Welcome back to Diablo Lore Bites, our short and simple lore series meant to explain important Diablo locations, characters, and concepts without being overwhelming. Lore Bites are quick reads that give you just enough context to understand why something matters, even if Diablo lore was never your thing.
This time, we are looking at Skovos, one of the most interesting locations in Diablo history and the next major destination in Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred.
What Are The Skovos Isles?
The Skovos Isles, sometimes called the Amazon Islands, are a chain of multiple islands closely stuck together, located in the Twin Seas. They are made up of several major landmasses, including Philios, Skovos, Lycander, and Skartara, and are home to the Askari, the matriarchal warrior culture better known to most players as the Amazons.
Lore-wise, Skovos has always been special when compared to the rest of Sanctuary. It has its own traditions, belief systems, and power structures, often guided by both Amazon queens and mystic oracles. Within the history of Diablo, the region is known for storm-heavy seas, volcanic coasts, dense jungles, and ancient ruins that were swallowed by water and time.
Until now, Skovos was only ever mentioned in books and background lore. Players could read about it online, but never actually go there in-game.
At a glance, Skovos is known for its:
- Location: A chain of islands in the Twin Seas, far from the usual Diablo regions
- Culture: The homeland of the Askari, the Amazon warrior society
- Rule: A matriarchal system led by warrior queens and mystic oracles
- Landscape: Storm-heavy seas, jungles, volcanic coastlines, and flooded ruins
- Lore importance: Deep ties to early Sanctuary history, long before modern kingdoms
Skovos In Lord of Hatred
With the Lord of Hatred expansion, we finally travel to the Skovos Isles ourselves. In Diablo 4’s second expansion, Skovos is the main new region and not just a random new map.
According to Blizzard, Skovos is described as the ancestral birthplace of the first civilization, as well as the former home of Lilith and Inarius. That alone places it at the very heart of Sanctuary’s origin story.
Skovos is still very much inhabited, ruled by Amazon leadership and powerful oracles, rather than being a lost or ruined land.
As Mephisto’s influence spreads, the campaign leads players directly to Skovos, connecting the region with both ancient history and Mephisto’s return. This makes the Lord of Hatred expansion especially important for lore fans, as the Skovos Isles are a place where the origins of humanity, the nephalem, and the Age of Hatred collide.
A Long-Awaited Location, Finally Playable
For lore fans, Skovos has been a name floating around Diablo books for years. Seeing it become playable for the first time is a big deal, especially with how closely it ties into Lilith, Mephisto, and the early foundations of Sanctuary.
We will keep the Diablo Lore Bites series going weekly. Next up, we will cover Mephisto himself and other key pieces of lore that become more important as we get closer to Lord of Hatred.
For more Diablo lore and expansion coverage, make sure to check out our Diablo 4 news hub.
