Fan Casting Manipulative Bastard in Sort by Tropes

While The Chessmaster is the master manipulator of events, the Manipulative Bastard is the master manipulator of people, in essence, a character who manipulates others through their emotions, perspectives, psychologies and any other way they can get them dancing to their tune. This is the person who gets off on playing head/mind games — clever and dangerous and lacking comedic overtones (usually). They always have a plan ready, but rather than do any work, the Manipulative Bastard prefers to play on other characters' emotions and mental states and then watch the victims destroy themselves as they waste their energy on fighting against fake dangers or their friends.