she can find him. Eventually, Vixen leads Team Arrow to the penthouse where H.I.V.E. is keeping Oliver. Oliver swings to the rooftop and takes out the guards while Thea and Laurel defeat the soldiers inside the building. Oliver then enters the room where he expects William to be, but he only finds Darhk who claims that he had moved William two minutes before Oliver appeared. Vixen then arrives and both attack Darhk. Darhk holds both of them off first, recognizing Vixen's totem, but Vixen eventually breaks free and she and Darhk fight each other with magic. Eventually, Vixen is overwhelmed and Darhk uses his powers to blast Oliver out of the window. Vixen manages to catch him but while she helps Oliver back into the room Darhk escapes.

When Oliver returns to the Arrowcave, Darhk calls him and informs him that the Green Arrow attacked him earlier. He tells Oliver to immediately get himself in front of a TV camera to announce his retreat and tells him to fully endorse Ruvé Adams while he does so.

Finding out about Darhk's totem
After Oliver is called by Darhk and tells his team that he will drop out, Vixen reveals that every user of magic has a totem of some sorts from which he draws his powers. Lance claims that he once or twice ran into Darhk in front of a cabinet and he says that inside the cabinet was some sort of idol. He offers Vixen to draw it for her to find out whether she knows what it is. This gives the team hope to eventually catch Darhk but as Darhk is still threatening William, Oliver calls in a press conference and bows to Darhk's demands.

After, he returns to the Arrowcave to find out that Vixen indeed recognized the totem. She claims that it's extremely powerful but needs a constant connection to one of the earth laylines in order to work. She compares it to magic wifi, with the idol being the internet connection. Having received a map of the laylines in Star City from an old friend, Vixen claims that Darhk's hideout needs to be above one ot the lines. However, they find out that Darhk keeps his idol moving to make it harder to track him but Felicity nontheless finds out that Darhk is hiding on a compound in Skywoods.

That moment, Darhk calls Oliver and tells him to come to Nelson Plaza in three hours, claiming that he will release William. However, meeting Darhk would mean that they could lose their chance to take down Darhk's powers once and for all. Oliver leaves the choice to Williams mother, who tells him to take down Darhk to make sure that he never hurts someone again.

Attack on Skywoods
With combined forces, the team attacks the compound at Skywoods. Vixen breaks through the roof, landing right in front of Darhk. Though attacked by him, she manages to steal Darhk's idol from a nearby table and escapes with it, leaving a stunned Darhk behind.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team defeat Darhk's guard outside the manor. While they doing so, Darhk furiously leaves the house through the front doors and viciously attacks Thea, Laurel and Oliver by magic, suffocating them. Meanwhile, Vixen returns to Diggle with the idol. When they realise that seperating it from Darhk has no effects, Vixen uses her powers to smash it. Thereby, Darhk loses his powers. At first not realising what happened, Darhk tries to continue his magical attack but then realises that his powers are gone. He then tries to attack Oliver in a fistfight but is quickly overpowered and knocked out by Oliver, marking the first time Oliver actually defeated Darhk.