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Demons
In general
- Bishōnen Line: The lowest demons in the hierarchy are monster- or animal-like abominations. The highest ranked, the Princes of Hell, are handsome men with a few imperfections.
- Demon Lords and Archdevils: Demons come in dozens of different types, reflecting the perception of evil beings in many different cultures around the world. The more powerful of them are classified as "Greater Demons" and all of them are identified by name instead of a generic description. Nine Greater Demons, in turn, are classified under the term the "Princes of Hell". Barring one, the Princes are fallen angels rooted in Judeo-Christian mythology and each preside over an alternate reality to Earth.
- Fallen Angel: Except for Leviathan, all Princes of Hell were angels who participated in Lucifer's rebellion against God and as a result were cast from Heaven.
- Our Demons Are Different: In The Shadowhunter Chronicles, demons are very evil creatures. They come from their homeworld into the world of humans because they want to cause suffering and destruction there. They come in so many numbers and shapes that the shadowhunters they have been fighting for over a thousand years still do not know all of them.
- When demons reach Earth, they almost always look monstrous (unless they are shapeshifters). However, ordinary humans usually cannot recognize them for what they are. They can also summon demons, but it is rare that they actually enter into a pact with humans. Mostly they just kill them.
- When demons reach Earth, they almost always attack humans instantly to kill them, and sometimes even eat them up. However, the shadowhunters often notice it when demons are around, and hunt them. Sometimes the demons are also hunted and killed by werewolves.
- Demons that are hardly more intelligent than animals prefer to attack humans immediately. Those who have a human intelligence seduce or rape humans so warlocks are born. Although warlocks are half-demonic, they are as moral as humans. It is also believed that the fairies were originally created because demons mated with angels.
- When a demon is injured, it bleeds black blood. And when a demon is killed, its body dissolves and returns to its home dimension.
- All demons are superhuman strong, and often have a number of other powers as well. They are also immune to most common weapons. However, they are very sensitive to the weapons of angels, which is why shadowhunters can easily kill them with their weapons. In addition, sunlight also harms them, but not artificial light.
- Some of the more powerful demons are fallen angels.
Abbadon
The Demon of the Abyss and the first Greater Demon encountered in the franchise. During the events of City of Bones, he murders and takes the place of Madame Dorothea, the Frays' eccentric fortunetelling neighbor who was entrusted by Jocelyn for the protection of the Mortal Cup.
- Dem Bones: His corporeal form resembles a misshapen human skeleton.
- Kill and Replace: He murders Dorothea when she opens the Portal in her house for the first time and disguises himself as her.
- Weakened by the Light: He is ultimately defeated when Simon manages to break a rooftop glass that allows sunlight to come in, incinerating the demon.
Agramon
The Demon of Fear, he is summoned by Valentine with the help of a warlock to aid him in stealing the Mortal Sword from the Silent City.
- Appearance Is in the Eye of the Beholder: His appearance changes according to a person's greatest fear. Maia sees him as her abusive older brother, Daniel. Jace first sees him as wounded Clary, then Valentine.
- The Dragon: For Valentine in City of Ashes.
- I Know What You Fear: He manifests as everyone's greatest fear. In the case of the warlock who summons him, he tricks him into believing that he has left the pentagram so he will mess up and cause the pentagram to weaken.
- Kill All Humans: Singlehandedly massacres the entire population of Silent Brothers who reside in Silent City at the time.
Mrs. Dark
A Greater Demon who serves the Magister, she and her "sister", warlock Mrs. Black, kidnap Tessa after her arrival at Southampton, forcing her to become the bride of the Magister.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: She genuinely adores Mrs. Black and is in the process of resurrecting her when Will and Jem arrive to kill her.
- Evil Teacher: However vile her methods are, she is the one whom Tessa can thank at for learning her powers.
Lilith
The first wife of Adam who became a Greater Demon at some point after her exile from Eden. A thousand years ago, she began the Incursion alongside her husband, Sammael, into the mortal world that eventually led to the creation of the Shadowhunters. She was called by Valentine to tithe her blood to his son and as a result is considered the true mother of Jonathan Morgenstern. She also co-rules Edom alongside Asmodeus. Since most lesser demons were sired by her, warlocks are known as the "Children of Lilith".
