I’m one of those people who is very fond of Black Cauldron. Where most people find it too dark for Disney, to bleak and weird, I was very much on board.
Re-watching Black Cauldron for this blogpost, I found that I enjoyed the movie just as much as when I was young, but my thoughts on the main villain were altered greatly. I’d remember him as this all powerful tyrant that would be in contention for the topic TTRPG Disney villain, but he’s a little… wimpier than I remember.
That might not necessarily be a bad thing for your campaign though.
Presence – 4 out of 5
Black Cauldron is a very very D&D-like movie. At least the kind of campaign that you would run for younger players. The Horned King fits perfectly into the villain role. He’s snarling and fiendishly frightening, he terrifies PC and NPC alike. He fills the air in the room with dread.
Your DM’s voice acting needs to be top tier to really do him justice. He somehow manages to make lines like “I take it you are the keeper of this oracular pig” profoundly unsettling.
However, his presence score suffers because of he’s standoffish nature. When he shows up, he definitely has presence, but he’s not always present, content with sending his goblinoid goon out to get things done.
Atmosphere – 4 out of 5
The world around the Horned King has certainly suffered because of his presence and rule. He also wins some credit for the way he affects the lighting and wind in a room when he enters. However, he’s not really altering the world through magically or supernatural means, and the world largely goes on around him, albeit in a very bleak way.
Having said that, his castle and the lands around it are great, excellent TTRPG potential.
Omniscience – 2 out of 5
“The Black Cauldron! So it does exist!”
For me, this is the line that sums him up best. He’s got some important knowledge about the world, but it’s limited. He also seems oblivious to the Black Cauldron’s weakness. If he isn’t why did he chain the children up in the same room as the thing they can jump into to save the day.
He’s also totally unaware of the little children and little Gurgi constantly sneaking around his lair.
Henchmen – 4 out of 5
In his immediate vicinity, The Horned King is surrounded by bumbling brutes. They do manage to capture one character, but only when directed to do so.
Add to this though, the two wyverns. Very skilled trackers and very vicious predators.
I’m also including the witches in this score. They don’t answer to the King in any meaningful way, but the story doesn’t move forward without them. They are clearly powerful beings, and any monster that makes deals in a TTRPG is an immediate gateway to awful player decisions and long lasting consequences.
Threat Level – 1 out of 5
And here’s where the King really falls down. He’s a great voice, scary to be sure, but aside from a dramatic teleport he really doesn’t show off any powers or physical might.
And in the end, the thing that defeats him: a swift kick to the tummy. A teenager kicks him in his ribs and he goes sprawling. He appears, for a moment, to get the upper hand by throwing the hero closer to the dreaded cauldron, but then… gets drawn in first anyway.
After all his gesticulating and arrogance, it’s all a bit of a let down.
Finale – 3 out of 5
Having said that, he does put on a good show. The cauldron is doing most of the work, but he summons a terrifying, undead army amongst a swirl of green mist that can only be destroyed by one of the heroes making the ultimate sacrifice. It has to be a good person too, so your chaotic neutral characters aren’t going to save the day.
It’s not the hardest fight. The Horned King has no moves, and if the PC gets in the Cauldron fast it’s all over. However, if the Cauldron breaks quickly then the Horned King and his original goons are still there to exact revenge. And if they don’t get to the cauldron in time, there’s nothing to say that the DM can’t turn some of those advancing Cauldron Born back into the room-full of adventurers.
Final Score = 3.00
All bark, no bite. That’s The Horned King in my opinion. He’s got the look of a real lich but none of the power.
This score puts Horned King at the same level as the villain from Big Hero Six, which makes a lot of sense to me. Callaghan has the strength and finale oomph that King is missing, but has none of the presence and support.
If the two of them were combined, we might have a rival to Jafar, but alas.
| Disney Villain | Score |
| Jafar | 3.83 👑 |
| Lyle Tiberius Rourke | 3.66 |
| Robert Callaghan | 3.00 |
| The Horned King | 3.00 |
| Gaston LeGume | 2.66 |
| Cruella de Vil | 2.00 |
| Queen of Hearts | 1.33 |
| Edgar Balthazar | 0.75 |
Thank You For Reading
The other Disney BBEG contenders are right here.
Please support this blog, if you can x
Gamer Peak 
I’d forgotten all about this. I’ve never watched or read it but will have to add it to my list.
It’s such a strange movie for Disney. It didn’t do them any favours, but I like it.