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Diablo 4 Season 8 Belial’s Return Is Disappointing: Why Is It So Far From The Theme Of Lord Of Lies?

Posted: May 30, 2025 Views: 62

Posted: May 30, 2025

Source:  IGGM

Views: 62

Dear Diablo fans, I believe you all know that the theme of Season 8 is the boss season, and since S8 preheating, the most concerned character among players is Belial who returned from Diablo 3.

To be honest, the image of this Lord of Lies has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, so many players are excited about his strong return. This lesser evil has finally received the attention he deserves under the new engine and modern narrative. But after experiencing it, I just want to say that how much we expected Belial’s arrival, how disappointed we were with him.

Today, we will compare the image of Belial in Diablo 3 and why the developers’ previous portrayal of Lord of Lies is far better than Diablo 4 Season 8.

Diablo 4 Season 8 Belial’s Return Is Disappointing: Why Is It So Far From The Theme Of Lord Of Lies?

Background Of Belial In Diablo 3

Let’s go to the great city of Kehjistan, Caldeum, Jewel of the East. It has been conquered by Belial, one of the last lords of Hell. Our goal is to liberate the city.

Before we get to that, let’s take a look back at Diablo 3, specifically Act II. Belial is the mastermind behind the chaos in Caldeum, and his influence is evident from the moment you step into the city. The rumors and the feeling that almost everyone around you is an illusion are all manifestations of his manipulation of people’s hearts and minds.

Mind you, he didn’t just appear out of nowhere, he planned this all carefully. He disguised himself as Emperor Hakan II of Kehjistan, a seemingly benevolent ruler trying to help his people. But it was a perfect lie that took advantage of the people’s desperation. He used the power of deception to turn the people in the city against each other, sowing distrust and chaos from within.

In fact, the entire story revolves around this scene. As you continue to follow clues and witness strange events, the tension rises.

When Belial finally removes his disguise, it is a shocking and dramatic moment. He has not only transformed, but also revealed his true face as the architect of all the lies you have encountered. Even during the fight with him, he constantly tries to trick you with illusions and ground effects, which reinforce his persona - a master of deception!

Belial does exist, but his actual power has always been in his manipulation. His dialogue is arrogant, sarcastic, and full of half-truths. He is a true Lord of Lies, because this is the only boss whose most powerful weapon is not violence, but psychological warfare. He is elusive and you never know when he will suddenly attack you.

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Belial’s Appearance In Diablo 4 Contradicts Its Theme

Now, let’s see how Belial performs in Diablo 4 Season 8. The name itself is exciting! What will we see?

Belial we see is just a glorified world boss, a mob leader for random ambushes, and a babbling, conceited villain who will insult you.

So, where are the lies in Belial? Where is the deception?

In Diablo 4, Belial is an openly aggressive character. He sends out Apparitions to break his enemies, rather than mentally manipulating them with clever lies. He reappears randomly every 5 seconds. So instead of Lord of Lies, we get a haunting nuisance!

The developers say his purpose is to control reality, but the way he’s presented, he seems to be everywhere, and the fight starts the moment we see him. This really undermines his identity as a master of deception.

He’s no longer a manipulator behind the scenes, but a guy who speaks his mind and keeps talking. This completely subverts his core identity as a master of deception.

Remember in Diablo 3, you had to uncover him off as a liar? But in Diablo 4, he's literally screaming at you at the top of his evil voice: I'm Belial, the Lord of Lies, come fight me to the death!

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Honestly, it’s too direct and completely lacks the subtlety that makes his character so fascinating.

Additionally, the developers used the same Belial model from Diablo 3, which is a minor issue, but it only exacerbates the feeling of reused material and the lack of creative direction for the character.

And the threat Belial poses is quickly neutralized! He was supposed to be one of Great Evils, an important character, but now feels like a stepping stone to other goals.

And the foreshadowing of him in season 8 also felt less impactful. The player is just told that he is affecting everything, but we don’t feel the insidious nature of his lies like we did in Caldeum. It’s just a new boss ladder, a new set of abilities, and Belial as the protagonist.

Diablo 4 Season 8 Bringing Back Belial

Why Did Belial Perform So Poorly?

So, what went wrong? I think it’s because the developers seem to prioritize season mechanics, Boss Ladder and Boss Power over a powerful Belial and character-driven story.

They just want Belial to be a recurring boss and a way to farm Diablo 4 gold, which makes him feel less like a unique threat and more like a glorified elite monster.

Diablo 3 understood that Belial’s power came not from his size or direct combat prowess, but from his ability to warp perceptions and sow discord. He was terrifying not only physically, but psychologically.

Instead, Diablo 4 simply tried to make him a more active villain, robbing him of his unique and terrifying essence. This missed a great opportunity to expand his story in a meaningful way. Instead of a cunning, manipulative enemy that could really mess with your mind, we got a boastful brawler.

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While the new Boss Powers are cool, they don’t make up for the story damage to such an iconic character.

Ultimately, for me, Belial in Diablo 4 is no longer the same. He went from a master of manipulation to a generic demon boss who only taunts. This is a perfect example of how a lack of focus on the core identity of even a beloved character can lead to a disappointing portrayal.

So what do you think? Do you like Belial’s return in Diablo 4, or do you think he’s better now than in Diablo 3? See you next time!

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