Dark Cultist

Cultists and Dark Cultists are humans who chose to, or got tricked into, follow one of the Prime Evils. This monster type is likely called a "Cultist," and "Dark" is a prefix denoting their particular type, but this is not yet confirmed. Cultists are Demon type monsters.

Diablo III Monster

Diablo III Monster [e]
Dark Cultist
Classification:	Demons
Monster Family:	Cultist
Role:	Offensive Caster & Summoner
Monster Stats Norm/Night/Hell/Inferno
Life:	Unknown
Mana:	Unknown
Armor:	Unknown
Resistance:	Unknown
Offence Norm/Night/Hell/Inferno
Armament:	Wand
DPS:	Unknown
Low Damage:	Unknown
High Damage:	Unknown
Range:	Melee
Speed:	Unknown
Movement:	Medium
Monster Modifiers
None
Spells/Abilities
Firebolt Summon Dark Demon
Found In
Tristram Cathedral Forgotten Tombs

Cultist casting a spell.

Cultists are human mages who spawn with Berserkers. Cultists are very weak, but they can shoot fireball projectiles and summon powerful Dark Demons, so it's wise to bypass the hulking Berserkers to kill the Cultists as quickly as possible.

Cultists can be recognized from Dark Vessels by their lack of a staff. Vessels have a long staff which curls at the end, on which they lean while summoning up the demons by which they are possessed.

The cultists also have a weak attack of their own, but it's unknown if they can summon more powerful beings to the physical realm.

Spells and Abilities

• Firebolt
• Summon Dark Demon

Known Cultist Types

• Cultist
  • Dark Demon (summoned)
• Dark Vessel
  • Activated Vessel
• Berserker

Known Subtypes

• Cultist
  • Dark Cultist

Related Monsters

• Dark Demon (summoned by Cultist)

Background

There is not terribly much known about these worshippers of demonic powers. Abd al-Hazir came across them on his travels in the Western Kingdoms, and he mad an entry on his meeting with the cultists in his 42nd entry of the Writings of Abd al-Hazir, and which mysteriously also became his last.

He describes in detail the early stages of the ritual to make a human into a Dark Vessel, where "Teeth of Diablo" are nailed into the back of a willing cultist. Here is an excerpt:

That was when I first saw them, the dark cultists, arrayed in a circle. Their torches lit the macabre proceedings in a pallid light that danced over their garish rune-covered robes. I had heard tales of these hooded cultists and their depraved rituals, and I must admit to some curiosity upon seeing them. As their chanting droned on, I thought to make my escape lest they see me, but my attention was riveted by a pale, vacant-eyed supplicant being led forward. I do not know if he was of limited mental capacity, lost in religious mania, or simply drugged, but he was definitely not sound of mind as he knelt in the center of the thrumming circle.

A Cultist, from the Monk cinematic.

The chanting stilled as the leader, face shadowed by a heavily gilded hood, stepped forward and began to intone a ritual in some indecipherable tongue. A large, thickly muscled and leather-masked cultist draped a black, eyeless hood over the victim's head before pulling a foot-long spike from his sash. My mind searched for any possible use for this cursed nail when I noticed the immense stygian hammer grasped in his other hand. With one swift motion, he raised it above his head and drove the spike into the supplicant's back with fierce intensity. I almost screamed... but the victim made no sound.

As another spike was readied, I knew I could watch no more. I trembled with the thought of those nails being driven into me should I be caught. I averted my gaze as I heard the revolting squish of another spike sunk into willing flesh. My eyes fell on the robe of the lead cultist. The intricate runes woven into his robe undulated and swirled in sickening movement. As I watched, horrified, I could feel my sanity crumbling away. I began to back away from the wicked tableau, forcing myself to move slowly while my mind screamed for me to flee with abandon. When I could contain myself no longer, I broke into a full run, not caring what sound I made. I ran until I collapsed. And then, as soon as I was able, I staggered to my feet and ran some more.

Development

The Dark Cultists were one of the first monsters to be shown to Diablo enthusiasts at WWI 2008 Paris, during the gameplay video.

Media

You can find pictures in the Diablo 3 screenshot and picture gallery:

• Diablo 3 screenshots and pictures
• Cultist gallery search

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  Pic 1

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  Pic 2

References

• Writings of Abd al-Hazir: Entry no. 0042