Highlights
- Paladins in video games can sometimes stray from their path of righteousness and become the very villains they vowed to fight against.
- Characters like Talion, Loghain, and Gabriel Belmont all experience personal tragedies or lose faith in their beliefs, leading them down a path of evil.
- The iconic Jedi-turned-Sith story is a common theme in Star Wars games, where former Jedi succumb to their worst tendencies and become powerful and destructive Sith Lords.
In games, paladin characters are good by nature. They are usually noble knights who fight against evil, preserve the peace, and defend the downtrodden. Sadly, not all of them stay on the path of righteousness.
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A few paladins stray from that path, instead turning toward one of evil. Their reasons may vary. They may suffer some crushing personal tragedy. Other times, they might lose faith in their doctrine or beliefs. They may even have a combination of the two, as these events aren’t mutually exclusive. In fact, they’re often related. The result is always the same, however. The virtuous paladins become the very villains that they vowed to fight against.
Provided they display many of the traits associated with the archetype, characters not officially labeled as “paladins” will be considered since the term is not used by every game.
6 Talion
The Middle-Earth Series
Evil always seeks a foothold in The Lord of the Rings, which is why the Free Peoples must stay vigilant. Embodying that mission is Talion of the Middle-earth series. This Ranger of Gondor stands watch over Mordor–the Dark Lord Sauron’s former domain. Sadly, the villain’s Ringwraiths soon slaughter Talion and his family, seeming to end his tale on a brutal note. However, the Ranger dodges death thanks to the spirit of Celebrimbor, the Elf who forged the Rings of Power and who now gives Talion a new band to gain retribution. Unfortunately, these mystic rings are a corruptive influence.
Talion focuses less on vanquishing Sauron and more on gaining his power. This ambition also stems from Celebrimbor’s cold-hearted influence. Not only does the duo scheme to take the Dark Lord’s Ring, but they aim to forge a new one. They even brainwash unsuspecting Orcs to serve in their private army. With these tools, Talion and his ethereal ally claim dominion over Mordor and its malicious legions.
5 Loghain
Dragon Age: Origins
The journey from humble beginnings to nobility is usually heroic, and it initially seems that way for Loghain. The farm boy ascends to a knightly position after King Maric of Ferelden witnesses his valor. He then faithfully served the monarchy for years, driving out the occupying Orlesian Empire. His deeds earn him honor, land, titles, and adoration from the masses. However, one of his vices is his distrust of outsiders, particularly the Grey Wardens.
This boils over in Dragon Age: Origins. Loghain believes the current king relies too heavily on this outside order of warriors. Thus, he abandons his master and the Wardens during battle. He then seizes the throne and brands the survivors as traitors. His subsequent reign consisted of radical reforms, usually involving assassination, slavery, and torture. Loghain has finally climbed the ranks and forced out the foreign parties he so despises, but it costs everything he once stood for.
4 Gabriel Belmont
The Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow Series
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
- Released
- February 25, 2014
Vampires and other supernatural horrors are common threats in Castlevania, and the Lords of Shadow series introduces the Brotherhood of Light to combat these creatures. Gabriel Belmont is the greatest among this sacred order, eventually toppling Satan himself. Sadly, after learning he was responsible for his wife’s death and failing to bring her back, he descends into despair.
From here, Gabriel fixates on power and vengeance. He soon absorbs an ancient demonic force and becomes Dracula: games-play-supernatural-beings/”>a vampire overlord and the world’s foremost supernatural foe. His reign of terror stretches across the land as he wages war on his former Brotherhood. How ironic that this pillar of light becomes the greatest denizen of darkness.
3 The Sith
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
Jedi are the guardians of peace and justice in Star Wars. Wielding lightsabers and channeling a mystical energy field called the Force, they protect the galaxy from all manner of threats. At the other end of the spectrum are the Sith. These guys have all the Jedi’s gifts, but they use them to dominate and destroy. Many of these cultish killers are former Jedi who succumb to their worst tendencies. Fans see this story play out in numerous Star Wars titles.
Arguably, the most famous example is found in Knights of the Old Republic. Revan and Malak are a Jedi master and apprentice respectively, but they both defect to aid the Republic against the Mandalorians. Doing so leads them to the Dark Side. Their turn gives rise to the Sith Empire, which decimates the Jedi and ravages the Republic. It’s no surprise that they even turn on each other. Their actions change the course of galactic history for better or worse.
2 Xehanort
The Kingdom Hearts Series
Keyblades are weapons of great power and responsibility. Their chosen few must safeguard the various worlds, protecting the realm of light from the forces of darkness. This struggle persists throughout Kingdom Hearts history.
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Xehanort – a Keyblade Master – grows weary of that struggle. He stresses the importance of balancing light and darkness. After all, they’re both natural parts of every heart. Because of that, he resolves to remake the universe according to his own design. The fallen guardian turns on his former friends and concocts an elaborate plan to ignite an ancient war, one involving champions of light and darkness. According to the prophecy, the ensuing apocalypse unlocks a primordial, godlike power capable of reshaping the very fabric of reality. Xehanort willingly serves as the darkness in that battle, as it’s all part of his grander scheme. Rather than simply patching any damage, he wants to start from scratch.
1 Aribeth
Neverwinter Nights
Neverwinter Nights 2
- Platform(s)
- Microsoft Windows , macOS
- Released
- October 31, 2006
Aribeth is actually an aspirational figure in Neverwinter Nights. She instructs worthy candidates to become paladins at Neverwinter Academy. She herself serves Tyr, the Blind God of Justice, trusting in the system set forth in his name.
The tragedy unfolds when she loses faith in that system. The heroes uncover a conspiracy linked to Fenthick Moss, her lover. Following his execution, the once-loyal paladin grows disillusioned with the city she’s bound to serve. This opens her to manipulation by Morag, an ancient reptilian being who convinces her to join her cult. After doing so, Aribeth switches sides in the war, laying siege to the very place she once protected.
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