30 greatest Arrowverse villains, ranked

13. Ra’s al-Ghul

The main villain of Arrow Season 3 and head of the League of Assassins. At the age of 11, Ra’s (whose true name was never revealed in Arrow) killed for the first time in order to defend his family. Initially, he was ashamed of his actions but was able to justify them as he’d done so to protect his family.

He gained the title of Demon’s Head sometime later and ruled over the League of Assassins for centuries; prolonging his life thanks to the Lazarus Pits in Nanda Parbat. He wasn’t without challenges though, as he was first challenged to trial by combat in 1947.

He learned of Oliver Queen after sending assassins to find Sara Lance’s killer. Sara was a former member of the League and Ra’s was furious that someone had killed his protegé. He then became interested in Oliver, especially after the two met in combat. Though Ra’s was victorious the first time, killing Oliver, he knew that he wanted the Arrow to succeed him as Demon’s Head.

Ra’s al Ghul’s legacy lives on as Oliver has encountered both of his daughters, Talia and Nyssa, neither of whom are particularly pleased that he killed their father.