Few villains in comic book history are as compelling as Magneto, yet despite his frequently sympathetic rationale, he has enacted some of the most evil deeds in Marvel history. A man shaped by tragedy, Erik Lehnsherr’s deep-rooted belief in mutant superiority has led him down a dark path time and time again. Whether in animated series or live-action X-Men films, Magneto has proven to be one of the X-Men’s greatest threats – sometimes even surpassing the likes of Apocalypse or Mister Sinister.
Magneto might be the most effective comic book villain ever because, though he does evil things, his motivation is to ensure mutant survival. A Holocaust survivor, Erik Lensher has experienced the very worst that humanity has to offer. Now, as a mutant, he faces comparable discrimination again and is determined not to let history repeat itself. This makes him one of the most compelling villains, because audiences and readers completely understand his plight, even if they don’t agree with his methods.
10
Magneto Abandons Mystique After She Loses Her Powers
X-Men: The Last Stand
One of the most heartless acts Magneto commits in X-Men: The Last Stand is abandoning Mystique after she loses her powers. Mystique, one of his most loyal allies, sacrifices herself by taking a mutant cure dart meant for Magneto during a prison truck ambush. The serum neutralizes her mutation, stripping her of her blue skin and shape-shifting abilities. Rather than showing gratitude or concern, Magneto coldly dismisses her, stating, “I’m sorry my dear, you’re not one of us anymore.”
This single sentence reveals how conditional Magneto’s loyalty truly is. Despite Mystique’s unwavering devotion to him, she is discarded the moment she becomes human. This moment highlights Magneto’s hypocrisy – he preaches mutant unity but ultimately values power over individuals. His willingness to cast aside someone who has stood by him for years proves that, despite his claims of fighting for mutantkind, his leadership is often deeply self-serving.
9
Magneto Uses Rogue To Turn Humans Into Mutants
X-Men (2000)
In the first X-Men film, Magneto devises a sinister plan to turn humans into mutants using a device powered by Rogue’s abilities. His target is a summit of world leaders, hoping that by transforming them, they will change their anti-mutant stance. However, the mutation process is highly unstable and ultimately lethal. Knowing the machine will kill him if he operates it himself, Magneto forcibly transfers his abilities to Rogue.
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Magneto straps the terrified teenager to the device, forcing her to endure excruciating pain as it sends waves of mutant energy across Ellis Island. Magneto’s plan is horrifying – not only does he disregard the potential deaths of world leaders, but he also shows no concern for Rogue’s suffering. It really highlights Magneto’s duplicity, noted by Wolverine when he says “You’re so full of s***. If you were really so self-righteous, it would be you locked in that thing.”
8
Magneto Turns Senator Kelly Into A Mutant
X-Men (2000)
Senator Kelly is one of the most outspoken anti-mutant politicians in Marvel Comics and X-Men (2000), pushing for extreme measures against mutants. Rather than confronting Kelly through diplomacy, Magneto decides to forcibly mutate him. Using his experimental machine, Magneto exposes Kelly to an unstable energy field that rewrites his DNA, transforming him into a mutant with a water-like body.
Though initially alive, Kelly’s mutation is fatally flawed, and he ultimately dissolves into nothing. This moment highlights Magneto’s moral contradictions. He claims to fight against mutant oppression, yet he forcibly mutates a human against his will. His actions mirror the kind of forced experimentation that he himself suffered as a child in Nazi concentration camps. His lack of remorse further cements his descent into villainy – he sees himself as a liberator (even calling Kelly “Brother”), but his actions prove he is just as cruel as those he despises.
7
Magneto Launches Nuclear Weapons
X-Men: The Animated Series
In X-Men: The Animated Series, Magneto’s war against humanity escalates to apocalyptic levels when he attempts to launch nuclear missiles. In the episode 3, “Enter Magneto,” Magneto seizes control of a military base, intending to wipe out humanity before they can act against mutants. This act is especially horrifying given Magneto’s history. He witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences of genocide. Yet, in his quest for mutant superiority, he ironically becomes the very type of threat he claims to oppose.
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This episode is adapted from the iconic first issue of X-Men ever, though it was softened for 1990s censors and reframed around the X-Men: TAS team. As such, the episode culminates with Storm nearly making the ultimate sacrifice to protect civilians from the blast. Thankfully, Professor Xavier intervenes and proffers an alternative, but the fact that Magneto even considers launching nuclear warheads proves how far he is willing to go.
6
Magneto Joins Apocalypse
X-Men: Apocalypse
In X-Men: Apocalypse, Magneto briefly finds peace living with a wife and child. However, their tragic deaths at the hands of human authorities reignite his hatred, leaving him vulnerable to Apocalypse’s influence. The ancient mutant offers him immense power, and Magneto becomes one of his Four Horsemen. Under Apocalypse’s command, Magneto’s abilities are amplified to catastrophic levels. He manipulates the Earth’s magnetic field, causing massive destruction across the globe.
