Ranking all 13 of the Forsaken from the Wheel of Time, from worst to best

8. Moghedien

The “spider” Moghedien is one of the longest lasting villains in The Wheel of Time. She makes her debut in the fourth novel, The Shadow Rising, where she battles Nynaeve and hunts the protagonists by observing them in the world of dreams. She lasts through the end of the series without being killed or resurrected.

One reason for Moghedien’s long survival is her insidious nature and her preference for indirect manipulation over outright conflict. In one amazing scene, Moghedien reveals her identity to a group of Black Ajah after posing as their servant for weeks, humbling each unbelieving Aes Sedai in turn with the One Power and bending them to her will.

Moghedien is at one point captured by Nynaeve and forced over her long captivity to impart knowledge from the Age of Legends to the Aes Sedai, making them more powerful. However, when she is eventually freed, she is once again a thorn in the heroes’ side and a danger lurking always in the dark.

In the Amazon Prime series, Moghedien is introduced with bone chilling creepiness in the season 2 finale, played by Laia Costa.

7. Sammael

A man so filled with anger and resentment that he refuses to heal the scar across his face that was given to him three thousand years ago, Sammael is a blunt and uncompromising general of great skill. Known as one of the best commanders during the Age of Legends, Sammael had previously fought against the Dark One’s armies beside the Dragon before succumbing to jealousy of Lews Therin and defecting to the other side.

Sammael is one of the main villains in the first half of the novels, launching raid after raid upon Rand in hopes of finally killing his reincarnated enemy. Sammael rules the nation of Illian in secret and successfully rallies its military in his war against Rand, causing the deaths of thousands. He nearly kills the Dragon Reborn on several occasions including one deadly strike that kills dozens of Maidens of the Spear, elite female warriors from the Three-fold Land. Rand’s campaign to defeat Sammael is a multi-novel arc that comes to a head in the seventh book, A Crown of Swords.