Though not as dramatic as being related to heroes, villains being one of a hero’s former friends is a recurring trait in stories. This is because the idea of people the hero trusted as friends turning on them can have a psychological effect on the heroes and make them reluctant to stand against those people or in some cases, make them sneak revenge on the friend who used them or even worse, murdered anyone else who was close to them.

The friend frequently joins the side of evil because of being brainwashed and/or possessed so as to be used against the hero which makes the hero even more reluctant to go up in a fight with them. These characters can also be in an on & off status, changing between good and evil at random times (e.g. Duncan, New Goblin, Bryce Walker, Kevin Levin and Mr. Krabs). In these examples when the friends of the heroes are not busy being villains, they can get along rather well with the heroes and are as likely to help them out as they are to oppose them.

On the flip side, these villains' betrayals or other acts can otherwise make the heroes despise and want nothing more than to dispose of their old friends.

This can also count for redeemed villains who actually become friends with the heroes they fought (e.g. Namaari, Tohru, Ian Hawke, Jack Frost, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon) and remorseful villains if they still feel friendship towards any heroes, but consider themselves too far gone (e.g. most versions of Magneto).

IMPORTANT: This is only for villains who were (or still are) genuine friends with any heroes (e.g. Scuttlebutt, Doug Judy, Plankton, Ernesto de la Cruz, Randall Boggs, Carface Carruthers, Darth Vader, most versions of Doctor Doom and Alec Trevelyan). Villains who fake friendship for manipulation, pragmatism and achieving goals DO NOT qualify (i.e. Emperor Palpatine, Lord Voldemort, The Beldam, Dick Hardly, Bill Cipher, Judge Claude Frollo, Jafar, Chucky, Utrom Shredder, Ego, Sir Miles Axlerod, Dimitri Rascalov, William Afton, Leo Kasper, Samuel Norton, Evil Spirit, Janson, Gary Smith, Cozy Glow, Micah Bell, General Lunaris, Newtralizer, Rumpelstiltskin, Griffin and Dr. Robotnik); those should go under Faux Affably Evil, Charismatic, Liars, Master Manipulator, Trickster and/or Sophisticated instead.

However, even Pure Evil villains can qualify if they were once true friends of the heroes (i.e. Donald Love, Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear, Commodus, Tenjuro Banno, Doctor Doom, Koba, Dr. Robotnik (SATAM), Isaac Ray Peram Westcott, Griffith, Mysterio, Cobra Commander, Makuta Teridax, Yuuki Terumi, King Runeard, Albert Wesker, Zhan Tiri, Commander Rourke, Alpha, Porky Minch, Taurus Bulba, General Dreykov, and the Dark Lord).