Entire cities are torn apart, likely killing millions. Though Magneto later turns against Apocalypse, the damage he causes is irreversible. His decision to ally with a genocidal mutant god demonstrates how easily Magneto’s grief turns to vengeance. Rather than honoring his family’s memory through peace, he chooses mass destruction. His actions here prove that, despite his past tragedies, Magneto’s thirst for retribution often outweighs his moral judgment.
5
Magneto Unleashes An EMP
X-Men ’97
One of Magneto’s most devastating acts in X-Men ’97 is unleashing an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) strong enough to cripple global infrastructure. EMP attacks are incredibly destructive, disabling power grids, hospitals, and essential services, leaving millions vulnerable. The sheer scale of the chaos Magneto causes is staggering. Without power, entire cities plunged into darkness. Emergency services fail, leaving people trapped, injured, or dying.
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Magneto justifies his attack as a necessary step for mutant liberation, but the collateral damage is undeniable. His willingness to target humanity on such a large scale highlights his evolution into a true terrorist. Unlike past attacks focused on military targets, this action affects ordinary civilians. It’s a stark reminder that while Magneto may claim to be fighting for mutantkind, his methods make him one of the greatest threats to both mutants and humans alike.
4
Magneto Paralyzes Xavier
X-Men: First Class
One of the most tragic moments in X-Men: First Class occurs when Magneto inadvertently paralyzes his closest friend, Charles Xavier. During the film’s climactic battle, Magneto is locked in a standoff with the U.S. military, who fear mutantkind and attempt to neutralize them. During the confrontation, Magneto ostentatiously deflects a bullet fired at him, unaware that it is heading straight for Xavier.
The bullet strikes Charles in the spine, instantly paralyzing him. While the injury is accidental, Magneto’s refusal to take responsibility is what makes this moment so devastating. Instead of showing remorse, he doubles down on his belief that humans were to blame and that they will never accept mutants. He leaves Xavier behind, fully embracing his role as a mutant revolutionary. This moment cements the tragic divide between the two men, turning a once-powerful friendship into an ideological war that will last for decades.
3
Magneto Tries To Kill All Humans
X2: X-Men United
In X2: X-Men United, Magneto nearly commits genocide on a global scale. After the villainous William Stryker hijacks Cerebro and forces Professor Xavier to target all mutants, Magneto takes advantage of the situation to turn the tables. Once Stryker is defeated, Magneto reconfigures Cerebro to target humans instead. As Xavier unknowingly begins the process of wiping out all non-mutants on Earth, Magneto stands by, fully prepared to let billions die.
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Unlike past conflicts where he fought against anti-mutant oppression, this time he is the aggressor. His justification – that humans would do the same to mutants – has been demonstrated by Stryker, yet Magneto’s plan feels harrowing. If not for the X-Men’s intervention, Magneto’s actions would have resulted in total human extinction. His decision to manipulate Xavier’s powers for genocide is one of his most unforgivable acts in the entire franchise.
2
Magneto Orchestrates An Attack On Genosha
Wolverine and the X-Men
In Wolverine and the X-Men, Magneto presents himself as the ruler of Genosha, a supposed mutant haven. However, his leadership is far from benevolent. Instead of offering peace, he manipulates events behind the scenes, leading to Genosha becoming a battleground. Rather than fostering unity, Magneto allows tensions to escalate, secretly provoking conflicts that threaten the sanctuary he claimed to build.
This culminates in Magneto instructing Mystique to infiltrate the human military and instigate an attack on Genosha and the mutants. Magneto uses this as his excuse to embark on his war against humanity. His willingness to put Genosha at risk reveals his true priorities – power and control. While he claims to fight for mutants, he often sacrifices their safety to advance his own agenda. Despite his claims of fighting for his people, Magneto repeatedly demonstrates his willingness to sacrifice other mutants for his cause.
1
Magneto Rips The Adamantium From Wolverine’s Bones
X-Men ’97
Perhaps Magneto’s most brutal act occurs in X-Men ’97, when he violently rips the adamantium from Wolverine’s skeleton. In both the comics and the series, this is one of the most horrifying and painful in Wolverine’s history. Magneto and Wolverine have clashed repeatedly, but Magneto often subdues Wolverine by controlling his skeleton. Instead, here Magneto opts for cruelty, in an act of sheer brutality beyond anything Magneto has done before.
Magneto doesn’t simply defeat Wolverine – he utterly dismantles him, inflicting pain that even Logan’s healing factor struggles to recover from. This attack is deeply personal. Magneto, despite his hatred for humanity, often claims to have a moral code when it comes to mutants. Yet here, he tortures one of his own kind without hesitation. The act exemplifies his complete lack of restraint when enraged, proving that even mutants are not safe from Magneto’s wrath when they stand in his way.