- Animal Motifs: Lilith is associated with owls.
- Big Bad:
- Of City of Fallen Angels.
- She is also one of the primary villains in The Last Hours, as belatedly revealed in the second book, Chain of Iron.
- Chekhov's Gunman: She appears as early as City of Glass, during one of the flashbacks Clary experienced while in the Wayland Manor.
- The Dark Side: What she represents, as the mother of all demons.
- Eerie Pale-Skinned Brunette: Raven-haired, pale-skinned, and very creepy.
- Enemy Civil War: In Chain of Iron, she is enemies with Belial, the book's other Big Bad, and tries to command Cordelia to cut him down using Cortana.
- Evil Is Sterile: When she was cast from Eden, she was cursed so all children she bears are born dead. This is why she adores Sebastian; he is the first human child with her blood who survives, thanks to his Shadowhunter heritage.
- Greater-Scope Villain:
- As an architect of the Incursion, she is the reason why demons are so common in the mortal world. This indirectly also caused Raziel to form the Covenant with Jonathan Shadowhunter and create the Nephilim race.
- She is also this as the demon who gave Sebastian his powers. Even after her corporeal form is destroyed in City of Fallen Angels, she continues to influence his decisions in the next two books. Of note, her blood is used to create the Infernal Cup.
- Mama Bear: Considers Jonathan her "son" due to him being tainted by her blood, and takes measures to protect him throughout the second trilogy. When he is killed in City of Heavenly Fire, her wailing can be heard throughout Edom.
- Manipulative Bastard: In Chain of Iron, she manipulates Cordelia into pledging her allegiance to and becoming Lilith's paladin by impersonating Wayland the Smith.
- Mother of a Thousand Young: She is the mother of all lesser demons in the franchise.
- Out-Gambitted: In Chain of Thorns, Cordelia outwits her plan to turn her into her thrall by letting James kill Belial using Cortana. As Lilith's deal with Cordelia only specifies that Cortana should be the one to kill the Prince of Hell, rather than Cordelia herself, it technically satisfies the contract.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: At the end of Chain of Thorns, having failed to claim Cordelia as her thrall, she escapes in the form of an owl from Westminster Abbey, which is rapidly returning into a sacred ground as London is freed from Belial's control.
- Uncanny Valley Girl: She's described as beautiful, but unsettling.
- Unholy Matrimony: She was a lover of Sammael and began the Incursion with him. She also presides Edom alongside Asmodeus.
Marbas
A Greater Demon who was trapped by Edmund Herondale inside a Pyxis box before he renounced his duty as Shadowhunter. He was accidentally freed by Edmund's son, Will, in 1873.
- Sealed Evil in a Can: Used to be sealed in a Pyxis box.
- Small Role, Big Impact: He has very little to do directly in the plot of The Infernal Devices, but he was pretty much the only reason why Will acts like a massive jackass.
- The Trickster: He let Will believe that he cursed him by making everyone who loves him die, starting with his older sister, Ella. There is no such curse and Ella in fact died from the wounds she sustained while shielding Will from Marbas' attack.
Elyaas
A caecilia demon who happens to encounter Magnus Bane many times in history.
- Blob Monster: Caecilia demons are slimy blob creatures, with the nose and mouth stitched together and an armless and legless torso.
- Friendly Enemy: He seems to genuinely consider Magnus a friend after three times of being summoned, even wishing his relationship with Alec well.
- Token Heroic Orc: To date, the only demon who is not hostile to the heroes.
Stymphalia
A bird-shaped demon and Belial's mount who resides in Edom.
- Servile Snarker: Frequently makes a jab at Belial when he discusses his plans.
- Talking Animal: It is capable of speech, despite otherwise looking like a bird.
Princes of Hell
Azazel
One of the nine Princes of Hell, he is a fallen angel and the lieutenant of Hell, second only to Lucifer himself. He brought mankind the gift of blacksmithing, which was the reason for his fall.
- The Blacksmith: Was responsible for telling humans how to forge weapons.
- Deal with the Devil: In return for giving them information about a weapon capable of severing the connection between Jace and Sebastian, he demands Alec, Isabelle, Magnus, and Simon each give up a happy memory.
