Sadists

Sadists are people who feel joy at seeing their victims suffer, either physically or mentally. This kind of cruelty is also known as "schadenfreude" (from "schaden" = "injury"; "freude" = "joy"), though that term generally refers to cases where the sadist derives pleasure from pain inflicted by something other than themselves.

These villains can be delusional, for example, if they convince themselves that their enemies must suffer and take enjoyment in doing so.

Sadists are the opposite of merciful heroes.

Notes

• Do NOT add ANY or all sadomasochists under this category, no exceptions.
• Villains who commit acts such as destruction, for an example, or commit crimes such as poaching for fortune, torture, mutilation, rape, cannibalism and/or snuff film making without driving any sadism or joy from it, all for examples, then they do not qualify. A villain must show clear enjoyment in the pain they cause to others in order to qualify (though many of the villains who commit the aforementioned crimes can indeed, very well be sadistic).
• Villains who simply give off creepy smiles (e.g. Cartoon Cat) without being sadistic or enjoying anyone's pain also do not qualify.
• While it's common for many Pure Evil villains to be sadists (e.g. Percival C. McLeach, Judge Claude Frollo, Dolores Umbridge, Bellatrix Lestrange, Nyarlathotep, John Paul, Alan Yates, Syndrome, Scar, Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear, Professor Zündapp, Yuuki Terumi, Mr. Grasping, Toplofty and O'Bloat, Chief McBrusque, It, Emperor Palpatine, King Runeard, Judge Doom, Dag, Lord Commander, Invictus, Werthrent, HABIT, AM, Ramsay Bolton, Infinite, Thrax, the Coachman, Wizeman, Zorin Blitz and Ryuunosuke Uryuu), it is not always the case. It is not a requirement for a villain to take pleasure in the pain and misery of others to be Pure Evil. Although sadism is an important factor to consider, it is not a mandatory criteria. If anything, it can make their actions more meaner, pettier or even disturbing, because they have nothing pleasant to gain from them. Ego, Lord Cutler Beckett, Sir Miles Axlerod, Shou Tucker, Gihren Zabi, Stanley Poole and Sofia Lamb are examples of not sadistic characters who are purely evil.
  • On the other hand, however, it is possible for some sadists to be redeemed or gain redeeming qualities, even though they enjoy other people's pain.
• Being a sadist does not always mean that the character is Chaotic Evil and vice versa. In fact, it is also possible for Neutral Evil and Lawful Evil villains to be sadists too.