The Arch Devil: a formidable powerhouse, a masterpiece of sinister aesthetics, and the true face of the infernal legions.
In the metrics of the old world, the Arch Devil boasts an Attack of 26 and a Defense of 28. Its Health is a relatively modest 200—putting it on par with the Ghost Dragon—but its Speed of 17 makes it one of the swiftest among Tier 7 units.
Calling it "ground forces" is a stretch.
This creature is a master of the battlefield; its innate, limitless teleportation makes it the only unit capable of matching the Archangel for global board presence. In the original game, this was useful, but in the world of Azeroth—where there is no cooldown on this movement—the ability is god-tier.
Maiev's Blink is limited by a cooldown of several seconds, but the Arch Devil has no such shackles. It moves like Nightcrawler from the X-Men. Its only limitation is that it cannot jump between continents or cities like a Mage's portal; it must teleport within its line of sight.
Furthermore, the presence of these terrifying beings on the battlefield drains the enemy's Luck. Rhodes has already learned how devastating a debuff to Luck can be in Azeroth.
To make matters worse, they strike without fear of retaliation! This, combined with their teleportation, allows for a truly "cheesy" hit-and-run strategy. Oh, and they deal 50% extra damage to Angels—though in a straight-up brawl against an Archangel, the Devil usually ends up on the losing side due to the sheer stat disparity.
While the Arch Devil might not be the absolute peak of Tier 7 units, it sits comfortably in the middle of the pack. And in Azeroth, it has a new potential: the infusion of Fel energy. If Angels can accept the Light, then Devils should naturally embrace the Fel. Rhodes is certain that Fel energy will elevate the Arch Devil to new heights.
With a recruitment nest now under his control, Rhodes can harvest at least one Arch Devil every week. The reason he is being so "generous" by placing this one beside the Orc isn't just because he has more coming—it's a precautionary measure. You can't expect loyalty from a member of the Shadow Council. Their loyalty only exists as long as you have absolute power over them. This Arch Devil is a sword hanging over the old Orc's head: the Sword of Damocles.
"W-what is this creature? Is it a demon?" Drak'thul recognized the monstrous form immediately, but then hesitated. "No... there is no Fel energy in them. Is it some strange variant of a Satyr or a Tauren?"
The creature looked exactly like a high-ranking demon of the Burning Legion, yet it lacked that signature Fel stench. It radiated a sinister, eerie aura, but it was "clean."
"Don't bother guessing its origin," Rhodes said, patting the old Orc on the shoulder with a thin smile. "Soon, I will empower it with Fel, and then it will be a true demon. This fellow will stay by your side to protect you and help you fight. But if you ever consider betraying me or doing anything against my interests... believe me, its scythe will find your neck before you can blink."
Drak'thul's face froze. He was trapped. Having such a creature as a "bodyguard" was far from friendly. However, a part of him felt the human was underestimating him. He was a veteran of the Shadow Council; could one lone demon really restrain him?
The creature looked powerful, but Drak'thul kept several secret Shadow spells to himself—his "trump cards." He felt he could snare the devil and escape if necessary.
"Hahaha, how about I show you something good?" Rhodes narrowed his eyes. He knew exactly what the old boy was thinking. The Orc was smiling, but his eyes were darting around, calculating.
"Let's see what this Arch Devil can really do." Rhodes led the Orc out of the tent. He asked Jaina and Maiev to wait while he took Drak'thul further onto the beach.
"So, how do you plan to show off this creature's 'power'?"
"Watch closely," Rhodes replied. "First, I must infuse it with Fel."
Rhodes had discovered long ago that his summoned units could be equipped with gear. If a legendary blade could be turned into a Holy Judgment, then why not armor or shields?
Back in Dustwallow Marsh, he had experimented with Magic-Resistant Metal and Magic-Resistant Diamonds refined from his Gold and Diamond Golems. He'd had Dwarven masters forge armor for his Archangels, significantly boosting their base stats.
Since the physique of an Angel and a Devil is roughly the same, the spare armor fit the Arch Devil perfectly. It didn't even look too out of place in gold. For the weapon, he had a Phoenix melt down the Magic-Resistant Metal to plate the devil's scythe, granting it a "Mana-Sunder" effect. With a few diamonds socketed in for good measure, the Arch Devil was now a tank in anti-magic plating with a soul-rending weapon.
Standing in a clearing, Rhodes took a deep breath. He channeled a massive surge of Fel energy. Thick, green mists were torn from the void, swirling and roaring around him. Even the veteran Drak'thul felt a shiver of fear; this human's control over Fel was purer and more authoritative than many master Warlocks.
"In the name of Chaos, I grant thee Fel power!" Rhodes barked, directing the torrent of energy into the silent Arch Devil.
The green flood swallowed the creature. Instead of screaming, the Devil basked in it like a desert traveler finding an oasis. It absorbed the essence of Azeroth's demons with a look of pure ecstasy. Its dark red skin deepened, etched now with glowing, lava-like veins. Its horns grew thicker and more curved, tipped with a dangerous green glow.
The biggest change was the scythe. The anti-magic plating fused perfectly with the Fel, turning the blade a haunting emerald green that seemed capable of cutting through the soul itself.
[Fel Arch Devil]
Attack: 35
Defense: 38
Health: 350 (+150)
Damage: 40–60 (Now on par with a Titan!)
Speed: 18 (+1)
New Ability: Fel Flame. Attacks deal bonus Fel fire damage, burning the enemy and inhibiting health regeneration.
New Ability: Fel Resistance. Greatly increased resistance to Shadow and Fel spells.
New Ability: Minor Fel Aura. Disturbs the local magical weave, giving nearby enemy spells a chance to fizzle or weaken. (Stacks with the Luck penalty).
Beyond these stats, the Devil could now learn Azeroth-style warrior skills like Cleave, Whirlwind, and Charge, much like the Angels could use Paladin skills.
The evolution complete, the Fel Arch Devil let out a silent, soul-piercing roar. A terrifying aura of primal evil and raw Fel swept across the beach. Its eyes, now burning with green fire, locked onto Drak'thul.
The old Orc's smugness and secret plans vanished instantly. He was truly horrified. He could feel the power level of this being—it radiated the same crushing weight as a high-ranking officer of the Burning Legion! This was not something he could defeat with his hidden spells.
"Now then," Rhodes' voice broke the silence, "how does it look? Do you want to 'test' its strength personally? See if your little spells can slip past that scythe?"
Before Rhodes even finished speaking, the Arch Devil blinked. In a flash, it appeared behind the old Orc, the cold edge of the green scythe resting gently against Drak'thul's throat.