Top Fifteen Ace Attorney Villains 

Ok, I'm getting sick of answering this question, so I'm going to pin this comment and make it clear to everybody who's always asking me: "Why isn't Godot on this list?" The biggest reason as to why Godot isn't on my Villains list is because he is NOT a villain. He's the main antagonist of the game, yes, but he was never the villain of the game. Now please stop asking me this question.

another reason Dahlia is best villain: her profession is being *permanently retired*

Kristoph should've been #2. He planned out everything, thought of every contingency, and committed the (almost) perfect murder TWICE. But what really makes him the second best villain is that he is the only villain to affect Phoenix directly! (Not by taking away someone close to him, but by actually costing Phoenix - the main character of the whole series - his job!)

I'm so happy you put Mimi! She's so underrated and often overlooked.

If Luke Atmey wasn’t narcissistic enough, his name is literally “Look at me!”

My favorite villain in the series is Matt Engarde. That reveal of him being the guy who hired De Killer totally took me by surprise, and his entire double sided persona made him the most interesting villain imo.

Dahlias theme gives me chills. It's unsettling, like it's hiding something

Did you have to show Means smile? That smile is PURE nightmare fuel!

Fun Fact: Damon Gant's claps are actually a lot higher depending on the frame limit cap. So in the original, it's 30 fps. In the HD trilogy, that was 60 fps. So he is clapping THAT fast.

I also think Dahlia really changed Phoenix's life forever. That court case really was the end of Phoenix' innocence and his first big step in becoming a lawyer. Phoenix will never forget Dahlia as without her his life would have been so totally different.

2:18 Turnabout Storyteller is actually a very good case. When you look at it in a wider scope, the 3 preceding cases were as dark as the world's blackest black. It was nice to have a lighthearted case in an otherwise dark game.

Spirit of Justice had the most hateable antagonists in the series because of how callous they were

Ah man, you'll definitely have to play the Investigations games someday, the first one's OK but the second one is probably one of the best in the series.

Honestly, I saw this coming. As suave and cool as Gant is, Dahlia is by far the most awful person in the entire Ace Attorney series.

Gant is so underrated.

nowaynowaynowaynoway there's no Investigations?

What I love about Kristoph is kind of because of my headcanon that after Phoenix lost his badge, he trusted Kristoph completely. When Phoenix was up against the bar association, everyone but Kristoph wanted him to lose his badge, and Kristoph was the only one who believed in him, or so he thought. Then look at the class trial. Phoenix was against all his class mates and only Miles and Larry believed in him, and so Phoenix believed in them in return. Phoenix trusted Kristoph like he trusted Edgeworth.

My top 3 villains would be: 3) Phantom 2) Kritoph Gavin 1) Dahlia Hawthorne It doesn't matter how many life they ruined. It's their execution and cleverness that amazed me

Actually Matt's Rivalry with Juan goes even before Inpax's Suicide. In fact, their rivalry was kind of the reason for Inpax's death

Can we talk about how Fulbright has the best twist in the whole series? I mean, in the last case you kinda see something is off with him, as he is weirdly more helpful, but then the moment of realization when you piece together how the phantom escaped is just 👌

There is a theory that Godot/Armando eventually succumbed to his eye wound due to him not getting it treated, with the backup being that in Larry's sketch he appeared alongside Mia and Misty who were both physically dead, which possibly hints as his passing. If that's the case, Dahlia would have had a third victim by her hand(Doug, Valerie) and 4 successful victims(+ Fawles), 2 failures(Wright, Maya), 1 unintentional(Misty) and 1 by someone unrelated(Mia)

i waaaaant another matt engarde like case.

ANYONE NOTICES ABOUT KRISTOPH LAUGH THAT RESEMBELENCES THAT HE'S GONNA BE THE NEXT KIRA?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

You havent played the Investigation games? Too bad, dude, you even get to play as Edgeworths dad in the case where he accused Von Karma of forging evidence. Anyways, great vid! Loved watching it :)

37:11 Can we just appreciate how epic Godot looks in this picture? I mean it's a cyborg , holding a samurai blade, about to slash up a criminal.

Gotta give it to Von Karma though. Dude's hid a bullet in his shoulder for FIFTEEN YEARS!

