Wow, quite a limitation. Let's see...
1). Lex Luthor
2). Zod
3) Brainiac
4) Mxyzptlk
5) Bizarro
6) Metallo
7) Livewire (I want at least 1 woman)
Toyman nearly got it, but I guess he can go menace Gotham, or just be the Japanese boy version. I hate losing Manchester Black and Prankster (I got much respect for Loomis), but that's the nature of these limitation games.
I don’t consider Darksied to be a Superman villain. I consider him to be general DC villain first and foremost. A New Gods villain primarily. His battles with Superman are secondary to those things. I always believe you can tell how much faith a writer has in Superman’s villains by how quick they reach for Darkseid and the New Gods.
Superman doesn't have many rogues I like, but the ones I do, are some of the best in comics. Excluding Lex, my rogue gallery are true power (Endgame) players
1. Lex Luthor. Prefer Brainiac but I have to give him his props. The only time I enjoyed Lex was Gene Hackmans's Performance
2. Doomsday. The Ultimate Monster. Keep him the unstoppable killing machine. Don't use this character often though
3. Darkseid: This one is the complete package. Power, intelligence, dictator. Another endgame character
4. Zod: Tactical General. Superman's Powers. Familiar with Kal-El's History
5. Brainiac: Ultimate Seeker of Knowledge. High Power Levels and Technology
6. Helspont: I always liked this villain. Enjoyed his arc in the 52 series. Untapped potential that may rival Darkseid. I'd write him as a strong emperor
7. Manchester Black: A telepathic powerhouse obsessed with Superman and his ideals determined to prove him wrong
Honorable Mentions:
Mongul: Preferred him being Hal Jordan's Enemy. Their history is more personal
Eradicator: I'd rather see him neutral. Give him the Reign of the Supermen look back. Only 'awoken' during extreme emergencies due to his zero fail-safes to get the job done.
1. Lex Luthor (Obviously)
2. General Zod
3. Brainiac
4. Manchester Black
5. Mxyzptlk
6. Doomsday
7. Bizzaro
Honorable mentions: Conduit, Ultra-Humanite, Cyborg-Superman, and Mongul (I think the last two work just as well as general DC universe villains or enemies of Hal Jordan)
Luthor
Zod
Doomsday
Manchester Black
Metallo
Parasite
Titano the Super Ape
Alright, let's expand this concept:
Remember the greatest incarnation of the legendary Superfriends cartoon: CHALLENGE OF THE SUPERFRIENDS?
So now we get ...
"Banded together from remote galaxies are thirteen of the most sinister villains of all time, The Region of Doom!
Dedicated to a single objective: the conquest of the universe.
Only one group dares to challenge this intergalactic threat: The Superverse!
The Superman Family versus The Region of Doom!
This is the Challenge of the Superverse!"
Which 13 Superverse villains make the cut?
Going with an expanded 13-foe roster for Superman's Rogues gallery:
1. Lex Luthor
2. Brainiac
3. Zod
4. Mongul
5. Doomsday
6. Mxyzptlk
7. Bizarro
8. Lady Blaze
9. Metallo
10. Parasite
11. Manchester Black
12. Maxima
13. ????
1. Lex Luthor
2. Brainiac
3. General Zod
4. Mongul (Starlin version)
5. Parasite
6. Metallo
7. Gog
8. Lobo
9. Luminus
10. Helspont
11. Silver Banshee
12. Composite Superman
13. Bruno Mannheim & Intergang