“ | No dealing to children, got it? If you do... you're dead. | „ |
~ Red Hood to the drug bosses. |
“ | Whether you sell off organs from the dead, or devour them, I don't give a damn. However, you ruined the most crucial element of this place. Equality. Everyone is equal in these games. Players get to compete in a fair game under the same conditions. These people suffered from inequality and discrimination out in the world, and we offer them one last chance to fight on equal footing and win. But you have broken that principle. | „ |
~ The Front Man to a soldier, before executing him for violating the rules of the Squid Game. |
This is a type of villain who (while they fight on the side of evil) still has at least some honorable traits. As such, they usually treat their foes and minions with respect and demonstrate some extent of mercy or fair play regardless of the outcome. They usually do not resort to cheating in order to win, they may avoid fighting people that are weaker, they may suppress their own power, and they may keep their end of a bargain that they promise to keep if they lose or if the hero does something they ask. However, some of these villains have their own version of honor that would clash with others'.
Numerous times, these traits often result in the villain redeeming themselves. Many Honorable characters have a common theme of finding a "worthy opponent" and thus want the hero they fight to be strong or get stronger. Kokushibou and Akaza are prime examples of this. However, if a villain only starts to becomes honorable after their redemption, they shouldn't be listed as honorable here. Also, not all heroes are honorable.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Pure Evil villains can NEVER qualify as they have no genuine respect for anyone or anything in particular. The "honor" they show is only due to their good manners and not out of genuine respect. That said, there are examples of Pure Evil villains who used to be honorable before shedding their nobler traits overtime. If so they should go under the Faux Affably Evil, Sophisticated, Neutral Evil, Lawful Evil, Deal Makers, Enforcers, Necessary Evil and/or Fallen Heroes categories instead (e.g. Joker (DCAU), Emperor Palpatine, Thanos (2010 MAU), Light Yagami, Bill Sykes, Dio Brando, Frieza, Cassandra Nova, Judge Claude Frollo, Muscular, Muzan Kibutsuji, Griffith, Anarky (Beware the Batman), and Micah Bell). At best, a Pure Evil villain can accept their final fate with dignity without fear and die with honor as a result (e.g Enter, Junko Enoshima, Harry Lime and Dr. Roosevelt); However, their acceptance of death doesn't make them honorable since not only due they lack remorse for their atrocities but also don't show any genuine honorable traits.
The same applies to villains whose "honor" they show is only out of their own self-serving and pragmatic needs and not out of genuine respect, even if they are not Pure Evil (e.g. Kars, Homelander, Bradford Buzzard, Koba, Ercole Visconti, Adam (Hazbin Hotel), Scissors and Chris McLean).
However, some of them can still be psychopaths if their code of honor is based on personal values rather than empathy (e.g. Solf J. Kimblee, Hisoka Morow, Rattlesnake Jake, Cad Bane, Beverly Hofstadter, Alastor (Hazbin Hotel), General Grievous (Legends), Hopper, Lalo Salamanca, Victor Zsasz (Gotham), Ryomen Sukuna, Kai the Collector, Specimen 13, Spooky (Spooky's Jump Scare Mansion) and Henry Stickmin).
Chaotic Evil characters can be honorable as the very core of Chaotic Evil is a love of chaos, as such it is possible for them to have some vague respect for the personal freedom of others to be chaotic. Neutral Evil characters are the most unlikely to have honor (though not impossible), however, rare exceptions can exist for both alignments if villains from said alignments have some sort of honor code they are not willing to break (e.g. Hades, Kazuya Mishima or A-Train). Lawful Evil and Lawful Neutral are by far the alignments most associated with honor (even if it is often for pragmatic reasons). Chaotic Neutrals, on the other hand, are shown to follow their own personal code without a care for others and are shown to be selfish. However, some may genuinely care for others and can have a sense of honor as well. Though it may also be for pragmatic reasons much like a Lawful Evil character and a Lawful Neutral character. Also, Opportunists are unlikely to count as Honorable as they would value alliances or a fixed plan over opportunistic thinking, However, rare exceptions can exist if they have a code of honor outside of their opportunistic zone (e.g. Ada Wong, Terra Snapdragon, Leith Pierre, Gellert Grindelwald, Deathstroke and Amos Slade).
It is difficult for a cheater to also be a honorable villain, unless they display a noble trait such as keeping a promise, respecting someone's memory, displaying gratitude, or being merciful (e.g. Billy Butcher, Romeo, Dr. Eggman, Mr. Krabs, Black Suit, Daniel J. D'Arby, Chozen Toguchi, Heinz Doofenshmirtz, Tank, President Coriolanus Snow, and Xibalba).
All items (8745)
- A-Train (TV Series)
- A.K.I.
- AAARRRGGHH!!!
