The demon society in High School DxD is built upon a rigid class structure, with the 72 Pillars at its apex. These noble families, descendants of the original devils who served the Four Great Devils of old, wield immense political, economic, and magical power. Among them, the Gremory Clan stands out — not necessarily as the strongest, but as the most symbolically resonant family, embodying the duality of tradition and compassion in a world often defined by brutality. Understanding the Gremory Clan’s history, signature abilities, key members, and evolving role reveals the central themes of nobility, responsibility, and family that drive the entire series.

The Hierarchy of Devil Society and the 72 Pillars

After the death of the original Four Great Satans and the subsequent civil war that reshaped the Underworld, a new governing body emerged, relegating many ancient bloodlines to a complex hierarchy. The 72 Pillars represent the pure-blood devil clans that trace their lineage back to the primordial demons. Over centuries, many of these houses have fallen or diluted their bloodlines through intermarriage with non-purebloods, but the Gremory Clan remains one of the few that has preserved both its purity and its political relevance. In the current era, the Gremory household is classified as a high-class noble family, entrusted with territorial management and a seat on the Devil Council. Their status is reinforced by their control over the territory once belonging to the former Gremory domain, a region known for its fertile lands and strategic importance.

The 72 Pillars system isn’t merely ceremonial; it dictates everything from arranged marriages to the distribution of Evil Pieces — the chess-inspired reincarnation tools that allow devils to convert other beings into servants. The Gremory Clan’s position at this tier grants its heirs the privilege of receiving a full set of Evil Pieces and the right to form their own peerage. This is the foundation upon which Rias Gremory builds her legendary team and much of the story’s early arc. For a detailed breakdown of the 72 Pillars and their ranks, the High School DxD wiki entry on the 72 Pillars offers an exhaustive list and historical context.

The Origin and Historical Roots of the Gremory Clan

Like all noble demon families, the Gremory name originates from the Ars Goetia, a 17th-century grimoire that catalogued demons and their sigils. In the lore of High School DxD, the original demon Gremory was a duke-level entity associated with the discovery of hidden treasures and the revelation of secrets. The clan adapted that legacy into a more combat-oriented genetic gift: the Power of Destruction. This crimson-black energy, capable of annihilating matter at a molecular level, became the hallmark of the bloodline and the primary reason for the family’s fearsome reputation. Throughout the ancient wars between devils, fallen angels, and angels, the Gremory warriors were regarded as walking artillery, their destructive potential matched only by the Phenex clan’s immortality or the Bael clan’s raw physical might.

Historical records within the series suggest the clan was instrumental in forging the initial truce between the three factions, though their most pivotal role came after the civil war. Sirzechs Gremory’s ascension to the title of Lucifer — one of the Four Great Satans in the new regime — effectively cemented the clan’s modern political power. Unlike families that clung to outdated notions of blood purity, the Gremory Clan adapted. They accepted reincarnated devils into their household, fostered alliances with fallen angels, and even advocated for coexistence with the Church, albeit under heavy scrutiny. This progressive outlook has often put them at odds with traditionalists but has secured their survival in a rapidly changing supernatural world.

Key Members of the Gremory Clan and Their Roles

Rias Gremory: The Crimson-Haired Heir

Rias Gremory is the central female protagonist and the primary lens through which the audience experiences demon nobility. As the heiress, she carries the expectations of an entire bloodline while battling her own insecurities. Her mastery of the Power of Destruction is exceptional for her age, allowing her to shape the energy into spheres, beams, and even a massive spectral cannon known as the “Extinguished Star.” Still, her greatest strength lies in her leadership. She treats her peerage as an extension of her family, refusing to see them merely as servants — a philosophy that directly contradicts the old guard’s view of reincarnated devils as disposable tools. This compassionate approach redefines what it means to be a high-class devil and becomes a recurring source of tension with traditionalists like her own parents during the arranged marriage arc with Riser Phenex.

Rias’s struggles with her noble status fuel a significant portion of the early story. She desires to prove herself by winning Rating Games — organized team battles between devils — without relying on her family’s influence. Her determination to protect her peerage, particularly Issei Hyoudou, highlights the internal conflict between her duty to the clan and her personal bonds. That duality is what makes her one of the most well-rounded noble characters in anime, far removed from the stereotypical “princess” archetype.

