Dark Vessel

A summoner circle.

Dark Vessels are human cultists that are letting themselves be overtaken by a demonic presence, distorting them to a dangerous vaguely human-looking creature of great power. The Vessel itself is harmless until it turn into an Activated Vessel.

They are commonly seen in circles of from 4 to 8 cultists, all holding staves and chanting as they attempt to call forth a demonic presence. Players are advised to kill them quickly, before they can become hosts for the much more dangerous demons.

Diablo III Monster

Diablo III Monster [e]
Dark Vessel
Classification:	Demons
Monster Family:	Cultist
Role:	Monster Spawner
Monster Stats Norm/Night/Hell/Inferno
Life:	Unknown
Mana:	None
Armor:	Unknown
Resistance:	Unknown
Offence Norm/Night/Hell/Inferno
Armament:	None
DPS:	None
Low Damage:	None
High Damage:	None
Range:	N/A
Speed:	N/A
Movement:	Stationary
Monster Modifiers
None
Spells/Abilities
None
Found In
Tristram Cathedral Forgotten Tombs

Dark Vessels in an incantation circle with one Activated Vessel.

This type of monster is likely called just a "Vessel", and the "Dark" prefix to their name denotes a particular type of Vessel. This would mean that other monsters named "Vessel", like "Shadow Vessel" and the like might appear later.

These human mages are commonly found standing motionless, amidst various other types of "Dark" enemies. Vessels are harmless in their human form, but become very dangerous melee fighters if they manage to pull a demonic entity into themselves. In that form they are known as Activated Vessels, and are ferocious fighters.

Dark Vessels look a bit like Dark Cultists, and probably shares the background story of regular Cultists, but Vessels lean on tall crooks, and remain motionless until they transform, while Cultists are mage-like enemies who cast a variety of spells and summon demons.

Spells and Abilities

• Summon Activated Vessel

Related Monsters

• Cultist
• Dark Vessel
  • Activated Vessel

Background

Dark Vessels look a bit like Dark Cultists, and probably shares the background story of regular Cultists. Humans that in despair have turned to the Prime Evils for strength and power, and in the end are corrupted and used as cheap tools of the powerful demons.

The spikes that pokes out of their backs are called "Teeths of Diablo", and are indeed a metal spike inserted into the flesh of the willing recipient. The spike does not seem to cause internal haemorrhaging but instead some sort of perverse corruption of both soul and body.

Development

Dark Vessels were among the first monsters seen for Diablo 3, as they were presented in the June WWI 2008 gameplay video. They did not change during the rest of 2008.

Media

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

• Diablo 3 screenshots and pictures
• Dark Vessel image search

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  Two Dark Vessels.

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  8 Vessels in a summoning circle to transform into Activated Vessels.

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  One Dark Vessel.

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  5 Vessels in a circle.

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  8 Cultist summoners.

References

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