vulture lists

161 Charmed Demons, Warlocks, and Baddies, Ranked by Scariness

TSDCHAR EC004 Photo: Viacom/Courtesy Everett Collection

Charmed is a show about three magical sisters who hate men and love each other. Prue, Piper, and Phoebe (and later, Paige) Halliwell come into their powers in their mid to late 20s, then spend eight years fighting any and all evil that descends upon San Francisco — and apparently, there’s a lot of it to fend off in NorCal. Not all hellfires are created equal, though. And what better time to rank demons than Halloween weekend? For clarity’s sake, we’ve excluded minor threats, demons who only encounter the sisters in passing, and alternate-universe/past-life versions of the sisters or their family members. From the barely scary to the truly terrifying, here are 161 demons, warlocks, evil witches, and other creatures that make the Charmed Ones’ lives a living hell (literally).

161. Shocker Demon (Season 4, Episode 6, “A Knight to Remember”)
160. Slime Demon (Season 6, Episode 11, “Witchstock”)
159. Hawker Demon (Season 5, Episode 16, “Baby’s First Demon”)
158. Parasite Demons (Season 5, Episode 16, “Baby’s First Demon”)
157. Imp Master/Imps (Season 8, Episode 5, “Rewitched”)
156. Skreek (Season 5, Episode 21, “Necromancing the Stone”)
155. Hector (Season 4, Episode 9, “Muse to My Ears”)
154. Kaia (Kieran Demon) (Season 5, Episode 11, “The Importance of Being Phoebe”)
153. Jondar (Season 8, Episode 18, “The Torn Identity”)
152. Xavier and Tull (Season 5, Episode 19, “Nymphs Just Wanna Have Fun”)
151. Erik (Season 5, Episode 17, “Lucky Charmed”)
150. Wicked Witch From the Magic Mirror (Season 5, Episode 3, “Happily Ever After”)
149. Savard (Season 8, Episode 13, “Repo Manor”)
148. Captain Black Jack Cutting (Season 7, Episode 4, “Charrrmed!”)
147. Emrick (Season 8, Episode 9, “Hulkus Pocus”)
146. Yen Lo (Season 4, Episode 4, “Enter the Demon”)
145. Raim (Season 4, Episode 20, “Long Live the Queen”)
144. Malick (Season 4, Episode 20, “Long Live the Queen”)
143. William Hamilton (Season 3, Episode 1, “The Honeymoon’s Over”)
142. Laygan (worked for Zankou) (Season 7, Episode 11, “Ordinary Witches”)
141. Arnon (Season 5, Episode 5, “Witches in Tights”)
140. Craven (Season 7, Episode 17, “Scry Hard”)
139. Krell (Season 3, Episode 8, “Sleuthing with the Enemy”)
138. Count Roget (Season 7, Episode 15, “Show Ghouls”)
137. Nanta (Season 8, Episode 11, “Mr. & Mrs. Witch”)
136. Bosk (Season 6, Episode 15, “I Dream of Phoebe”)
135. The Collectors (Season 2, Episode 7, “They’re Everywhere”)
134. Salek & Sid (Season 8, Episode 19, “The Jung and the Restless”)
133. Guardian Demons (Season 3, Episode 1, “The Honeymoon’s Over”)
132. Kierkan (Alchemist Demon) (Season 3, Episode 9, “Coyote Piper”)
131. Terra (Season 3, Episode 9, “Coyote Piper”)
130. Jinny (Season 6, Episode 15, “I Dream of Phoebe”)
129. Creo (Season 8, Episode 12, “Payback’s A Witch”)
128. Harpies (Season 4, Episode 18, “Bite Me”)
127. Sarpedon (Season 7, Episode 7, “Someone to Witch Over Me”)
126. Burke (Season 8, Episode 10, “Vaya Con Leos”)
125. Kurzon (Season 4, Episode 14, “The Three Faces of Phoebe”)
124. Malvoc & His Clan (Season 7, Episode 9, “There’s Something About Leo”)
123. Zahn (Season 6, Episode 6, “Soul Survivor”)
122. The Dark Knight (Season 6, Episode 8, “Sword and the City”)
121. Nigel & Robin (Season 6, Episode 11, “Witchstock”)
120. The Sea Hag (Season 5, Episodes 1 & 2, “A Witch’s Tail, Parts 1 & 2”)
119. Orin/Cree (Season 5, Episode 16, “The Eyes Have It”)
118. The Siren (Season 5, Episode 4, “Siren Song”)
117. Kazi King & Kazi Warriors (Season 5, Episode 20, “Sense and Sense Ability”)
116. Tuatha (Season 2, Episode 6, “That Old Black Magic”)
115. Dominax/Rohtul/Creo/Xamo (Season 8, Episode 12, “Payback’s a Witch”)
114. Janna and Jayda (Season 5, Episode 17, “Lucky Charmed”)
113. Saleel (Season 5, Episode 17, “Lucky Charmed”)
112. Black Heart (Season 8, Episode 1, “Malice in Wonderland”)
111. The Boss (Season 3, Episode 2, “Magic Hour”)
110. Novak & Magnus (Season 8, Episode 17, “12 Angry Zen”)

