Malthael

Lore & Background

After the destruction of the Worldstone, Malthael vanished from the High Heavens. Two decades later, he reappeared in Sanctuary with a new purpose. He ambushed a group of six Horadrim and Tyrael as they attempted to seal the Black Soulstone deep in the tomb of Rakkis. In this assault, Malthael killed all but one of the Horadrim and incapacitated Tyrael before stealing the Black Soulstone, which contained the essence of all seven Great Evils. Now leading an army known as the Reapers—comprised of enslaved spirits and renegade angels—he launched a campaign against Westmarch City. Malthael's logic was absolute: since humanity descends from Nephalem (offspring of angels and demons), they are inherently demonic. He sought to consume all demonic essence in Sanctuary, including that within human bloodlines, to bring about their extinction and end the Eternal Conflict.

In Their Own Story

The conflict began when Tyrael sent surviving Horadrim Lorath Nahr to find the Nephalem outside Westmarch City, which had been overrun by Reapers. The hero fought through sewers to the Zakarum cathedral, where Tyrael explained Malthael's plan. As the Nephalem destroyed soul crucibles deployed in the city, they faced Urzael, Malthael's chief lieutenant, defeating him at the Tower of Korelan. The journey led to the Blood Marsh and the Pandemonium Fortress, a realm between Heaven and Hell built to watch over the Worldstone. There, Adria transformed into a winged demonic creature before being slain by the Nephalem. Tyrael then brought the hero to the High Heavens, where they breached the fortress using an ancient battering ram. Inside, Malthael revealed his plan to consume all demonic essence. The Nephalem was forced to become "one with death" to fight him. In the final battle at the fortress's heart, Malthael shattered the Black Soulstone, absorbing the power of the Seven Evils. Despite this immense power, the Nephalem struck him down, saving mankind but freeing the Seven Evils in the process.

Reader's Guide

Malthael is the primary antagonist of the expansion, encountered after defeating Urzael and navigating through Westmarch to the Pandemonium Fortress. His final confrontation takes place at the heart of this fortress. To defeat him, players must first use an ancient battering ram, requiring four hits with siege runes held by trapped demons to breach the gates. Upon entering the fortress, the Nephalem encounters a figure from their past dependent on their class, who directs them to unlock a soul prison. The player must channel spirits from this prison to take on an aspect of death themselves before facing Malthael's guardians. During the boss fight, Malthael shatters the Black Soulstone and takes the power of the Seven Evils within himself. Players must survive this transformation to deliver the final blow. Victory results in Malthael's death, which frees the Seven Evils but fulfills the prophecy that humanity would be saved from extinction.

Did You Know?

• Malthael was the leader of the Angiris Council before disappearing after the destruction of the Worldstone.
• He killed all but one of the six Horadrim who were trying to seal away the Black Soulstone.
• Malthael's army, the Reapers, consists of enslaved spirits and renegade angels.
• To defeat Malthael, the Nephalem had to channel spirits from a soul prison to become "one with death."
• Upon his death, Malthael shattered the Black Soulstone, releasing the essence of the Seven Evils.