A devil, also referred to as a baatezu, is a member of a group of fictional creatures in the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) roleplaying game typically presented as formidable opponents for advanced players. Devils are characterized by their Lawful Evil alignment and are depicted as originating from the Nine Hells of Baator. They follow a strict and hierarchical structure, progressing through various forms as they rise in rank. At the top of this hierarchy are the Archdevils, also known as the Lords of the Nine, who govern different regions within Baator. Devils are often portrayed as seeing the various worlds in the D&D universe as tools to be exploited for their objectives, such as participating in the Blood War—a centuries-long conflict against demons.
Contents
Publication history
Devils first appeared in the original first-edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual.
The release of the 2nd Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons brought a name change for the devils and their counterparts, demons. The 1st Edition's Deities and Demigods sourcebook was described as "exactly like witchcraft" by a televangelist. Concerned about protests from religious groups and others who viewed the game as an entryway into Satanic worship, TSR dropped the words "devil" and "demon" from all descriptors of the monsters, substituting instead, baatezu and tanar'ri . This persisted until the rollout of the 3rd Edition when the original terms were reinstated. Since the change, the term "baatezu" has been retained as a specific subset of powerful devils.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977–1988)
Devils first appeared in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), which included the barbed devil (lesser devil), the bone devil (lesser devil), the erinyes (lesser devil), the horned devil (malebranche) (greater devil), the ice devil (greater devil), the lemure, the pit fiend (greater devil), and the arch-devils Asmodeus, Baalzebul, Dispater, and Geryon, inspired by the figures from Hebrew and Christian mythology and their literary counterparts. The imp, a frequent servant of devils, also first appeared in the original Monster Manual. The Monster Manual was reviewed by Don Turnbull in the British magazine White Dwarf #8 (August/September 1978). As part of his review, Turnbull comments on several new monsters introduced in the book and considered devils the most prominent among them. Turnbull notes that "they are all pretty strong and compare not unfavourably in this respect with the Demons we already know".
Astaroth, Belial, and Satan appeared in the article "The Politics of Hell," in Dragon # 28 (August 1979); note that this article does not appear to be connected to the established canon of the Nine Hells. Selm, Prince of the Possessors, and the Asperim appeared in Dragon #42 (October 1980).
The Styx devil (greater devil) first appears in the Fiend Folio (1981).
A series of articles appearing in Dragon in 1983 greatly expanded upon the devils and their home, the Nine Hells, and introduced numerous new devils and arch-devils. The article "From the Sorcerer's Scroll: New Denizens of Devildom" by Gary Gygax in Dragon #75 (July 1983) introduced the black abishai, blue abishai, green abishai, red abishai, and white abishai (lesser devils), the bearded devil (lesser devil), the spined devil (least devil), the princess of Hell Glasya, the dukes of Hell Amon, Bael, Bitru, Hutijin, and Titivilus, and the arch devils Belial, Mammon – named after the figure appearing "in the Bible, as well as in [...] Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene – Mephistopheles, and Moloch. Dozens of unique devils appeared in a two-part article by Ed Greenwood, including the greater devils Bist, Caim, and Nergal, the dukes of Hell Agares, Alocer, Amduscias, Arioch, Balan, Bathym, Biffant, Caarcrinolaas, Chamo, Focalor, Gaziel, Gorson, Herodias, Machalas, Malphas, Melchon, and Merodach, and the princesses of Hell Cozbi, Lilis, and Naome in "The Nine Hells Part I" in Dragon #75, and the dukes of Hell Abigor, Adonides, Barbas, Barbatos, Bele, Bifrons, Bileth, Buer, Bune, Morax, Neabaz, Rimmon, Tartach, Zagum, and Zepar, the princesses of Hell Baalphegor, Baftis, and Lilith, the chancellor of Hell Adramalech, the queen of Hell Bensozia, and the inquisitor of Hell Phongor in "The Nine Hells Part II" in Dragon #76 (August 1983).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989–1999)
The black abishai, green abishai, red abishai lesser baatezu, the amnizu greater baatezu, the barbazu lesser baatezu, the cornugon greater baatezu, the erinyes lesser baatezu, the gelugon greater baatezu, the hamatula lesser baatezu, the lemure, the nupperibo least baatezu, the osyluth lesser baatezu, the pit fiend greater baatezu, and the spinagon least baatezu appear in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Outer Planes Appendix (1991). The black abishai, green abishai, and red abishai, lesser baatezu, and the pit fiend greater baatezu next appear in the Monstrous Manual (1993).
The Planescape campaign setting utilized devils, known exclusively as baatezu under 2nd edition rules, extensively. The black abishai, green abishai, and red abishai lesser baatezu, the amnizu greater baatezu, the barbazu lesser baatezu, the cornugon greater baatezu, the erinyes lesser baatezu, the gelugon greater baatezu, the hamatula lesser baatezu, the lemure, the nupperibo least baatezu, the osyluth lesser baatezu, the pit fiend greater baatezu, and the spinagon least baatezu are detailed in the first Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994). The kocrachon lesser baatezu and the kyton appear in the Planes of Law boxed set (1995). Monstrous Compendium Annual Three (1996) featured the kyton again.