109. Familiar Hunter (Season 5, Episode 18, “Cat House”)
Zachary Quinto’s Charmed guest spot doesn’t even get a real name, but this Familiar Hunter, out to murder the magical cat that helped unknowingly guide the sisters when they were just starting to hone their powers, was mysteriously creepy.

108. Libris (Season 2, Episode 19, “Ex Libris”)
107. Stephen and Annette (Season 4, Episode 12, “Lost and Bound”)
106. Vaklav (Season 8, Episode 7, “The Lost Picture Show”)
105. Margoyle (Season 8, Episode 9, “Hulkus Pocus”)
104. Nicholas (Season 1, Episode 17, “That ‘70s Episode”)
103. Shadow (Season 3, Episode 17, “Pre-Witched”)
102. Spider Demon (Season 6, Episode 18, “Spin City”)
101. Katya (Season 7, Episode 18, “Little Box of Horrors”)
100. Imara & Lantos (Season 7, Episode 19, “Freaky Phoebe”)
99. Vincent Wrong & the Demonatrix (Season 6, Episode 20, “A Wrong Day’s Journey Into Right”)
98. Elkin (Season 8, Episode 1, “Still Charmed and Kicking”)
97. Rowe Coven (Season 1, Episode 18, “When Bad Warlocks Go Good”)
96. Ciril (Season 8, Episode 16, “Engaged and Confused”)
95. Gith (Season 6, Episode 6, “My Three Witches”)
94. Corr and Clea (Season 6, Episode 21, “Witch Wars”)
93. Tai & Zira (Season 8, Episode 8, “Battle of the Hexes”)
92. Dane (Season 4, Episode 20, “Long Live the Queen”) & Episode 21, “Womb Raiders”)
91. Antosis (Season 8, Episode 5, “Rewitched”)
90. Manticores (Season 6, Episode 9, “Little Monsters”)
89. Dreylock (Season 8, Episode 15, “The Last Temptation of Christy”)
88. Charon (Season 1, Episode 20, “The Power of Two”)
87. The Seekers (Season 3, Episode 16, “Death Takes a Halliwell”)
86. Cryto (Season 2, Episode 17, “How to Make a Quilt Out of Americans”)
85. Jackson (Season 4, Episode 9, “Muse to My Ears”)
84. Litvack (Season 2, Episode 15, “Give Me A Sign”)
83. Female Possessor Demon (Season 8, Episode 4, “Desperate Housewitches”)
82. Cynda/Marshall/Fritz (Season 1, Episode 3, “Thank You For Not Morphing”)
81. Kali (Season 1, Episode 7, “The Fourth Sister”)
80. Vinceres (Season 3, Episode 6, “Primrose Empath”)
79. Isis & Jeric (Season 5, Episode 10, “Y Tu Mummy Tambien”)
78. Axel (Season 5, Episode 14, “Sand Francisco Dreamin’”)
77. Elias Lundy (Season 2, Episode 11, “Recless Abandon”)
76. Inspector Rodriguez (Season 1, Episode 20, “The Power of Two”)
75. Tempus (Season 1, Episode 22, “Deja Vu All Over Again”)
74. Necron (Season 5, Episodes 1 & 2, “A Witch’s Tail, Parts 1 & 2”)
73. Pator & Rondok (Season 8, Episode 17, “Generation Hex”)
72. Rat Demon (Season 4, Episode 11, “Trial By Magic”)
71. Bacarra (Season 5, Episode 8, “A Witch In Time”)
70. Dragon Warlock (Season 2, Episode 22, “Be Careful What You Witch For”)
69. Lord Dyson (Season 7, Episode 2, “The Bare Witch Project”)
68. Jane Franklin & Malcolm (Season 2, Episode 3, “The Painted World”)
67. Alastair (Season 4, Episode 7, “Brain Drain”)
66. Dex (Season 5, Episode 11, “The Importance of Being Phoebe”)

65. Devlin (Season 4, Episode 9, “Muse to My Ears”)
Every once in a while, Charmed found ways to use magical beings to explain ancient mythology and everyday occurrences. When Devlin starts stealing Muses, the sisters learn the importance of inspiration and how that plays into their daily lives and destinies.

