If Diablo lore ever felt confusing or overwhelming to you, learning about the Lesser Evils makes for a good starting point. They sit right below the Prime Evils in power, but they are still responsible for most of the conflicts across Sanctuary.
So, if you found yourself wondering “what is a Lesser Evil?”, below is a clear version of who they are and why they exist.
Anu, Tathamet, And The Birth Of Evil
Everything starts with Anu, the first being in the Diablo universe. Anu is an entity that was created out of ‘nothing’, born from a void, and embodied all dualities: good and evil, light and darkness. After eons of time, Anu tried to remove all evil from itself, and that act resulted in the creation of another entity, the opposite of Anu: Tathamet, a massive seven-headed dragon that embodied chaos and hatred.
The Origin Of The Lesser Evils
When Anu and Tathamet eventually destroyed each other, their remains formed the High Heavens and the Burning Hells. Not only did Tathamet’s body ‘create’ the Burning Hells, but from its seven severed heads, the three Prime Evils and four Lesser Evils were born.
The Lesser Evils do not rule Hell outright. Instead, each one embodies a specific aspect of evil and spreads that influence across Hell and Sanctuary.
Where the Prime Evils affect the big picture of the war against Sanctuary, the Lesser Evils carry out that influence through specific aspects of corruption.
You can think of them as generals of Hell.
Andariel, The Maiden Of Anguish
Andariel embodies Anguish. She feeds on suffering, despair, and emotional pain, breaking her enemies by wearing them down mentally, not just physically.
Her presence often brings hopelessness and misery, which makes her influence especially dangerous for mortals on Sanctuary. Andariel does not just kill people; she makes them lose hope first.
Duriel, The Lord Of Pain
Duriel embodies Pain, both physical and psychological. Where Andariel drains morale, Duriel overwhelms his enemies through raw brutality and overwhelming cruelty rather than subtle schemes.
When Hell needs something crushed or erased, Duriel steps in. His role often puts him on the front lines as an enforcer rather than a mastermind.
Belial, The Lord Of Lies
Belial controls Lies, deception, and manipulation. Unlike the other Lesser Evils, he rarely relies on brute force and corrupts from within, preferring false promises and misinformation over direct confrontation.
His methods turn allies into enemies and create chaos without open warfare, which makes him one of the most dangerous Lesser Evils despite his quieter approach.
Azmodan, The Lord Of Sin
Azmodan embodies Sin, and he treats Hell like a military campaign. He values strategy, numbers, and total long-term domination.
He commands massive demon legions and believes sin itself gives Hell its strength. Every act of corruption in Sanctuary feeds into his vision of an endless, organized war.
The Lesser Evils Return In Diablo 4
Diablo 4 brings the Lesser Evils back into focus, especially during the current Season 11, which centers on their return to Sanctuary. As you grind your way through the forces of hell, you will face their influence directly through various seasonal content, which makes their roles feel more immediate than in previous updates.
This makes now a great time to brush up on their lore, regardless of whether you already know the basics or are jumping into Diablo lore for the first time. Blizzard has confirmed that the next major Diablo 4 expansion, launching in April 2026, will focus on Mephisto, one of the Prime Evils. Compared to the Lesser Evils, Prime Evils operate on a completely different level of power and manipulation.
For now, understanding Andariel, Duriel, Belial, and Azmodan definitely helps set the stage. Their return feels like a warning sign, showing how Hell prepares the ground before a Prime Evil steps in. When Mephisto takes center stage again, the stakes will feel much higher, especially if you know who has been pulling strings in the background, since the game’s lore has always been more about corruption and temptation instead of simple good versus evil.
This is the first entry in a new Diablo 4 Lore Bites series on Icy Veins. These short pieces focus on specific parts of Diablo’s lore without turning into long history lessons. More Lore Bites are coming, including a follow-up that takes a closer look at the Prime Evils.
For more updates on the game and its seasons, you can also visit our Diablo 4 news hub.