#15: Pinning a crime on a kid... not cool. #14: I imagine since Redd White was president of Bluecorp, and he got arrested, Bluecorp's doors would be closed for good. Phoenix may have saved Maya but in the process caused hundreds of employees at Bluecorp to lose their jobs. But in the end I guess it was worth it, cause where hundreds would lose their jobs, millions began to regain hope and peace of mind since Redd White was no longer watching and listening over them. #13: It kinda makes you wonder who the real villain was. #12: I imagine that after Bridge to the Turnabout, Mia, channeled by Pearl, Phoenix, Maya and a Khu'rian village elder confront Morgan, telling her that the elders will take custody of Pearl and Morgan would be exiled, no longer a resident of the village. #11: A queen with no spiritual powers. Yikes. Morgan Fey 2.0 here. #10: I would imagine that after he was defeated, the police went to the houses of every student and, though cruely, arrested their parents and informed the students they had to restart their courses from square 1. #9: I imagine Bruto's goons beat up Tigre while he was in jail, for breaking his granddaughter's heart, as well as her head. #8: How many people have a grudge against the Gramarye's? Who's next, the former Chief Justice's son from Turnabout Serenade? #7: The Double Jeopardy angle was... okay at best. #6: Ah, the Phantom. Too bad we never find out who he was working for. #5: Ah yes, Manfred Von Karma. You might wanna look into the Investigations games. #4: Oh man, Kristoff Gavin is the biggest jerk. You call yourself an attorney? I call you a FRAUD! Too bad we'll never know what his darkest secret was. #3: Matt was scum, but well written scum. #2: ................................................... Ah, Mr. Gant, long time no see. #1: Oh boy, Dahlia Hawthorne. I kinda wish in her exorcism the spirits of Terry Fawles and Valerie Hawthorne would drag her down to the underworld. Not a bad list overall.

My top 5: 1. Main antagonist of Investigations 2 2. Roger Retinz 3. Matt Engarde 4. Manfred von Karma 5. Killer of case 4 of Investigations 2 Seriously, PLAY INVESTIGATIONS 2! IT'S SO WORTH IT!

It's not just about Perfect Murder. Dahlia's Plans were pretty flawless too if I were to say. Mia just called her a failure, to taunt and torment her. However, Dahlia could have pointed out Mia's failures in protecting Fawles to taunt her back or even kill 'herself' cuz she was in Maya's body. But then Dahlia would win and we don't want that. She seriously got away with 3 Crimes. The staged kidnapping, killing her sister, as well as making Terry kill himself. She even would have killed Phoenix, if Iris wasn't there to beg and let her try to get the Locket. Also unlike Kristoph or Matt or almost any other villain, what Sets Gant and Dahlia apart is that their primary victim (or most in Dahlia's case cuz she had made a lot of lives miserable) had done nothing to provoke them. Kristoph was provoked by Zak indirectly and Mat was outright provoked by Juan. But Damon and Dahlia killed their victims just for their own selfishness and to make life convenient for themselves. It can be said for others too, but in the case of Damon and Dahlia, their victims actually looked up or cared for them like Neil and Terry. Maya herself also had never done anything to Dahlia, but Dahlia only wanted to kill her just to satisfy her feeling of revenge against Mia Dahlia was outright Spiteful, she would kill someone without regard, not because they provoked her, but because it would make things easier for her. Plus she Spiked Godot's Coffee. GODOT'S COFFEE IN THE COURTROOM. That gotta take some brain and guts Not only that, but she was very analytical too. She predicted the worst-case scenario and had the poisoned bottle stored under the tree. And she had the murder opening because she knew that Terry would go there, which would give her a chance to keep the body in the trunk

if you want to see a playthrough of the Ace Attorney Investigation games check out NicoB cause he has completed the first game and is currently playing the second one now

The phantom is my favorite villain in the entire series I don't know what it is about I just love him.

14:03 Hey Athena, d'you wanna have a bad time?

Anybody but me like the Phoenix Wright Case where you play as Mia protecting Phoenix?

Dahlia is literally the production of so many things tho.

I'd love you to update this after playing the second investigations game, the main villain will definetly make this list.

15:ROCK an ROLL BABY 14:twinkel twinkel twinkel 13:i think acro deserved is spot more 12:this one on The ander hand 11:should be higher 10:The end justifies The SPARTAN 9:no no no no no and NO 8:rage triggerd 7:oh hey penguin look at me 6:phantom of The unkwon 5:karma is an bitch 4:more rage triggerd 3:MOTHERF*CKING BACKSTABBER 2:great villain but an bbbbbbbbbbbbooooooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnngggggggg character (love The rest of The case but not this guy) 1:the beauty of a true devil

Honestly, Big Top wasn't that bad. That goes triple for Storyteller.

zvarri!!! i looove that catchphrase. i love how its used frequently in the series.

you included both Andistandhin and Means. You my friend, have good taste

No Investigation Games? Well that can only mean that the absolute best villain is not on the list.