- Jackass Genie: He only informs Team Good of his terms for telling them how to make a connection-severing weapon after he absorbs their memories: he will be allowed to roam free and take Jace to Hell with him. Naturally, everyone is horrified and chooses not to pursue it.
- Too Spicy for Yog-Sothoth: Even one of the most powerful demons in the universe is afraid of the Mark of Cain and lets Simon walk away because he has it. Makes sense, since the Mark was created by God himself.
Asmodeus
One of the nine Princes of Hell, a fallen angel, and co-ruler of Edom alongside Lilith. He also happens to be the father of Magnus Bane.
- Animal Eyes: In humanoid form he has catlike eyes, something inherited by Magnus.
- Asmodeus: Of Biblical fame.
- Big Bad: Of The Red Scrolls of Magic.
- Deal with the Devil: Near the end of City of Heavenly Fire, Magnus summons him when it becomes clear that there is no other way to open a portal from Edom back to Earth.
- Demon Lords And Arch Devils: One of the nine most powerful, and subordinate only to Lucifer.
- Fallen Angel: He is not one of the demons spawned by Lilith, but instead was one of the rebel angels that served as one of Lucifer's generals in the failed war against God. Because of this his son Magnus can cause witchlight stones to illuminate, which normally only works for people with angelic blood.
- Faux Affably Evil: He acts charming in a malicious sort of way, very much like Magnus, except that everything he did and everything he does is evil.
- A Form You Are Comfortable With: Nobody from Earth would want to see what he really looks like, so he presents himself in a humanoid form not that different from Magnus.
- Mother of a Thousand Young: He fathered an entire race of demons known as the asmodei.
- Offing the Offspring: Wants to take his son Magnus's immortality to use as an energy source to repair all the damage Sebastian did to Edom.
- Punch-Clock Villain: While he is an evil power in his own right, he really has nothing to do against the heroes in City of Heavenly Fire. Magnus summons him for a solution to escape Edom, he provides the solution, business done.
- Unholy Matrimony: Rules Edom alongside Lilith.
Belial
One of the nine Princes of Hell. Popularly known as the "Lord of Thieves", Belial is an Eidolon demon and the biological father of Tessa Gray.
- Achilles' Heel: Cortana. It is the only weapon that can defeat him for good, but it takes three tries to do the job.
- Big Bad: Of The Last Hours series.
- Demonic Possession: Unlike other Greater Demons, he is unable to manifest physically in the mortal world, having to rely on vessels to do so. In Chain of Iron, his unknown possession of Jesse Blackthorn drives most of the book's events.
- Foregone Conclusion: He will survive the events of The Last Hours, since he still manages to physically manifest in Ghosts of the Shadow Market (set in 1936) and The Lost Book of the White (set in 2010). Chain of Thorns reveals that his fate is not quite preordained. The first Belial dies when he is stabbed by Cortana three times, but another demon who bears his likeness and title shows up afterwards. This new Belial is the one who appears in events set after The Last Hours.
- A Form You Are Comfortable With: Like Asmodeus, he takes the form of an innocent-looking man while appearing to James and Cordelia.
- Legacy Character: The ex-fallen angel Belial is killed off in the 1900s, during the events of The Last Hours. The Belial who appears in Ghosts of the Shadow Market and The Eldest Curses is a different demon. Unlike the old one, this new Belial is capable of manifesting in the human world without a vessel.
- Loophole Abuse: Since he is unable to manifest in the main world directly, he made Belphegor a scapegoat for the attack on the London Enclave, so he can discreetly claim James as his vessel and therefore enter the main world.
- Luke, I Am Your Father: In Chain of Gold, it is revealed that he is the father of Tessa Gray. This makes him not only a grandfather of her children, James and Lucie, but also a paternal ancestor of all future main-branch Herondales (including Stephen and Jace) and Blackthorns (including Julian and his siblings).
- Not Quite Dead: In the climax of Chain of Gold, Cordelia manages to stab him with Cortana, seemingly incapacitating him for a century. However, the epilogue reveals that he survived thanks to his deal with Tatiana Blackthorn, which supports his existence.
- Strong Family Resemblance: He shares Tessa's gray eyes, something that unsettles James.
