The X-Men features an endless number of mutant members and some of them are among the most beloved Marvel comic characters of all time. But as with most superheroes, sometimes it is the villains that are more fun to explore, and the X-Men have quite a few terrific foes.
Some of these bag guys are complex characters who have a sympathetic side to them. Others are effective simply because of how evil they are. And some have abilities that are downright terrifying. But according to Ranker, these characters all earn a place among the best X-Men villains of all time.
Mojo
The idea behind the villain Mojo is pretty funny, and along with his name and grotesque appearance, some might feel like he could be written off as a laughable villain. But he is a much more powerful foe than he initially seems.
Mojo is an intergalactic being who uses Earth as a form of entertainment shown as a television show throughout the universe. He is a powerful sorcerer who uses his magic to manipulate beings of earth to play out his desired shows so he can grow more powerful through the more viewers watching.
Shadow King
Most of these villains are quite evil at times, but Shadow King might have them beat by being a literal manifestation of humanity's darkness. He is an interdimensional being who continuously attempts to escape his realm and wreak havoc on Earth.
He is one of the few beings who can match Charles Xavier's psychic abilities. He feeds on the dark thoughts of his targets and can take over the body of pretty much anyone, making them his vessel for evil. It establishes him as one of the most terrifying X-Men villains.
Omega Red
Omega Red is a newer character compared to some of the other famous X-Men villains, but he has already established himself as one of the most fearsome. He is basically the Russian version of Weapon X, a mutant with incredible durability and adamantium tentacles he uses to drain the lifeforce of his enemies.
Omega Red is not typically the kind of world-conquering villain the X-Men face, but he has made a name for himself based on his sheer determination to vanquish his enemies. He has engaged in some epically brutal fights with Wolverine in his time.
Emma Frost
Some of the best villains are ones who have that hidden heroic side underneath. Emma Frost's time in the X-Men comics has been so complicated that there are likely many fans who know her better as a member of the X-Men team rather than one of their enemies.
But Frost's time as a baddie was certainly memorable. She was a member and leader of the Hellfire Club and has a number of interesting powers, from telepathy to her virtually impenetrable diamond form.
Sabretooth
Most of these villains seek to target the X-Men team as a whole, but Sabretooth's real interest is in his half-brother Wolverine. Like Wolverine, Sabretooth is an animalistic mutant who can also heal himself rapidly.
It is that rivalry with Wolverine that has really made Sabretooth such a memorable villain. As Wolverine is perhaps the most popular X-Men, he needs his own archnemesis who can take him on and Sabretooth has been more than up to the task.
Mister Sinister
Mister Sinister began as a geneticist named Nathaniel Essex who was obsessed with experimenting on mutants, including himself, in order to create the perfect specimen. He is a brilliant yet evil man whose own arrogance often brings him to do shocking and disturbing things in the name of science.
He is a twisted mind and has a chilling looking that really sticks in the minds of fans. He is perhaps the most famous and popular X-Men villain to not yet appeared in any of the movies.
Juggernaut
Though most of the X-Men villains are mutants as well, Juggernaut actually gets his powers from a magical gem. Despite the unusual way of gaining those abilities, Juggernaut is one of the strongest foes the X-Men have ever faced.
He is a muscle-bound destructive force who is unstoppable when he gets moving. His strength rivals the likes of Hulk and his special helmet helps protect him from mind-control attempts which is about the only way to stop him. As the jealous stepbrother of Charles Xavier, he has a particular hatred for the X-Men's mentor.
Mystique
Though there are endless interesting powers that Marvel's mutants possess, Mystique has one of the coolest abilities. Her power to shapeshift into anyone else has made her an excellent spy and manipulator of the X-Men.
Along with those impressive powers, she is also a formidable fighter and deadly assassin. She was depicted as Magneto's most loyal follower in the early X-Men movies before the prequels explored her past relationship with Xavier and her heroic side.
Apocalypse
In a world of powerful mutants, Apocalypse stands out as the so-called first mutant. If that wasn't impressive enough, he is also perhaps the most powerful mutant of all time. He made his mark throughout history, influencing wars and shaping civilizations.
His powers are nearly limitless and it is almost impossible to destroy him. This has caused the X-Men to put aside differences with their various enemies to team up in order to stop Apocalypse on various occasions. The character was brought to life by Oscar Isaac in X-Men: Apocalypse though many felt the movie let down the great character.
Magneto
Magneto not only easily takes the title of the greatest X-Men villain, but he is also considered one of the greatest comic book villains of all time. His powers of controlling metal objects make him a godlike being in the modern world and incredibly dangerous to battle.
His long history with Charles Xavier also adds to his complexity as the two former friends are now at odds over how humans and mutants should coexist. The character has further been turned into an icon thanks to the movies where Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender did brilliant jobs of bringing him to life.