One really important consideration for your piece of writing is how and when to introduce your main character.
When?
I think it's fair to say that most people introduce their main character at the start of the novel, of course this may not be the case if you are going to change perspectives, but generally speaking we get to know the main character early on.
However, you might consider the timing of bringing in more minor characters or antagonists. Are they there in your character's time of need, or do they cause that pain?
Minor characters probably have a less complex personality list than your main character, so it can be beneficial to hide this behind other literary techniques such as pathetic fallacy or adverse landscapes or timings. You can make someone seem evil just from where they happen to be and at what time.
For example, if we are introduced to someone at midnight in a dark, thick forest where our main character is panicked and suspicious, we are more likely to feel the same way about them.
You might also consider when to bring in a character's close friends or family. This will probably be in a more homely environment, but also consider when else they might come in handy. Times of need; fear; bereavement; loneliness.
You could also contrast this by imagining the worst scenarios to have someone you care about with you. For example, if your main character has been captured and tortured, wouldn't it be worse if someone they cared about was going through it with them?
How?
First introductions matter, and it's the same with your characters. When your audience is first introduced to your character, they will decide whether they sympathise with them or not. Most likely, though not always, you want your main character to be liked and relatable to the audience so they keep reading. Otherwise, you make them so different from the audience that they can't help but be interested and read on.
If you introduce your main character (who you want us to like) in a difficult situation, such as a screaming match with someone else, you will have to work harder to get the audience on their side later. But that's not necessarily a bad thing - everyone loves a turn around story where bad becomes good.
I would also say that even if you are writing a completely amoral and abhorrent character, you still want them to have something 'good' or 'relatable' about them. For example, they might think that what they are doing is right even though the audience can see it is wrong. People love to judge!
But also consider how you are introducing minor characters. You can play around with these more - audiences don't mind other people being annoying or completely in the wrong! You can introduce a character who is completely opposed to your main character and never give them a voice; never let the audience sympathise with them.
Or they may turn out to be the main character if you change perspectives, which gives them a chance for redemption.
Be mindful of when and how you introduce all of your characters. Whilst this may be harder to manipulate with a main character, the possibilities are endless for your minor ones!
Happy writing!
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