While some of us speed through the Diablo franchise riding a storm of mouse clicks conjured to defeat our enemies and get to the sweet loot, there is a more patient breed of player who chooses to explore the reasons behind the game’s chaos. They analyze every tome and moment of seemingly inane babbling. In doing so, they have come to know that the Diablo games are rich in story and mythology. At the heart of that mythology are the Great Evils.

Diablo‘s Great Evils are the beings responsible for every dark cloud that hangs over the games’ grim landscapes. Some characters worship them, but nearly all fear them. You’ll come to fear them as well once you are staring down their monstrous forms in some cramped room loaded with minions willing to die for their lords.

The truly frightening aspect of these Great Evils, however, is that many of them have roots in our own mythology. Their appearance, lore, and mannerisms can be traced back to beings that ancient civilizations came to fear as much of the denizens of Diablo do. These are their origins.

Azmodan

In Diablo lore, Azmodan is the Lord of Sin and a renowned commander of demonic hordes. He has personally staged assaults against the angels as well as the mortal realm.