Guide to Hell (1999) described the transition of the devils and archdevils throughout the millennia, and reconciled the differences between the first edition and second edition archdevils by explaining the Reckoning of Hell. The book also describes the mezzikim. Moloch appeared in and played a key role in the adventure The Apocalypse Stone (2000).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000–2002)
Devils appear in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000), including the barbazu (baatezu), the cornugon (baatezu), the erinyes (baatezu), the gelugon (baatezu), the hamatula (baatezu), the hellcat, the imp, the kyton, the lemure (baatezu), the osyluth (baatezu), and the pit fiend (baatezu).
The black abishai, blue abishai, green abishai, red abishai, and white abishai for the Forgotten Realms setting appear in Monsters of Faerûn (2000).
The spinagon (baatezu) and the narzugon (baatezu) appear in this edition's Manual of the Planes (2001). The kocrachon (baatezu) and the ghargatula (baatezu), as well as the archdevils Bel, Lord of the First; Dispater, Lord of the Second; Mammon, Lord of the Third; Belial/Fierna, Lord of the Fourth; Levistus, Lord of the Fifth; The Hag Countess, Lord of the Sixth (not technically a devil, but a powerful night hag); Baalzebul, Lord of the Seventh; Mephistopheles, Lord of the Eighth; and Asmodeus, Lord of the Ninth, appear in the Book of Vile Darkness (2002). The advespa (baatezu), the amnizu (baatezu), and the malebranche (baatezu) appear in this edition's Monster Manual II (2002). The paeliryon (baatezu) and xerfilstyx (baatezu), as well as the bloodbag imp, the euphoric imp, and the filth imp, appear in this edition's Fiend Folio (2003).
Savage Species (2003) presented the hamatula (devil), the imp (devil), and the kyton (devil) both as races and as playable classes.
The hellforged devils, including the coal devil, the glass devil, the lead devil, the obsidian devil, the sand devil, and the spiked devil, appear in Dragon #306 (April 2003).
The stony devil appears in Underdark (2003).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003–2007)
Devils appear in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003), including the barbed devil (hamatula), the bearded devil (barbazu), the bone devil (osyluth), the chain devil (kyton), the erinyes, the hellcat (bezekira), the horned devil (cornugon), the ice devil (gelugon), the imp, the lemure, and the pit fiend.
The chain devil is presented as a player character race in the Planar Handbook (2004).
The desert devil (araton) appears in Sandstorm: Mastering the Perils of Fire and Sand (2005).
The unique devil Malkizid, the Branded King, appears in Champions of Ruin (2005) for the Forgotten Realms setting.
The logokron devil appeared in the Tome of Magic: Pact, Shadow, and Truename Magic (2006).
Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells (2006) includes new content for devils and inhabitants of Baator, including the black abishai, blue abishai, green abishai, red abishai, and white abishai, the amnizu, the assassin devil (dogai), the ayperobos swarm, the harvester devil (falxugon), the hellfire engine, the kalabon, the legion devil (merregon), the malebranche, the narzugon, the nupperibo, the orthon, the paeliryon, the pain devil (excruciarch), the pleasure devil (brachina), the spined devil (spinagon), the steel devil (bueroza), and the xerfilstyx. The book also contains statistics on the aspects of the Lords of the Nine, including Bel, Lord of the First; Dispater, Lord of the Second; Mammon, Lord of the Third; Belial and Fierna, Lords of the Fourth; Levistus, Lord of the Fifth; Glasya, Lord of the Sixth; Baalzebul, Lord of the Seventh; Mephistopheles, Lord of the Eighth; and Asmodeus, Lord of the Ninth .
The death devil (jerul) appears in Dragon #353 (March 2007). The gulthir devil, the remmanon devil, and the stitched devil appeared in Monster Manual V (2007).
The unique devils Moloch the Outcast, Titivilus, Bael, Balan, and Bathym all reappeared in the online version of Dragon, in issue #360 (October 2007) in the "Infernal Aristocracy" feature. The unique devils Agares, Tartach, Lilith, Hutijin, and Adramalech reappeared in Dragon #361 (December 2007) in the second part of the "Infernal Aristocracy" feature.
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008–2014)
Devils appear in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008), including the bearded devil (barbazu), the bone devil (osyluth), the chain devil (kyton), the ice devil (gelugon), the imp, legion devils (legion devil grunt, legion devil hellguard, legion devil veteran, and legion devil legionnaire), the pit fiend, the spined devil (spinagon), the succubus, and the war devil (malebranche). All devils now have the "Evil" alignment and speak Supernal. There were no changes to the line-up of the Lords of the Nine from Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells.
Asmodeus appears as one of the gods of evil in the 4th edition Dungeon Masters Guide (2008).
