10 Diablo characters that might return after Belial

The Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred expansion continued the story from the base game with Mephisto returning to raise Hell. Now that Belial has also returned in Season 8, here are ten other characters who could return in Diablo 4.

The story of Diablo 4 was a fresh start in many ways, featuring new villains in Inarius and Lilith, new heroes, and a cast of new and returning supporting characters. However, the demonic tendrils of the past came creeping in during the Diablo 4 expansion, and there are various storylines from earlier Diablo games that still need resolving – and that ending was one Hell of a cliffhanger!

Below, we’ve featured ten characters who could return in Diablo 4, and how that could come about.

Warning, spoilers for the whole Diablo series below.

Leah

This character plays a pivotal and tragic role in Diablo 3, serving as a conduit for the Lord of Terror’s resurrection in Sanctuary. She is the daughter of Adria the Witch and Prince Aiden of Tristram, while he was possessed by Diablo in his ‘Dark Wanderer’ persona. Pregnant with Leah, Adria secretly schemed to use her as a backup vessel for Diablo, which was needed after his defeat in Diablo 2. 

Raised by Deckard Cain as his adopted niece, Leah is a key ally of the Nephalem in Diablo 3 until she’s ultimately killed and possessed by Diablo. Once Diablo is destroyed, Covetus Shen confirms that Leah’s spirit is ‘gone forever’, but is he right?

While Leah’s dark ending is on brand for the Diablo series, such an important character could return in some other guise. Before her death, Leah was the heir to the throne of Westmarch which could provide her with some supernatural means to return, especially if Diablo is able to also return in a new vessel. While Price Aiden never came back after his possession by Diablo, his brother did.

Deckard Cain

Stay a while and listen, we know Cain was killed off in Diablo 3 after serving as a mentor throughout that game, Diablo 1 and 2, but can you really imagine Diablo without Cain? Diablo Immortal was set before Diablo 3, which gave the devs the opportunity to use the character again, yet by Diablo 4 the character is long dead and is only referenced.

However, characters return from death in Diablo all the time, or as ghosts, so we can envision a quest in the Diablo 4 DLC where the player needs to speak to Cain’s soul to obtain some vital information on how to defeat the Prime Evils. Or we could locate some old diary of Cain’s that he narrates. 

We’d bet a hefty stash of gold that we’ll hear the comforting tones of ‘stay a while and listen’ from the wise sage in some form in the future.

Tyrael

At the end of Diablo 3, once Malthael, The Angel of Death, has been defeated, and the High Heavens need to rebuild after Diablo’s rampage, Tyrael is promoted to the Aspect of Wisdom. Although, the angel chooses to stay in his human form on Sanctuary helping the Nephalem and his pals battle future evil threats.

Tyrael has a connection to fellow fallen angel Inarius, who has a pivotal role in Diablo 4. Therefore, we expect humanity’s greatest ally will be suiting up again at some point in future Diablo 4 DLC, especially if Diablo tries to take advantage of the chaos to return from death – again. 

Mephisto & Baal

Diablo’s brothers who with him collectively make up The Prime Evils, were defeated in Diablo 2 with their souls being trapped in their Soulstones, which were then destroyed at the Hellforge. They were then absorbed by Diablo in D3, along with all the souls of the ‘Lesser Evils’ turning Diablo into the ultimate ‘Prime Evil’. 

Upgraded by all these souls, the now uber-Diablo then went to the High Heavens and started slaughtering angels left and right until the heroes put him down. This creates an interesting situation where the souls Diablo consumed could be free again, meaning Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred, and Baal, the Lord of Destruction could once again pursue their own agenda. 

After all, Diablo, Baal, and Mephisto can never be truly killed, only ever contained until they rise again to cause havoc in Sanctuary. Mephisto is also Lilith’s father, which only strengthens the theory that he could return, especially considering his daughter betrayed him and the forces of Hell before she was imprisoned. Unlike Baal and Diablo, Mephisto has never really had his chance to shine, so this could be an opportunity for him to make his mark as a villain.

As predicted, Mephisto is the current big bad of Diablo 4 after returning in Vessel of Hatred and possessing the body of Akarat. He’s now loose in Sanctuary, likely plotting something hateful.

Imperius

Imperious is the Archangel of Valor and resides in the High Heavens, where after Diablo 3, he’s likely to be eating a huge portion of humble pie. Not only did Imperius get tricked by Diablo which resulted in scores of his angelic friends getting killed, but he was also wrong about humanity and the Nephalem being the key to defeating The Prime Evils.

