Dark Guilds

Dark Guilds are guilds that are no longer (or never were) recognized by the Magic Council; therefore they are treated as criminal organizations. Dark Guilds are typically dismissive of legal guilds, seeing that they abide the rules imposed by the Magic Council. They think that the Council limits the potential of guilds because of their restrictions.

Organization
There is very little known about the hierarchy of Dark Guilds. All Dark Guilds, like legal guilds, are run by their respective Guild Master. Dark Guilds have S-Class level Mages, but it is unknown if the Mages in question are called "S-Class Mages". In the Grimoire Heart Guild they have a Deputy Commader, or second in charge, of their guild.

Balam Alliance
The Balam Alliance (バラム同盟 Baramu Dōmei) is an alliance between three of the four most powerful Dark Guilds in the world. Despite being referred to as an alliance, the three guilds do not interact with each other at all, and their alliance is nothing more than a non-aggression pact. They control the underworld, and all Dark Guilds, with the exception of Raven Tail, are under the control of one of the three. At the moment, the alliance consists of only two guilds following the disbandment and dissolution of Oración Seis.