The detective was behind it all line was the most funniest line ever

Dahlia Hawthorn gives Damon Gant a run for his money!

Rule of phoenix wright : If you have a break down sprite. you are guilty of something.

I’m gonna guess that Kristoph was one of Aristotle’s star students.

Ga'ran is basically a more serious and more demonic version of Damon gant

Nice countdown! I just found your channel through this video. It’s nice to see someone else who likes Touhou, Kingdom Hearts, and Ace Attorney as much as I do.

13:00 Has this critic been practicing up screaming cues from Mortal Kombat? He nailed a mixture of 2 and 3 on the spot right there.

*Imagine these villains becoming casts of a Danganronpa Fangame, and Phoenix as the protagonist. That'll be a crazy Fangame for sure*

i genuinely got chills down my spine when i saw the phantom's eyes dead after he was struggling to cover his identity

Oh how could I forget, after Gant(which is actually is cool now) Dahlia must be there. She is SO EVIL that even after death she committed crime(well almost)

21:14 "I never really I was your side" Is the Phantom is the Spy from Team Fortress 2?

Kristoph in my opinion is the most evil villain in all of Ace Attorney. If you percieve Kristoph in cross examination, the veins on his hands literally make up the face of "the devil." And for the fact that he attempted to murder a 12 year old.

Mimi was a good villain, she reminds me of rose quartz from steven universe, both are emotional and had a similar thing with living a new life

Hi late to see this but i love the part where you mention about professor mean teeth and the scene for it. Hilarious. And great 15 countdown of the characters.

Luke Atmey... Look at me... Well, that shows how egotistical he is.

Did you play Investigations 1 and 2? Because the final villans in both of those games definitely deserve a spot (especially the one from Investigations 2)

Is it just me or does each game -except Justice for all i guess- have some sort of a main villain? 1st game: Von karma Trials and tribulations: Dahlia Apollo justice: Kristoph Dual destinies: The phantom Spirit of justice: The queen

40 minutes?!Ain't nobody got time fo that!Ace Attorney!?Hell,I'm in

6:07 With that description I legit thought he was gonna talk about Aura Blackquill.

I hope by now you've played Investigations 1&2, because Investigations 2 has some great villains in it.

When he said Chaos dead And alive, it was clearly Dahlia

I like Gant's grandpa smile.

14:03 ok so nobody’s talking about my guy sans back there?

Hart Vortex, Manfred von Karma, Simon Keyes. They were some of the best villains in all of ace attorney. Also Kristoph and Dahlia. There are many amazing villains in all of Ace Attorney.

Before the List: Dang, you really need to see the Investigations games. Check out Pharaoh2091 and watch his LPs of them. 15: I can understand him being the start of the list. Also, not the worst way to introduce the game's special gimmick. 14: I don't blame you for hatting him. In fact, all but one of the main series 2nd have some reason to make my blood boil. 13: And here that character is. I actually consider the accomplice of this character the real villain of this case anyways. 12: Speaking of that accomplice. I never even liked this character at all, despite 2 of her children being so pure and likable. 11: I'm half surprised that this character didn't make the top 10, but there are other amazing villains to come. 10: I honestly love that this case and this villain are how the main series cured its 3rd case syndrome. 9: I still stand by #10's case being the cure to 3rd case syndrome; but this villain was a good start for researching it. 8: While the first villain was a good starting point. This guy painted a very vivid picture of how serious this game is. 7: I will admit that this villain made this case significantly interesting as far as the classic trilogy goes. 6: I agree with your decision to put this villain so high up, unexpected twist doesn't even begin to cover the situation. 5: I never would have predicted that we would face a villain like this guy as early as the first game. 4: This villain was also responsible for an interesting 1st trial where the murderer wasn't even shown at the start. 3: I was expecting a case this to happen eventually, but not as early as the 2nd game. At least it was the game's finale case. 2: Despite the vial and evil things he has done; his is still a powerful figure that demands respect upon site. 1: And my prediction for #1 was right. Of course, the crimes that this villain committed all earn it for them. End of Story. After the List: Excellent job to whoever made the art piece with Edgeworth holding the Wii remote. Triple S Rank, 10/5.

