When we think about villains in Harry Potter, the Death Eaters instantly come to mind. These are Voldemort’s most trusted followers, the ones who wore creepy masks, spread fear, and carried out his dark plans without hesitation. But here’s the thing: while they all served the Dark Lord, not every Death Eater was equally terrifying.
Some were powerful duelists who could go head-to-head with the best witches and wizards, while others were honestly more like background players, only remembered because of their loyalty (or stupidity). And then some followed the Dark Lord’s orders with utmost sadism. So, whether it was through cunning plots, brutal duels, or just plain cruelty, every Death Eater left a mark.
Therefore, today, we’re gonna take a closer look at 15 Death Eaters from the Harry Potter saga and rank them from the weakest pawns to the strongest monsters Voldemort had at his side.
The table contains list of strongest and weakest Death Eaters in Harry Potter:
| Weakest Death Eaters | Draco Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy, Regulus Black, Severus Snape, Igor Karkaroff, Peter Pettigrew |
| Strongest Death Eaters | Barty Crouch Jr., Mulciber Jr., Alecto and Amycus Carrow, Corban Yaxley, Selwyn, Rabastan and Rodolphus Lestrange, Bellatrix Lestrange, Travers, Antonin Dolohov |
15. Draco Malfoy
Draco Malfoy may have worn the Death Eater mark, but deep down, he was never meant for it. Unlike other followers who chose to follow the cause, Draco was just a scared teenager trying to live up to his father’s legacy. He never had the courage or skill to truly embrace Voldemort’s cause.
Even when tasked with killing Dumbledore, he failed until Snape helped him. So, we can all agree with the fact that Draco’s heart was never in the fight, making him one of the weakest Death Eaters.
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14. Lucius Malfoy
Lucius Malfoy may have had money, influence, and pure-blood pride, but when it came to real battles, he often fell short. Like father, like son. Yes, much like Draco, even though Lucius was a skilled duelist, he couldn’t handle the pressure of war or Voldemort’s impossible expectations when the time came.
His defeat at the Ministry and the loss of his wand left him powerless and humiliated. Once feared for his status, Lucius ultimately proved to be one of the weaker Death Eaters in the series.
13. Regulus Black
Much like Draco, even Regulus Black proved to be more of a remorseful Death Eater, than a strong one. While he initially started off as a brave and unforgettable follower of the Dark Lord, Regulus eventually realized Voldemort’s cruelty and chose to fight back.
He eventually managed to steal and destroy one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes, a task so dangerous that even Dumbledore nearly died doing it. Though Regulus lost his life in an act of courage, his sacrifice proved he was strong, but not as a Death Eater.
12. Severus Snape
Severus Snape might have been clever, powerful, and even created his own dangerous spells, but as a Death Eater, he was never truly strong. Why? Because strength in Voldemort’s army meant loyalty, and Snape’s heart was never in it. He may have initially joined forces with utmost dedication, but after Lily’s death, his agenda shifted.
He secretly worked against the Dark Lord for years, outsmarting him at every turn. While this shows Snape’s brilliance, it also proves he was a weak Death Eater, since he never fully served Voldemort’s cause.
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11. Igor Karkaroff
Igor Karkaroff was a skilled wizard and even became Headmaster of Durmstrang, which shows his magical talent. But as a Death Eater, he wasn’t truly strong. Yes, he followed the Dark Lord more faithfully than Snape, but it was out of fear rather than loyalty.
Igor was terrified of the Dark Lord. When the Dark Lord lost his battle during the First War, Karkaroff panicked and ran away. He even betrayed fellow Death Eaters, like Barty Crouch Jr., to save himself. His fear and lack of devotion made him one of the weaker followers.
10. Peter Pettigrew
Peter Pettigrew, was one of Voldemort’s most loyal servants, even betraying his best friends to serve the Dark Lord. He later played a key role in bringing Voldemort back to life, proving just how far he would go. But turns out, he did it all because it was convenient for him, rather than getting killed like his friends, who resisted the Dark Lord.
So, in the end, despite his loyalty, Peter proved to be weak and cowardly because he couldn’t follow through when ordered, and Voldemort’s own gifted hand turned on him, ending his life.
9. Barty Crouch Jr.
Barty Crouch Jr. was one of the most notorious Death Eaters in the Harry Potter lore, who even managed to capture the great Auror Mad-Eye Moody and perfectly disguise himself as the Auror. For a whole year, he fooled everyone at Hogwarts, proving just how clever and skilled he was.
He even helped conjure the dark mark during the Quidditch World Cup and led the events of Voldemort’s return, which cost Cedric Diggory’s life. Sadly, Barty Crouch Jr’s downfall came too quickly. He faced the Dementor’s Kiss, losing his soul and ending his dark path forever.
8. Mulciber Jr.
Even though this character never appeared in the films, and stayed as a background character in the books, Mulciber Jr. happened to be one of the most dangerous Death Eaters. He was known for his mastery of the Imperius Curse, where he could control people’s minds and force them to do terrible things.
This proved him to be a great pawn of Voldemort, making him a real threat during the First Wizarding War. Even after being sent to Azkaban, he managed to escape more than once and kept fighting for Voldemort. His dark skills and persistence made him one of the strongest and most feared Death Eaters.
