Anaya Nolan
Lawful evil is a term used to describe a character alignment in tabletop and video games, as well as fiction more broadly. Lawful evil characters are devoted to a cruel, organized system and are willing to hurt and kill others to achieve their ends. They are comfortable within a hierarchy and will follow laws and power dynamics to gain more power. They are often ruthless and unscrupulous and will break promises if it is in their self-interest. Lawful evil characters are distinct from chaotic evil characters, who are driven by their impulses and individual freedom.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Motivation | To rule the world or a particular group |
| Killing | Only if it serves their purpose or betrays the group |
| Code of conduct | Follows a set of rules or code of conduct |
| Relationship with allies | Loyal and helpful to allies |
| Relationship with enemies | Kills or harms enemies if they threaten them |
| Relationship with laws | Exploits rules and power structures for personal gain |
| Relationship with order | Prefers order over chaos |
| Relationship with underlings | Gets underlings to do their dirty work |
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What You'll Learn
- Lawful evil characters are comfortable within a hierarchy and will exploit rules and power structures for personal gain
- They are loyal to their allies and will help them even at a personal cost, but will kill those who betray them
- They are not chaotic, and will follow certain rules and a code of conduct
- They are committed to the goal of world domination and will kill those in their way
- They will not kill in cold blood but will have underlings do it
Lawful evil characters are comfortable within a hierarchy and will exploit rules and power structures for personal gain
Lawful evil characters recognise the need for comrades and will help those they consider allies, even at some personal risk and cost. Whoever a lawful evil character calls an ally can expect loyalty and aid, unless the ally fails to support the aims of the group or organisation. Betrayal is not tolerated, and the betrayal of the group or organisation is considered the ultimate act of disloyalty. In response to such a betrayal, a lawful evil character will seek to cause injury or kill the offender, whatever is appropriate for their crime.
A lawful evil character will not, however, break a promise, and they seldom "give their word" or put themselves at risk unless it is clearly in their self-interest to do so. They are comfortable within a hierarchy and view the laws and power dynamics of their world as a means of elevating those who are "deserving" to be masterful over those who are meant to be subservient. They are willing to serve in an attempt to gain more power for themselves.
While lawful evil characters are willing to hurt others and take pleasure in spreading evil, they are not chaotic. They do not kill randomly or without reason. They follow a code of conduct and are comfortable within a structured power hierarchy. They will exploit rules and power structures to gain more power and wealth, but they will do so within the boundaries of the law.
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They are loyal to their allies and will help them even at a personal cost, but will kill those who betray them
Lawful evil characters recognise the need for allies and will help those they consider allies, even if it means putting themselves at risk or enduring personal cost. Whoever a lawful evil character calls an ally can expect loyalty and aid, but only as long as they support the aims of the group or organisation. If an ally betrays the group, the lawful evil character will not be forgiving and will seek to cause injury or kill the offender.
The difference between a neutral evil character and a lawful evil character is that the former will betray an ally for personal gain, even if the ally has done them no wrong. On the other hand, the lawful evil character will only betray a former ally who has proven themselves unworthy or if that ally betrays the group.
A lawful evil character will follow a code of conduct and will not break promises, but they will seldom put themselves on the line unless it is in their self-interest to do so. They are comfortable within a hierarchy and view laws and power dynamics as a means to elevate those who are more deserving than others. They will obey the law, but without mercy or compassion, and only out of fear of punishment.
An example of a lawful evil character is Fzoul Chembryl, an exarch who is methodical, intentional, and frequently successful in his devotion to a cruel organised system. He cares about tradition, loyalty, and order but has little to no regard for the freedom, dignity, or lives of others. He is willing to serve and follow rules to gain more power.
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They are not chaotic, and will follow certain rules and a code of conduct
Lawful evil characters are not chaotic, and will follow certain rules and a code of conduct. They are methodical, intentional, and frequently successful in their devotion to a cruel, organised system. They care about tradition, loyalty, and order, but have little to no regard for the freedom, dignity, or overall lives of others. They are comfortable within a hierarchy and are willing to serve in an attempt to gain more power. They play by the rules, albeit without mercy or compassion, and only obey laws out of fear of punishment.
While they are not above killing, they are more likely to have underlings do it for them, or to kill only those they see as "deserving". They may have certain taboos, such as not killing in cold blood or not letting children come to harm. They may also see doing evil as part of a duty to an evil deity or master.
Lawful evil characters will also help those they consider allies, even at personal risk and cost. Whoever they call an ally can expect loyalty and aid, unless that person fails to support the aims of the group or organisation. If someone betrays the group, the lawful evil character will not be forgiving and will seek to cause injury or kill the offender, whatever is appropriate for their crime.
Examples of lawful evil characters in popular culture include Darkseid from DC Comics, Thanos from Marvel Comics, and Scrooge McDuck from Disney Ducks Comic Universe.
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They are committed to the goal of world domination and will kill those in their way
A lawful evil character is committed to the goal of world domination and will kill those in their way. They are driven by a relentless pursuit of power, order, and self-interest, using any means necessary to achieve their dark ambitions. While they respect authority, laws, and a twisted sense of honour, they are not bound by compassion or morality.
The DCU's Darkseid, a warlord from the comics, embodies this alignment. His goal is to rule the universe by finding the Anti-Life Equation, which would make everyone his slaves, devoid of free will. Another example is M. Bison, who lives by the goal of world domination and will eliminate any obstacle in his path.
In their pursuit of world domination, a lawful evil character will not hesitate to kill. They view killing as a means to an end, a tool to advance themselves and maintain order. They may even kill those who get in their way, those who threaten their power, or those who are simply undeserving of life in their eyes. Some may have codes of conduct, such as only killing armed foes or those they deem guilty, but their willingness to take lives remains unwavering.
These characters are often cunning and strategic, valuing self-discipline and honour within their own twisted moral codes. They may manipulate laws and authority to their advantage, using their intelligence and influence to gain power. They are loyal to their allies and will go to great lengths to protect and promote their comrades. However, this loyalty can be fickle, as they will not hesitate to betray or eliminate those who fail them or stand against them.
The path to world domination for a lawful evil character is paved with blood, as they navigate treachery, manipulation, and murder. Their commitment to their dark goals is unwavering, and they will stop at nothing to reshape the world according to their sinister vision.
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They will not kill in cold blood but will have underlings do it
A lawful evil character will kill, but they will not do so in cold blood. Instead, they will have underlings carry out the deed. This is because they see killing as a structured course of action, a means to an end, rather than an end in itself. They are committed to evil with a zeal like that of a crusader committed to good. They take pleasure in spreading evil and may see it as their duty to an evil deity or master.
A lawful evil character will respect authority figures, respond well to higher powers, and always follow the law. They are cruel, vengeful, proud, calculating, plotting, and domineering. They will not kill unless the situation calls for it, and they will not do so for pleasure. They will only kill to advance themselves and their agenda. They will follow a code of conduct and will not betray their allies or friends unless they are unfaithful or go against the group.
A lawful evil character will also not harm children if it can be avoided. They believe that these taboos make them superior to other villains. They are also committed to a position of power and will do whatever it takes to get there. They will associate with criminals, threaten or corrupt others, and destroy evidence to cover their tracks. They will use any legal means to evade justice and will use their wealth to destroy others.
A lawful evil character will not be forgiving to those who betray them and will seek to cause injury or kill the offender, whatever is appropriate for their crime. They will not kill in cold blood but will do so if it serves their interests and advances their position. They are ruthless and will use their power to pursue their agenda, often at the expense of the population, as long as they can use legal means to do so.
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