64. Aku (Season 7, Episode 7, “Someone to Witch Over Me”) & Episode 11, “Ordinary Witches”)
63.
Sirk (Season 7, Episode 5, “Styx Feet Under”)
62. Lukas (Season 3, Episode 18, “Sin Francisco”)
61. Ronan (Season 5, Episode 9, “Sam, I Am”)
60. Jackson Ward (Season 1, Episode 20, “The Power of Two”)
59. Matthew Tate (Season 1, Episode 9, “The Witch is Back”)
58. Rowan (Season 4, Episode 18, “Bite Me”)
57. Vampire Queen (Season 4, Episode 18, “Bite Me”)
56. Gammill (Season 4, Episode 5, “Size Matters”)
55. Dantalian (Season 3, Episode 13, “Bride and Gloom”)
54. Zile (Season 3, Episode 13, “Bride and Gloom”)
53. Patra, Pilar & Phoenix (Season 8, Episode 13, “Repo Manor”)
52. Ludlow (Season 4, Episode 12, “Lost and Bound”)
51. Kellman (Season 3, Episode 12, “Wrestling With Demons”)
50. Gavin (Season 1, Episode 8, “The Truth is Out There…and It Hurts”)
49. Drazi (Season 2, Episode 10, “Heartbreak City”)
48. Eames (Season 3, Episode 22, “Blinded by the Whitelighter”)
47. Lazarus Demon (Season 4, Episode 15, “Marry-Go-Round”)
46. The Necromancer (Season 5, Episode 21, “Necromancing the Stone”)
45. The Dogan (Season 8, Episode 6, “Kill Billie Vol. 1”)
44. Vicus (Season 7, Episode 20, “Imaginary Fiends”)
43. Julie (Season 4, Episodes 17 through 19)
42. Damien (Darklighter who lured Leo to the Ghostly Plane) (Season 6, Episode 16, “The Courtship of Wyatt’s Father”)
41. Sykes (Season 4, Episode 8, “Black as Cole”)
40. The Infernal Council (Season 2, Episode 44, “Be Careful What You Witch For”)
39. Brotherhood of the Thorn (Season 3, Episode 19, “The Demon Who Came in from the Cold” & Episode 20, “Exit Strategy”)
38. Gabriel & Helena Statler (Season 1, Episode 16, “Which Prue Is It, Anyway?”)
37. Reinhardt (Season 8, Episode 6, “Kill Billie Vol. 1” & Episode 10, “Vaya Con Leos”)
36. Hecate (Season 1, Episode 6, “The Wedding from Hell”)
35. Grimlocks (Season 1, Episode 19, “Out of Sight”)
34. Andras (Season 3, Episode 7, “Power Outage”)
33. Masselin (Season 2, Episode 4, “The Devil’s Music”)
32. Javna (Season 1, Episode 2, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”)
31. Darla (Succubus) (Season 2, Episode 5, “She’s a Man, Baby, a Man!”)
30. Alec (Season 1, Episode 21, “Love Hurts”)
29. Mordaunt (Season 6, Episode 8, “Sword and the City”)
28. Anton (Season 2, Episode 14, “Pardon My Past”)
27. Cronyn/Doris (Season 5, Episode 15, “The Day the Magic Died”)
26. Paul Haas (Season 8, Episodes 1, “Still Charmed and Kicking” & Episode 2, “Malice in Wonderland”)

25. Agent Fallon/Wendigo (Season 1, Episode 12, “The Wendigo”)
A creature that consumes the hearts of those who are lovesick is awfully dangerous to the Halliwells and everyone in their lives. Naturally, this wendigo, disguised as an FBI agent, goes after Andy Trudeau, the officer hopelessly in love with Prue, and turns Piper into one of these creatures in the process.

