History Main / VillainBaal

* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans'' season two, we're introduced to the Gundam Bael. The Bael is the first Gundam Frame and was instrumental to the end of [[GreatOffscreenWar the Calamity War]], being used as a symbol of power within Gjallarhorn. [[spoiler:There's also nothing really special about it compared to the other Gundam Frames, but [[CharClone McGillis Fareed]] believes he can use its prestige to pull a coup within Gjallarhorn. It fails, as [=McGillis=] is killed and the reformed Gjallarhorn caused by this incident decides to pull out its cockpit so it doesn't happen again]].

* ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'': Subverted. At first, we are told by Zhongli that the Shogun's Ars Goetia name is "Baal". This makes sense since she is an EvilGod and the principal antagonist of the Inazuma region--but he is ultimately mistaken. Baal is actually the ''previous'' Shogun's Ars Goetia name (true name Makoto). The current EvilGod Shogun is her twin sister Beelzebub (true name Ei). Ultimately this trope is subverted for both sisters, as neither was evil. Makoto is revealed to have been a kindhearted person until her death, and Ei is a WellIntentionedExtremist who goes through a HeelFaceTurn.

* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'': Bael is one of the {{Boss Fight}}s in the game, a giant demon that looks like a [[MixAndMatchCritters fusion of a frog and an angler fish]] and having [[AnIcePerson ice-themed powers]]. He has two antennae on his head ending in growths that look like glowing, naked humanoid nymphs, which he uses to [[LuringInPrey entice and confuse humans while he gets in a position to swallow them]].

** Bael is an Archdevil in the service of Mammon, depicted as a resembling a minotaur and carrying an enormous spiked morningstar. He's [[FrontlineGeneral both a capable warrior and ruthless tactician]] who has won his masters' armies multiple victories in the Blood War, but he has little knowledge of infernal politics and sometimes misses out on spoils that go to his more politically-savvy rivals, leaving him with a chip on his shoulder about his own situation.

** ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne'': Baal is the god who comes to embody the Reason of Yosuga, a MightMakesRight, SocialDarwinist philosophy in which the strong have absolute power and are allowed to subjugate and kill those weaker than themselves as they see fit. He is Chiaki's patron and his avatar serves as her OneWingedAngel form: Baal Avatar is a mandatory boss fight in all of the game's MultipleEndings, because in accordance with the internal logic of Yosuga the Demi-Fiend must prove himself stronger than Baal in order to be worthy to bring the Reason into being.

* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans'' season two, we're introduced to the Gundam Bael. The Bael is the first Gundam Frame and was instrumental to the end of [[GreatOffscreenWar the Calamity War]], being used as a symbol of power within Gjallarhorn. [[spoiler:There's also nothing really special about it compared to the other Gundam Frames, but [[CharClone McGillis Fareed]] believes he can use its prestige to pull a coup within Gjallarhorn. It fails, [=McGillis=] is killed and the reformed Gjallarhorn caused by this incident decides to pull out its cockpit so it doesn't happen again]].

* The French-Canadian youth fantasy series of ''Amos Daragon'' features [[FantasyKitchenSink gods, civilizations and creatures from real life and mythology]], including Ba'al. This trope is {{Downplayed}} though, by Ba'al being AffablyEvil or AmbiguouslyEvil. In the 7th book when the protagonist [[spoiler: ventures into Hell, Ba'al offers him two gourds full of mystical healing water, which are critical for Amos Daragon to escape Hell. In exchange Ba'al wants Amos to bring his dagger, an ArtifactOfDoom, into the "living" world]].

* ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'': The Baali bloodline is made up of DemonicVampires, playing off the idea of Baal himself being a demon.

* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'': Baal is a recurring demon/persona in the ''Shin Megami Tensei'' games and its ''Persona'' spin-offs and appears in all of the games in one form or another. He commonly appears in his godly form as 'Baal', which specifically refers to Baal Hadad, and is presented as a young man with purple skin and a horned helmet, and belongs to the Deity tribe. His demonization in Christian lore [[AllThereInTheManual is referenced in in-game descriptions]] of the demons Bael, a crowned man associated with frogs, and {{Beelzebub}}, a giant fly demon. Beelzebul also has a [[LouisCypher human disguise]] called 'Baal Zebul', a rotund older man with BarbarianLonghair, fangs, and red eyes, which is also associated with the demon. Beelzebub is typically the incarnation that has storyline prominence (usually as a SuperBoss), but Baal has had storyline prominence in at least two of the games.
** ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne'': Baal Avatar is the god who comes to embody the Reason of Yosuga, a MightMakesRight, SocialDarwinist philosophy in which the strong have absolute power and are allowed to subjugate and kill those weaker than themselves as they see fit.
** ''VideoGame/Persona5'': Bael is used as the name for the OneWingedAngel form of Shadow Kaneshiro, the [[BossSubtitles Money-Devouring Banker]] of [[VillainousGlutton Gluttony]]. Interestingly, while Bael is named after Baal, he takes more cues from {{Beelzebub}}, the patron demon of gluttony who was designed to be an {{Adaptational Villain|y}} of Baal, including being designed as a humanoid [[FliesEqualsEvil fly]].

This association between Baal, or at least the name, and evil persists to this day, and the result is that any work of fiction that features either the actual Baal or a similarly named entity will almost universally have him be an evil god or powerful demon. Though Baal/Haddad was a bringer of order and ''destroyer'' of monsters in the original Canaanite myths, the portrayal as demon and general enemy to humanity has stuck around to the modern era.

** Bel is another Archdevil who resides in Avernus, the topmost layer of Hell. Older editions portray him as Avernus' ruler and in charge of organising the devil's first line of defence against the demons that constantly attack Hell as part of the Blood War. 5th edition portrays him as having been deposed and forced into subservience by the FallenAngel Zariel, and [[TheStarscream scheming constantly against her in order to get his former position back]]. Notably, a giant idol of him serves as the centerpiece of the cover for the 1st Edition Player's Handbook.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': The Forgotten Realms setting features several entities inspired by Baal (in addition to {{Beelzebub}}, who has been part of the game since 1st Edition):
** Bhaal, the Lord of Murder, is the god of, well, murder and one of the Dead Three, mortals who became gods of death after usurping the title from Jergal. He features prominently in the ''VideoGame/BaldursGate'' video game series as well as numerous tabletop campaigns. As you might expect, his cult is basically AlwaysChaoticEvil and they serve as a convenient source of {{mook}}s for players to fight.

Not to be confused with VillainBall, where a usually competent villain grabs the IdiotBall so the heroes can win.

Worshipers of "Ba'al Haddad" or just "Baal," however came into major conflicts with the emergence of the various people groups (who would become the Israelites and later become the writers and compilers of Literature/TheBible) where Baal worship was widespread. As a result, the Old Testament has several accounts of the Israelites, in particular, giving themselves to Baal worship and thereby violating their cultural and social contracts with their own God. In the few instances where details are given, the writers of the various documents that came to form the Bible depict Baal as a rival entity who leads people to breaking their promises, violating the basic trust of hospitality, thus leading to further degeneracy and ultimately destruction, including demanding HumanSacrifice. Several times in the Old Testament, as common with ancient near eastern religious literature, mythological triumphs and heroic deeds that were seen as one god's (here being Baal) among his worshipers were instead viewed as truly belonging to a different god (here the God of Israel, who regularly portrayed himself independently as a god of storms, social order and prosperity).