Sirzechs Lucifer (Gremory): The Crimson Satan

Rias’s older brother, Sirzechs Gremory, is arguably one of the most powerful devils in the entire series, a being so strong that he qualifies as one of the Four Great Satans under the title “Lucifer.” Despite his gentle, almost comical demeanor around his sister, his true power is terrifying. Sirzechs possesses the Power of Destruction in a concentrated, true form — a swirling mass of crimson energy capable of erasing the strongest foes, including gods. He has refined his destructive aura to the point where he must constantly suppress it to avoid harming allies. This raw might, combined with his strategic intellect, made him invaluable during the war against the Khaos Brigade and the attack on the Underworld by the Evil Dragon Apophis.

Sirzechs’s marriage to Grayfia Lucifuge, a fellow pureblood devil and his former bishop, further solidified the Gremory clan’s political alliances. Grayfia is a powerhouse in her own right, serving as both Sirzechs’s queen piece and the de facto head of the household’s affairs. The couple’s son, Millicas Gremory, represents the future of the clan — a prodigy already showing signs of inheriting the family’s destructive power. Sirzechs’s existence challenges the notion that the Gremory bloodline has lost its edge; instead, it proves that the clan’s potential is limitless when paired with emotional support and modern ideals.

Zeoticus and Venelana Gremory: The Prior Generation

Rias and Sirzechs’s parents, Lord Zeoticus and Lady Venelana, embody the traditional noble values that the younger generation is gradually moving away from. Zeoticus, the current head of the household, is a capable but conservative devil who initially supports Rias’s arranged marriage to Riser Phenex to preserve bloodline purity and political ties. His actions, while harsh, stem from a genuine desire to see the clan remain strong. Venelana, who comes from the Bael family — another Pillar house known for the Power of Destruction — brings a maternal influence that tempers Zeoticus’s rigidity. She is more supportive of Rias’s independence, though she too struggles with the clash between tradition and modernity. Together, they represent the generational divide that defines much of the series’ underlying tension: old power versus new ideals.

The Signature Trait: Understanding the Power of Destruction

The Power of Destruction is not merely a flashy energy blast; it is a conceptual ability that erases anything it touches from existence, rendering even regeneration-based defenses futile. In the series, it manifests as a distinctive crimson-black aura with properties akin to anti-matter. Rias’s usage of it evolves from basic concentrated spheres to massive, city-leveling attacks. However, the true depth of this power is revealed through Sirzechs, whose body has essentially transformed into a vessel of pure destruction energy. His “Ruin the Extinct” form is a mass of coalesced crimson power that can eliminate entire armies with a thought. This ability is so potent that Sirzechs is often withheld from direct combat to avoid friendly fire.

Comparatively, the Gremory variant of the Power of Destruction is considered slightly different from the Bael clan’s version, though both are linked. The Bael family wields it with more physical might, while the Gremory line emphasizes energy-based attacks and finer control. This subtle difference has sparked debates among fans about which clan truly reigns supreme in raw destructive output. A thorough analysis on the Power of Destruction ability page catalogs its various uses throughout the light novels and anime. Regardless of which lineage is superior, the Gremory Clan’s association with this technique ensures that they remain one of the most feared families in the Underworld.

Political Influence and Strategic Alliances

The Gremory family’s political influence extends well beyond their immediate territory. As one of the 72 Pillars, they hold a seat on the Devil Council and participate in decisions that affect the entire Underworld. Sirzechs’s position as Lucifer gives the clan direct access to the highest level of governance, but they have also cultivated alliances with other prominent houses. The Sitri clan, for instance, shares a friendly rivalry with the Gremorys, with Sona Sitri and Rias forming a bond that mirrors their families’ historical cooperation. The Phenex clan, despite the failed marriage arrangement, remains a close ally, and the Agares clan — led by Sairaorg’s uncle — often coordinates with the Gremory household on military matters.

These alliances are crucial during the series’ larger conflicts. When the Khaos Brigade threatens to destabilize the supernatural world, the Gremory peerage fights alongside forces from multiple factions, showcasing the trust that the clan has built. Moreover, the Gremory family’s willingness to accept reincarnated devils — including a former human, a former nun, and even a being previously aligned with the fallen angels — sends a powerful message that the old pureblood supremacy is fading. This progressive stance has earned them both admiration and animosity, but it clearly aligns with the series’ overarching theme: that bonds forged by choice are stronger than those dictated by blood.

