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"You stand before the Lord of Damnation in the depths of his domain, child. Understand that you are alive because I will it. Because I see what you really are. You have my interest. But do not presume we are equals. You are still unworthy in the eyes of your true kin. Allow me to demonstrate."

- Skarn(src)

Skarn, the Herald of Terror, is a powerful demon. He is one of the chaos gods of the Sahptev faith as the God of Retribution and Damnation.[1]

Biography[]

Skarn-portrait

Skarn

Little has been recorded of Skarn, despite his high standing in Hell[2]. Skarn was once Diablo's most powerful lieutenant,[3] though has also been described as a minor demon.[4] He came to develop an interest in humanity, specifically in their so-called "angelic sin" (per their nephalem heritage).[5]

With the banishment of the Prime Evils from Hell, the realm fell into civil war, as it was split between the followers of Azmodan and Belial. Skarn flourished during this age, but demonologists cannot say whether he led an army, or simply used the conflict as an opportunity to capture parts of the Hells for himself.[2]

The Power Vacuum[]

"For a new evil covets the Worldstone's power. If a shard falls into Hell's clutches, our world will burn."
Skarn-bestiary

Skarn

After Baal's defeat at Mount Arreat, Skarn beheld a power vacuum he could take advantage of[5]. If he could obtain just one shard of the Worldstone, he would be able to remove the angelic side of humanity, leaving only their demonic half.[5] He crafted Diablo's skull (who had been defeated in Hell) into a throne to use as a power source and to prevent him from returning.[6] He siphoned power from Diablo's remains, whose spirit he kept bound, and used the power to create his own realm in Hell, the Realm of Damnation.[4] He ruled his realm from the Halls of Punishment, where he tortured angels and demons alike.[5]

Skarn pulled demons from the Pit of Anguish to reinforce his armies,[5] as well as using Demon Gates to summon demons from other parts of the Hells into his realm for the same purpose. In the mortal realm, Skarn gained a massive cult of followers dedicated to him. Over a period of a few years, they swelled their ranks from recruits taken across the Western Kingdoms.[2] Contact with humanity reinforced Skarn's belief that the nephalem had been spoiled by their parentage. Humankind could win the Eternal Conflict for him if only they were purged of their angelic essence.[4]

Immortal[]

"My eye is upon you. Weep and despair! For the sin of your existence will be bled away."

- Skarn to the villagers of Wortham(src)

In the year 1270, Skarn rallied a new demonic army, intending to gather the fragments of the corrupted Worldstone; to reignite the Eternal Conflict, and to bring Sanctuary to its knees.[7]

Skarn's Cult of Damnation abducted villagers from Wortham for sacrifice. One villager made it back to Wortham, but this was possibly intentional, as upon his arrival in the town, Skarn spoke through the villager, mocking those who looked on in horror, before leaving his host's body a charred corpse. Later, in their lair, Eskara and her fellow cultists attempted to summon Skarn into Sanctuary, but they were interrupted by the Shard-seeker. Skarn bid that his followers slay the intruder(s), but they failed, and the summoning was averted.[8]

LakriiSkarn

Lakrii and Skarn state their terms

Later, in the Dark Wood, Skarn spoke through one of his cultists to Lakrii, leader of the Bloodsworn. He demanded that he deliver the Worldstone fragment that had fallen in the forest, and in return, he would give her whatever her heart desired. Otherwise, the Burning Hells would cleanse Sanctuary. Lakrii responded that the shard was in the possession of the one whose heart she desired, and besides, if Skarn had the power to scour Sanctuary, he'd be taking the stone, not asking for it. Lakrii slew Skarn's vessel.[9]

Fall of Damnation[]

"This stone is the key to all mortal souls. Your light has been bleeding away since you stepped into my domain."

- Skarn to the hero(es) just before their battle(src)

Skarn succeeded in getting a shard from a Monk. He then turned him into a demon and retreated to his domain where he would attune the shard to himself[10]. Once the Shard-seeker followed him to Hell, with his control over the domain he began corrupting them, but they were saved by an angelic dagger.

The hero(es) found his demon pits, where Skarn creates his demonic legion using the stolen Light of angels. The heroes destroyed almost all of them using Yl'nira. Unknown to them, Yl'nira gained a little bit of corruption with each pit destroyed. By the time they attempted to destroy the last pit, the dagger was corrupted enough for Skarn to safely steal the dagger and corrupt it.

The corrupted Yl'nira was enough to power the last pit that it created a collosal worm like demon. Alas, it was killed by the heroes when they went to destroy the last pit from within.

With the help of some angels, the Shard-seeker were able to breach Skarn's throne room where they battled and killed him.[6]

Tenacious Damnation

Skarn's soul is freed

After Skarn was killed, his soul was trapped in the Worldstone shard and when the shard was shattered with a corrupted Yl'nira, his spirit was released.[11]

Dawn of Damnation[]

"So...you would resist my gift?! I bring you salvation from your impure nature...and yet you reject it?! You will suffer for your insolence! I will unleash hell upon this world until you beg for my salvation!"