The assassin devil (dogai), erinyes, gorechain devil, infernal armor animus, misfortune devil, shocktroop devil, and withering devil appeared in the fourth edition Monster Manual 2 (2009). More devils are detailed in the Manual of the Planes (2008): barbed devil (hamatula), brazen devil, pain devil (excruciarch), storm devil and Dispater, the Lord of Dis; The Plane Above: Secrets of the Astral Sea (2010): burning devil, indwelling devil, pillager devil, and warder devil; and Monster Manual 3 (2010): corruption devil (paeliryon), hell knight (narzugon), hellwasp, passion devil, rage devil, slime devil, swarm devil and vizier devil; while Monster Vault (2010) revisited several devils originally printed in the Monster Manual – all of them except for the bearded devil, spined devil, and war devil – and Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale (2011) only contained the tar devil. Various high-ranking devils, including Alloces and Geryon, have had published statistics in the Codex of Betrayal feature in Dungeon magazine; the only Lords of the Nine with published statistics as of July 2012 are Dispater and Glasya.
History
The Reckoning of Hell (often referred to as the Reckoning) was a civil war that shaped the political landscape of the Nine Hells into its current form. The Reckoning received its fullest treatment in the D&D sourcebook, A Guide to Hell.
Types
Archdevils
Zariel is the current ruler of Avernus, the first layer of the Nine Hells of Baator. She was previously deposed by her chief warlord, a pit fiend called Bel, thousands of years in the past. However, she reclaimed her position after Bel proved inadequate in managing the Blood War.
My legions are the only thing standing between your precious Seven Heavens and the bottomless hunger of the Abyss. I did not fall into the clutches of evil. I rose to shoulder a cosmic burden.
Originally, she was an angel of Celestia who was charged with watching the Blood War. Instead of just observing, she marshaled forces and charged into Hell. Zariel succumbed to the corrupting nature of the plane and fell from grace. Asmodeus then put her in charge of Avernus. She was first mentioned in the second edition book Guide to Hell (1999). Zariel was also mentioned in third edition in the Manual of the Planes (2001), and Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells (2006). In 5th Edition, Zariel was given a stat block in Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes (2018). She is also featured heavily in the adventure module Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus (2019).
Asmodeus ( az-mo-DAY-əs or az-MOH-dee-əs) is a fictional character from the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. His exact nature varies from publication to publication; he is variously presented as an evil god, a powerful devil, a devil who is as powerful as a god, or a god forced to assume the form of a devil. In all publication appearances, he is the King of the Nine Hells (Baator) and the Overlord of the lesser Dukes of Hell.
Asmodeus is named after Asmodeus, a Judeo-Christian demon of the same name, from the Book of Tobit, and for a fallen angel of the same name who appears in John Milton's "Paradise Lost."
His physical appearance is based on popular modern and medieval conceptions of Satan. Asmodeus first appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977).
Baator and Asmodeus' place in it were further detailed in Ed Greenwood's "The Nine Hells Part II" in Dragon #76 (1983).
Baatezu
Baatezu (bay-AT-eh-zoo) are the ruling race of Baator's nine hells. They are lawful and evil.
Abishai
There are five kinds, easily distinguishable by color (black, blue, green, red, and white).
Advespa
Female, wasp-like devils that patrol infernal skies.
Amnizu
Short, stocky winged guardians of the gates of the Nine Hells.
Ayperobos
Small, hateful devils that work together as a swarm to bring down larger foes.
Barbazu ("Bearded Devil")
Ferocious warrior that frenzies with a saw-toothed glaive.
Barbazu, Half-Troll
Brachina ("Pleasure Devil")
Devilish counterpart of the demonic succubus, and an advanced Erinyes.
Bueroza ("Steel Devil")
Cornugon ("Horned Devil")
Gargoyle-like fiend armed with a spiked chain.
Dogai ("Assassin Devil")
Erinyes
A fallen angel that delivers death from her fiery bow. The devilish counterpart to the demonic succubus. Based on the Erinyes from Greek myth.
Non-Baatezu
Chain Devil (Kyton) – Murderous torturer with an infernal command of chains.
Desert Devil (Araton) – Scimitar-wielding desert-dwelling devils.
Hellcat (Bezekira) – Infernal, invisible catlike devil the size of a tiger.
Hellfire Engine – Constructs of cold iron made to combat celestials and demons. Enhanced with hellfire.
Imp – Clever devil that aids evil mortals with dark counsel and trickery.
Imp, Filth – Foul-smelling imp with a talent for forgery and translation.
Imp, Bloodbag – Imp that serves as infernal nurse corps.
Imp, Euphoric – Imp that serves as dealer of hallucinogenic slime.
Kalabon – Devils spawned from the rotting flesh of the Hag Countess's carcass that can combine their individual bodies into large amalgamations which fights as a single creature.
A subgroup of devils, known as hellforged devils, were constructs that over time were transformed by the Nine Hells of Baator into living beings. They rigidly follow and enforce the laws of the Hells.
Coal Devil: Enforcers and shock troops.
Glass Devil: Spies and watchers.
Lead Devil: Dispatched to capture prisoners alive.
Obsidian Devil: Police force of the Nine Hells.