- Take Over the World: Sometime before the events of Chain of Gold, he incapacitated Belphegor and took over his demon realm. His title "Lord of Thieves" alludes to his tendency to conquer a world to and remake it to his content. Chain of Iron confirms that he has taken over Edom as well, though we know that this will not last as Edom is ruled by Asmodeus and Lilith in City of Heavenly Fire.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: Thanks to him stealing Belphegor's realm, the two are not on good terms by the events of The Lost Book of the White. Nevertheless, both are invited by Sammael to work together.
- Voluntary Shapeshifting: The most powerful Eidolon demon. Tessa inherits her shapeshifting power from him.
- You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!: In the epilogue of The Lost Book of the White, he is incredulous upon finding out that Sammael convenes the eight Princes to work together supposedly on accord for his love for Lilith and his own incompetence.
Sammael
One of the nine Princes of Hell. He was the Serpent who goaded Eve to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and therefore cause the Fall of Man. Alongside his consort, Lilith, he began the Incursion to Earth a thousand years ago, bringing the celestial war closer to Earth. The archangel Michael personally descended to defeat Sammael, forcing him to the Void where he spent the next millennia trying to reform, but not without an ambition in mind.
- Big Bad: Of The Lost Book of the White.
- Cold-Blooded Torture: When the team enters Diyu, Sammael singles out Simon, who incapacitated his beloved Lilith, and plans for him to be tortured in Diyu's torture chambers for all eternity.
- The Dark Side: His weapon, Svefnthorn, is capable of corrupting warlocks into growing stronger and serving him.
- The Dragon: While the demonic hierarchy is a bit unclear, Sammael is said to be second most senior Prince of Hell, after Lucifer himself. However, Asmodeus is stated to be "the most powerful of the lot", though he maintains a degree of loyalty towards Sammael.
- Fallen Angel: The second most senior, in fact.
- Faux Affably Evil: Sammael is charming and way too cheery for someone who's supposed to be one of the most evil beings in the world.
- Greater-Scope Villain: In two different ways.
- As the Serpent of the Garden, he was responsible for the Fall of Man.
- As the person who masterminded the Incursion, he is the reason why demons are so common on Earth and why Shadowhunters exist in the first place. He even lampshades this when confronted by Magnus and Alec.
- Unholy Matrimony: He genuinely loves Lilith and becomes enraged upon learning that she was (unwittingly) destroyed by Simon's Mark of Cain.
Leviathan
One of the nine Princes of Hell and the only one who was not originally an angel. The demon of chaos, envy, and the sea.
- Animalistic Abomination: Malcolm notes that the gigantic tentacled things that attacked the London Institute in Chain of Iron are merely small glimpses of Leviathan's true form.
- Big Bad Duumvirate: Chain of Iron reveals that he is working with Belial to invade the current world.
- Cain and Abel: He had a sister whom he killed and ate.
- Kraken and Leviathan: It's in his name.
- Sea Monster: The demonic lord of the sea.
- Tentacled Terror: His arms are described as tentacle-adjacent.
Belphegor
- Noodle Incident: Magnus is implied to have encountered him in the past.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: Thanks to Belial stealing his realm, the two are not on good terms by the events of The Lost Book of the White. Nevertheless, both are invited by Sammael to work together.
Mammon
- Greed: He symbolizes it. It is said that he ran Hell's wealth bank and fell from Heaven because he convinced Lucifer to use its riches to control the universe.
- The Hedonist: In The Lost Book of the White, he claims to have set up many parties in Diyu before it fell apart.
Astaroth
- I Work Alone: Judging by his only line in The Lost Book of the White, he thinks that the Princes of Hell are better off separate, as it has always been since the beginning.
Lucifer
The very first fallen angel and the main villain of Judeo-Christianity. He is counted among the Princes of Hell.
- The Anti-God: Considering that Archangel Michael's personal enemy has been shifted to Sammael, there is an implication that Lucifer's counterpart in Heaven is God himself.
- The Ghost: Although he is confirmed to exist, he has only been referred to by other characters.
- Greater-Scope Villain: As the first angel to fall, and the original instigator of the war between Heaven and Hell.
- Jackass Genie: Although it is possible to summon Lucifer to make deals, few people have attempted to do because he is not known to be a rewarding host.
- Present Absence: According to the epilogue of The Lost Book of the White, it seems that Lucifer has been absent in the universe for a while, and the remaining eight Princes of Hell are rather anxious about it.
