You know what I'm talking about: exterminators, OHKOers, ect. Some DMs work around them, some work with them, and some prefer to punish them. Regardless of your methods, every DM has to have at least one trick to deal with that one problematic player. Here are a few of my own:

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING METHODS ARE ONLY TO BE USED IN EXTREME MEASURES. NEVER BULLY YOUR PLAYERS UNLESS THEY’RE REALLY ASKING FOR IT.

• Exterminators (Often referred to as "Murder Hobos"): These are the players who kill everything in sight. It doesn't matter if it's a monster, citizen, or a tree, everything that's not part of the party is fair game (and even then the party might not be safe). I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if the answer to every question or prompt is “I kill it”. Here's how I deal with these players:
• Consequences: Try to invoke sympathy or guilt (and if those fail, panic) from them by adding consequences when an NPC dies by their hands. Kill a random goblin? He had a family to provide for. Kill a shopkeeper? Stop right there, criminal scum, go to jail! (Bonus points if that player ends up having a poor reputation in towns in the surrounding area if they keep this up.) Try to kill the mysterious winged stranger hailing you by the side of the road? Goodluck fending off an army of angels by yourself, idiot!
• The Spirits of the Fallen: Think “Book of Life” or something akin to that. A monster made up of the souls of those who were wrongly killed suddenly attacks, targeting only the exterminator. If you can specify particularly memorable kills (like “the shopkeeper with the dress made of roses”, or “the old man with blue streaks in his hair” for example) to try and invoke sympathy or something, go for it. These kinds of monsters also will not die nor give up on the kill unless the killer reconciles with every single soul they wrongfully murdered.
• Stronger NPCs: Oftentimes these players will kill NPCs because they believe the NPCs pose no threat to them if they’re not powerful enemies like giants, dragons, or devils. Introducing stronger NPCs, like a retired adventurer or a polymorphed dragon for example, can easily take the wind out of their sails. To add insult to injury, have the stronger NPCs spare them if you think that would be more irritating to them
• Undying NPCs: Similarly to the above, having NPCs rise after being killed (potentially growing in strength as they do) regardless of who or what the NPC is can dissuade them from killing them.
• Limiting Growth: Certain players kill everything in sight because they believe it’s the only way to grow stronger. If you’re playing with EXP, make it clear players will not receive EXP for unnecessary or out-of-combat kills. If that doesn’t work, try switching to milestone level ups.
• OHKOers (Often referred to as Power Players). These players make their PCs as invincible and as powerful as they can to ensure they always come out on top during any combat situation, often leading to combat encounters being harder and less fun to plan and play. Sometimes they don’t even put in the work to do so, sometimes they’ll utilize loopholes instead. And while I’m all for creative playing, there’s only so much I can handle when Lord Soth, Straad, and Tiamat team up, then promptly get murdered by mage hand. Here’s how I deal with them:
  • Using their tricks: As a general rule, anything the PCs can do, the DM can do better. Oh, you OHKOd my boss with a cantrip? Guess what skill every spellcaster in the realm has now. You found a loophole in a feat that renders you basically invincible? So did the castle guard! Oh yeah, and that portable hole filled with water you used to drown a literal avatar of death is common knowledge. Goodluck breaking into anywhere anymore.
  • Reverse dungeons: This is my personal favorite method. Reverse dungeons are dungeons that give the DM control of the players, and force the players to play as monsters from the handbook. The only way to escape is by defeating themselves or risk being trapped in the bodies of monsters forever. And even if they manage to defeat themselves, you now have ammo to use against them, so either way is a win win.
  • Pit them against one another: The simplest, yet most effective way. Force the players into a free-for-all situation where only one can survive. Better yet, don’t give the winner control of their PC, end the campaign there. Then when you make the next one, the winner of that free for all becomes the next BBEG of your new campaign.

These are just some of the ways I deal with certain types of players. What about you? What players do you hate dealing with?

The only type of player I can't stand are the ones with.. I don't know if it is self-esteem issues or what ... but their character can never be powerful enough. Even if they are easily overshadowing every other player in the game they still demand more and more loot or special concessions because some how they think they are still "too weak" because they don't completely trample every single encounter without taking any damage. IME there's no solution to them, eventually either you stay enough-is-enough and they leave because you are "ruining their character" or the rest of the party stops having fun and you have to kick them out.

But in general all of you "solutions" are pretty toxic behaviour, you should not be "punishing" players in game. If you have a problem with them talk to them out-of-game. Otherwise they will either continue their behaviour oblivious to your attempts to punish them or will recognize your attempts to punishment in game as the passive-aggressive action that it is.

Murder hobos get me literally every time and they are so annoying a very good way to deal with the murder hobos I like to curse them. Think about it after they get certain certain amount of kills, they get cursed and now every time they kill unnecessary people those spirits come back and haunt them for the rest of the campaign and every and every 60 feet they have to consistently make a saving through or lose items or abilities Have it where they are able to use their sword or can’t cast certain magic anymore. Give them a real sense of consequences for unnecessary actions. Also, the hunting cannot be purified and the only way to stop. The curse is to atone for their actions.

The best general rule is: don't try to solve interpersonal problems with in-game consequences.

If somebody is doing things that ruin other people's fun, talk it out to try to reach a solution. The solution may be "we're not gonna play together anymore."

I have a far simpler solution. If you as a GM find yourself seeing a player as a 'problem' player, then it's time to admit that your playstyles are incompatible. This means that you remove them from the table and tell them that you aren't the GM for them, and they are the player for you. It's not personal, but they'll have more fun with a GM who enjoys catering to their playstyle. 

It really is as simple as that. Even if they are your friend. If you are friends, then a good friend will understand that you don't want to jepordise your friendship so it's best not to play this game together.

Homeless Homicidal Heroes are a staple of role playing games, be they digital, video, or table top.

I handle these particular players through a series of simple actions:

1. Are they sure they want to do that?
   They are aware that it is illegal, correct?
   They participated in the Zero Session, so they remember the stuff from it, correct?
   Carry on, then.
2. Yes, those guards did indeed capture you.
   Yes, you are in a jail with no way to use magic and none of your gear.
   Yes, the food is drugged.
   Yes, you are being asked if you choose a trial or an Ordeal.
3. No, you do not have rights.
   No, this is happening.
   You have been found guilty / Your deity has judged you guilty

Roll a new character.

Oddly, I have only had to deal with this about four times in the last 6 or so years -- and all 4 were people who were new to playing with our group.

I made a monster exactly for murder-hobos! it's called the eternal scourge. feel free to use it

STR

10 (+0)

DEX

10 (+0)

CON

10 (+0)

INT

10 (+0)

WIS

10 (+0)

CHA

10 (+0)

MurderHobos: I just won't let them play at the table if that's their MO. This is really simple and established in session 0. Additionally, if any player is actively ruining the experience for other players, I would remove them from the game and explain that I'm not spending hours of my life planning for ADHD FPS kiddos.

PowerGamers: I encourage power gamers and think that if DM's can't deal with them it's probably because they're better strategic players than the DM. Power gamers are players that spend all their energy thinking about how to create the best outcomes for their character in devious and diabolical ways--they should be celebrated. I wish every player at my table was a combat power gamer--it will make for amazing technical battles.

I echo what another said here: all of your options are bad options. You shouldn't be punishing players for behavior that you've permitted to exist after session 0. This is a DM issue, not a player issue.