Prime Evils
Three brothers from the Burning Hells who merge to become the singular Prime Evil.
The Prime Evils are the three brothers who lead the Burning Hells in its eternal war against the High Heavens. According to Blizzard lore, Diablo acts as one of the seven Great Evils before absorbing his siblings to become the Prime Evil. This supreme form includes Baal, the Lord of Destruction, and Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred. These entities preside over their respective domains while driving the conflict that defines the history of Sanctuary. The series focuses on this ongoing war where humans, aided occasionally by angels like Tyrael, fight against these demon hordes led by Diablo.
- Members
- Diablo, Baal, Mephisto
- Domains
- Terror (Diablo), Destruction (Baal), Hatred (Mephisto)
- Affiliation
- Burning Hells
- Status
- Absorbed into Prime Evil form, then escaped imprisonment
- Origin
- The Burning Hells
Lore & Background
Sanctuary was created by rebel angels and demons tired of the war between their respective realms. The descendants of these creators are humanity, whose Nephalem heritage makes them a focal point for both sides. Diablo, the Lord of Terror, functions as one of the seven Great Evils presiding over the Burning Hells. Eventually, he absorbs the six other Great Evils, including his two brothers: Baal and Mephisto. This transformation allows him to become the Prime Evil. Two key figures oppose this threat: Deckard Cain, the last descendant of the original Horadrim who serves as the core narrator in the first three games, and Tyrael, a member of the Angiris Council sympathetic to humanity.
In Their Own Story
At the end of the first game, a warrior tried to contain Diablo's soul within himself but failed. By the beginning of Diablo II, the Lord of Terror had taken control of this body and begun freeing his brothers, Mephisto and Baal. Players explore Sanctuary through four acts, facing different devils at the end of each, culminating in a battle with Diablo. Following these events and those of Diablo III, some humans began awakening their Nephalem heritage to challenge the final Evils. After Diablo manipulated events to become the Prime Evil, he was initially imprisoned but eventually escaped, becoming a threat to both angels and demons.
Reader's Guide
The Prime Evils are central to the plot across multiple titles in the franchise. In Diablo II, players choose from five distinct classes to stop the brothers, with specific motivations ranging from the Amazons' oracle prophecies to the Paladins seeking justice for Mephisto's role in a bloody crusade. The expansion Lord of Destruction allows players to destroy Baal specifically, introducing new characters like the Druid and Assassin. Later, in Diablo III set 20 years after the second game, the Nephalem protagonist faces the Prime Evil form of Diablo. In Diablo IV, set 50 years later, the focus shifts as Lilith returns, though the conflict with these forces remains a foundational element of the universe's history.
Did You Know?
- Diablo eventually becomes the Prime Evil after absorbing six other Great Evils.
- Deckard Cain serves as the core narrator of lore in the first three Diablo games.
- In Diablo II, a warrior tried to contain Diablo's soul but was taken over by the Lord of Terror.
- The Nephalem are the descendants of rebel angels and demons who created Sanctuary.
- Diablo IV is set 50 years after the events of Diablo III.
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