- Satan: The Guy himself.
Angels
Ithuriel
An angel who became an important accessory to the plans of two villains in the franchise. In the 1800s, part of his soul was trapped by warlock John Shade into a pendant which he later gave to Axel Mortmain. Mortmain in turn gave the pendant to Elizabeth Gray, enabling her to deliver Tessa alive in spite of her demonic heritage. In the late 1980s, Ithuriel was summoned and captured by Valentine Morgenstern, who subjected him to experiments that led to increased angelic blood within Jace and Clary.
- Attack of the 50-Foot Whatever: In Clockwork Princess, Tessa briefly assumes his form when she is about to be handed over to Mortmain, which stands as tall as his brother Raziel.
- Bullying a Dragon: He was chained by Valentine for years in the basement of Wayland Manor.
- Driven to Suicide: After Clary and Jace free him from his confinement, he immediately kills himself.
- Guardian Angel: He is this to Tessa, being the one who ensured that she would survive even though she was fathered by a Greater Demon. As the clockwork angel, he also saves Tessa many times throughout the Infernal Devices books.
- Mark of the Supernatural: He is the reason why Clary and all Herondales descended from Will have a star-shaped birthmark on their neck.
Raziel
An archangel and the patron of all Shadowhunters. He set the Covenant with Jonathan Shadowhunter, who drank from the Mortal Cup containing Raziel's blood, turning him into the first Nephilim. Other than the Cup, he also gifted Jonathan the Mortal Sword and the Mortal Mirror, the three of which form the Mortal Instruments. His blood flows in the veins of all Shadowhunters. Also older brother to Ithuriel.
- Attack of the 50-Foot Whatever: He stands several dozen feet high. He can carry three grown men on his palm.
- Big Brother Instinct: He is not at all pleased when Valentine summons him, considering that he has locked up and abused his brother, Ithuriel, a transgression that is beyond a normal Shadowhunter's comprehension. This is just one of the many reasons why he wastes no time to smite him.
- Blue-and-Orange Morality: Other than gifting Jonathan Shadowhunter with the Mortal Instruments, he does not like being dragged into mortal problems and will immediately kill Shadowhunters who try to summon him. The Instruments are not in fact required to summon the archangel, but rather protections so the summoner won't immediately be smote by his heavenly fire.
- The Dreaded: He is among the most feared of angels. His name is never invoked when Shadowhunters use seraphic blades, because it is considered too holy to use.
- The Gods Must Be Lazy: Even though he is infinitely more powerful than Shadowhunters and indeed any being on Earth, the jury is still out regarding why Raziel and the other angels don't fight demons by themselves. In fact, it has been an age-old question in Shadowhunter philosophy, though most people tend not to think too much about it.
- Good Wings, Evil Wings: Has a pair of very large golden bird-like wings, each feather having a golden eye.
- Greater-Scope Paragon: He was the one who gave Shadowhunters the means to fight demons. However, Raziel himself is very remote even compared to Greater Demons and rarely involves himself in mortal problems. In modern times, some Shadowhunters have considered the story of Raziel and Jonathan Shadowhunter as something of a myth, akin to religious beliefs that they can interpret however they like.
- Literal Genie: He can grant one wish to whoever summons him.
- Necromancer: He can bring people back from the dead, with a catch: the resurrected will essentially be treated as if he is reborn into a second life, so any marks and protection spells he had in his first life will be wiped clean. This is a plot point in City of Fallen Angels, as Jace, having been resurrected by Raziel after he was killed by Valentine, lost the protection spells he acquired when he was a baby, allowing Lilith to possess him.
- Only the Pure of Heart: Raziel will only help those with pure intentions, such as Jonathan Shadowhunter. In City of Glass, out of total displeasure at Valentine's dream, Raziel swiftly kills him.
- Power Tattoo: His body is entirely covered by golden Marks—some taken from the Gray Book, some of unknown origin—that are costantly moving.
- Summoning Ritual: The Mortal Instruments are required to summon him, a ritual that can only be done once every millennium. Once they have all three, he will come to them and will grant any single wish the summoner wants. Or rather, he won't smite them the moment he appears and might consider granting that single wish. Well...
- Telepathy: Can read minds and hearts; justified due to his angelic status.
