Thanks to Diablo 2: Resurrected, old and new fans of Blizzard‘s hit Diablo franchise can once again venture into Sanctuary before Diablo 4. And this time around, players can revisit the tale of the defeat of the Prime Evils in a remastered version of Diablo 2‘s acclaimed story and gameplay. Essentially, fans who love the recent Diablo‘s penchant for mobile action mechanics will appreciate Diablo 2‘s more kit-focused gameplay.
Additionally, it seems Diablo 2: Resurrected will 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 of Diablo by the time Diablo 2 starts? What exactly is the state of the world?
About The Meta
Before players get to know everything about Diablo 2‘s setting before the game, it helps to remember that Diablo 3 also reveals interesting insights towards the world of Sanctuary. Moreover, a lot of D3‘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 that Diablo 2 doesn’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 try Diablo 2 for 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 between Diablo 1 and Diablo 2.
17 Diablo Is Just One Of Three Lords
Players who bought Diablo 2 to try would likely have bought the Lord of Destruction expansion, 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 Hells call the Prime Evils. Essentially, they serve as the strongest demons in existence, each of which embodying an aspect of evil. As Mephisto said in Heroes of the Storm: “Where Hatred (Mephisto) and Terror (Diablo) tread, Destruction (Baal) is sure to follow.”
16 Almost Three Centuries After The Dark Exile
Players know that they would somehow have to fight the Prime Evils in Diablo 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 of Diablo 2, then they have made use of their Dark Exile – three centuries after it happened.
15 The Pre-Release Trailer, Prophecy
Viewers might simply dismiss Diablo 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 to Diablo’s events, but to Diablo 2 and even retroactively to Diablo 3. In fact, D3 fans 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.
14 The Famed Deckard Cain
Fans who played or encountered Diablo 3 will likely remember the presence of Deckard Cain and the mystical upgrade system of the Horadric Cube. Interestingly, the same NPC and the wondrous artifact returns in Diablo 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.
13 The Corruption Of Zakarum
Despite being heavily tied to background lore, players of Diablo 2 might 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 to access the High Heavens and 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.
Through the years, Mephisto cemented his control over the High Council of Zakarum. His machinations culminated in the sending of Archbishop Lazarus in Khanduras to awaken Diablo. Additionally, they sponsored the trip of Leoric in Khanduras to serve as its king. These events would lead into Prince Albrecht’s disappearance, Leoric’s madness, and Diablo‘s Darkening of Tristram and reemergence of Diablo himself.
The Classes Served As A Team
While players had to choose a Class to play in Diablo 2, lore declares that all seven Classes undertook the quest to 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.
Interestingly, Blizzard only revealed very few insights towards the fate of the seven after the events of Diablo 2. In fact, very few members of this team will get names, and others will only get introduced in the Blizzard game Heroes of the Storm instead of directly tying in with Diablo 3.
12 Amazon: Cassia, Sisterhood Of The Sightless Eye
The Amazon served as one of the playable Classes in Diablo 2. They serve as the equivalent of the Rogue from Diablo, 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.
11 Assassin: Equipped To Eliminate Spellcasters
Of all Classes in Diablo 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.
10 Barbarian: All The Way From Harrogath
The Barbarian serves as the melee-heavy Class of Diablo 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. As guardians 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.
9 Druid: 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 in Diablo, 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 the D2 expansion.
8 Necromancer: 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 in Diablo 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.
7 Paladin: Knights Of Westmarsh
One might wonder what’s happened to “the side of light” in Sanctuary in the wake of the return of the Prime Evils. Surely, the existence of the Paladin in Diablo 2 would explain this, right? Interestingly, the Paladin’s presence explains quite the opposite. Originally, these Knights of the Faith use the High Heavens’ holy magic alongside their blades to protect the world against evil. Since the Zakarum faith represented the strongest belief in the light at the time, all Paladin orders showed devotion to this as well.
Unfortunately, a lot of Paladin orders died out once people discovered the corruption within the Zakarum. Of these orders, the Knights of Westmarsh remain. However, they serve more as a secular order tasked in protecting Westmarsh. When the Prime Evils resurfaced, the Paladin character makes their way to the nearby Khanduras to give aid.
6 Sorceress: Isendra, The Elemental Zann Esu
The Sorceress in Diablo 2 hails from the Zann Esu Clan of mages. Unlike their spellcaster cousins, the Zann Esu specialize in manipulating the elemental magic. As with stereotypes associated with mages, Sorcerers of the Zann Esu are studious in the mystic arts. Unlike stereotypes, however, the Zann Esu also train their body to withstand the physical strain of using their powers.
