Zoltun Kulle may be returning in Season 3 of Diablo 4, or at least, the character will be heavily referenced, but who is this undead sorcerer?
Originally, a leak containing a whole host of filenames regarding Diablo 4’s first expansion, Vessel of Hatred also featured some file names regarding Season 3 of Diablo 4. One that caught our eye after being posted to Reddit mentioned something called the Vault of Zoltun Kulle, suggesting that the infamous artisan could be returning in Diablo 4. We now know that the power-mad sorcerer is returning in Diablo 4 Season 3, or at least, he’ll be an important part of it.
Zoltun Kulle is long dead in the Diablo series, but his ghost and undead body were an important part of Diablo 3, and he’s likely found a way to endure into Diablo 4. His ultimate goal is immortality, after all.
Diablo 4 Season 3 will land before the end of 2023.
Who is Zoltun Kulle in Diablo?
Zoltun Kulle is a former sorcerer of the Horadrim who initially dedicated his life to battling the Prime Evils and preventing their return to Sanctuary. He was part of the same order as Deckard Cain, however, unlike Cain, Kulle was much more corruptible.
After discovering the secret to eternal life, Zoltun Kulle became a tyrant and eventually turned on his order. Eventually, the fallen sorcerer was defeated, but the Horadrim were unable to kill him, so they chopped him into pieces and hid his various body parts in different locations to prevent him from ever returning.
However, in Diablo 3, the characters discover they need his help and summon his spirit to ask him for certain information. Deckard Cain and the Nephalem make a deal with Kulle that they’ll restore his body, as long as he aids them and promises not to return to his wicked ways. The sorcerer agrees and helps the player until he’s restored.
Zoltun Kulle is a bad guy, but he’s a useful ally in the fight against Diablo.
After getting his full body back, Kulle seeks revenge on the Hordrim and tries to recruit the player to his cause. The Nephalem refuses and is forced to destroy Zoltun Kulle’s body again, however, by this time, Kulle has already provided the information that the heroes needed from him.
In the endgame of Diablo 3, Zoltun Kulle’s spirit returns to Tristram and is initially hostile to the player, although he’s also harmless in that form. Making the best of his situation, existing again but without a body, Kulle becomes an artisan, aiding the player in certain tasks while remaining verbally abrasive – which leads to some amusing dialogue. However, he warms to the Nephalem over time.
The character’s return would be a fun way to link Diablo 3 to Diablo 4 and would please lots of longtime players. Due to Diablo 4 Season 3 bringing back his vaults, we imagine the undead sorcerer will factor into the Seasonal Journey story in some way. It’s simply too good of an opportunity not to include him directly.