It's not just the DC villains who like to play mind games and flex their manipulation muscles. Many heroes and vigilantes are known not to keep a tight ship regarding their moral codes, particularly within the DC Universe.

RELATED: Biggest DC Extended Universe Retcons (That Were For The Best)

Manipulation tactics can essentially be broken down into three categories: lawful, true, and chaotic. Redirecting the justice system to benefit personal ideals is any vigilante's favorite trick, whereas chaotic conspirators seek selfish satisfaction from their cunning interactions. Finally, the worst of the bunch are true masterminds, which will include anybody in their devious mind games, affecting everyone in their path.

10 Batman (The LEGO Movies)

lego dimensions

The most comical representation of Batman has a manipulative streak of his own, as he attempts to convince all those around him that his miserable life has not affected him. The truth behind his plastered-on smile and extreme egotistical attitude is a lot more sinister, as this LEGO Dark Knight would rather mope in solitude than celebrate with his admirers.

His initial interaction with Queen Watevra Wa'Nabi perfectly depicts his scheming nature, as he originally dismisses her affections without hesitation but quickly changes his tune once Superman is brought into the equation. Without any genuine intentions, Batman convinces the Queen to marry him, conveniently elevating his own status in the process; and it is only later that he realizes his true feelings for her.

9 Frank Moses (R.E.D.)

Manipulative DC Heroes RED Frank Moses Bruce Willis

This man pulls a whole group of people out of their comfortable retirement for his own benefit and apparently finding some younger folks just wouldn't cut it. Instead, Frank Moses, played by Bruce Willis, chooses to put some of his closest (and oldest) friends in danger by recruiting them to help him take down a high-tech assassin.

The former CIA agent inadvertently gets a civilian, Sarah Ross, involved, believing she would be targeting next (no thanks to his incessant calls after tearing up his pension checks and pretending they never arrived.) He first kidnaps Sarah, then wooes her over, and, eventually, Frank gets the girl and saves the day; everything his heart desired!

8 Dick Grayson (Netflix's Titans)

promotional image for DC Universe show Titans

Dick Grayson's manipulation tactics are immoral enough to get him a spot on the DC villains list; well, at least according to Raven and most of the other Titans, that is. As someone who has suffered through the abuse and neglect received as a hero-in-training, Robin turns out to be not much different from Batman. He recruits youngsters under the guise of "defending the weak." However, his motivation conveniently aligns with his desire to reform The Titans and subsequently puts a bunch of children to (dangerous) work.

Superboy, Raven, Beast Boy, and even Jason Todd (to a degree) devote their energy to helping their trusty leader, completely unaware of his darker side. Whether or not Hawk and Dawn were destined for splitsville or not is debatable; however, Robin's sudden involvement certainly encouraged things along.

7 Oliver Queen (The Arrow)

Stephen Amell Green Arrow

The Green Arrow is so well versed in lawful manipulation that he teeters dangerously close to the line of anti-hero (and may have toppled over once or twice!) He initially manipulates Felicity Smoak by limiting the amount of information she is privy to; the same tactic which was used to keep his family and friends in the dark. But overall, Oliver Queen is an honest guy (harshly so) who generally does not mince his words.

RELATED: The CW Is About To Go Through Some Major Changes Under Its New Ownership

When it comes to the justice system, however, this vigilante will not allow rules and regulations to get in the way of crime fighting and subsequently manipulates the law to get his way. These tactics are never used for selfish gain and always align with the greater good, albeit in a dark-and-twisty way.

6 The Comedian (The Watchmen)

The-Comedian-watchmen-1

Like most of the "heroes" from The Boys, this superpowered muscle-man has convinced the world of his outstanding virtue and is introduced to viewers as a hero in The Watchmen. As it turns out, The Comedian is so dark that he even makes Rorschach seem quite pleasant, and yet he still maintains his hero status for quite some time after brutally assaulting his own teammate, Sally Jupiter.

