Sanctuary's dangers escalate once again in Diablo 4 Season 8 with the arrival of a familiar foe: Belial, the Lord of Lies.  Veteran players will recognize this deceitful demon from Diablo 3, where he served as a major antagonist.  He joins the ranks of other returning Diablo villains who have made their presence known in Diablo 4, such as the Butcher and the Fell Council.

Belial's arrival was announced during the March 7th Campfire Chat, detailing the major changes coming to Diablo 4's endgame boss encounters.  A new three-tiered system – Initiate, Greater, and Exalted – has been implemented, with Belial reigning supreme in the Exalted tier.  Summoning this formidable foe requires a Betrayer's Husk, but the rewards for defeating him are substantial, including the potential for coveted Ancestral Unique items.

One of the four Lesser Evils and brother to Azmodan, Belial stands out amongst his demonic brethren. A cunning manipulator and master of deception, he earned the title Lord of Lies by following in the footsteps of his mentor, Mephisto. In Diablo 3, players confronted Belial at the climax of Act II. The encounter involved a two-phased battle, culminating in a showdown against Belial's true form after defeating his initial army.

The revamped endgame boss system introduces several other challenging encounters besides Belial.  Initiate tier bosses include Beast in the Ice, Grigoire, Lord Zir, Varshan, and Urivar.  Andariel, Duriel, and Harbringer of Hatred make up the Greater tier.  Note that Urivar and Harbinger of Hatred are exclusive content accessible only to players who own the Vessel of Hatred expansion.