Bloodied Wolf

"Who are you?"
"An admirer of sorts. I saved you in the mountains. You'd lost your horse and crawled into that cave -- would've frozen to death if not for me."

- The Wanderer questioning the Bloodied Wolf^(src)

Bloodied Wolf
Title	Herald of Hatred Harbinger of Hatred
Gender	Male
Race	Demon
Status	Deceased
Appearances	Diablo IV Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred When Akarat Came to Nahantu

The Bloodied Wolf, Herald of Hatred was the astral-projected form of Mephisto.

The Herald takes the form of a large, black wolf with a bloodied, skeletal face.

Biography

Teganze

"For generations, we've passed down stories of a land of abudaence, teeming with vitality, before it was beset by an insatiable, ravenous Bloodied Wolf - a massive beast that leaves disease and corruption in its wake, strange monsters called the Hollows spreading along its path to taint every corner of the land."

- Akarat^(src)

The Bloodied Wolf

The Bloodied Wolf appeared in Teganze sometime after the Mage Clan Wars. It spread disease and corruption across the land, and Hollows were left in its wake. Numerous Umbaru were made refugees as Teganze was reduced to desert.

Akarat and the Wolf

"My mother, like so many others, lived only with the hope of change. Let this, then, mark the start of a new beginning. Even a Wolf deserves to rest."

- Akarat^(src)

A Cold and Iron Faith

The Bloodied Wolf first appeared to the Wanderer, unknown to them, as they slept in a cave after being lost in a blizzard. It protected them as they slept.

The Bloodied Wolf and the Wanderer

Later when the Wanderer and Neyrelle were searching for a Horadrim Vault they were caught in an illusion trap. The wolf appeared to the Wanderer again, and transformed the illusion to show a replica of a destroyed Tristram. It warned them not to trust the Horadrim; that their ways led them to ruin.

True Identity

"Good to see you're still alive."
"Who are you?"
"I go by many names. You spoke one of them at the shrine."
"You're... Mephisto. The Lord of Hatred"

- The Bloodied Wolf reveals its true identity to the Wanderer^(src)

The Wanderer tracked Elias to the Temple of the the Primes at Mount Civo. Only those bearing the blessings of the Prime Evils could enter. When the Wanderer sought Mephisto blessings at his shrine, a fiery portal appeared. Within the portal they met the Bloodied Wolf, who revealed its true identity as Mephisto and tells them that they would receive the blessings they seek, if they bring peace to his realm.

Dance of the Makers

"This fiend... helped me escape from Lilith."
"Wait... I've read of such a wolf... No. Mephisto. You trusted a Prime Evil?"
"Trust had no part in it. Your friend saw reason instead."

- Conversation between the Wanderer, Neyrelle, and the Bloodied Wolf^(src)

The Bloodied Wolf blesses The Wanderer

The Bloodied Wolf appeared to the Wanderer when Lilith trapped them in a nightmare. After being asked the reason for their help, it replied that it was because it sensed that they would play a key role in stopping Lilith, but that a time would come when they will be enemies. It then gave them a blessing to help navigate their way out of the nightmare.

At the hellfire barrier

As Lilith drew closer to Mephisto's essence within the Cathedral of Hatred, the Bloodied Wolf appears to the Wanderer in the Realm of Hatred and offers to transport them across the hellfire barrier, directly to the cathedral. Neyrelle (who was with the Wanderer) recognized the wolf as Mephisto, and was shocked that they would trust a Prime Evil. The Bloodied Wolf stalled her argument by reminding them that time was short and the fate of Sanctuary depended on them stopping Lilith from absorbing his essence. At the end, they agreed to step through the portal.

Aftermath

Mephisto, in the form of the Bloodied Wolf, watches Neyrelle and his soulstone

After Lilith is defeated, Neyrelle travels away with Mephisto's soulstone, tainted by his essence. She left a letter for Lorath, telling him that she would find a way to stop Mephisto and his brothers before she is lost. Unknown to her (is it?), and unseen to all, Mephisto stalks her in the form of the Bloodied Wolf, watching as she loses a bit of herself with each passing day.

Vessel of Hatred

"The Soulstone was originally tailored for Astaroth—it was never meant to contain a Prime Evil. Mephisto was getting stronger and stronger inside of it. And the Herald with him."

- Neyrelle to the Wanderer^(src)

In-game

The Bloodied Wolf in Vessel of Hatred

The Bloodied Wolf is an NPC in Diablo IV. It occasionally appears to the player throughout the game, offering conversation and at times aid. It returns in the Vessel of Hatred expansion, though its appearance is more demonic. It serves as the final boss of the expansion.

The Harbinger of Hatred will appear as a seasonal boss in Season 8.

Trivia

This section contains facts and trivia relevant to this article.

• The runes on the Wolf's skull seem identical to ones found in the Book of Adria that correspond to Mephisto.
• The audio files refers him as "Wolphisto".
• The Bloodied Wolf's game model was designed by Michael Robson.^{[citation needed]}