In Diablo 2, the Sorceress Isendra serves as the canonical version of the Class who traveled with the six other companions. According to some, Esu has incredible aptitude with the mystic arts. By the time of the Emergence of Evil, Isendra and other Sorcerers realized that destroying the Prime Evils would serve as their greatest challenge to prove the worth of their magic.
Enter The Dark Wanderer
In Diablo 2‘s cinematic trailer, its narrator only spoke of having travelled to the East months after leaving the town of Tristram. While he knew “where” to go, he added he had no idea why he had to go there. He simply knew he will leave behind “the better part” of his soul, and only for something “dark” to remain.
Interestingly, fans who played Diablo will find that the narrator of D2‘s trailer and the cloaked figure in D1‘s outro wore the same clothes. They are, in fact, the same person. Now called the Dark Wanderer, this figure somehow has to travel to the East. Is he somehow connected to “He” that is mentioned in the pre-release trailer?
5 The Outro, Cover Connection
In speaking of Diablo‘s outro, fans who got to watch Diablo‘s final cutscene need to take note of two scenes. First, Diablo’s defeated corpse reveals that the Lord of Terror had, in fact, used the young Prince Albrecht’s body as a host, with his Soulstone firmly planted on his forehead. Additionally, as the narrator explained, the person who defeated Diablo – a male in armor – had to take upon a burden that he hoped his experience in the Cathedral will help him overcome. At the end of that cutscene, that armored man is seen screaming as his forehead now housed the same stone.
Afterward, this cutscene shifts to the outro that reveals the Dark Wanderer starting his journey eastward. Does this imply a connection between the armored man and the Dark Wanderer?
Fans who don’t want a spoiler need only to look at the original cover of Diablo 2. At first, the hooded skull figure seemed to serve as a self-insert to the horror theme of D2. However, players need only to take note of two details: a dark hood implies a cloak, and skulls don’t just have a random crack on their forehead.
4 Marius The Unfortunate Follower
Players who open Diablo 2 for the first time might feel confused regarding its narration. After all, the Dark Wanderer serves as a focal point for players, but an older man seems to narrate the events. Is this man Deckard Cain? Is this man the Dark Wanderer himself?
To avoid confusion, players need to know immediately that this old man is Marius. He doesn’t have any immediate importance at the start of the game. However, Marius does witness the destruction caused by the Dark Wanderer’s presence everywhere he went. Somehow, something in the Dark Wanderer compelled Marius to follow him. And it’s thanks to Marius’s narration that the likes of Deckard Cain pieced together his memories and write of the true fate of the Dark Wanderer.
3 Khanduras, The First Step Eastward
When players start Diablo 2, they might wonder why they had to start in the lush green lands of the Rogue Encampment. Interestingly, all parts of the game tie to the Dark Wanderer’s eastward journey – and his path begins where Diablo ends. The Rogue Encampment lies near the end of Khanduras, the same region where Diablo‘s Tristram is located. At the start of D2, the Lesser Evil Andariel has occupied the Rogue Monastery, forcing its few survivors to make camp nearby.
The Rogue Monastery, also called Eastgate Keep, serves as the final passage between the Western Kingdom of Khanduras and the deserts of Aranoch that border the east. Before players make their journey to the Rogue Encampment, caravan trader Warriv tells them he shall journey to Lut Gholein after the darkness passes over Khanduras.
2 Tristram Pays The Price
Players getting into D2 after playing D3 would know that D3‘s “New Tristram” implies the existence of an “Old” Tristram, as proven in the early stages of D3. However, how come Deckard Cain and his fellow townsfolk had to make “New” Tristram? And what’s with the cathedral below it?
Interestingly, players need to realize that the massive underground Cathedral in D3‘s Act 1 didn’t just serve a multi-level dungeon. Rather, it used to house Diablo’s Soulstone. In D1, Diablo’s defeat at the hands of the player freed the town of Tristram from the Lord of Terror’s demonic corruption. However, it seems the hero’s absence meant Tristram also lost its protector. As players will see in Diablo 2, Tristram pays the price for its savior’s absence.
1 Chasing The Dark Wanderer
Players of Diablo 2 might feel like their characters are self-inserts into the game’s story. However, they all come from Classes with interesting lore and one primary purpose: chasing the Dark Wanderer. Regardless of their origins, player characters will discover that a robe-clad figure known as the Dark Wanderer has kept an “entity” inside of him as he journeyed East. Somehow, demons have begun arriving whenever he stayed in one place.
Despite the appearance of a wild goose chase, D2 players should note that this journey culminates in world-shaking events that sets the status quo of Diablo 3. Moreover, while the player chases the Dark Wanderer alone, Diablo lore indicates that the canon version of events involved all seven Classes as a team – a la Dungeons & Dragons.
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