The Gremory Approach to Peerage and Evil Pieces

High-class devils are granted a set of 15 Evil Pieces to reincarnate other beings into their servants, following a chess motif. While many noble families use this system to amass military might or collect powerful individuals as trophies, the Gremory Clan — particularly through Rias — operates differently. Rias’s peerage is a family in every sense. She rescues Kiba Yuuto from a fatal experiment, offers Koneko Toujou a safe haven after her sister’s fall, and accepts Asia Argento despite the potential political backlash of harboring a former holy maiden. Her relationship with Issei Hyoudou is the linchpin: she sees his latent potential and vulnerability, but she also respects his ambition and growing strength.

This nurturing model stands in stark contrast to the Sairaorg Bael peerage, which relies on rigorous training and a survival-of-the-fittest mentality, or the Riser Phenex peerage, which is composed largely of female pieces intended to serve as his harem. Rias’s method yields profound loyalty and unlocks hidden potential in each member, turning a seemingly mismatched group into a team that defeats the elite Rating Game opponent Riser’s peerage and later competes on an international level. The success of this approach has pressured other noble houses to reconsider how they treat their own servants. The Evil Pieces system itself is explained in detail on the Evil Pieces wiki page, but the Gremory Clan’s interpretation of it redefines the very concept of what a “king” should be.

Challenges and Conflicts That Shaped the Clan

No noble family endures without weathering storms, and the Gremory Clan has faced several existential crises. The most personal challenge for Rias is the betrothal to Riser Phenex, a political arrangement meant to unite two powerful houses. Rias’s refusal to submit leads to a high-stakes Rating Game where her peerage must win to secure her freedom. This arc is pivotal because it forces the family to confront its own outdated traditions. Zeoticus is initially unsympathetic, but after witnessing Rias’s resolve and Issei’s growth, he begins to soften — a turning point for the entire household.

On a larger scale, the Gremorys are thrust into the middle of the Great War’s aftermath and the formation of the Alliance of Hell, Heaven, and the Fallen Angels. Sirzechs, as Lucifer, must navigate delicate peace treaties while also combating threats like the Old Satan Faction, which seeks to restore the original Four Satans and plunge the world back into chaos. The clan’s resources and reputation are stretched thin as they protect their territory from terrorist attacks orchestrated by the Khaos Brigade and later from the machinations of Rizevim Livan Lucifer. Through all these trials, the family remains intact by leaning on each other and their extended network of allies, proving that the Gremory legacy is not just about power but about resilience.

The Enduring Legacy and Future of the Gremory Clan

Looking ahead, the Gremory Clan’s future seems brighter than ever. Millicas Gremory, the son of Sirzechs and Grayfia, has already demonstrated remarkable control over the Power of Destruction at a tender age, suggesting that the bloodline’s signature ability is only growing stronger. He adores his aunt Rias and looks up to Issei, foreshadowing a generation that will blend pureblood heritage with the values of the new era. Rias, for her part, is expected to eventually succeed Zeoticus as the head of the family, a role that she will likely reshape to fit her egalitarian ideals. Her relationship with Issei — a human reincarnated into a devil who later becomes a high-class devil himself — challenges centuries of tradition and points toward a more integrated Underworld society.

The Gremory name, therefore, has evolved from a symbol of destructive nobility into a emblem of compassionate leadership. In a world where demons are often portrayed as irredeemably evil, the Gremory Clan represents the possibility of change without sacrificing strength. Their story is not just about demon politics; it’s about the universal struggle to honor one’s heritage while forging a better path forward.

The Gremory Clan serves as the moral heart of High School DxD, balancing immense power with an equally deep capacity for empathy. From Rias’s unwavering dedication to her peerage to Sirzechs’s world-altering sacrifices, every major arc of the series is touched by their influence. Their journey from rigid aristocratic tradition to a family defined by love and trust encapsulates the series’ greatest lesson: that true nobility is not measured by blood, but by the bonds you protect and the legacy you leave behind.