Evangelion Angels A Complete Guide To Their Names
The Angels are the existential threats looming over humanity in Neon Genesis Evangelion, enigmatic beings each with unique powers, goals, and tragic ties to human history. This guide systematically explores every Angel’s identity, from the catastrophic Second Impact to the culminating Human Instrumentality Project. Understanding these adversaries is essential to grasping the series’ philosophical depth and haunting conclusion.
The conflict with the Angels drives the narrative of Neon Genesis Evangelion, forcing humanity to confront not only external annihilation but also its own psychological wounds. Each Angel encounter unveils layers of the shared unconscious, religious symbolism, and the painful legacy of Instrumentality. This guide dissects their names, appearances, motives, and pivotal roles in the apocalyptic struggle.
What Are the Angels in Evangelion?
In the Evangelion universe, Angels are not divine messengers in the traditional religious sense, but rather ancient, powerful entities originating from the same First Ancestral Race that created the Evas and humanity. Each Angel represents a step in a deliberate, cyclical progression toward the Human Instrumentality Project, a plan to overcome human isolation and despair. Their manifestations are diverse, ranging from colossal biomechanical beings to reality-warping phenomena, each designed to test and ultimately dismantle human defenses.
The Angels are named using a specific Hebrew nomenclature, linking them directly to the series’ dense theological and Kabbalistic framework. This naming convention reinforces the idea that these beings are part of a preordained sequence, each more complex and existential than the last. They are not random invaders, but pieces on a cosmic board, moving toward a singular, universe-altering climax.
The Complete Hierarchy of Angels
The progression of Angels is meticulously ordered, each encounter stripping away another layer of humanity's perceived uniqueness and control. This list follows the canonical order as presented in the series and related official material.
1. Sachiel – The Water Angel
Sachiel is the first Angel to appear in the series, emerging from a Pacific Ocean storm to attack Tokyo-3. Its design heavily references aquatic life, with a distinctly fish-like appearance and the ability to manipulate water. Sachiel’s primary weapon is its AT Field, which causes conventional attacks to glance off harmlessly, forcing the Eva Unit-01 to engage in brutal, direct combat. Its A.T. Field is the first visual representation of the near-impenetrable force protecting every Angel and Eva. True to its name, which references the Archangel Sachiel, it moves with a slow, ponderous power, emphasizing its role as an initial, overwhelming challenge.
2. Shamshel – The Wind Angel
Shamshel appears in the second episode, emerging from a sudden, violent storm in a desert environment. Its defining characteristic is a long, ribbon-like body that can extend for kilometers, evoking the biblical concept of the "sword of the Lord." Shamshel’s primary attack is slicing through anything in its path with this extendable body, demonstrating lethal precision. It is destroyed when Eva Unit-01 activates its progressive knife and physically cuts the Angel in half, a victory that feels more like a narrow escape than a definitive triumph. The encounter highlights the fragility of human technology against an AT Field-wielding foe.
3. Ramiel – The Rotator Angel
Ramiel marks a significant escalation in the series’ stakes. This Angel is a perfect, geometric prism that orbits the Earth at high speed, capable of firing a devastating particle beam that can obliterate a city with a single shot. Its name, derived from the Archangel Ramiel, means "thunder of God," reflecting its destructive power. The battle against Ramiel is a masterclass in tactical warfare, requiring a synchronized attack from multiple Eva units and the deployment of a massive positron rifle. Its defeat, achieved by luring it into a trap with a dummy system, is a rare strategic victory for NERV.
4. Gaghiel – The Fishing Angel
Gaghiel’s appearance is a direct assault on NERV’s logistical and operational hub, the ocean-based battleship AAA Wunder. It takes the form of two massive, eel-like creatures that can manipulate water with incredible force. The Angel’s name, linked to the Archangel Gaghiel, translates to "joyful prince," a stark contrast to its destructive mission. Its primary objective is to drag the Wunder and its crew to the bottom of the Pacific, leading to a tense battle within the ship’s failing structure. This encounter is notable for its focus on survival and evacuation rather than pure combat.
5. Israfel – The Music Angel
Israfel presents a unique psychological challenge. Appearing in a dormant, split form, it requires the synchronization of two separate Eva units, Unit-01 and Unit-02, to defeat it. The Angel is named after the Angel Israfil, who is said to sound the trumpet on Judgment Day. Its battle is a test of coordination and trust, culminating in the iconic "unity" attack where the two halves of Israfel are destroyed simultaneously. The subsequent discovery of a "soul" within the Angel adds a profound layer of existential dread to the fight.