24. The Titans (Season 5, Episodes 22 & 23, “Oh My Goddess! Parts 1 & 2)
23. The Order (Season 6, Episode 12, “Prince Charmed”)
22. The Crone (Season 5, Episode 16, “Baby’s First Demon”) & Episode 20, “Sense and Sense Ability”)
21. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Season 2, Episode 21, “Apocalypse, Not”)
20. Hannah Webster & Rex Buckland (Season 1, Episode 2, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”)
19. Spirit Killer (Season 2, Episode 16, “Murphy’s Luck”)
18. Abraxas (Season 2, Episode 1, “Witch Trial”)
17. Furies (Season 4, Episode 3, “Hell Hath No Fury”)
16. Water Demon (Season 2, Episode 8, “P3 H2O”)
15. Banshee (Season 3, Episode 21, “Look Who’s Barking”)
14. Dumain (Season 8, Episode 20, “Gone With the Witches”)
13. The Tall Man (Season 4, Episode 21, “Womb Raider”)
12. The Triad (Season 3, Episode 2, “Magic Hour”)
11. Ari/Freckles/Jersey (Season 3, Episode 10, “We All Scream for Ice Cream”)

10. Zankou (Season 7, Episode 10, “Witchness Protection”)
Zankou is a powerful demon that sticks around for most of season seven, at first trying to rid the world of the Avatars (for which he needs the help of the Charmed Ones to actually accomplish) and then to steal the Book of Shadows and consume the shadow (a.k.a. Woogyman) underneath the manor.

9. The Woogyman (Season 1, Episode 15, “Is There a Woogy in the House?”)
For the Halliwell sisters, childhood demons turned out to be real-life demons. For Phoebe, the shadowy Woogyman she saw Grams struggle against when she was a little girl turned out to be something still living beneath the manor, and the chant she was given to calm down as a kid turned out to be the exact spell necessary for sending it back to where it belongs.

8. Jeremy Burns (Season 1, Episode 1, “Something Wicca This Way Comes” & Season 2, Episode 23, “Witch Trial”)
A common thread throughout all eight seasons of Charmed? Men (mostly) suck. The Halliwell sisters learned that harsh truth when Piper’s fiancé turned out to be a warlock almost immediately after they discover their destinies. Jeremy was gotten rid of pretty quickly, but the fear of what he did to Piper lingers in every relationship they pursue after that.

7. Demon of Illusion (Season 2, Episode 18, “Chick Flick”)
The Demon of Illusion was just a one-off demon encounter, but his episode was every scary-movie fear brought to life — literally. He would help bring scary-movie characters like Bloody Mary to life in the human world, where they would wreak havoc like they would on-screen, but without chocolate syrup for blood.

6. Gideon (Season 6, Episode 14, “The Legend of Sleepy Halliwell”)
The scariest parts of Charmed are watching people the sisters trust turn on them without even blinking an eye. Gideon, an Elder and headmaster of the Magic School, is supposed to be an emblem of good in the universe, but instead he spends his time plotting ways to kill baby Wyatt Halliwell under the pretense that no one as powerful as the baby should be born into the world.

5. Shax (Season 3, Episode 22, “All Hell Breaks Loose” & Season 4, Episode 1, “Charmed Again, Part 1”)
Shax’s actual powers (manipulation of the wind) were some of the least terrifying that the sisters encountered. Even his look — best described as “blue Fabio” — wasn’t shocking, but never judge a book by its cover: Shax did some serious damage to the sisters’ lives. Not only did he nearly cause their powers to be outed publicly, but he took away something more important than their secrecy: their sister Prue.

4. The Seer (Season 4, Episode 13, “Charmed and Dangerous”)
The Seer wasn’t actively evil, but she was persuasive enough to guide Cole Turner back to his evil ways. Her subtle manipulation was straight-up terrifying, and everything that went down with the Source’s Heir that Phoebe originally carried was one of the creepiest parts of her entire plot.

3. Christy Jenkins (Season 8, Episode 6, “Kill Billie Vol. 1”)
Christy has been a source of fandom controversy: Is she actually evil or just raised that way? Let’s just call it like it is: Christy betrayed her own sister Billie and the Charmed Ones she pretended to aid. That’s not exactly the work of a good witch.

2. Barbas (Season 1, Episode 13, “From Fear to Eternity”)
Barbas (otherwise known as the Demon of Fear) was one demon the Charmed Ones wished they knew how to quit. For seven of eight seasons, Barbas was near inescapable, popping up and unearthing all the old and developing fears that could weaken the sisters, and then when that didn’t work, he aided anyone and everyone with stealing the super-powerful baby Wyatt and just about anything else to enact revenge on the Power of Three.

1. Cole Turner/Belthazor/The Source of All Evil (Season 3, Episode 1, “The Honeymoons Over”)
Oh, Cole Turner. The Upper Level Demon tried so hard to be evil, but then he fell in love with one Phoebe Halliwell. Then he tried so hard to be good only to just become evil again and take Phoebe down a dark road. Cole’s was an obsessive love, and he may have been the most complex evil being of all.

161 Charmed Villains, Ranked by Scariness