Every great book series has a group of people who follow the compelling villain. Some are adept and skillful, while others just follow along because they believe things are better for them under the villain’s rule. InHarry Potter, these followers of evil are known asDeath Eaters.
The Death Eaters attack those who are not of pureblood in the wizarding world. But not every Death Eater inHarry Potteris created equal. Thestrongest of the Death Eaterswere strong enough to take on multiple members of the Order of the Phoenix at once, and others were even able to pull the wool over Dumbledore’s eyes.
Updated June 04, 2025, by Jeremy Brown:There were more than just ten strong Death Eaters who served under the command of Lord Voldemort. While some might get less recognition than other, more famous or infamous Death Eaters, these other strong servants of the Dark Lord would rise to the occasion whenever He Who Must Not Be Named asked. As evil as they come, these Death Eaters stood up and served their master in some of the most successful ways. No one will ever claim these characters are good people, but they are important characters who helped bring a sense of fear to the Harry Potter series.
14Fenrir Greyback
While not officially a Death Eater, Fenrir Greyback was a werewolf who served with the Death Eaters because of the freedoms Voldemort allowed him. He was known for targeting the children of people who crossed him. He turned Remus Lupin into a werewolf as a child, and severely scarred Bill Weasley.
Greyback also worked with a group of snatchers, bringing in muggle-born witches and wizards after Voldemort took over the ministry. He was part of the team that capture Harry, Ron and Hermione during their horcrux hunt.
13Rodolphus Lestrange
For proof of how evil Rodolphus Lestrange is, he married Bellatrix Lestrange. There’s no way she would marry someone who couldn’t keep up with her on the evil spectrum. Rodolphus took part in the torture of the Longbottoms along with Bellatrix, his brother Rabastan, and Barty Crouch Jr.
Rodolphus was skilled at duels and was able to take on both Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nymphadora Tonks. While his personality traits aren’t well known, it’s safe to say he was as competent as he was evil.
12Corban Yaxley
Corban Yaxley was often one of Voldemort’s top choices for secret missions, including the effort to convert Horace Slughorn to their side. Yaxley proved himself to be proficient with many tools, especially manipulation and the Imperius Curse. He even managed to put Pius Thicknesse under the Curse throughout the entire war, allowing Thicknesse to rise to Minister of Magic.
He also was very skilled at dueling, even battling Professor Flitwick to a stalemate. He was finally defeated by the combined efforts of Lee Jordan and George Weasley.
11Igor Karkaroff
While Karkaraoff may have reformed from his Death Eater ways to become the Headmaster at Durmstrang Institute, he was still one of the most capable Death Eaters during his time in their ranks. He was skilled with the Unforgivable Curses and managed to evade Aurors for six years.
He was also able to sway the courts to release him after he gave up some of his fellow Death Eaters. He also managed to evade the returned Lord Voldemort for a year before finally being killed by the Death Eaters.
10Augustus Rookwood
Taken down by Igor Karkaroff, Augustus Rookwood worked in the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic while serving Voldemort during the First Wizarding War. He was a brilliant spy who passed along information for years, and looked to have escaped punishment until Karkaroff turned him in.
Rookwood was one of the many Death Eaters to escape Azkaban when the dementors abandoned their posts duringHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. He fought alongside the Death Eaters in the Second Wizarding War.
9Lucius Malfoy
Lucius Malfoy was a capable Death Eater who often fell victim to his own arrogance. He placed several Ministry of Magic officials under the Imperius Curse during the events ofHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Malfoy also successfully passed Tom Riddle’s diary to Ginny setting up the events ofHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
His downfall was almost always himself. He was tricked by Harry into freeing Dobby the House-Elf. He was captured in the battle at the Ministry of Magic and spent time in Azkaban. He spent most ofHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallowstrying to get back in Voldemort’s good graces before abandoning everything in an effort to save his son.
8Amycus & Alecto Carrow
The Carrow siblings served as assassins for the Death Eaters. They were known for their love of the Cruciatus Curse, showing how cruel they could be. DuringHarry Potter andthe Half-Blood Prince, they took part in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower.
Following Dumbledore’s death, the Carrows both took up positions as professors at Hogwarts where they delighted in torturing the children of those who might stand up against Voldemort. Both held their own in the final battle, but both also brought out some of the strongest magic from Harry Potter.
7Thorfinn Rowle
Thorfinn Rowle is one of Voldemort’s most trusted Death Eaters when it comes to the battles in the books. InHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, he takes part in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower. He’s present when Snape kills Dumbledore and battles multiple people at once. He’s only stopped by Harry under the Invisibility Cloak.
During the Battle of Hogwarts inHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, he’s one of the few Death Eaters to successfully cast a spell against Hagrid. Hagrid’s half-giant blood repels most spells, but Rowle was able to cast a silencing charm on him.
6Walden MacNair
First introduced as anexecutioner of dangerous creatures, Walden MacNair was quickly identified as an old friend of Lucius Malfoy’s. He showed a sadistic side when he was sent to execute Buckbeak, before the hippogriff escaped with Sirius Black and the help of a time-turner.
McNair had served Voldemort during the First Wizarding War but escaped punishment by claiming to have been under the Imperius Curse. He immediately joined a resurrected Voldemort and helped the Death Eaters in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.
5Antonin Dolohov
Antonin Dolohov is one of the most skilled duelists among the Death Eaters. He was able to defeatMad Eye Moodyin the duel at the Department of Mysteries inHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It took the combined efforts of Harry Potter and Sirius Black to defeat him.
Two years later at the Battle of Hogwarts, he killed Remus Lupin and battled three people at once showing an improvement in his dueling skills. He was finally defeated for good by Filius Flitwick who had been the Hogwarts dueling champion.
