Diablo 4 continues the saga of Blizzard's previous popular games with a fresh look into Hell. The follies of man, angel, and demon lie at the heart of the Diablo series, and the former Archangel Tyrael sits squire in the middle of it all.
Long after Inarius and Lilith secretly created Sanctuary for the Nephalem - the offspring of both man and angel, the council of Archangels met to decide humanity’s fate. It was Tyrael who cast the deciding vote, and thus he would be held responsible for that decision by the rest of the Angiris Council, leading to him becoming mortal prior to the events of Diablo 4 all for the sake of mankind. His role in the upcoming game is currently unclear, but there are some likely ways this pivotal figure could factor into the future of the series.
The Fall of Diablo’s Tyrael
Diablo 3 digs deep into Tyrael’s saga, as he becomes the Fallen Star by tearing off his own wings and plummeting to Sanctuary where the descendants of the Nephalem dwell. Joining with one such powerful descendant, Tyrael banishes the Prime Evils and takes control of the Black Soulstone. When the Archangel of Death, Maltheal, went after the stone and turned on all of his allies, it was Tyrael who sent his companion to Pandemonium to destroy death itself.
Tyrael chooses to keep his mortal form but reunites with his angelic brethren to become both the Aspect of Justice and of Wisdom. Diablo 3 ends with him wondering if his new mortal companion, who may be corrupted, should one day become the next threat to Heaven, Hell, and Sanctuary, or even life itself. The Aspect of Justice and Wisdom likely won't sit idly by as Inarius marches an army upon Hell in search of his former love, Lilith.
Diablo 4’s Heaven and Hell
The latest Diablo 4 cinematic trailer from Blizzard features Inarius facing down Lilith, armies at both of their backs. While this scene lacks Tyrael’s direct involvement, his creation of the Horadrim and influence with the various Paladins of Sanctuary means he is surely involved. Light and dark clash on the battlefield, and the now-mortal Tyrael sits somewhere in between.
It is likely his presence will be felt through these intermediaries unless events force his hand. Tyrael still feels the repercussions of destroying the Worldstone at the end of Diablo 2. That mystical artifact protected Sanctuary from Heaven and Hell, and he now stands as protector over the land in its stead. Tyrael appears unlikely to lead any further charges into Hell or go much farther than the Pandemonium Fortress, where he may offer advice like Deckard Cain for those who will stay and listen.
Playable Angels or Demons in Diablo 4
Five playable Diablo classes have been announced so far, and they all represent takes on options from earlier games. Given each installment so far has offered something new, perhaps Tyrael will become a hand in the battle, balancing the sides by offering players the ability to take on angelic or demonic powers in exchange for duties to Sanctuary. This type of mechanic could easily follow on the multi-tree advancement already announced for the series.
It seems unlikely that Blizzard plans to make Angels and Demons into classes, as the franchise centers those caught between their way. But as the mortal truly caught between Heaven and Hell, Tyrael sits in a position unlike any other in all of Diablo lore. He will more likely be a balancing act in the story, maybe even a voice of reason, rather than taking sides as he once did. Even when forced to take sides, Tyrael now understands the true value of the mortals, and that is how he will most likely participate in the events of Diablo 4.
Diablo 4 launches on June 6, 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
