Summary
The Sailor Guardians are undeniably iconic. However,Sailor Moon’s success does not just lie in its empowering magical girl themes but also in its unrelentingly diverse array of villains. From masterminds to misguided souls, these villains are sworn evil-doers who are devoted to being a serious threat to the Sailor Guardians. It is not surprising that fans cherish these villains as much as the heroes, as they form an integral aspect of the series.
These are the top iconic villains inSailor Moon, exploring their lasting impact on fans. Villains like Queen Beryl, Death Phantom, Pharaoh 90, and the formidable Dead Moon Circus all stretch the capabilities of the Sailor Guardians, challenging their courage and strength. Their deceptive and cunning actions shape the series' enduring legacy.
10Kaorinite
A scientist with incredible magical powers is on a mission to scout for pure hearts to snag three special heart crystals.
Kaorinite is a significant henchwoman in theSailor Moon Sarc who works for Professor Tomoe. Her main task is to find pure hearts, a central theme in this arc, and amysterious appearanceto locate the three talismans crucial to the storyline. Kaorinite’s distinct character design, coupled with her dark and, enhances her appeal as a villain in the series.
As a Deathbusters member, Kaorinite wields formidable magical abilities and prehensile hair for versatile combat. Her involvement in key battles, like the confrontation in episode 102, showcases her resilience. The Sailor Guardians unite, launching a Sailor Planet Attack, but Kaorinite persists. Sailor Uranus, pushed to her limit, uses World Shaking to end the conflict, underlying Kaorinite’s substantial threat and adding tension to the storyline.
9The Black Moon Clan
A malignant group dedicated to erasing the future and strong rebels against Neo-Queen Serenity’s rule
The Black Moon Clan, or Negamoon Family, is a group of menaces fromSailor Moon’s 30th-century setting. With Prince Diamond as their leader, notable members include Sapphire, Emerald, Rubeus, Black Lady, Negamoon Sisters, Boule Brothers, and Droids. Initially originating as extremists, they strongly rebel against Neo Queen Serenity’s rule and seek to eliminate what they view as the unnatural influence of the legendary silver crystal, aiming to eradicate the “poisoned influence” from the White Moon on Earth.
Under Wiseman’s influence, the Black Moon Clan dreams of reshaping Tokyo’s history with the Malefic Black Crystal. Beyond being typical villains, the clan members have intricate, tragic motivations fueled by personal desires and a distorted sense of justice. This twist adds depth to their characters, making them compelling foes forSailor Moonand the Guardians.
8Doctor Tomoe
A Germatoid-possessed scientist who conducts sinister experiments in order to summon destructive forces
Professor Tomoe is a significant character in theSailor Moonseries, particularly during theSailor Moon S arc. He is abrilliant scientist who becomes deeply involved with dark forces, primarily due to his association with the Death Busters (a group that aims to bring about the destruction of the world). Professor Tomoe’s character suffers a transformation as he becomes the host for Germatoid, one of the Death Busters' malevolent entities. This possession leads him to commit morally reprehensible actions, including conducting dangerous experiments and endangering human lives.
In the latter part of the arc, Professor Tomoe takes center stage as his daughter, Hotaru Tomoe, becomes Sailor Saturn. This development highlights themes of redemption, sacrifice, and the enduring power of love and friendship amid adversity. Professor Tomoe’s journey from a respected scientist to a puppet of dark forces and his subsequent redemption and reconciliation with his daughter play a crucial role inSailor Moon S.
7Pharaoh 90
A ruthless manipulator and the sovereign of silence, threatening to unleash destructive energies on Earth
In the waning light of the Tairon Crystal, Pharaoh 90 transforms into a terrifying foe. His remarkable abilities include the manipulation and possession of humans, with prominent figures like Doctor Tomoe and Hotaru becoming victims of his evil intentions. Pharaoh 90 assumes the role of the ultimate mastermind steering the Death Busters, a group of rebels in theSailor Moon Sarc.
With his eerie presence as Sovereign of Silence, Pharaoh 90 heightens the sense of despair and heightens the expectation of approaching disaster. The pivotal showdown against Pharaoh 90 in the concluding episode of Season 3, Episode 36, stands as a defining moment. The collaborative effort involvingSailor Moonand the other Sailor Guardians,especially Sailor Saturn, ultimately prevails over Pharaoh 90, restoring a sense of normalcy to the world.
6Wiseman/Death Phantom
Wiseman is a powerful evil being who serves as the main antagonist during the Black Moon Clan arc. He is the mastermind behind the Black Moon Clan’s campaign to destroy Crystal Tokyo and Queen Serenity. His ultimate goal is to spread darkness and chaos throughout time and space. To achieve this, he manipulates key members of the Black Moon Clan, including Prince Diamond and Saphir, and influences Chibiusa, who temporarily becomes the villainous Black Lady under his control.