6. Sandalphel – The Freezing Angel
Sandalphel, the fifth Angel, possesses the terrifying ability to instantaneously freeze anything it touches, including Eva units and their pilots. Its appearance is that of a gaunt, skeletal figure draped in bandages, giving it a distinctly mummified aesthetic. The name Sandalphel is associated with the Angel Samael, often linked to death and the underworld. The battle takes place in a blizzard, turning the environment itself into a weapon. The fight concludes with a desperate, close-quarters confrontation inside a collapsing geothermal power plant.
7. Matarael – The Drill Angel
Matarael is a tripodal Angel that employs a massive, corkscrew drill to burrow underground and attack from unexpected angles. Its name comes from the Matariel, a figure associated with the planet Mercury in some esoteric traditions. This battle is a test of endurance and mobility, as the Eva units must pursue the subterranean Angel through collapsing terrain. The conflict ends with a strategic use of an N2 depth charge, burying the Angel and its drill deep beneath the earth.
8. Sahaquiel – The Vision Angel
Sahaquiel represents a shift toward Angels that manipulate reality and perception. It appears as a massive, floating eye that can phase through solid matter and project powerful energy blasts. Its name is linked to the Archangel Sahaquiel, often associated with intelligence and the "Heaven of the Sun." The battle forces Eva Unit-01 to confront the Angel in the vacuum of space, a visually stunning sequence that pushes the boundaries of the series' animation. The Angel is ultimately defeated by colliding it with the Moon, a solution born of desperation.
9>Leliel – The Shadow Angel
Leliel is arguably the most philosophically disturbing Angel. It is a being of pure shadow and information, existing in a "Nucleus" that defies conventional physics. Its A.T. Field is so potent it absorbs Unit-01, creating a surreal, infinite hallway within its core. The name Leliel is often interpreted as referencing a "night of destiny." The battle strips away the physicality of combat, turning it into a metaphysical confrontation where the line between attacker and defender dissolves completely.
10. Bardiel – The Parasitic Angel
Bardiel is a corrupting presence, an Angel that infects and possesses Eva Unit-03. The battle becomes a tragic internal conflict, as the infected unit turns its weapons on its allies. The Angel’s name is associated with the "Cursed God," Barzole. This storyline is a pivotal character study for Toji Suzuhara, whose connection to the Angel leads to devastating personal consequences. It marks the series' definitive turn toward psychological horror and tragedy.
11>Zeruel – The God of Guidance
Zeruel is one of the most formidable Angels, a being that consumes A.T. Fields to grow stronger. It appears as a grotesque, pulsating mass that strips Unit-01 of its defensive capabilities. Its name is derived from the Angel Zeruel, a figure of immense power in esoteric traditions. The battle is a desperate, consuming struggle that ends with Unit-01 achieving a state of transcendent evolution, becoming "The Beast" to overcome the Angel.
12>Arael – The Bird of Death
Arael is a being of pure psyche, attacking Asuka through a deep, invasive probing of her mind and soul. It takes the form of a giant, crystalline bird of light. The name Arael is linked to the Angel Auriel, associated with the planet Jupiter and the concept of providence. This encounter is the series' most direct exploration of mental and spiritual trauma, pushing Asuka to the brink of a complete psychological breakdown.
13>Tabris – The Free Angel
Tabris is the final and most enigmatic Angel, also known as Kaworu Nagisa. Unlike the others, Tabris is a "Positive Angel," a being of free will who chooses to end the cycle of conflict. Its purpose is to trigger Third Impact, a desired apocalypse that grants all souls a form of peaceful reunification. The name Tabris means "the one who passes through," signifying its role as a catalyst and a guide. This Angel forces the protagonists to question the very nature of their mission and the possibility of true peace.
Beyond the Canon: Common Questions
Why are the Angels named after angels?
The naming convention is a deliberate choice by series creator Hideaki Anno, drawing from Jewish and Christian angelology. Each name corresponds to a specific order or choir of angels, creating a systematic, theological framework for the antagonistic forces. This reinforces the series' central themes of destiny, prophecy, and humanity's place within a divine, or perhaps alien, plan.
What is the connection between the Angels and the Human Instrumentality Project?
The Angels are integral to the project's execution. They represent the "waits" in the process, the necessary obstacles that cleanse the world of its current, fragmented existence. Each Angel's defeat weakens the boundaries of individual consciousness, paving the way for the final merging of all souls. Tabris, the final Angel, is the key who ultimately unlocks the door to the new world, making the destruction of the Angels a prerequisite for their own desired end.
How does the naming order reflect the series' themes?
The progression from physical threats (Sachiel, Shamshel) to psychological and existential ones (Leliel, Arael, Tabris) mirrors the journey of the pilots and the series' own descent into philosophical introspection. The later Angels are less about destruction and more about deconstruction, attacking the characters' minds, identities, and ultimately, their understanding of reality itself.