Even worse, he’s spent centuries belittling Tyrael when he should have been keeping a closer eye on Malthael, the Angel of Death. A more chastened Imperius could return in Diablo 4 DLC. Let’s hope he can put aside his prejudice this time and work with humans to save and protect both realms. 

Kormac, Eirena, & Lyndon

Okay, we’re cheating a bit by using three characters in one slot, but there’s a reason. This trio of recruitable followers in Diablo 3 was a highlight of the game, especially their interactions and banter with each other and the player character. An unlikely friendship forms between the group as well as a love triangle, with Kormac, a righteous Templar, and Lyndon, a self-confessed Scoundrel, both competing for the affections of Eirena, a time-displaced Enchantress.

All three characters change up the gameplay and their dialog also encourages repeated playthroughs, not just to see how each follower comments on any given situation, but how their relationship with each character class develops. Some classes such, as the Crusader, will naturally bond with the equally devout Templar, while initially mistrusting the Scoundrel. While the Demon Hunter turns a blind eye to Lyndon’s rogueish ways and finds Kormac to be a bore. 

No matter the character class or follower, the Nephelem always ends up bonding with all three followers, but it’s the journey to friendship that makes having a follower so much fun in Diablo 3. They also provide comic relief with their unique observations.

While Diablo 4 has introduced a new group of companions, Lyndon does return in Diablo 4 as a quest giver in Backwater. Now a criminal kingpin keeping others in check, the now-old scoundrel misses his adventurer days, and his beloved Eirena is nowhere to be found. It would be great to learn where she and Kormac are – and to spend some more time with Lyndon in Diablo 4.

Adria the Witch

Adria was seemingly killed by the heroes in Diablo 3 after revealing her allegiance to Diablo – and using her own daughter, Leah, as the vessel of his return. If Adria survived this battle, she has a lot of explaining to do. Her schemes ultimately failed, meaning she murdered her own daughter for nothing.

It would be interesting to see how Adria feels about this and if she wishes to atone, or side with a returning Diablo once again. Bringing her back could make for some interesting storytelling, Blizzard could also leave her dead. But who else can we buy overpriced spells from?

Azmodan

Now that Belial has found his way back to Sanctuary and will be returning in Season 8, Azmodan can’t be far behind. The Lord of Sin is now the only “Lesser Evil” unaccounted for and has a history of working with Belial and against Diablo. He’s also likely to be salty about Diablo consuming his soul at the end of the first game and manipulating his actions.

While some of his fellow Lesser Evils like Andariel and Duriel sided with Lilith in Diablo 4, Azmodan’s loyalties currently remain unknown after her defeat. However, he’s likely to want to conquer Sanctuary himself and would make a great villain to be used in a future DLC – as long as he gets his moment to shine.

Zoltun Kulle

Kulle is an ancient wizard of the Horadrim who turned to dark magic to obtain immortality before going on a rampage to take over Sanctuary. He was defeated by having his body parts severed and his soul separated from his body until his head was found in Diablo 3.

As Kulle is the only one who knows the location of the Black Soulstone, Tyrael and Cain agree to revive him – uniting him with his body parts, in exchange for the information. He helps the heroes, but once he’s revived he tries to form an alliance with the Nephalem and encourages them to betray Tyrael. The heroes refuse and are forced to destroy Kulle again.

Kulle then returns to his spirit form where he serves as a disgruntled side character and artisan. He’ll often taunt the player and is bitter about his defeat, but will still help the heroes with Kanai’s Cube recipes and occasional advice.

The character is a fan favorite due to his hilarious insults and did return, kind of, in Season 3 of Diablo 4, or at least we saw echoes of his memories that proved what we’ve always known – that he wasn’t such a bad guy.

Diablo

Who else but the titular demon himself? The Lord of Terror is conspicuous by his absence in Diablo 4 but his return was foreshadowed at the end. Lilith’s whole quest is also motivated to prevent Diablo and his brothers from conquering Sanctuary, so he’s still the Big Bad, even in his absence.

Lilith was a sympathetic villain in many ways, especially to those who know her backstory, whereas Diablo is anything but, and always has a plan in place for his return. Now that his niece has been taken care of, and Mephisto is back in the world of humans, Diablo won’t be far behind.

Diablo is the ultimate villain of the series, the titular primary antagonist, and the undisputed Prime Evil of Hell, Heaven, and Sanctuary. Like the denizens of the world he’s trying to corrupt and conquer, we’d be unwise to believe we’ve seen the last of him. No matter how defeated he is, how many times he’s killed, or had his soul banished, the return of the Lord of Terror is inevitable – but who will be his vessel this time?