The Most Powerful Villain in Dungeons and Dragons

Vecna, Accerak, Tiamat, Asmodeus, all amazing powerful villains in their own right, but which is the strongest?

Today, I make my case for one of the least known villains in all of D&D, Larloch, the Shadow King. While he isn't exactly as loud and boisterous as other villains, larloch is by far one of the most powerful in all of Dnd history. So let's talk about why I believe Larloch is The Most Powerful Villain in Dungeons and Dragons.

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[msteerie]

I love Larloch so much, I want to use him in a campaign someday, not as a BBEG or anything because I can't think of any way of defeating him other than somehow removing all his cool affects which isn't fun. Maybe a party needing to enter Warl... Larloch's Crypt for some reason & them having to deal with one of Larlochs quests or become his new experiment, something like that'd be fun

[jonathanbenavidez]

Just wanted to say, I’m barely scratching the surface on D&D, game and lore-wise, and I appreciate the time, scripting, editing etc that it takes to make any video like this, for the public. Hope some of these blow up over time with the recent boom in interest.

[jb]

Always struck me as amusing that the go to move for wizards looking to extend their life is lichdom while druids have an option that doesn’t have the old age contingency and would be a spell well worth researching more thoroughly as it effectively backdoors their way into immortality.

I feel it perfectly encapsulates how those powerful wizards jealously guard their secrets and seek to accumulate power for themselves instead of sharing it with a circle of Allie’s they can trust for all time.

[ЛукаВойводич]

You know, recently I’ve seen a fan made book about what if all villains of dnd won. Tiamat, Vecna, Gods are unavailable, Elminster is running away. And my first thought was “Wait, but Larloch would’ve solved it no doubt”.

[wickedlilthings]

Larloch tech isn’t the only lich to get a pass or “protection” from mystra . If you havnt done one yet, you should do a vid on Daurgothoth. Basically the Dragon lich version of Larloch.

[sirellyn]

If you are counting Asmodeus and Tiamat, you might as well count Tharizdun. He beats them ALL hands down.

[Tommytuf]

To me he really doesn’t sound like a villain.
It can be yes but he just chills in his studies.

[joshuadillon]

I know this is a big ask, but could you post your references for when you found this information? I would LOVE very much to have a look at them. And see what I can do with it in my games. This was AMAZING. I have NEVER heard of Larlock. (I'm not much for "leisure" reading.) But this is very intriguing to say the least. He has so much potential for almost any game you might have in mind. Filling any roll, good/bad/indifferent/other. I might just have him as a staple in all my campaigns. Just to see what my players would do with him.

Love the video. (First one of yours I've seen. INSTANT sub.)

[arerestmeredgt]

Been aware of D&D since the early 80s. Tried it a couple of times, but not my thing. I know next to nothing about it, but, it was a good video.

[DonAndrew]

He's definitely the inspiration for Ainz Ooal Gown!

What a cool concept for a Lich "I don't care about humans, and I'll do any research I need on the rude/annoying ones and if I give my word to someone, I will keep it"

[SuperLololol]

I think there was a dragolich. who mystra gave a pass too. Can't remember who, but I remember that the dragon was trying to combine draconic breaths and making new breath weapons like breath weapon of mage's disjunction. It was in Mr rhexx's videos in the most powerful monster of all time playlist.

[Jmetclaf]

I think Larloch is pretty soundly D&D’s most powerful, and formidable lich. Vecna is too arrogant, and has great difficulty assessing his own weaknesses. He can’t conceive of losing even though he does it all the time .Acererak is basically just a joker lich. He doesn’t legitimately care about anything, he embraced eternity essentially just so he could have fun with it. Larloch has the serious dedication that Acererak lacks, and the humility and self awareness that Vecna lacks. He’s the best of all lich worlds.

[Kouriame]

Ok... this is my best attempt at spelling out a possible phonetic pronunciation of that Dragon's name. I don't claim it to be correct, it's just how my brain decided it might be pronounced...

<Ohn-guh-lao-meh-tor>

[Silver-Spartan]

To my memory, there is another powerful “lich-born character” whom also gets a free pass from Mystra to conduct magical research without interference. And that is an ancient Dracolich Archmage named Daurgothoth, also known as The Creeping Doom.

[someoneonyoutube]

You know I polled a bunch of people in online dnd communities and vs battle communities in a dnd lich battle royale with a very similar question,

The combatants were Vecna, Acererak, Larloch, Szass Tam, and Daurgothoth.

Of course the battle was more of an all out lich war because in a 1v1 its a pretty clear stomp for Daurgothoth but when taking into acount resources and strategy I think that potentially evens the playing field.

So far both polls came out as a two way tie for 1st between Vecna and Daurgothoth, 2nd being Szass Tam, 3rd Acererak, and 4th Larloch

Though I suspect Szass Tam and Larloch’s placement is the way it is just because people are more familiar with one over the other, since the lore shows that Larloch is somewhat of a mentor to Szass who actually works under him as well.

Anyways im curious what everyone here thinks as well.

[NomNom]

I really enjoy your videos and your perspective on lore. I have a question about Lorlock, if he doesn't do villainous things or act with villainous intent, is he really a villain?
I want to use him as a warlock patron in search if knowledge...

[EthelbertCoyote]

Might need a slight correction Larloch is one of only 2 spell casters (known) that she has forbade her clerics from interfering with there is a certain Dracolich as well...

[chrislieu]

Larloch had a few necromancy spells named after him in previous editions.

And I thought netherese was pronounced so it rhymed with Portuguese.

[ToddBryan-jy]

Asoudeus is more powerful for a obvious reason he controls all 9 Archdevils and pit fiends and could mold Bator the way he wants to and he could get rid of Larloch by using the ruby of wishes he has and he would crush the warlocks crypt with his army plus he is one of the first beings in the multiverse being a giant snake.

[MrTonyInchpractice]

Had his arse handed to him by the Srinshee, tho.