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"But when a wizard goes over ter the Dark Side, there's nothin' and no one that matters to em anymore..."
Rubeus Hagrid about the nature of Dark wizards[src]

A Dark wizard[1][2] or witch was any magical person who primarily studied and/or practised the Dark Arts, otherwise known as Dark Magic.[3] They often partook in the illegal breeding of dark creatures,[4] the usage or creation of dark objects and artefacts,[5] or inflicted injury, trauma or death on others often using dangerous curses, and other dark charms.[6]

In recent history, two Dark wizards of particular notoriety were Gellert Grindelwald and Lord Voldemort. Both were considered the most powerful Dark wizards of their time, with Voldemort considered to be the most powerful Dark wizard of all time.

Grindelwald sought the Deathly Hallows to become the Master of Death and to establish a global wizarding order that would dominate Muggles all "For the Greater Good",[7] while Voldemort sought to gain unmatched power, immortality[8] and to impose pure-blood supremacy on the wizarding world.[9]

Overview[]

"A wizard who's about to put an illegal curse on you isn't going to tell you what he's about to do. He's not going to do it nice and polite to your face. You need to be prepared."
Bartemius Crouch Junior (disguised as Alastor Moody) regarding Dark wizards[src]
Voldemort reborn

Lord Voldemort's serpentine appearance after immersing himself in the Dark Arts

Some of the magic Dark wizards had been known to practise included the use of the three Unforgivable Curses[6] and other dark charms, creating or brewing dark or poisonous potions,[10][11][12][13] utilising and creating dark or cursed objects,[5][14][15][16] animating Inferi,[17][18][19][12][20][21] attracting all kinds of dark and dangerous creatures to make huge armies and command them to attack their enemies,[22][23][24][25] along with the breeding of them, such as Basilisks.[26][27][28][4]

Herpo the Foul's Basilisk

Herpo the Foul, the first Basilisk breeder and maker of a Horcrux.

Noted Dark wizards and witches included: Herpo the Foul, Raczidian, Morgan le Fay, Emeric the Evil, Salazar Slytherin, Merwyn the Malicious, Ekrizdis, Barnabas Deverill, Loxias, Gellert Grindelwald, and Lord Voldemort, as well as the latter's followers, known as Death Eaters.[29][30] According to the wizarding journalist Rita Skeeter, in a list of Most Dangerous Dark Wizards of All Time, Grindelwald would miss out on the top spot only because Voldemort arrived, a generation later, to take his crown.[7]

The Mahoutokoro professor Dai Ryusaki was a wizard thought to be Dark[31] due to his Dark Scroll[32] and connection to the dangerous Crown of Mneme;[33] however in reality he was not, as the Crown of Mneme which he created was intended to help people before it became too powerful and dangerous.[34] He was falsely labelled a Dark wizard due to the embarassment of the wizarding community regarding his wrongful arrest and execution by the International Confederation of Wizards. However, the amulet he was wearing when he died had a habit of turning decent wizards Dark.[35]

Types of wizards[]

"Dobby could tell Harry Potter that his old masters were — were — bad Dark wizards!"
Dobby regarding the Malfoy family to Harry Potter[src]

Others who might be considered Dark wizards were the owners and customers of shops such as Borgin and Burkes,[5][36][37][38] and arguably students of Durmstrang Institute, as the curriculum there taught much of the Dark Arts.[39][40] Many Dark wizards and witches appeared to believe in the importance of blood purity and to hate Muggles and Muggle-borns,[5][14][9] though there was not necessarily a connection. Many historical Dark wizards, such as Gellert Grindelwald and his followers and acolytes, supported the ideology of wizarding supremacy, as opposed to pure-blood supremacy,[7][41] and even not all dark wizards bowed to a particular ideological cause, others used the Dark Arts for organised crime such as the Rookwood family and their gang in the 19th century.[42]

In Great Britain, many well-known Dark wizards and witches came out of Slytherin House at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,[43] though this was not universal to this house. For example, Peter Pettigrew was in Gryffindor, yet he betrayed the Order of the Phoenix and joined Voldemort;[44] Quirinus Quirrell, a Ravenclaw, also allied himself with the Dark Lord;[8][45] and (albeit only in an alternate timeline) Cedric Diggory from Hufflepuff would become a Death Eater,[46] whereas Slytherins such as Horace Slughorn,[25] Regulus Black,[13] Andromeda Tonks[47] and later Severus Snape[48] opposed the Death Eaters and fought against them.

Known Dark wizards and witches[]

"Did I know that I had just met the most dangerous Dark wizard of all time?"
Albus Dumbledore regarding a young Tom Riddle[src]

Dark wizards and witches[]

Fictional Dark wizards and witches[]

Possible Dark wizards and witches[]

Behind the scenes[]

  • In the Harry Potter films, most Dark wizards appear to Apparate differently than other wizards. Dark wizards Disapparate by turning into a whirlwind of black smoke and flying into the air, and then spiralling back down to the desired spot. Meanwhile, other wizards can just pop and disappear, or similarly can disappear in a whirlwind of white smoke. The ability to conjure this whirlwind may reflect an advanced dark wizard or witch.
  • In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 and its sequel LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, only Dark wizards can use dark magic on items that are black and glow with red sparks, symbolising dark magic. Also in this game and LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, most if not all playable dark wizard characters, including Death Eaters, can perform the Patronus Charm, despite this not being canonically possible, as most dark wizards are not capable of performing this charm, due to them being impure of heart and their frequent associations with Dementors.[98] Voldemort can incorrectly cast this spell in LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, but is correctly unable to perform it in LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 (although his younger-self still inaccurately can).[99][52]

