Best “Villain Wins” Episodes in Anime That Actually Worked

Sometimes, when the villains win, it dramatically changes a story and raises the stakes. The following episodes from both older and newer shows showcase those pivotal moments where the antagonist gains a clear advantage. Each entry details when this shift happens, who’s involved, and how it pushes the story in a more challenging direction. These aren’t just temporary victories for the bad guys; they’re key turning points that shape everything that happens next.

‘Berserk’ (1997) – “Eclipse”

During the Eclipse, Griffith answers a dark call and sacrifices his entire Band of the Hawk to become the powerful demon Femto. The God Hand oversee a brutal massacre as Apostles slaughter the mercenaries trapped in a spiritual realm. Guts and Casca are forced to watch in horror as their comrades are destroyed and Griffith ascends to godhood. This event fundamentally changes the story, leaving the heroes without an army and establishing Griffith as a member of the demonic hierarchy.

‘Death Note’ (2006) – “Silence”

Light Yagami’s plan reaches its peak when L dies – Rem sacrifices L to protect Misa Amane. With L gone, the investigation team is left without a leader, and Light steps in to take control, positioning himself as L’s replacement. This allows him to continue killing people while secretly directing the police investigation. The episode sets up a new way of investigating that hides Kira’s identity even better than before.

‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba’ (2019) – “Set Your Heart Ablaze”

After the battle on the Mugen Train, Akaza appears and mortally wounds Kyojuro Rengoku. Even though Tanjirō tries to stop him, Akaza manages to escape into the forest, remaining one of Muzan’s most powerful demons. The loss of a Hashira severely impacts the Demon Slayer Corps, forcing them to re-evaluate their training and rebuild their spirits.

‘Hunter x Hunter’ (2011) – “Light and Darkness”

Neferpitou quickly defeated Kite, cutting off his arm in their first fight, which showed just how much stronger the Chimera Ant Royal Guards were. Killua rushed Gon to safety while Pitou focused on fixing the King’s mother. Later, Kite was turned into a training dummy, highlighting the huge difference in power. This whole event proved that the Hunters weren’t prepared to fight against the Royal Guard.

‘Devilman Crybaby’ (2018) – “Crybaby”

When Ryo is revealed to be Satan, a global hunt for demons begins, with humans turning against anyone suspected of being one. Akira rallies a group of Devilmen for a final battle, but Earth is torn apart by war and the involvement of powerful beings from beyond. The conflict culminates in Akira’s death, leaving Ryo alone on a destroyed planet. The story ends by showing that humanity has been completely wiped out and the heroes’ fight was ultimately unsuccessful.

‘Vinland Saga’ (2019) – “A True Warrior”

Askeladd set a trap for Thors during a prisoner swap, signaling his archers to attack once Thorfinn was safely in his control. Thors willingly sacrificed himself to save his men and son, allowing Askeladd to win and collect his reward. Driven by revenge, Thorfinn then joined Askeladd’s group, unknowingly serving the man who killed his father. This gave Askeladd, the mercenary leader, control over where the story would go.

‘Fate/Zero’ (2011) – “The End of Honor”

Kiritsugu tricked Lancer into ending his own life by manipulating the magical commands linked to his master and his beloved. As Lancer died, he bitterly blamed those who had betrayed him. Kiritsugu then instructed Saber to destroy important magical items, effectively eliminating a strong opponent in the Holy Grail War. This gave Kiritsugu’s side an advantage, but also increased the tension with his rivals, Kotomine and Gilgamesh.

‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ (2020) – “To You, Someday”

Mahito exploits Junpei’s sadness, convincing him to fight alongside him against Itadori. After Junpei is fatally injured, Mahito kills him and flees during a battle with Itadori and Nanami. This fight highlights how quickly Mahito is developing his abilities with Idle Transfiguration. The aftermath leaves the school and remaining sorcerers dealing with losses, ongoing dangers, and an enemy who becomes more powerful with each new ability he creates.

‘The Promised Neverland’ (2019) – “021145”

Okay, so things got really tough for the kids. Their first escape attempt was crushed when Isabella actually broke Emma’s leg – brutal! Then, she cleverly sent Norman away early, and that was a huge blow because he was basically the brains of the operation. After that, Isabella really tightened security around the farm, watching everyone’s movements and communications. It meant the kids had to completely rethink their plans, and now they were doing it under way more scrutiny. Talk about pressure!

‘Gurren Lagann’ (2007) – “Later, Buddy”

During the battle, Lordgenome’s army retaliates, and Kamina is fatally injured. Though Simon and his team manage to finish their mission, they’re devastated by the loss of their leader. Meanwhile, Viral lives on, becoming a key enemy fighting alongside the Beastmen. The story then focuses on the team’s struggle to rebuild and find their footing after this major setback.

