Tainted

"Tainted show the influence of their demonic masters."

- Monster summary

Tainted (a.k.a. Hellhounds) are a type of demonic enemy encountered in Diablo II.

Lore
Tainted are large-headed, reptilian, malformed demons that gain their strength and resilience from the natural element of lightning. While slow of foot, these beasts deliver a palpable hit when engaged at close range and can absorb a fair amount of damage. Tainted are perhaps an even greater threat when wounded, however, as this is when they retreat and direct orbs of lightning at their enemies. Able to breathe electricity, Tainted are not creations of the Prime Evils, though stronger Tainted are more affected by their influences.

It is said that the khazra of the Moon Clan herded these creatures in Hell, as their natural immunity to lightning allowed safe handling of these demons.

In-game
Tainted possess the ability to hurl spheres of lightning at their foes. They move slowly because of their hulking forms. The Tainted prefer to use their melee attack to strike any adventurers that step close into their paths and when wounded, they retreat and use their Lightning Globes. They have a natural resistance to lightning and are immune to it on Hell difficulty.

The Tainted come in five different varieties: Misshapen, Disfigured, Tainted, Afflicted, and Damned. The Tainted type can be first discovered as early as the Underground Passage. All of Tainted variants have a 15/35% chance of Lightning on bite attacks when in Nightmare/Hell.

A super unique Tainted is Pitspawn Fouldog.

Stats
Tainted (third variety) are an Tainted type. They can spawn in Jail 2 (Pitspawn Pack), Cathedral, Catacombs 1-2. They deal lightning damage. They start shooting lightning at 80/50/50% health.

Development
They have an unused cold projectile graphic called "bighead" like their codename, it can be seen on one of oldest Diablo II renders. It seems that originally they were supposed to be cold-oriented or use two different elements. In their Lightning shoot animation they still breath an cold mist.

Trivia

 * In several of the caves in Act I, there are cave paintings of Tainted firing their lightning spheres.