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7. Alecto and Amycus Carrow
Alecto and Amycus Carrow were one of Voldemort’s strongest and most ruthless followers. This sibling duo fought in both Wizarding Wars and managed to escape Azkaban after the first one. Later on, when Voldemort returned, the siblings quickly rejoined him and played major roles, even becoming professors at Hogwarts.
Yep, Alecto spread anti-Muggle propaganda while Amycus taught Dark Arts at Hogwarts, both using their positions to torture and abuse students. They fought bravely in key battles, including the Astronomy Tower and the Battle of Hogwarts. Even after Voldemort’s defeat and imprisonment, the duo escaped the Ministry’s clutches and attempted to reinstate Voldemort’s regime using a Time-Turner.
Even though they were stopped and imprisoned, the duo proved their loyalty and strength as devoted Death Eaters.
6. Corban Yaxley
Corban Yaxley was one of the strongest and most dangerous Death Eaters because his power came from both magic and influence. After Voldemort’s return, he became Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, which gave him control over the wizarding government.
This allowed him to spread Voldemort’s power legally, making him more threatening than simple duelists. Plus, Yaxley was skilled in curses, even placing the Imperius Curse on Pius Thicknesse to control the Ministry. He fought in major battles, persecuted Muggle-borns, and kept pushing Voldemort’s agenda.
Yaxley’s combination of magical strength and political authority made him one of Voldemort’s most effective followers.
5. Selwyn
Selwyn proved himself as one of the stronger Death Eaters during the Second Wizarding War. Unlike many followers who simply obeyed Voldemort, Selwyn showed true cruelty by torturing Xenophilius Lovegood to find Harry’s location.
He also fought in the dangerous Battle of the Seven Potters, proving his skill in combat. His willingness to go beyond blind loyalty and actually inflict pain made him a particularly feared and dangerous Death Eater.
4. Rabastan and Rodolphus Lestrange
Rabastan and Rodolphus Lestrange were two of Voldemort’s most feared and dangerous Death Eaters. Loyal to the Dark Lord from the very beginning, they built their names on cruelty and violence. Both brothers took part in the torture of Alice and Frank Longbottom, using the Cruciatus Curse until the couple lost their minds.
This single act made them infamous across the Wizarding World and earned them long sentences in Azkaban. Rabastan may not have been as famous as his brother or sister-in-law, Bellatrix, but he was still a ruthless fighter who escaped prison and continued serving Voldemort. Rodolphus, as Bellatrix’s husband, was deeply devoted to the Dark Lord and remained committed even after defeat.
He fought in key battles, including the Battle of the Seven Potters. Together, the Lestrange brothers were remembered as some of Voldemort’s strongest, most loyal, and most twisted followers, feared even among Death Eaters.
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3. Travers
Despite being one of the background Death Eaters mentioned in the books and appearing in the films, Travers was one of the strongest because he was always at Voldemort’s side during the biggest battles. Unlike many followers who fled or went into hiding, Travers remained active from the First Wizarding War to the last.
He murdered the McKinnons, fought in the Battle of the Seven Potters, and even intimidated workers at Gringotts to serve Voldemort’s plans. His loyalty and constant presence made him a dangerous force, and he nearly succeeded in executing Ginny Weasley.
Travers may not be flashy, but his record of violence proves he was one of Voldemort’s most reliable and feared followers.
2. Bellatrix Lestrange
Bellatrix Lestrange was without a doubt one of the strongest and most terrifying Death Eaters to ever serve Voldemort. Unlike many of his followers, she wasn’t just loyal, she was completely obsessed with him. Bellatrix lived to spread fear and pain, and she never hesitated to show how cruel she could be.
She was skilled in dueling, feared for her mastery of the Cruciatus Curse, and completely merciless when facing her enemies. Bellatrix not only tortured victims like Alice and Frank Longbottom, alongside her husband and brother-in-law, but she also killed without regret. Like, she murdered her own cousin, Sirius Black, simply because he stood in her way.
She later killed Dobby, the beloved house-elf, tortured Hermione, and even killed her own niece, Nymphadora Tonks, during the Battle of Hogwarts. Her twisted devotion made her Voldemort’s most trusted follower. Though she was finally killed by Molly Weasley, Bellatrix’s cruelty and power made her one of the darkest witches in history.
1. Antonin Dolohov
Antonin Dolohov was undoubtedly the strongest and most sadistic Death Eater, even more dangerous than Bellatrix Lestrange. From the very beginning, Dolohov proved his cruelty by murdering Fabian and Gideon Prewett (Molly Weasley’s twin brothers), two powerful Order of the Phoenix members.
Unlike many Death Eaters who simply followed orders, Dolohov loved causing destruction and pain just cause he liked it. Plus, his loyalty to Voldemort never wavered, and he always remained on the front lines, spreading fear wherever he went. Additionally, Dolohov’s skill in combat was unmatched.
He fought some of the best witches and wizards in the series and even managed to kill Remus Lupin, one of Harry’s greatest mentors. Few Death Eaters can claim such a devastating victory. But eventually, it took Professor Flitwick, a master duelist, to finally bring Antonin down in the Battle of Hogwarts.
Sadistic, powerful, and relentless, Dolohov stood out as Voldemort’s most violent and effective weapon, making him the strongest Death Eater of them all.
Share your opinion on who’s the most feared and strongest Death Eater in the Harry Potter saga.
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