As the main antagonist of The Elder Scrolls Online, Molag Bal has received a lot more attention recently than they have in the past, though they are one of the more prevalent Daedric Princes in the series due to their link with the vampires. Taking the form of some sort of demon, Molag Bal is easily one of the more terrifying Daedra players can encounter.

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Although his position as the Lord of Domination is fairly well known throughout the series, there are aspects to his character that aren't as well known to fans of the series, particularly those who have only played the more recent entries in the Elder Scrolls.

10 His Name

Shrine to Molag Bal inside a haunted house in Skyrim

As the many different races of Tamriel have their own language and view of the Daedra and Aedra, each Divine and Daedric Prince has their own name in each language, and Molag Bal is no exception. In the Aldmeri and Dunmeri languages, Molag means "fire" and Bal means "stone". This could very easily be a reference to his demonic design and how hell is often associated with fire and brimstone, even though Coldharbour isn't described as such. Meridia, another Daedric Prince, will refer to Molag Bal as "Stone-fire" when talking to them, indicating that the Daedra may hold more affinities to the Mer languages than those of men.

Artist rendition of Moloch and Ba'al

Many characters in The Elder Scrolls have real-world connections, including Molag Bal. Aside from their demonic design, Molag Bal is likely made of two Caananite deities, Moloch, the god associated with child sacrifice through fire and war, and Ba'al, a weather god associated with fertility and vegetation. While Ba'al is a far cry from Molag Bal, his name means "Lord" or "Husband" in the native language, which may reference the Daughters of Coldharbour. In design, Moloch seems much more in line with how Molag Bal is portrayed in the series.

8 The Vampires

Skyrim Vampire With Snow In The Background

Molag Bal is known for being the father of all vampires, though the reason why he created them in the first place isn't exactly known. What is known about it, is that they hated the Divine Arkay so much that they chose to defile one of their priestesses, a Nedic woman named Lamae Beolfag, who died in the process before being reborn as the first vampire.

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Even among the Daedric Princes, Molag Bal seems to have a great hatred for many celestial beings, though there is never a reason given as to why. There is also no reason as to why they hate Arkay in particular, when there are plenty of other beings who Molag Bal could hate just as equally.

7 The Dunmer

Dark Elf NPC on Solstheim in Skyrim

The Dark Elves, or Dunmer, are a very hard-done-by race of people, with their homeland being a beautiful, though deadly and inhospitable land. While this could have something to do with Morrowind being positioned near an active volcano, many also believe that it is the result of divine intervention, specifically that of Molag Bal and the three other Daedric Princes that make up the House of Troubles. As opposed to the House of Reclamations, which are considered the "good Daedra", the House of Troubles are considered the "bad Daedra", and consist of Molag Bal, Mehrunes Dagon, Malacath, and Sheogorath, all of who opposed the Tribunal, who were considered gods to the Dunmer people.

6 Coldharbour

Coldharbour in Elder Scrolls Online

Each Daedric Prince has their own plane of Oblivion to call home, with Molag Bal's being Coldharbour. This plane is a replica of Nirn, the mortal plane, though it is an inhospitable wasteland of burning skies, freezing air, and ground that is nothing more than sludge. While there are some in the Elder Scrolls series who believe that it is simply Molag Bal's way of ensuring that he maintains dominance over any souls that are unlucky enough to venture into Coldharbour, there are some who believe that it is a premonition of the future of Nirn.

5 The Mace of Molag Bal

the mace of molag bal in skyrim

The signature artifact of Molag Bal appears in Daggerfall, Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim as a prize to be won from the Daedric Prince in return for favors. In each version of this weapon, it absorbs Magicka and Stamina when it hits an enemy, but in Skyrim's version, it deals damage to Magicka and Stamina instead while also casting Soul Trap. A few other Daedric Artifacts have had their effects changed in subsequent games, such as the Ebony Blade, but none have had quite as much of a change as the Mace of Molag Bal.

4 His Servants

Daedroth in Elder Scrolls Online

Molag Bal may be the father of vampires, but that doesn't mean he they are his servants in Oblivion. The Lord of Domination has many daedra under his control, such as atronachs and Soul Shriven, but the most ferocious of his underlings are the crocodile-headed Daedroth.

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Looking like something that crawled out of the darkest bogs in Black Marsh, the Daedroth are capable of not only tearing through flesh as if it were paper with their teeth and claws but are also able to wield some weapons and magic, such as basic Destruction and shield magic.

3 The Daughters of Coldharbour

Serana post curing in Skyrim

To be called a Daughter of Coldharbour may be seen as an honorable title among vampires, but for those who had to undergo the initiation, it is anything but. Although the exact nature of the initiation process isn't often disclosed, Serana is hesitant to be cured of her vampirism because of it, as she feels that it would mean she went through the traumatic process for nothing.

2 His Skyrim Voice

The Joker from Lego Batman 2 and cover art for Marvel Future Avengers

Like many of the other Daedric Princes in Skyrim, Molag Bal has his own unique voice that isn't shared by any other characters. Christopher Corey Smith, also known as Chris Kent, plays the part of the father of vampires for his character in Skyrim, replacing Jonathan  Bryce from Oblivion, who also played Hircine. Chris Kent has played parts in many different video games and anime series, having a recurring role as the voice of The Joker in the Lego Batman series of games as well as Hawkeye in Marvel Future Avengers.

1 His Online Voice

A Clockwork Orange poster and Daedalus from God of War 3

Some of the voices in The Elder Scrolls are fairly recognizable, with Sean Bean and Patrick Stewart being among those who are instantly recognizable voices from Oblivion. In The Elder Scrolls Online, Molag Bal is the main antagonist of the story and is played by Malcolm McDowell, who is best known for the lead role as Alex DeLarge in A Clockwork Orange, as well as several other roles in video games such as Daedalus in God of War 3.

Next: Top 10 In-Game Antagonists in the Elder Scrolls Franchise