The Fallout universe is a pretty messed up place. With civilization in shambles, there's no shortage of people willing to spill the blood of others to achieve their ends. Many of these individuals are quite petty, and in the grand scheme of things are also relatively insignificant.

RELATED: Fallout: The 10 Best Villains In The Franchise, Ranked

Nevertheless, certain evildoers in Fallout stand out from their peers. Every mainline entry in the series features a big baddie that the player ultimately needs to take down. But not every villain is made equal. Some are more heinous than others when it comes to their schemes and plots. These unique villains definitely deserve a special mention.

7 Ulysses

Ulysses From Fallout New Vegas

Ulysses can be described as the principal string-puller behind many of the Courier's woes in Fallout: New Vegas. His presence is only hinted at throughout the course of the main quest. The true role of this enigmatic antagonist, however, is revealed during the Lonesome Road DLC. Ulysses' motivation stems from revenge. He blames the Courier for the destruction of his adopted home, the Divide, a place that was supposedly taking its first steps toward real prosperity.

Ulysses intentionally refused the Platinum Chip delivery job so that it would go to the Courier. This, in turn, would set in motion the main events of Fallout: New Vegas. He also orchestrates the misfortunes the Courier faces in Dead Money, Honest Hearts, and Old World Blues. Ulysses isn't a sadistic or barbarous individual. Rather, he seeks to right a wrong that he feels has been done to him. As such, Ulysses is arguably the least evil antagonist on this list.

6 Father

Father From Fallout 4

The Institute is a widely feared organization by the surface-dwelling residents of the Commonwealth. Their reliance on synths, bio-mechanical robots who appear as humans, ultimately led to their untrustworthy reputation. By 2287, the Sole Survivor's son Shaun is the Director of the Institute, a figure often referred to as "Father."

RELATED: Fallout: The Worst Villains In The Series, Ranked

Raised since he was an infant by the Institute, Father clearly believes in the organization's ideals. They shun the surface world in favor of a more underground existence, where life can hopefully begin anew. Although their intentions may be noble, the Institute's predilection towards abducting certain individuals and replacing them with identical synths is morally questionable. The responsibility for these reprehensible actions, in the end, rests with Father.

5 Dick Richardson

President Richardson From Fallout 2

The remnants of the U.S. government, known as the Enclave, have served as Fallout antagonists for a while. In Fallout 2, President Dick Richardson of the Enclave is the game's main villain. The Enclave's main objective is to cleanse the world of irradiated mutants so that a purer form of humanity can achieve dominance. Richardson is fully devoted to these ideas and is willing to commit terrible atrocities to further his goals.

His total disregard for the lives of non-Enclave humans makes him a rather despicable individual. Had the Enclave's plans come to fruition untold numbers of people would have died. In the end, Richardson's plans are unraveled when he is assassinated at the conclusion of Fallout 2's main quest.

4 John Henry Eden

Fallout 3 John Henry Eden

Yet another Enclave fiend, John Henry Eden is the Enclave President during the time of Fallout 3. Interestingly, Eden isn't actually a man at all. In truth, he is a highly advanced ZAX AI supercomputer. Over the decades Eden slowly gained sentience after carefully studying the vast reserves of American history data stored within his mainframe. His personality is an amalgamation of former U.S. presidents.

RELATED: Fallout 3 Vs. Fallout 4: Which Game Is Better?

Eden, like his predecessor Dick Richardson, comes very close to realizing the Enclave's objective of "purifying" the human race. He seeks to inject a modified form of the FEV virus into the Capital Wasteland's water filtration system via Project Purity. Eden's fanatical beliefs concerning the Enclave's homicidal eugenics program make him a highly dangerous and amoral entity.

3 The Calculator

The Calculator From Fallout Tactics

Similar to John Henry Eden, The Calculator is also an advanced supercomputer with a mission. Instead of utilizing artificial intelligence, The Calculator relies on a collection of organic brains to sustain its power. Housed within Vault 0, The Calculator remained dormant for many years before being accidentally activated. Unable to think for itself, The Calculator initiates its Pacification Protocol, which soon spirals out of control.

Thus, The Calculator serves as the main antagonist in Fallout Tactics. The protagonist, known as the Warrior, must stop The Calculator from finishing its ruthless campaign of extermination. The cold efficiency in which The Calculator goes about its task makes it an extremely deadly threat.

2 The Master

The Master From Fallout

Introduced in the very first Fallout game, the Master is the leader of Unity, a cult of fanatical Super Mutants. By the time the Vault Dweller encounters him the Master is no longer a man. Rather, he is a grotesque fusion of multiple individuals.

The Master's ultimate agenda is to forcefully evolve all of humanity into a single, perfect entity by means of the FEV. Put simply, he desires to transform humanity into Super Mutants against their will. As far as evil plans go, this one is particularly troubling.

1 Caesar

Caesar From Fallout New Vegas

Edward Sallow, known by his title of Caesar, isn't a computer or some hideous mutant. He's just a man, albeit a highly intelligent and dangerous one. Drawing upon the militaristic and social mores of the Roman Empire, Caesar has cut a path of destruction without equal across the Wasteland.

The society of Caesar's Legion is unabashedly brutal. The imposition of slavery on their defeated victims has caused massive suffering for thousands of people unlucky enough to cross their path. Caesar's lieutenants, such as Legate Lanius, are infamously savage in their methods. Crucifixion, in particular, is one of the more favored forms of torture. And behind it all lies not a computer or savage beast, but simply a man.

NEXT: Fallout: 10 Characters Who Appear In Multiple Games