Thanks toDiablo 2: Resurrected, old and new fans ofBlizzard’s hitDiablofranchise can once again venture into Sanctuary beforeDiablo 4. And this time around, players can revisit the tale of the defeat of the Prime Evils in a remastered version ofDiablo 2’s acclaimed story and gameplay. Essentially, fans who love the recentDiablo’s penchant for mobile action mechanics will appreciateDiablo 2’s more kit-focused gameplay.
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Additionally, it seemsDiablo 2: Resurrectedwill bring all elements fans loved about the classic into a modern premise. However, for new fans out there, just what exactly is going on in the world ofDiabloby the timeDiablo 2starts? What exactly is the state of the world?
About The Meta
Before players get to know everything aboutDiablo 2’s setting before the game, it helps to remember thatDiablo 3also reveals interesting insights towards the world of Sanctuary. Moreover, a lot ofD3’s insights have more to do with fleshing the world itself and not necessarily contribute to its overall plot.
In turn, it helps to treat a lot of information presented in this guide as information player characters should already know. Moreover, given thatDiablo 2doesn’t offer a lot of exposition as to how its Classes got to pursue Diablo in the first place, insight from other games and media may help players get more acquainted to the world of Sanctuary.
That Thing Called Diablo
Players about to tryDiablo 2for the first time need to remember that the titular character Diablo does serve as a boss in the game. It’s important to note the terminology in this case - “a boss.” Yes, this means Diablo is only one of many enemies players will face in their journey throughout the title.
Interestingly, despite Diablo’s relevance as the titular character, it’s his pervading presence and lead-up in the game that actually matters more. However, the innate fear of Sanctuary’s citizens towards Diablo isn’t simply to “hype” his presence. It actually has a lot to do with his relevance to Sanctuary as a whole. Here’s what players need to know about Diablo in the context of the transition betweenDiablo 1andDiablo 2.
17Diablo Is Just One Of Three Lords
Players who boughtDiablo 2to try would likely have bought theLord of Destructionexpansion, which unlocks the Assassin and Druid Classes and Act 5 of the game. As such, a high possibility exists of players learning about Baal, the Lord of Destruction. Interestingly, if Diablo is the Lord of Terror, would this mean the two of them are related?
As a matter of fact, Diablo and Baal are brothers. Moreover, Diablo, Baal, and Mephisto form what the Burning Hellscall the Prime Evils. Essentially, they serve as the strongest demons in existence, each of which embodying an aspect of evil. As Mephisto said inHeroes of the Storm: “Where Hatred (Mephisto) and Terror (Diablo) tread, Destruction (Baal) is sure to follow.”
16Almost Three Centuries After The Dark Exile
Players know that they would somehow have to fight the Prime Evils inDiablo 2. However, how come the High Heavens didn’t intervene in the Prime Evils' presence in Sanctuary? Interestingly, the Prime Evils had no direct hand in their arrival in Sanctuary. Rather, a revolution courtesy of their seconds-in-command -the Lesser Evils- led to their exile in Sanctuary.
This rebellion, which would culminate in the Dark Exile, would have the Prime Evils weakened and sent to Sanctuary. To their credit, humans, despite their limited powers, strove to contain the Prime Evils in powerful artifacts called Soulstones. Given how the three Prime Evils somehow roam free at the start ofDiablo 2, then they have made use of their Dark Exile - three centuries after it happened.
15The Pre-Release Trailer, Prophecy
Viewers might simply dismissDiablo 2’s pre-release trailer as the typical “ramblings” associated with the gothic horror setup of the game. However, those who listen carefully might take note of a few key points. For starters, the narration mentions that a war “amongst the heavens” will now include the “sons of man.”
It also mentions an evil “once vanquished” that will rise anew in the “guise of man.” Somehow, this “He” will declare war “upon the heavens” and “loose great destruction.” Lastly, a “Lord of Hatred” will rise to his throne.
Interestingly, all these statements tie not just toDiablo’s events, but toDiablo 2and even retroactively toDiablo 3. In fact,D3fans would remember this as the Prophecy of the Final Day. This Prophecy, passed down in various cultures in Sanctuary, foretells the return of the Prime Evils to the land. While players might regard this as a spoiler, it may calm them to know that their characters likely know of this Prophecy in some form or fashion.
14The Famed Deckard Cain
Fans who played or encounteredDiablo 3will likely rememberthe presence of Deckard Cainand the mystical upgrade system of the Horadric Cube. Interestingly, the same NPC and the wondrous artifact returns inDiablo 2, albeit not immediately. However, what did Cain mean whenever he says he’s the “last” of the Horadrim?
In terms of lore, the Brotherhood of Horadrim served as an ancient order of wizards and mages who stood against the Prime Evils during the Dark Exile. Moreover, they stem their origins from the Archangel Tyrael who banded them together for this very purpose. Interestingly, Cain himself hasn’t interacted with the Horadrim in any way. However, discovering his heritage led him to study all he could regarding the ancient order and their knowledge on the war between the Burning Hells and the High Heavens. In turn, Cain serves as perhaps the most knowledgeable person in Sanctuary regarding these matters.