An air of foreboding hangs over the entire arc because of the mystery surrounding Wiseman’s persona. As a fearsome enemy, he achieves his goals by skillfully using black magic and manipulation. However, when Wiseman’s intricate connection to Chibiusa,Sailor Moon’sfuture daughter, is revealed, the battle becomes more than a physical encounter, evolving into an emotional and familial struggle forSailor Moon.One of the key themes is the redemptive power of friendship and love, and Wiseman’s character is a prime example of this.
Queen Nehelenia is in charge of a gullible group that rules the Earth by exploiting dreams
The Dead Moon Circus is the main antagonist group of the Dream arc of the manga, theSuperS season, and the first six episodes of theSailor Starsseason of the anime andthe Sailor Moon Eternalmovie. The mysterious Queen Nehelenia is in charge of it. The circus aims to conquer Earth by targeting people’s dreams, turning them into nightmares, and harvesting the resulting energy to sustain and empower the circus. The circus comprises various minions and performers, each serving a specific role. Notable members include the Amazoness Quartet (VesVes, CereCere, JunJun, and PallaPalla) and the Amazon Trio (Hawk’s Eye, Tiger’s Eye, and FishEye).
TheSailor Moon SuperSseason basically centers on the Dead Moon Circus, always orchestrating surreal threats and challenging the Sailor Guardians' strengths. The Sailor Guardians and Queen Nehelenia engage inan emotional showdown that goes beyond the scope of a physical battle at the final stage of the arc.
4Queen Nehelenia
Queen Nehelenia is obsessed with her youth and beauty; she targets dream mirrors, manipulates dreams, crafts illusions, and extracts people’s energy in order to remain young
Zirconia may be the ringmaster of the Dead Moon Circus, but Queen Nehelenia is its true leader. As the ruler of the ominous Dead Moon kingdom, she once ruled with benevolence, resembling Queen Serenity in many aspects. However, her unrelenting vanity leads her down a darker path as she becomes obsessed with preserving her youth and beauty.
Queen Nehelenia’s chief objective revolves around spreading darkness and nightmares across the Earth through the capture and manipulation of its inhabitants' dreams. Employing her circus, she specifically targets the dream mirrors of individuals. These daunting powers present the Sailor Guardians with surreal and nightmarish challenges.
3Sailor Galaxia
Sailor Galaxia, corrupted by Chaos, seeks ultimate power by collecting Sailor Crystals
Galaxia, once a pure-hearted Sailor Guardian, becomes one of the most evil villains in the cosmos after falling victim to Chaos’s corrupting forces. Sailor Galaxia ishell-bent on obtaining the Sailor Crystals,which give the Sailor Guardians their abilities, because she has an insatiable hunger for power. Along the course of this mission, they will cross paths with other Guardians, such asSailor Moon.
The Sailor Animamates are specially trained henchmen in the cosmic power battle, and Galaxia conjures them up to help her. Sailor Galaxia symbolizes the eternal struggle between good and evil by revealing the degeneration inside once-great champions of justice. Power, sacrifice, and the possibility of forgiveness are important themes explored during this part of the story.
2Queen Beryl
An iconic evil character is motivated to capture the Silver Crystal and gets her muse from Queen Metalia
Among the many remarkable villains encountered inSailor Moon’s narrative, none can rival the iconic stature of Queen Beryl, the ruler of the Dark Kingdom. As the first major villain introduced in the series, her presence remains etched in the memories of both devoted fans.
Queen Beryl commands a group of powerful minions known as the Shitennou (Four Heavenly Kings) and an army of youma (demons) to carry out her plans. The Shitennou consists of Jadeite, Nephrite, Zoisite, and Kunzite. Her primary objective is to obtain the Silver Crystal, a powerful artifact that holds immense energy. The Silver Crystal is crucial for the Dark Kingdom’s plan to dominate the Earth. In order to get the Silver Crystal, Queen Beryl manipulates and exploits the loyalty of the Shitennou to serve her purposes.
1Queen Metalia
She seeks the powerful Silver Crystal to dominate the world, and she is also the evil force behind the Dark Kingdom
Queen Metalia is the embodiment of true evil. As the Dark Kingdom arc goes on, it is revealed that he is the mastermind behind the sinister plans of the Dark Kingdom. Although, in the arc, Queen Beryl is portrayed as the central antagonist, fans later find out that she is profoundly influenced and controlled by the dark energy of Queen Metalia, fueling the evil that shapes the ambitions of the Dark Kingdom.
Serving as the true force behind past tragedies and the Moon Kingdom’s downfall, Queen Metalia’s influence significantly shapes the narrative. Although not as memorable as some villains, she stands as the most potent and ominous threat, holding the key to the darkest depths of the storyline.
