Dark Messiahs are held as Gods, Messiahs and/or similar icons by supporters. Unlike God Wannabes, not all Dark Messiahs seek worship and their followers often do so willingly rather than by force. People are willing to lay their lives down to protect and/or serve the Dark Messiah.

Often, they will rise in power and may be prophesied to rule the world, destroy the world or save their own culture, race, faction or people and doom everyone else, thus acting as a reverse of the traditional role of a "Savior". They differ from Dark Lords in the sense that "messiah" literally means "savior" or "liberator" by their followers; Lords or Ladies do not need to seek out the purpose of saving and/or protecting subordinates.

Villains openly worshipped and/or revered by large groups of followers and take on the role of amoral saviors and liberators (at least to said followers) belong here. This includes Fanatics who commit atrocities in the name of God(s) and/or religions by presenting themselves as spokespersons or guardians of faith albeit with twisted views of what religions and subsequently an ideal world should be.

In some cases the Dark Messiah can renounce their destiny and choose the light or neutral side.