I feel that Ga'Ron should be #1 and Daliah second. Ga'Ron fucked up her entire country's legal system and screwed up everybody's lives just to become queen. And she got away with it for over two decades. She's just like Morgan Fey with her jealousy, Daliah Hawthorn for her cunning and manipulative nature, and Manfred von Karma with her skills in the legal system and manipulate it to her advantage. But she did it better and forced those closest to her under her control with blackmail and threats while still pretending to be a benevolent queen for her subjects. It was so satisfying to see her be taken down and exposed for the phony that she was.

I love loving hating but loving Dahlia! What a legendary character.

You made my day, even though i know nothing about Ace, thank you for such an awesome video...

Thumbs up if you saw a skeleton in #10. Not talking about the end.

Roger Retinz making it onto this list is good to see. He's absolutely infuriating scum and manages to make Kristoph look magnanimous--no easy feat, quite obviously. I am left wondering how he apparently fails the heinous standard and thus can't be a Complete Monster. He killed his own clearly loyal successor simply out of a lack of trust toward him, tricked one of his associates into committing manslaughter in the process, did what he could to traumatize a 17YO Genki Girl magician, and pulled incredible insurance fraud, home invasion, AND harassment on the employees of a law firm known for its reliability, while whipping up a mob into being willing to break windows under the pretense of driving out "murderers", and all this because he was "gonna drive Troupe Gramarye and everybody associated with it into the ground"? Know what? Maybe I should see if I can do a write up on what should be Retinz's entry on Complete Monster: Roger Retinz, the murderer in "The Magical Turnabout", is a perfidious figure leading a double life as Take-2 TV's sleazy head producer and the real identity of a fire illusionist named Mr. Reus. 13 years prior as the latter, Retinz had been fired from Troupe Gramarye for disobeying Magnifi Gramarye's orders that had been issued at the sight of Retinz not having kept his dangerous tricks under control. In present day, Retinz tricks Betty de Famme into manslaughtering Manov Mistree, a man who was made the successor for the Mr. Reus name 2 years before present day for admiring Mr. Reus himself, to keep Mistree from revealing the secrets of Mr. Reus; and frames Magnifi's chipper granddaughter Trucy Wright, age 17 at that point, for it to revenge the events of 13 years past. In the midst of the resulting chaos, Retinz uses his position in Take-2 TV to subject the Wright Anything Agency to insurance fraud with a debt of 3 million dollars with the express motive that he was "gonna run Troupe Gramarye and everybody associated with it into the ground" with no consideration for their own viewpoint, and wasted no time trying to collect, invading the Wright Anything Agency's office in the process, whipped up a violent mob while doing so, and mockingly telling Trucy to keep smiling while turning anybody he could against her. An incredible sadist whose malevolence far exceeds his excuses while showing no concern for being caught for crimes that would easily make him eligible for capital punishment before finally going through his breakdown, Roger Retinz, despite being a minor villain having nothing to do with the primary Khura'in storyline, happily manages to be the cause of what could have been a breather from that instead being a terrifying nightmare. Huh. 299 words according to Wordcount. Know what? I may as well add some tropes to that: Roger Retinz, the murderer in "The Magical Turnabout", is (The Sociopath|a perfidious figure) leading a double life as (Corrupt Corporation Executive|Take-2 TV's sleazy head producer) and the real identity of a (Playing With Fire|fire) illusionist named Mr. Reus. 13 years prior as the latter, Retinz had been fired from Troupe Gramarye for disobeying Magnifi Gramarye's orders that had been issued at the sight of Retinz not having kept his dangerous tricks under control. In present day, Retinz tricks (Unwitting Pawn|Betty de Famme) into manslaughtering Manov Mistree, a man who was made the successor for the Mr. Reus name 2 years before present day for admiring Mr. Reus himself, (Jerk With A Heart Of Jerk|to keep Mistree from revealing the secrets of Mr. Reus); and frames Magnifi's (Genki Girl|chipper) granddaughter Trucy Wright, (Would Hurt A Child|age 17 at that point), for it to (Revenge By Proxy|revenge the events of 13 years past). In the midst of the resulting chaos, Retinz uses his position in Take-2 TV to subject the Wright Anything Agency to (Greed|insurance fraud with a debt of 3 million dollars) with the express motive that he was "gonna run Troupe Gramarye (Guilt By Association|and everybody associated with it) into the ground" with no consideration for their own viewpoint, and wasted no time trying to collect, invading the Wright Anything Agency's office in the process, whipped up a violent mob while doing so, and (Kick Them While They're Down|mockingly telling Trucy) (Break The Cutie|to keep smiling) while turning anybody he could against her. An incredible sadist whose malevolence (Disproportionate Retribution|far exceeds his excuses) while showing no concern for being caught for crimes that would easily make him eligible for capital punishment before finally going through his (Villainous Breakdown|breakdown), Roger Retinz, (Normal Fish In A Tiny Pond|despite being a minor villain) having nothing to do with the primary Khura'in storyline, happily manages to be (Knight Of Cerebus|the cause of what could have been a breather from that instead being a terrifying nightmare).

