Since their goals typically align with causing distress or harming others, anime villains and mass destruction often go hand in hand. A lot of villains are successful not only because of their sheer power and ability, but because they have a sense of self-preservation that means they won't fall before they reach their goal.
Some villains, however, are willing to throw everything away in their pursuit of success — even their own lives. From those who find themselves devoted to a higher cause, to those who aren't willing to be pawns in the grander game, not every villain can be bought by threatening their life.
WARNING: Spoilers ahead!
10 Sukuna Doesn't Care About His Physical Form (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Sukuna is an agent of chaos above anything else. Known as the "King of Curses," possessing Yuji Itadori cemented him as a primary antagonist of Jujutsu Kaisen. Unlike typical possessions in anime, however, Sukuna chooses to stay largely dormant. He only reveals himself in moments he believes are poised to cause the most chaotic reaction.
Despite sharing a body with Itadori, Sukuna shows no willingness to work with him to keep either of them alive. Instead, the King of Curses shows interest only in staying alive long enough to face Itadori's classmate and friend, Megumi Fushiguro. Without Fushiguro, the audience has to wonder if Sukuna would bother showing up at all.
9 Shaiapouf Would Die For His King (Hunter X Hunter)
At first glance, Shaiapouf portrays himself as a well-adjusted individual compared to his Chimera Ant brethren. He is intelligent, calm, and rational in moments where many others are proud to show their bloodlust, but even the strangest of characters in Hunter X Hunter cannot compare to Shaiapouf's twisted loyalty for his king, Meruem.
In a desperate act of devotion, Shaiapouf saves Meruem's life by feeding him cells from his own body. This diminishes Shaiapouf's power and eventually leads to his demise. Putting his king above his own wellbeing left him too weak to succeed.
8 Junko Enoshima Only Wants Despair (Danganronpa: The Animation)
The Ultimate Despair herself openly admits to caring about nothing else besides bringing about complete and utter despair to the planet. Even when placed among some of the most deplorable anime villains, Junko stands out as one of the few who has no hard limits.
This is proven at the end of Danganronpa: The Animation, where Junko openly accepts defeat because she finds some perverse pleasure in finally experiencing her own despair. She didn't care that her own life was being extinguished. She simply reveled in the misery that accompanied it.
7 Tomura Shigaraki Is Always In Search Of More (My Hero Academia)
Shigaraki's tragic backstory in My Hero Academia doesn't excuse him from his status as a villain, but it certainly makes it all the more heart-wrenching that he never sees any value in himself unless he's wielding intense power.
Shigaraki arguably views his body as a vessel for power rather than something to be taken care of or maintained. At the expense of his health and sanity, Shigaraki is always seeking out ways to become stronger, and he certainly doesn't turn away from techniques that'll cause him extreme pain.
6 Ryo Asuka Takes His Ambitions Too Far (Devilman Crybaby)
Ryo abruptly enters Devilman Crybaby with literal guns blazing, which is a fitting introduction for this complicated character. Although he's characterized as having loyalty only for his dear friend Akira, Ryo still doesn't hesitate to involve Akira in his increasingly unhinged scheme. Ryo's ambitions take both him and Akira down an increasingly dark and violent path.
When Ryo's true identity as Satan is revealed, his behavior makes sense, but that doesn't mean he suddenly cares about his own security. He takes the entire world with him and the only thing he regrets is losing Akira in the process.
5 Solf J. Kimblee Doesn't Care About Self-Preservation (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
The first glimpse audiences have of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood's Kimblee is in shadow, which is very fitting for a man who spends all of his time doing increasingly shady things. Despite his secrecy, it isn't long before he meets his end at the hands of Pride, who devours and absorbs him.
However, because Kimblee's priority isn't his own life but instead his enjoyment of the suffering of others, the tormented cries he hears from Pride's other victims help him retain his identity within the amalgamation of absorbed souls inside the homunculus. When Pride attempts the cowardly way out at the end, Kimblee steps in and ends Pride's life.
4 Mello Has An Explosive Personality (Death Note)
Unlike his controversial and quiet counterpart, Near, Mello has an altogether different and self-destructive approach to catching Kira in Death Note. He joins the mafia, blackmails the president, bargains with a shinigami, and reduces his base of operations to a pile of rubble while he's still inside.
Mello detonates bombs that he had rigged within his hideout to gain the upper hand and the explosion permanently scarring his face. While he was able to continue his hunt for Kira, it was at a cost to his health and image.
3 Hisoka Morow Just Wants To Battle (Hunter X Hunter)
Hisoka's one goal in Hunter X Hunter is not to become a brilliant hunter, dominate the world, or kill all those who would oppose him. Hisoka's goal is much more simple: he wants to face the strongest opponents possible to prove his strength.
Hisoka's most defining moment might be when he spends an absurd amount of time chasing down the leader of the Phantom Troupe, Chrollo Lucifer, to test his power. Unfortunately, Chrollo already had his power taken from him, leaving Chrollo too weak in Hisoka's eyes to bother battling.
2 Annie Leonhart Values Loyalty Over Her Life (Attack On Titan)
Out of all the traitors who infiltrated the 104th Training Corps in Attack on Titan, Annie was the one who truly kept herself at arm's length from the main cast due to the intense loyalty she had for her mission and her mission alone.
Going so far as to crystallize herself when she was caught, Annie spent approximately four years trapped underground in a comatose state just to allow her fellow warriors to continue their mission. Despite Reiner and Bertholdt's persistence, there was no guarantee Annie would ever be free from the prison of her own making.
1 Kyubey Only Cares About Incubating Magical Girls (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
As the source of pain for the unfortunate main cast of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Kyubey shows no reaction or remorse as the young girls slowly figure out that Kyubey tricked them into giving up their souls. Matters only get worse as the characters attempt to confront Kyubey about his actions.
No matter what happens to Kyubey, be it bullet holes or a flurry of blows directed their way, they remain resolute and unfeeling. They care very little about their own well-being thanks to their ability to reproduce by eating their own body. Instead, Kyubey focuses all of their time and energy into creating and incubating these magical girls.