- Skarn(src)

Note: The following events are exclusive to the Diablo Immortal beta. The timing of them is unclear.

Skarn-damnation

Skarn's apparition

Skarn led his forces of Hell against Sanctuary directly, wrecking havoc against Westmarch. Only the capital was able to halt his advance.[12] Enraged, an apparition of Skarn appeared before the Shard-seeker and Westmarch's defenders, promising to unleash Hell upon Sanctuary until they begged for his salvation. The Shard-seeker was dispatched to hunt down his forces.[13]

In-game[]

Skarn on Throne

Skarn cinematic

Skarn is one of the central antagonists of Diablo Immortal. He is the final boss of the baseline game, fought in the Realm of Damnation.

Skarn doesn't use melee attacks. His attacks are similar to some skills from the Wizard and Necromancer classes:

  • Fire Missile: Skarn shoots a fireball similar to the Soulfire skill of the Necromancer. This is his primary attack.
  • Fiery Beam: Using his hands Skarn channels a concentrated beam of fire similar to the Disintegrate. This attack is can cause a lot of damage if not evaded.
  • Aura: Skarn surrounds himself with an aura of fire and erupting magma that damages the player when in his vicinity. The magma forms Slagspitters wherever it lands.
  • Summon: At the beginning of each round, Skarn teleports away and summons damned souls in the form of all classes in the game. The summons can use abilities available to their class.
  • Fire Nova: After the summons are defeated, Skarn reappears and shoots multiple fireballs in all directions. It is similar in appearance to Lightning Nova.
  • Clones: Skarn splits into 4 smaller copies. The clones have all the direct attack abilities of Skarn but have smaller health. The player has to defeat them all for the battle to continue.

Quotes[]

  • "My eye is upon you. Weep and despair! For the sin of your existence will be bled away." (in Wortham)
  • "You are not alone, supplicant. Slay the intruder in my name." (in the Unseen Lair)
  • "Abandon your fear, for Terror is in my control" (in the Frozen Tundra)[10]
  • "Gaze upon my strength. The corpse of a Prime, abandoned in Hell to rot. Now bound by my will." (in the Realm of Damnation before his boss fight)[6]
  • Blind and arrogant! Would you kill me and free the Primes? Annihilation awaits such hubris!(during his boss fight)[6]
  • Terror beyond your reckoning...is unchained.(At his defeat)[6]

Personality and Traits[]

"We have come for you. Our neglected kin. To cleanse you of the sin of Heaven. Only with us will you find salvation. Join us. Immortality...awaits you."

- Skarn(src)

Skarn-dawn2

Skarn

Cruel, calculating and smart, Skarn took interest in humanity, and their so-called "angelic sin."[5] He saw humans as being "true kin" to demons,[2] neglected, and that only through Hell, could mankind find salvation.[14] He extended similar views to the nephalem, considering them to be "spoiled" by their angelic heritage. Ergo, humanity could serve him (a view not dissimilar to the Prime Evils), but only if the angelic side of their heritage was removed.[4]

Despite his high standing, Skarn was a somewhat obscure demon—few demonologists even knew his name.[2]

Trivia[]

WikiLogoSmall
This section contains facts and trivia relevant to this article.
  • Skarn is voiced by Steve Blum.[2]
  • An early version of the Diablo Immortal website stated that Skarn was Diablo's lieutenant, and that he intended to use the Worldstone shards to revive his master. The latter piece of information was apparently changed during development (or in error), as Skarn's actions in the game are antithical to such a goal (e.g. binding Diablo's spirit to serve his own ends). The position of lieutenant, while not necessarily rendered null, clashes with Skarn's description of being a minor demon in his Horadric Bestiary entry.
  • Skarn's motivations parallel Malthael's in Diablo III; both are fixated on humanity, both are disdainful of their angelic/demonic half (said half being in opposition to the antagonist in question), both seek to enslave/eradicate humanity over the course of their respective games' events.

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Diablo Immortal, Mastery and Nothingness
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2022-05-09, ZONE PREVIEW: REALM OF DAMNATION. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2022-06-01
  3. Diablo Immortal, Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed on 2018-11-05 (dead version)
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Diablo Immortal, Horadric Bestiary
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 2022-05-25, Diablo Immortal | New Gameplay Today. YouTube, accessed on 2022-05-31
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Diablo Immortal,Lord of Damnation
  7. 2022-04-25, DIABLO IMMORTAL RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCED: JUNE 2 AND PC CROSS PLAY. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2022-04-25
  8. Diablo Immortal
  9. Diablo Immortal, Between Two Evils
  10. 10.0 10.1 Diablo Immortal,The Realm of the Dead
  11. Diablo Immortal,Bearer of Ill Omens
  12. 2021-11-25, INTRODUCING NEW IN-GAME EVENT: DAWN OF DAMNATION. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2022-04-16
  13. Diablo Immortal, Dawn of Damnation
  14. 2022-06-03, Diablo Immortal | Launch Trailer. YouTube, accessed on 2022-06-15
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