- Aaron Burr (Hamilton)
- Aaron Davis (Earth-42)
- Aaron Davis (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
- Aaron Keener
- Abaddon (Arknthology)
- Abby (Let Me In)
- Abby and Martha Brewster
- Abby Anderson
- Abduwali Muse (Captain Phillips)
- Abel (The Walking Dead)
- Abel Bluefield
- Abel Walker
- Abhorash
- Abidos the Third
- Abigail (Final Fight)
- Abigail (Metal Slug)
- Abigail Lazar
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- Abigail Roberts
- Abigail Walker
- Abner
- Abominable Snow Monster
- Abomination (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
- Abraham (My Virtual Escape)
- Abraham Reyes
- Abraham Van Helsing (Hotel Transylvania)
- Abram Tarasov
- Abraxus Rockerzahn
- Absalom (One Piece)
- Absorbing Man (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
- Absorbing Man (Marvel)
- Abyme
- Abyss (TNA)
- Abyssman
- Ace (DC Animated Universe)
- Ace (TwinBee)
- Ace Rothstein
- Acha and Kocha
- Achilles Davenport
- Achmed the Dead Terrorist
- Acnologia
- Acqua of the Back
- Acro
- Ada Tucker
- Ada Wong
- Adam "Kane" Marcus
- Adam (Dark)
- Adam (NieR:Automata)
- Adam (Stellar Blade)
- Adam (Welcome to the Game)
- Adam Ames
- Adam Barlow
- Adam el Asem
- Adam Groff
- Adam Kane
- Adam Meiks
- Adam Monroe
- Adam Newman
- Adam the Clown
- Adam Warlock (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
- Adamas (Record of Ragnarok)
- Adar
- Adas
- Adil Hoxha
- Adjutant Booba
- Admiral Admirable
- Admiral Belleza
- Admiral Gregorio
- Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto (Pearl Harbor)
- Admiral Malkor
- Admiral Orlock
- Admiral Perry
- Admiral Piett
- Admiral Trench
- Admiral Yarofev
- Admiral-General Aladeen
- Adolf Hitler (Reincarnation no Kaben)
- Adon (Street Fighter)
- Adrius Ossian
- Adéwalé
- Aegaeon
- Aegon I Targaryen
- Aegon II Targaryen
- Aegor Rivers
- Aeolus
- Aeos (Dragon Ball)
- Aeron Greyjoy
- AFM
- Agamemnon (Troy)
- Agatio (Golden Sun)
- Agent 14
- Agent 33 (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
- Agent 47
- Agent Bishop
- Agent Jack Burns
- Agent Johnson (K.C. Undercover)
- Agent Kallus
- Agent Liberty (Supergirl)
- Agent Peters
- Agent Red
- Agent Stone (Sonic Cinematic Universe)
- Agent Whiskey
- Agents (Dwarf Fortress)
- Aggie Prenderghast
- Agmis
- Agnes Skinner
- Agni (Record of Ragnarok)
- Agni and Rudra
- Agâh Beyoğlu
- Ahriman (Prince of Persia)
- Ai (Yu-Gi-Oh!)
- Aichi Sendou
- Aidan Maguire
- Aiden O'Malley
- Aileen Rao
- Aileen Wuornos (Monster)
- Aina Sahalin
- Ainz Ooal Gown
- Aion (DC)
- Aishi the Mounful Blade
- Aiwass
- Aizam
- AJ Styles
- Aja Salisbury
- Ajunta Pall
- Akaba
- Akagi (Azur Lane)
- Akainu
- Akane Hiyama
- Akari Abe
- Akaspetchi & Pipospetchi
- Akaza
- Akemi Miyano
- Aki (Chronicles of Ancient Darkness)
- Akihiko (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
- Akihiko Kayaba
- Akira Kiyosumi
- Akira Konoe
- Akira Nishikiyama
- Akira Otoishi
- Akito Hyuga
- Akomaru
- Akoya Matama
- Akron
- Akudaikan
- Akuma (Street Fighter)
- Al McWhiggin
- Al Neri
- Al'Akir
- Alad V
- Alan Jonah
- Alan Richard
- Alarak
- Alastor (Hellaverse)
- Alastor (Viewtiful Joe)
- Albedo (Ben 10)
- Albert Barese
- Albert Benton
- Albert Wesker (Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City)
- Albinass
- Albino (Banshee)
- Albus (Castlevania)
- Alder (Fire Emblem)
- Aldo Trapani
- Alec Bernardi
- Aleister Crowley (A Certain Magical Index)
- Alejandro Burromuerto
- Alema Rar
- Alex (Control Z)
- Alex (Dragalia Lost)
- Alex (Golden Sun)
- Alex (Lockout)
- Alex Gutiérrez
- Alex Luthor
- Alex Romero
- Alexa Christine Carlisle
- Alexander Anderson
- Alexander Pierce (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
- Alexander Romanov
- Alexander the Great (Rise and Fall)
- Alexandro Deleon
- Alexandryu
- Alexei (Saint Seiya)
- Alexi Leonov
- Alf White
- Alfred, Hunter of Vilebloods