View source for Bloodied Wolf

{{Quote|Who are you?" <br/>"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.|{{4|The Wanderer}} questioning the Bloodied Wolf|url=https://getsnap.link/HKpgqNbi1NP?share_arg3=com.whatsapp}}
{{Infobox Character
|Name = Bloodied Wolf
|Title=Herald of Hatred <ref>27-7-2023.[https://twitter.com/Diablo/status/1684611887609020430?t=N1DAiJ7v0ZmEGpAUw932Lw&s=19 Kneel before the animators who brought life to #DiabloIV ]''Twiitter (X)''; accessed on 29-11-2023</ref><br/>Harbinger of Hatred 
|Image = <gallery>Bloodied_Wolf.jpg|Herald of Hatred
Harbinger_Wolf.jpg|Harbinger of Hatred</gallery>
|Gender = Male
|Race = [[Demon]]
|Class = 
|Occupation = 
|Status = Deceased 
|Appearances = ''[[Diablo IV]]''<br/>''[[Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred]]''<br/>''[[When Akarat Came to Nahantu]]''
}}
The '''{{PAGENAME}}, Herald of Hatred''' was the astral-projected form of [[Mephisto]].<ref name = "VesselChapter">2024-09-18, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kZBgtcKWvw Diablo IV | Vessel of Hatred | The Next Chapter]. ''YouTube'', accessed on 2024-09-18</ref>

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

==Biography==

===Teganze===
{{Quote|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]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JcKIvreyz8}}
[[File:Bloodied Wolf-letter.jpg|thumb|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.<ref name = "Akarat'sLetter">2024-09-26, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JcKIvreyz8 Diablo Lore | Vessel of Hatred | Akarat's Letter to the Dedicants]. ''YouTube'', accessed on 2024-12-24</ref>

===Akarat and the Wolf===
{{Quote|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|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JcKIvreyz8}}

{{Section Stub}}

===A Cold and Iron Faith===

The Bloodied Wolf first appeared to {{4|the Wanderer}}, unknown to them, as they slept in a cave after being lost in a blizzard. It protected them as they slept.<ref>''[[Diablo IV]]'', ''{{4|Prologue}}''</ref>

[[File:Bloodied_Wolf_D4-game.jpg|thumb|left|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.<ref>''[[Diablo IV]]'', ''{{4|Act I}}'', ''[[Shroud of the Horadrim]]''</ref>

===True Identity===
{{Quote|Good to see you're still alive."<br/> "Who are you?"<br/> "I go by many names. You spoke one of them at the shrine."<br/> "You're... [[Mephisto]]. The Lord of Hatred|The {{PAGENAME}} reveals its true identity to {{4|the Wanderer}}|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ADs-4rKhI18}}
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.<ref>''[[Diablo IV]],{{4|Act III}},[[Through the Dark Glass]]''</ref>

===Dance of the Makers===
{{Quote|This fiend... helped me escape from Lilith."<br/>"Wait... I've read of such a wolf... No. Mephisto. You trusted a Prime Evil?"<br/>"Trust had no part in it. Your friend saw reason instead.|Conversation between the Wanderer, [[Neyrelle]], and the {{PAGENAME}}|What Lies Ahead}}
[[File:Bles_Wolf.jpg|thumb|The {{PAGENAME}} blesses {{4|The Wanderer}}]]

The {{PAGENAME}} 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.<ref>''[[Diablo IV]],{{4|Act VI}}, [[The Blind Eye]]''</ref>

[[File:Wolf_Hellfire.jpg|thumb|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 {{PAGENAME}} 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.<ref>''[[Diablo IV]],{{4|Act VI}}, [[What Lies Ahead]]''</ref>

===Aftermath===
[[File:Stalking_Hatred.jpg|thumb|Mephisto, in the form of the {{PAGENAME}}, 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===
{{Quote|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|All Good Things}}
{{Section Stub}} 

==In-game==
[[File:Bloodied_Wolf_VoH-Model.jpg|thumb|The {{PAGENAME}} in ''[[Vessel of Hatred]]'']]

The {{PAGENAME}} 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 {{4|season}}al boss in Season 8.<ref name = "Season8ChatSummary">2025-03-08, [https://www.wowhead.com/diablo-4/news/diablo-4-season-8-ptr-campfire-chat-summary-375672 Diablo 4 Season 8 PTR Campfire Chat Summary]. ''Wowhead'', accessed on 2025-03-08</ref>

{{Section Stub}}

==Trivia==
{{trivia}}
*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 {{PAGENAME}}'s game model was designed by Michael Robson.{{fact}}

==References==
<references/>
{{D4 NPCs (Fractured Peaks)}}
[[Category:Demons]]
[[Category:Diablo IV Bestiary (Nahantu)]]
[[Category:Boss]]