Hey! You're back. Welcome back! ... I really would've thought Engarde would be at top. But he's just #3.... Because I forgot Dahlia. That said, I'm not one to judge, but I feel that your values is that you like seeing people who are scumbags given a good dose of justice. It's everyone's rights to have such mindset... but I think I may be wrong on the sight. I wonder what program did you use for multiple layers like the one with Sans. Do you use Flash, or do you use After Effects? Anyway, it's good to have you back. Is this first comment, btw?

It’s a shame he hasn’t played investigations 2 the final villain is my favorite in the entire series

36 seconds long intro..............

14:26 Mr. Soul Lord I saw Sans in Courtroom No. 4 He is the one who wrote that?!

I honestly expected Dahlia Hawthrone to take #1 spot

HEY I LIKE BUCKY WHET...You dont diss the Three Freshes!!!!

Before you revealed number #1 and after you finished #2, I was screaming, “F*CKING DAHLIA HAWTHORNE!”

Even though still I think he's too high, I'm glad that von Karma isn't No. 1.

When you did the recap I realized that some of their name were puns. 🤣

26:15 After his disappearance KLAVIER decided to stalk those involved with the case.

Imagine this case: Defendant: Matt Engarde Defense: Kristoph Gavin Prosecutor: Manfred von Karma Witness: Dahlia Hawthorne Detective: Bobby Fulbright Judge: Ga'ran Khura'in That would be one fuck of a case

I wonder a little why no "Ace Attorney: Miles Edgeworth investigations" villains show up because there where also some good villains, like that woman Sheena, who was ones a attorney, thief, murdrer and FBI-Agent or that old crafty politician who was a mastermind in a smuggling ring. Besides that, awesome list.

I'm not gonna lie. I just watched this to get the gist of the game's stories.

oh professor means's smile is a meme within itself.

Pick your girls right You don't want a dead future

I personally would've given Kristoph the number 2 spot, mostly because he manages to piss me off more than any other Ace Attorney villain.

Sucks that the intro song isn’t on Apple Music NOR Spotify!

Dahlia Hawthorne just makes me want to play Trials and Tribulations again.

I UNDERSTOOD THE ULTIMECIA AND CLOUD OF DARKNESS REFERENCE OMG

I would probably put Gavin above Engarde just for the lengths he went to tie up all lose ends. I mean, he hired no assassin or ever tried to blackmail that very assassin (don't think he would ever consider that) but he poisoned a stamp that would have been lost forever if it hadn't been put into a frame for its design, he poisoned a little girl's nail polish, to ensure that even years after the events, hell even after he is put behind bars they would end up dead, without any decisive evidence to connect him to anything. He's on the level of Quercus Alba, but better because he can't hide behind a title like Ambassador.

17:51 This is exactly how I feel right now, shows a pissed off Athena cykes

I swear too many names in Ace attorney history are straight up puns

Godot :(

Am I the only one who enjoyed the Luke Atmey intro joke? Not.the guessing game, the name thing

If you include fanmade cases, Adel Renard is the best villain.

... When I heard Dahlias theme at the end of this video, I got chills...

11:08 Why does she look loke the love child of Helel from Thor: Ragnarok, and Nascour from Pokémon Colosseum?

Woah!!! I can’t remember the last time I saw an actual Gaia online avatar! Good times... great video too!

I could honestly see Brad swaile doing kristoph in a voiced remake despite me having a like/hate interest in Kira from death note.

5:52 oh, I do know how satisfying it is. Because I feeling the same way about him and have therefore done it like a dozen times^^