Neutral Evil
Neutral Evil is the alignment of pure, undiluted selfishness. A Neutral Evil creature does whatever it takes to get what it wants. It has no ideological commitment to law or chaos — it uses whichever approach is more convenient in the moment. It does not hate others the way Chaotic Evil does, and it does not build systems of oppression the way Lawful Evil does. It simply does not care about anyone but itself.
- The only person who matters is yourself.
- Rules are useful when they protect you, and obstacles when they don't.
- Others are tools, resources, or threats — never equals.
- Compassion is weakness.
Behavior Notes
Neutral Evil is considered by many to be the most dangerous evil alignment in practice, because it is the most flexible. A NE character will work within the law when it helps them, break it when it doesn't, form alliances when useful, and betray allies when the opportunity is better. They are reliably unreliable.
Unlike Lawful Evil, there is no honour or code here — no oaths kept, no contracts honoured beyond what's expedient. Unlike Chaotic Evil, there is no destructive drive or sadistic pleasure — harm is a means, never an end in itself. NE is pragmatic evil.
Common Classes & Archetypes
| Class | Notes |
|---|---|
| Rogue | Self-serving operators willing to sell out anyone for personal gain. |
| Cleric (NE deity) | Clerics of Norgorber or similar NE deities; channel negative energy. |
| Witch | Witches with no patron alignment constraint often slide NE when pursuing power. |
| Sorcerer | NE sorcerers use magic as leverage over others. |
Mechanical Notes
- Opposed alignment: Neutral Good.
- Daemons: The quintessential NE outsiders — yugoloths/daemons who embody pure self-interest and the consumption of souls. Evil subtype only (no Law or Chaos).
- Unholy weapons: Can wield unholy weapons without penalty.
- No alignment descriptor feats: Unlike LE or CE, NE characters cannot benefit from axiomatic or anarchic weapon properties — they carry no Law or Chaos subtype.