Controversial or Not, My Favorite Jujutsu Kaisen Villain Will Never Be Sukuna

Jujutsu Kaisencontains some of the most dynamic, well-written villains in anime, who are remembered by fans long after their arcs in the story conclude. The most popular of the bunch is Ryomen Sukuna, the King of Curses, who is the main threat the jujutsu sorcerers fight throughout the entire series. Sukuna's imposing presence is a constant in Jujutsu Kaisen, but he is not the best Jujutsu Kaisen villain in my opinion.

Although villains like Sukuna and Kenjaku receive more attention from fans and overall screentime in the story, I call a different Cursed Spirit my favorite. Mahito, the disaster curse, is the best Jujutsu Kaisen villain, not due to his incredible powers alone, but because of his unique, playful but manipulative personality, his Cursed Technique, and his disturbing lack of motivation for his evil deeds.

Mahito is Jujutsu Kaisen’s Best Villain

He Is Different From His Fellow Villains, Giving Him a Uniquely Unforgettable Edge

Mahito maliciously licking his lips in Jujutsu Kaisen's first opening — Jujutsu-Kaisen-Opening-Mahito

Among the varied cast of villains in Jujutsu Kaisen, Mahito stands out as my absolute favorite for quite a few reasons. First, he is distinctly different from every other evildoer in the series because he lacks a compelling driving force that pushes him to pursue evil. Kenjaku and Sukuna, for example, have wider goals in mind that motivate their murderous sprees, hoping to create a world where they can rule and secure the power they crave. Mahito is less inspired by the idea of power itself, and more so wants to make a name for cursed spirits by wiping out humanity and replacing them.

Mahito also often just kills simply because he wants to and to satiate his own twisted curiosity, which makes him arguably more terrifying than his counterparts with tangible, albeit almost as disturbing, goals in mind. Although he wishes to destroy humanity, he is fascinated by humans, transfiguring people's bodies beyond recognition to entertain himself in the most grotesque way. Many other Jujutsu Kaisen villains kill out of necessity to further their plans, but Mahito takes sick pleasure purely in the act of causing pain and death to his victims, which makes for a much more horrifying and compelling villain in the context of the story.

Mahito Has No Motivations, Making Him More Terrifying

Mahito Is Self-Interested and Genuinely Fascinated by Death, So He Is a True Horror

Mahito in Jujutsu Kaisen with a calm expression

Compared to other Cursed Spirits, Mahito is much more sadistic and brutal, using his Idle Transfiguration to mutilate humans into unidentifiable horrific creatures. His killing is not just a means to an end, like it is for other characters in the story, the murderous act itself is part of the enjoyment for him. This aspect of Mahito's character, his disgusting fascination with death and destruction, makes him a petrifying figure, but simultaneously, a well-written character who embodies the very definition of evil. So many of his actions in the series are bone-chilling, but only further prove why he is one of the best villains in anime.

Aside from his frightening transfigurations and callousness, Mahito is also a master manipulator. At first glance, no one would suspect the pure evil simmering beneath the surface of Mahito's bubbly, outgoing exterior. His extroverted personality, sense of humor, and overall silliness make him entertaining to the audience watching, since right off the bat, he doesn't fit the typical picture one imagines when they hear the word "villain." However, his approachable, friendly demeanor is merely a facade to help him get close to victims, and it works revoltingly well throughout Jujutsu Kaisen, such as in the tragic case of Junpei.

Mahito’s Two-Faced Nature Makes Him Compelling

Viewers Never Know What To Expect From Mahito; He Is Silly One Moment and Murderous in the Next

Jujutsu Kaisen villains Mahito betraying Junpei — Mahito touching Junpei to transfigure him in Jujutsu Kaisen

When Mahito met Junpei, he acted fun and lighthearted, ensnaring the vulnerable Junpei easily in his trap. He preyed on Junpei's weaknesses, realizing that the boy felt alone and isolated, was being bullied by others in his life, and needed a friend. Once he had earned Junpei's complete trust through his heartless deception, he went in for the kill before Yuji could intervene and save his friend. Despite knowing the difficult situations Junpei had faced, Mahito painfully transfigured and murdered the boy anyway, proving he is truly unsympathetic towards everyone and earning him Yuji's well-deserved hatred and burning rage.

Mahito may act foolish and goofy, but he is actually an incredibly intelligent and cunning villain. He was able to carefully watch Junpei, figure out his insecurities, and then weaponize those against him in the cruelest way. He is able to deceive victims into trusting him much easier than a villain like Sukuna or Kenjaku, who appear more outwardly horrifying and have more trouble blending in as innocent. Mahito is fantastic at playing the part of a kindhearted friend, but it is all just a calculated front. This despicable two-faced component of his character makes him even more intriguing to watch.

Mahito’s Cursed Technique is One of the Series’ Best

Few Villains Embody Pure Evil as Well as Mahito Does, and His Technique Makes Him Even Crueler

Finally, Mahito's Cursed Technique is not only a powerful weapon capable of taking down even the strongest jujutsu sorcerers, it is one of the best and most creative Cursed Techniques in Jujutsu Kaisen. Idle Transfiguration allows Mahito to completely distort and reshape victims' bodies with only the touch of his hand. He can either murder them instantly, or painfully twist their bodies into any shape he wants before ending their lives. This chilling technique allows him to kill within an instant, and in the cases of Junpei, Nanami, and Nobara, for example, it occurred so fast they could not fight back.

Mahito is too often underestimated by fans, or even forgotten, since he died fairly early on in the story. However, his impact was immense, and his character arc is some of the strongest writing in the entire series. Mahito perfectly represents what it means to be a villain. He is immoral, carelessly obsessed with hurting others, and undoubtedly powerful, armed with one of the best Cursed Techniques in the entire franchise that offers him nearly limitless possibilities. As much as I hated Mahito while watching Jujutsu Kaisen,I couldn't look away, because although he is a despicable person, he is a truly fascinating, unique character to watch.