Every 2022 MCU Villain Ranked Worst To Best

The MCU has had a lot of projects this year, meaning that there are lots of new villains that have been introduced to the franchise, both good and bad. 2022 saw the end of the MCU's Phase 4, with three movies, three TV series, and two Disney+ special presentations releasing over the course of the past year. In these various projects, eight new main villains have been introduced to the MCU, and out of all of them, one has to be the worst and one has to be the best.

From its start, the MCU has had a villain problem. Many of Marvel's beloved comic villains were turned into bland, one-note villains or simple color swaps of the main character in the MCU, with most of them being killed off by the end of their respective projects. Over time, though, the MCU has addressed this problem, with Phase 4 especially introducing some exciting new villains that are just as if not more interesting than the heroes they battle. 2022 had an especially fantastic slate of villains, so here are all of this year's MCU antagonists ranked worst to best.

8. Najma

Najma is the main villain of Ms. Marvel and the leader of the ClanDestine, a clan of Djinn that wants to hunt down Kamala Khan and steal her magical bangle. While adding Djinn to the MCU could be interesting, in execution it isn't, as the lore behind the deities and the Noor Dimension doesn't really amount to much. Despite being Djinn, Najma and the ClanDestine don't use much magic, instead sticking with regular human weapons like blades. Besides her time in India in 1942, Najma's backstory isn't very interesting, and that paired with her generic motivation and her lack of creative powers makes her the worst MCU villain of 2022.

7. Todd Phelps (aka HulkKing)

While She-Hulk: Attorney at Law focuses more on comedy rather than an overarching story, if the series were to have a main villain, it would be HulkKing. For most of the series, the identity of HulkKing remains a mystery, although it is later revealed to be Todd Phelps, one of the men Jennifer went on a date with. While Todd is a funny character, his villainy mostly boils down to trolling She-Hulk online. Due to She-Hulk's twist ending, most of Todd's story falls flat, with the stolen blood not amounting to much. He's a good character, but his lack of screen time makes him one of 2022's lesser villains.

6. Lady Verussa Bloodstone

Verussa confronting Werewolf with the Bloodstone in Werewolf By Night

Although the MCU's first Special Presentation, Werewolf By Night, is full of villains, Lady Verussa Bloodstone is the main one, and she's great. Werewolf By Night is meant to be an homage to horror B-movies, and Verussa perfectly encapsulates that, with her over-the-top performance, costume, and home giving off the exact tone that the special is going for. Verussa's ownership of the Bloodstone and relationship with Elsa Bloodstone also make her an interesting and influential foe. Sadly, Verussa only gets a little bit of screen time, and that combined with her small significance to the MCU holds her back (even if she does have the best MCU death of 2022).

5. Arthur Harrow

Moon Knight Villain Arthur Harrow Ethan Hawke

Moon Knight was the first MCU project of 2022, and Arthur Harrow was a great start to the year. Ethan Hawke's performance is wonderfully dynamic, with the actor being able to pull off the switch between deranged cult leader and sympathetic psychiatrist flawlessly. Although there is a comic character named Arthur Harrow, the connection between the two characters is in name only, making the villain even more interesting. Harrow does get sidelined a bit near the end of Moon Knight, with things like the mental hospital never really getting explained, but when he's on-screen, Ethan Hawke's Arthur Harrow is great.

4. Titania

Titania takes a selfie in court in She-Hulk

Although not the main antagonist, Titania is a significant villain in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and she's even better than HulkKing. Titania is Jen's main rival, and she pulls it off perfectly, being petty enough to do things like trademark the She-Hulk name. Titania is designed to be a more comedic villain in She-Hulk, and Jameela Jamil nails it, with every line being hilarious. She can also hold her own in a fight, facing off with She-Hulk several times throughout the series. Titania was the perfect counter to She-Hulk, and audiences love her so much that many want her to be a member of the Thunderbolts.

3. Gorr the God Butcher

Gorr in a garden in Thor Love and Thunder

While Thor: Love and Thunder is probably 2022's most divisive MCU project, Gorr the God Butcher is easily the best part of the film. Despite the film's lighthearted tone, Gorr's story of losing his daughter and leaving his religion is incredibly dramatic, and Christian Bale's fantastic performance really gives it the weight it needs. Gorr is willing to kidnap and almost kill kids, making the Thor: Love and Thunder villain one of the MCU's most evil. The only problem is that Gorr is influenced by the Necrosword, taking away some of his agency. Despite that, Gorr the God Butcher is a much better villain than the film he's in.

2. Wanda Maximoff

Scarlet Witch bathed in red light in Doctor Strange 2.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness made a bold move in having former superhero Wanda Maximoff be the main villain, and it paid off. Wanda is probably the MCU's most well-developed villain, as the film comes just off the heels of WandaVision, which spent its entire runtime setting up Wanda's motivation. As the Scarlet Witch, Wanda is by far the most powerful villain in the MCU so far, and although she appeared to die, she will undoubtedly come back in the future. Much like Gorr, the only problem with Wanda is her seeming lack of agency due to the Darkhold. Besides this, Wanda is one of the MCU's best villains.

1. Namor

Namor rising out of the waters of Wakanda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Although he was the last villain of 2022, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's Namor was easily the best MCU villain of 2022. It's hard to even call him a villain, as much like Kilmonger in the first movie, Namor was completely right. Namor was simply protecting his people, believing that the US would invade if they knew of the vibranium deposits under Talokan, something that Valentina Allegra de Fontaine proved correct. Furthermore, Namor's backstory showing the colonization of his people makes him a truly tragic figure. Like all good villains, Namor reflects the themes and character arc of Shuri, showing an alternate path she could have taken.

Namor has loads of great attributes besides his story. Tenoch Huerta's performance is fantastic in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, putting his name on the map for many audiences that had never seen one of Huerta's projects before. Namor's design is fantastic, and the updated Mesoamerican setting and culture work flawlessly. Namor is sure to be a major presence in the franchise going forward, and his backstory, motivation, performance, uniqueness, and more make Namor the best MCU villain of 2022.

More: Namor's First MCU Movie Couldn't Have Come At A Better Time