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 6 (The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters)- "They haven't been caught. My dad says it must've been a powerful Dark wizard to get round Gringotts"
  2. 2.0 2.1 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 8 (The Potions Master) - "Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believed to be the work of Dark wizards or witches unknown."
  3. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 11 (Quidditch) - "Can't nothing interfere with a broomstick except powerful Dark Magic"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 4 (At Flourish and Blotts)
  6. 6.0 6.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 14 (The Unforgivable Curses)
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 18 (The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore)
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 17 (The Man with Two Faces)
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 1 (The Dark Lord Ascending)
  10. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 1 (The Riddle House)
  11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 32 (Flesh, Blood and Bone)
  12. 12.0 12.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 26 (The Cave)
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 10 (Kreacher's Tale)
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 6 (The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black)
  15. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 12 (Silver and Opals)
  16. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 23 (Horcruxes)
  17. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 4 (Horace Slughorn)
  18. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 9 (The Half-Blood Prince)
  19. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 21 (The Unknowable Room)
  20. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 3 (The Dursleys Departing)
  21. Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Inferi" at Wizarding World
  22. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 5 (The Order of the Phoenix)
  23. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 20 (Hagrid's Tale)
  24. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 16 (A Very Frosty Christmas)
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 31 (The Battle of Hogwarts)
  26. 26.0 26.1 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 9 (The Writing on the Wall)
  27. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 16 (The Chamber of Secrets)
  28. 28.0 28.1 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 17 (The Heir of Slytherin)
  29. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 9 (The Dark Mark)
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 30.5 30.6 30.7 30.8 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 33 (The Death Eaters)
  31. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 22 (The Search for Ryu)
  32. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 23 (The Legend of Dai Ryusaki and the Dark Scroll)
  33. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 47 (The Circle and the Crown)
  34. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 48 (Archival Evidence)
  35. 35.0 35.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 49 (Revelations)
  36. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 6 (Draco's Detour)
  37. 37.0 37.1 37.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 13 (The Secret Riddle)
  38. 38.0 38.1 38.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 20 (Lord Voldemort's Request)
  39. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 11 (Aboard the Hogwarts Express)
  40. 40.0 40.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 19 (The Hungarian Horntail)
  41. 41.00 41.01 41.02 41.03 41.04 41.05 41.06 41.07 41.08 41.09 41.10 Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay
  42. 42.00 42.01 42.02 42.03 42.04 42.05 42.06 42.07 42.08 42.09 42.10 42.11 42.12 Hogwarts Legacy
  43. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 5 (Diagon Alley)
  44. 44.0 44.1 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 19 (The Servant of Lord Voldemort)
  45. 45.0 45.1 Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Professor Quirrell" at Wizarding World
  46. 46.0 46.1 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
  47. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 5 (Fallen Warrior)
  48. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 33 (The Prince's Tale)
  49. 49.0 49.1 49.2 The Tales of Beedle the Bard, "The Tale of the Three Brothers"
  50. 50.0 50.1 50.2 50.3 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 3, Chapter 8 (Barnaby Lee)
  51. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 4, "Conjure a Patronus" Achievement
  52. 52.0 52.1 52.2 52.3 LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
  53. 53.0 53.1 53.2 Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
  54. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 10 (Knockturn Alley)
  55. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 45 (The Messenger)
  56. 56.0 56.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 29 (Mind of a Diva)
  57. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 39 (The Aftermath)
  58. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 6 (The Ghoul in Pyjamas)
  59. 59.0 59.1 59.2 59.3 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 29 (The Lost Diadem)
  60. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year ?, Side Quest "Relight the Fire"
  61. 61.0 61.1 61.2 61.3 61.4 61.5 61.6 61.7 61.8 61.9 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 30 (The Pensieve)
  62. 62.0 62.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 35 (Veritaserum)
  63. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 24 (Dark Pranks)
  64. Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Azkaban" at Wizarding World
  65. 65.0 65.1 65.2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
  66. Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" at Wizarding World
  67. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 29 (The Phoenix Lament)
  68. 68.0 68.1 68.2 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 21 (The Tale of the Three Brothers)
  69. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite "Brilliant Event: Secrets Revealed
  70. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 35 (Beyond the Veil)
  71. 71.0 71.1 71.2 71.3 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 27 (The Lightning-Struck Tower)
  72. 72.0 72.1 72.2 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 21 (The House-Elf Liberation Front)
  73. Writing by J. K. Rowling: "History of the Quidditch World Cup" at Wizarding World
  74. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite "Brilliant Event: Constance's Lament"
  75. Wonderbook: Book of Spells
  76. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 19 (The Unforgivable Curses)
  77. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 30 (Into the Vault)
  78. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 18 (Into the Forest)
  79. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 42 (The Final Vault)
  80. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 1 (The Boy Who Lived)
  81. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 4 (The Keeper of the Keys)
  82. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 36 (The Only One He Ever Feared)
  83. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 32 (The Wizengamot Trial)
  84. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 13 (On the Run)
  85. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 15 (In the Deep End)
  86. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 16 (The Wizard In White)
  87. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 17 (Getting the Message)
  88. Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Chamber of Secrets" at Wizarding World
  89. 89.0 89.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 27 (Padfoot Returns)
  90. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 13 (Detention with Dolores)
  91. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 32 (Out of the Fire)
  92. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite "Brilliant Event: Darkness Rising
  93. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 14 (The Search for Zenith Xeep)
  94. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 24 (In the Thickey of It)
  95. The Tales of Beedle the Bard, "The Warlock's Hairy Heart"
  96. The Tales of Beedle the Bard, "The Fountain of Fair Fortune"
  97. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 10 (The House of Gaunt)
  98. J.K. Rowling and the Live Chat, Bloomsbury.com, July 30, 2007
  99. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4

See also[]

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