Who is Belial, and what role might he play in Diablo 4?

Belial is one of the seven Great Evils and is returning to Sanctuary in Diablo 4 Season 8. While deemed only a “Lesser” Evil like Duriel and Andariel, the Lord of Lies has played an integral part in the story of the Great Conflict and Sanctuary. While we have encountered him once before in Diablo 3 his actions have had a tremendous impact on all games in the series.

So who is Belial and what will his role be in Diablo 4?

The origin of Belial

When Anu and Tathamet fought and annihilated one another at the moment of the Diablo universe’s creation each of the seven heads of Tathamet became one of the Great Evils. Three have since been denoted as Prime: the “brothers” Diablo, Mephisto, and Baal. The other four have been deemed as Lesser: Andariel, Duriel, Azmodan, and Belial. Belial’s parcel of Hell was the Realm of Lies, and while his forces took part in the Eternal Conflict against the Angels it is said the Belial himself did not take the field, preferring instead to work from the shadows.

While the Eternal Conflict has always raged, since its inception there have been various digressions from the main battle of Angel vs Demon. One of these was the Sin War where the Prime Evils focused on Sanctuary, where the humans were seen as a potential tool in the fight against the High Heavens. That battle was ultimately a stalemate and although the forces of Hell were supposed to no longer interfere with the humans of Sanctuary the Primes still believed they could use them to help win the Eternal Conflict.

It was in the aftermath of the Sin War that the Lesser Evils grew discontented with the focus on Sanctuary, believing that the Primes had essentially abandoned the Eternal Conflict in order to target the humans. Belial saw an opportunity and convinced his “brother” Azmodan as well as Andariel and Duriel to join with him to overthrow the Prime Evils. The civil war that followed was bloody with multitudes dying on both sides. The Lesser Evils emerged victorious in the end, banishing the Primes to Sanctuary where their demonic minions would eventually follow.

With the angels focused on combating the power of the Primes on Sanctuary, it was an opportunity for Belial and Azmodan to take the Eternal Conflict to the High Heavens — but their alliance fell apart and they vied against each other for leadership in Hell.

Belial and the threat of Diablo’s return

While the conflict in Hell remained deadlocked events on Sanctuary proceeded apace through the content of the game Diablo and Diablo 2. When Diablo was awakened as the Dark Wanderer in the second game Belial began to fear the Prime Evils’ return to Hell and sent minions under the leadership of Xazax to reclaim the armor of Bartuc in the hopes of forging a new champion against both Azmodan and the Prime Evils. While Xazak was ultimately unsuccessful the defeat of Diablo at the hands of heroes removed that threat for the moment.

The shattering of the Worldstone at the end of Diablo 2: Lord of Destruction — or perhaps the continuing impasse for control of Hell — changed Belial’s mind about Sanctuary. With Sanctuary now open to larger scale demonic influence Belial set his sights on manipulating events on the human realm, and after conquering it, launch an attack on the High Heavens. His instrument (as detailed in the novel Diablo 3: The Order) was Garreth Rau, an orphan of Nephalem descent, who was twisted into a dark mage through Belial’s lies. Rau kidnapped Leah so that she could be used to both awaken an undead army as well as summon Belial into Sanctuary.

Belial’s two chosen instruments did not work out as he planned. Belial was ultimately stymied as he attempted to enter Sanctuary through Rau only to recognize that Diablo himself was present in Leah; Rau took advantage of Belial’s hesitation to regain control and end his life. While angered by this setback his eyes soon settled on a new target: Kehjistan.

Ruler of Caldeum

Belial came to Sanctuary for the first time prior to Diablo 3, possessing or taking the form of Emperor Hakan II, ruler of Caldeum. As leader he withdrew his forces from the neighboring wastes so that his demons could roam freely. However he became increasingly concerned about the actions of the Nephalem during the events of D3 and moved against them. First he used Maghda as a lure to keep the Nephalem away from Caldeum but when that failed he pretended to assist them (as Hakan) in their hunt for Belial.

The Nephalem was on the trail of the Black Soulstone which could be used to trap Belial but his attempts to deflect and distract were unsuccessful. Even bombarding Caldeum with meteors did not stop the Nephalem who proceeded to defeat Belial and imprison him in the Black Soulstone.

When Diablo was resurrected in Leah’s body he took in all the Evils contained within the Black Soulstone to become the Prime Evil. Although Diablo was defeated by the Nephalem and returned the Black Soulstone its subsequent shattering by Malthael released the Prime Evil. However Diablo was unable to maintain his hold on all the Evils and eventually the others broke free. They were seven once again.

Diablo 4 and Belial’s Return

With Lilith defeated and Mephisto’s current location unknown, Belial has chosen to renew his bid for Sanctuary. Season 8 sees the rise of Apparition Monsters — illusory soldiers of Belial working to warp reality with his lies. Defeating them will eventually lead the Wanderer into a fight against Belial himself. Unfortunately for him, this attempt by Belial is likely to be as unsuccessful as his first. Whether that means he spends Diablo 4 solely as a boss to defeat for loot rather than an adversary to overcome remains to be seen, but as D4 has mostly focused on Mephisto it seems likely that the Lesser Evils — including Belial — will continue to live up to their moniker.

Or at least that may just be what the Lord of Lies wants us to think.