This is a type of villain who (while they fight on the side of evil) still has at least some honorable traits. As such, they usually treat their foes and minions with respect and demonstrate some extent of mercy or fair play regardless of the outcome. They usually do not resort to cheating in order to win, they may avoid fighting people that are weaker, they may suppress their own power, and they may keep their end of a bargain that they promise to keep if they lose or if the hero does something they ask. However, some of these villains have their own version of honor that would clash with others'.

Numerous times, these traits often result in the villain redeeming themselves. Many Honorable characters have a common theme of finding a "worthy opponent" and thus want the hero they fight to be strong or get stronger. Kokushibou and Akaza are prime examples of this. However, if a villain only starts to becomes honorable after their redemption, they shouldn't be listed as honorable here. Also, not all heroes are honorable.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Pure Evil villains can NEVER qualify as they have no genuine respect for anyone or anything in particular. The "honor" they show is only due to their good manners and not out of genuine respect. That said, there are examples of Pure Evil villains who used to be honorable before shedding their nobler traits overtime. If so they should go under the Faux Affably Evil, Sophisticated, Neutral Evil, Lawful Evil, Deal Makers, Enforcers, Necessary Evil and/or Fallen Heroes categories instead (e.g. Joker (DCAU), Emperor Palpatine, Thanos (2010 MAU), Light Yagami, Bill Sykes, Dio Brando, Frieza, Cassandra Nova, Judge Claude Frollo, Muscular, Muzan Kibutsuji, Griffith, Anarky (Beware the Batman), and Micah Bell). At best, a Pure Evil villain can accept their final fate with dignity without fear and die with honor as a result (e.g Enter, Junko Enoshima, Harry Lime and Dr. Roosevelt); However, their acceptance of death doesn't make them honorable since not only due they lack remorse for their atrocities but also don't show any genuine honorable traits.

The same applies to villains whose "honor" they show is only out of their own self-serving and pragmatic needs and not out of genuine respect, even if they are not Pure Evil (e.g. Kars, Homelander, Bradford Buzzard, Koba, Ercole Visconti, Adam (Hazbin Hotel), Scissors and Chris McLean).

However, some of them can still be psychopaths if their code of honor is based on personal values rather than empathy (e.g. Solf J. Kimblee, Hisoka Morow, Rattlesnake Jake, Cad Bane, Beverly Hofstadter, Alastor (Hazbin Hotel), General Grievous (Legends), Hopper, Lalo Salamanca, Victor Zsasz (Gotham), Ryomen Sukuna, Kai the Collector, Specimen 13, Spooky (Spooky's Jump Scare Mansion) and Henry Stickmin).

Chaotic Evil characters can be honorable as the very core of Chaotic Evil is a love of chaos, as such it is possible for them to have some vague respect for the personal freedom of others to be chaotic. Neutral Evil characters are the most unlikely to have honor (though not impossible), however, rare exceptions can exist for both alignments if villains from said alignments have some sort of honor code they are not willing to break (e.g. Hades, Kazuya Mishima or A-Train). Lawful Evil and Lawful Neutral are by far the alignments most associated with honor (even if it is often for pragmatic reasons). Chaotic Neutrals, on the other hand, are shown to follow their own personal code without a care for others and are shown to be selfish. However, some may genuinely care for others and can have a sense of honor as well. Though it may also be for pragmatic reasons much like a Lawful Evil character and a Lawful Neutral character. Also, Opportunists are unlikely to count as Honorable as they would value alliances or a fixed plan over opportunistic thinking, However, rare exceptions can exist if they have a code of honor outside of their opportunistic zone (e.g. Ada Wong, Terra Snapdragon, Leith Pierre, Gellert Grindelwald, Deathstroke and Amos Slade).

It is difficult for a cheater to also be a honorable villain, unless they display a noble trait such as keeping a promise, respecting someone's memory, displaying gratitude, or being merciful (e.g. Billy Butcher, Romeo, Dr. Eggman, Mr. Krabs, Black Suit, Daniel J. D'Arby, Chozen Toguchi, Heinz Doofenshmirtz, Tank, President Coriolanus Snow, and Xibalba).