Eddie Blake is fully aware of Sally's affections towards him and uses that to his advantage, receiving sexual gratification and taking no blame for the assault. He was previously a Minutemen and Crimebusters member with a "heroic" career spanning back to the 1940s; which begs to question of how many other heinous acts got covered up along the way.

5 Beast Boy (Teen Titans Go!)

teen titans go key characters

This little green guy is no stranger to get-rich-quick schemes, constantly seeking out shortcuts and loopholes and often getting the other Titans involved (to their detriment). After Beast Boy discovers that he could cash in all his pearly whites to the tooth fairy simultaneously, he quickly convinces the others to extract all of theirs too, and even tries to steal Raven's teeth right from her mouth when she doesn't cooperate!

In "Pyramid Scheme," Beast Boy ropes his friends into the corruption of his new mummified boss, and in "Chicken in the Cradle," he lays a fertilized egg (don't ask) but carries on living the life while his teammates raise his beloved child. Beast Boy also loves to transform by convenience, often choosing to remain in a particular form just to get his way. In "Gorilla," the changeling refuses to revert to his original form to avoid his responsibilities (and, more importantly, to get under Robin's skin!)

4 John Constantine (Hellblazer and Beyond)

Game-Rant-Feature-images-5

One of the few characters who use manipulation for good is John Constantine, who regularly works with the biggest tricksters in the creation and always has to be prepared to play their demonic mind games. With so many variables to work with, exorcisms are not always cut-and-dried, and Constantine regularly has to rely on his cunning skills to get the upper hand.

Constantine will often try and lower a demon's defenses by stirring up some emotions, usually by taunting them or stroking their egos (depending on the situation). He is not above using his signature charm to persuade certain humans too; however, Constantine's intentions always ultimately align with the greater good.

3 Rip Hunter (Legends of Tomorrow)

Legends of Tomorrow Rip Hunter holds a gun

Now Rip Hunter is a guy who can swing a story! This time-traveling hustler manages to convince an array of people to drop everything and join him on a death-defying adventure that could change all life as they know it without revealing the actual end game.

RELATED: DC's Legends Of Tomorrow: Best Episodes In The Arrowverse Series

Rip convinces the Legends of Tomorrow that Vandal Savage is the greatest threat to all existence, but in truth, Hunter's motivations are a little more self-aligned that saving the world. He is essentially on the run from the other Time Masters after going rogue on a mission to save his wife and child, regardless of the potentially catastrophic consequences.

2 Selina Kyle (Catwoman)

Batman Every Live-Action Catwoman

The seductive Selina Kyle plays jump rope with her villainess title over the years, but it seems that she has finally settled on the antiheroine role. Catwoman has intrigued fans since her introduction to the DC franchise, starting out as a petty thief and Batman's nemesis and quickly transforming into a potential love interest and ally.

Catwoman is not afraid to use her body and charisma to get her way, charming the socks off almost anyone, and even sometimes has Batman second-guessing his own decisions. Selina saves the Dark Knight's life in Batman #62; becomes a supreme siren in Batman Returns, and eventually evolves into a lead protagonist in Halle Berry's portrayal (to name but a few iconic instances). Clearly, she has been manipulating fans this entire time, depending on which shoes she chooses to fill that day!

1 V (V for Vendetta)

V, played by Hugo Weaving, dressed in a Guy Fawkes mask and carrying knives, stands in an alley in V For Vendetta

This unofficial Mind-Game Master is arguable the only hero who has real-life representation, with Annonymous still using his iconic mask while fighting the moral cause to this day. V is proof that manipulation is not inherently evil, as he uses his powers of persuasion to unveil the truth as the ultimate advocate for antidisestablishmentarianism.

Instead of spoonfeeding information to his target, V allows them to have a revelation on their own (albeit with a bit of a nudge in the right direction). This freedom fighter discards his moral compass when recruiting Evey into the fold, both empowering and (arguably) corrupting her mind in the process, creating the perfect tool for his ultimate act of terrorism against the tyrannical Norsefire regime.

MORE: The Best TV Shows Based on Comic Books