‘Psycho-Pass’ (2012) – “Saint’s Supper”

Makishima deliberately staged a home invasion to demonstrate flaws in the Sibyl System – specifically, its inability to identify potential criminals while they are committing a crime. He skillfully evaded capture by acting erratically, leaving investigators with no useful clues. This incident inspired others to commit similar crimes, exploiting the system’s weaknesses and the tendency of witnesses to freeze. As a result, the Public Safety Bureau needs to rethink its strategies, while Makishima moves forward with a larger, more complex plan.

‘Tokyo Ghoul’ (2014) – “High Spirits”

Jason captures Kaneki and relentlessly tortures him as Aogiri Tree launches attacks throughout Tokyo. Despite the CCG’s attempts to intervene with coordinated raids, fighting between wards continues to worsen. Kaneki changes drastically due to the ongoing mental and physical abuse he endures. This episode firmly establishes Aogiri Tree’s growing power and leaves the CCG struggling to catch up.

‘Overlord’ (2015) – “Jaldabaoth”

Ainz, disguised as the powerful demon Jaldabaoth, orchestrated an attack on the capital city to evaluate the strength of surrounding nations and their heroes. While adventurers fought in carefully planned battles, Ainz’s followers worked on secret missions. No one suspected the invasion was a test or understood its true purpose. This allowed Nazarick to significantly improve its spying network and increase its influence in the region.

‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders’ (2014) – “DIO’s World (Part 2)”

DIO unexpectedly reveals his Stand, The World, can stop time, resulting in the tragic death of Kakyoin and leaving Joseph Joestar severely wounded. The heroes are overwhelmed and forced to fall back as they try to understand how this power works. The fight in Cairo now unfolds entirely on DIO’s terms, putting innocent people and their allies in danger. The episode concludes with DIO setting the rules for the battles to come.

‘Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans’ (2015) – “Their Place”

Gjallarhorn, led by Rustal Elion, trapped Tekkadan by blocking their escape and using both political maneuvering and military force. As the organization fell apart, several important members were lost in a last attempt to protect civilians. With McGillis’s rebellion failing, Tekkadan lost its final ally. Ultimately, this solidified Gjallarhorn’s power and marked a defeat for the protagonists.

‘Hellsing Ultimate’ (2006) – “Hellsing Ultimate VIII”

London is thrown into chaos as the Millennium Organization launches a massive attack. With Alucard strategically positioned elsewhere, the city’s defenses and essential services are quickly overwhelmed by the Major’s plan. Integra and Seras valiantly fight to hold the line, but they can’t stop the enemy from taking control. The episode clearly shows the Millennium Organization succeeding in their operation and effectively conquering the city.

‘School Days’ (2007) – “School Days”

After a series of intense personal fights, Sekai kills Makoto, and then Kotonoha kills Sekai. The flashing police lights and scenes following the deaths show that everything has fallen apart for the main characters. The story concludes the love triangle with both Makoto and Sekai dead, and there’s no chance for things to go back to normal. The ending focuses on the lasting, unfixable consequences of these tragic events – there’s no resolution through forgiveness or understanding.

‘Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War’ (2022) – “Born in the Dark”

Okay, so things got intense. This Yhwach character just waltzed right into the Soul Society and went straight for the big guy, Captain Yamamoto. And he didn’t just fight him – he completely nullified his powers and, well, took him out of the picture. It was a brutal scene, and it really felt like the foundation of the entire Soul Society crumbled with him. The Quincies just…left after that, having achieved exactly what they wanted. Now, the Soul Society is reeling – no leader, spirits are broken, and the enemy is calling all the shots. It’s a total disaster, and I’m genuinely worried about what happens next.

‘Chainsaw Man’ (2022) – “Gunfire”

Across the city, Public Safety forces were hit by a series of coordinated attacks from the Gun Devil’s followers. During a fight with the Katana Man, Himeno was killed, and many Public Safety divisions took significant damage. Denji was captured during the attacks, but a quick response team managed to rescue him. This operation proved that the enemy is well-organized, has a wide network, and is prepared to increase the intensity of their attacks.

‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ (2022) – “My Moon My Man”

As Arasaka and its forces cornered them, David led a risky attempt to rescue Lucy. During the final struggle, David succumbed to cyberpsychosis, effectively ending their fight. Lucy managed to survive, but Arasaka faced no consequences for its actions, highlighting the corporation’s continued and unchallenged control over Night City.

Share the episodes you’d add—or the moments you think hit even harder—in the comments!

2025-11-05 22:17