What do you think about the role of the Lesser Evils in the Diablo franchise?

In the course of researching my Know Your Lore article on Belial I began to realize that the Diablo franchise really does view the Lesser Evils as lesser. While of course I would expect the titular demon to get most of the narrative focus (even if we don’t know when or if he’ll show up in Diablo 4) it seems that the Lesser Evils aren’t given all that much to do. Andariel and Duriel are Act bosses in Diablo 2 and in Diablo 3 Azmodan and Belial each got their own Act (but what little machinations they set in motion were dwarfed by those of Adria) but even that feels unworthy of their true legacy.

Diablo 4 reduces their prominence even more. While there was some leadup to the Andariel appearance at the end of Act 4, Duriel is treated like a random miniboss. Belial is coming in Diablo 4 Season 8, but one suspects that his narrative impact will be minimal because seasonal stories are usually minimal — and Azmodan likely faces a similar fate in a future season.

Is it really fair to treat the Lesser Evils this way? They are essentially ranks 4 through 7 on the Evil Chart, and have been the ones ruling Hell for centuries now. They even overthrew the Prime Evils, although it’s admittedly arguable the Primes let this happen to get a shortcut to Sanctuary. Still they’re not random demons to get in the way of the hero for a moment. Belial is supposedly the Lord of Lies but it really feels like he’s never been given the opportunity to truly embrace his identity with an era-spanning plan of subterfuge (if Denathrius and the Nathrezim can do it, why not Belial?) or if he has, it hasn’t even been hinted at yet.

But what do you think? Should the Lesser Evils be given a more prominent role in the future, or are you okay with them being largely ignored for the Prime Evils? Azmodan’s arrival in a future D4 season seems assured now, but do you think the other three might get another chance? And which of them is your favorite anyhow?