13The Corruption Of Zakarum
Despite being heavily tied to background lore, players ofDiablo 2might need to learn about the Zakarum faith. Essentially, the Zakarum is Sanctuary’s answer to the influence of darkness to the lands. With the Zakarum faith, Sanctuary had a means toaccess the High Heavensand defend the land against demons. In their humble youth during the Dark Exile, the Horadrim entrusted the Zakarum with the guardianship of Mephisto’s Soulstone. Unfortunately, the frailty of the faith of some Zakarum members became an instrument for Mephisto’s corruption of the church.
The Classes Served As A Team
While players had to choose a Class to play inDiablo 2, lore declares that all seven Classes undertook the questto stop the Prime Evils together. Somehow, these seven individuals have come together to investigate these events for themselves, their own factions, or even for the greater good.
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Interestingly, Blizzard only revealed very few insights towards the fate of the seven after the events ofDiablo 2. In fact, very few members of this team will get names, and others will only get introduced in the Blizzard gameHeroes of the Storminstead of directly tying in withDiablo 3.
12Amazon: Cassia, Sisterhood Of The Sightless Eye
The Amazon served as one of the playable Classes inDiablo 2. They serve as the equivalent of the Rogue fromDiablo, albeit this time with a keen focus on the bow. In the lore, the Amazons served as the stalwart half of the Askari society in Skovos Isles. Alongside the ethereal Oracles, the Askari would guard the Sightless Eye that granted them the ability to see into the future.
At some point in time, an Amazon faction will steal the Eye and call themselves the Sisterhood of the Sightless Eye. They will set their Monastery in Khanduras. Should players choose the Amazon, lore dictates they play as Cassia. This wandering Amazon travels to the Encampment as news about the Prophecy has reached the Oracles in the Isles.
11Assassin: Equipped To Eliminate Spellcasters
Of all Classes inDiablo 2, it seems the Assassin is better-equipped to eliminate humans than demons. The Assassin hails from an ancient order within the Mage Clans called the Viz-Jaq’taar. This group regularly receive orders to hunt down spellcasters gone rogue - especially those who consort with demons.
Interestingly, the Assassin Order hails from as far back as the Mage Clan Wars. In this event, various mage groups found themselves in conflict whether to use the powers of spirits to supplant their magical abilities. Assassins serve as Mage Slayers tasked to hunt down spellcasters using traps, martial arts, and even shadow powers. The Viz-Jaq’taar was a secretive order until the return of the Prime Evils, where the player’s Assassin was sent to investigate them alongside members of the other Classes.
10Barbarian: All The Way From Harrogath
The Barbarian serves as the melee-heavy Class ofDiablo 2. In the lore, they serve as the spiritual warrior-guardians of Mount Arreat. Due to their secluded nature, people regard the Barbarian with distrust and associations with monstrosities. However, Barbarians organize themselves into clans and tribes that specialize in various forms of fighting. Asguardians of Mount Arreat, Barbarians train themselves in the art of survival and combat.
It seems the player’s Barbarian hailed from as Harrogath from the far north. This Barbarian city, as with many Barbarian settlements, situated itself on the base of Mount Arreat. When word of the Prime Evils' return got to the Barbarian, he left Harrogath to exterminate them.
9Druid: Reemerging From Scosglen
Given their secluded and nomadic nature, it makes sense to associate Druids with Barbarians. In fact, such a comparison is true, as Druids serve as the Barbarian’s distant cousins from Scosglen, the forests near Mount Arreat. Additionally, the Druids share in the Barbarian’s mission to protect the world. However, Druids believe that they could only achieve their vision through oneness with nature.
As such, Druids specialize in manipulating fire, earth, and the winds. Moreover, their relationship with nature allows them to transform into animals and even call these creatures to their command. When Druids learned of Diablo’s return inDiablo, they started to get out of their seclusion in the forests. Moreover, they sent one of their kind to aid Barbarians in Harrogath against the Lord of Destruction - explaining their canon presence in Act 5 of theD2expansion.
8Necromancer: Xul, The Priests Of Rathma
The game simply describes Necromancers as masters of life and death, which attaches a dark connotation to their summoning of skeletal forces, curses, and even poisoning their enemies. However, in the “Book of Tyrael” sourcebook, Deckard Cain shed more light to their nature. Unlike other spellcasters,Necromancers follow in the footsteps of Rathma, a powerful figure who seeks to maintain the Balance between life and death. Necromancers spend most of their life in the Wetlands to the far east, hidden in their training.
Xul, the canonical Necromancer inDiablo 2, joins the other Classes to destroy the Prime Evils. However, unlike the nobler intentions of his companions, Xul simply wanted to tip the scales back to life after the Prime Evils caused so much death.
