| Hellhound | |
|---|---|
| Type | Demons |
| Lore Origin | European Folklore |
| Seasons | S2, S3, S5, S8 |
| Kill Method | Angel Blade, Ruby's Knife, The Colt |
Hellhounds are the enforcement arm of demonic contracts. When a human makes a deal at a crossroads — typically ten years of a granted wish in exchange for their soul — hellhounds are dispatched when the contract comes due. They are invisible to the human eye under normal circumstances, which makes their approach uniquely terrifying: the victim can hear them growling, feel their hot breath, but cannot see them coming. When they attack, they are savagely efficient, mauling their target to death before dragging the soul to Hell.
Appearance & Abilities
Hellhounds are massive, black-furred canines visible only to the person they have been sent to collect (or to anyone wearing glasses scorched with holy fire, which reveals them). They are incredibly fast, strong, and relentless. Once a hellhound has been sent after a target, it will not stop until the soul is collected. They can track their target across any distance and are not deterred by physical barriers — though Goofer dust (a hoodoo mixture) can temporarily keep them at bay.
In Supernatural
Hellhounds became significant in Season 3, the entire arc of which revolved around Dean's impending death. Dean had made a crossroads deal to resurrect Sam, receiving only one year instead of the standard ten. The Season 3 finale, "No Rest for the Wicked," depicted Dean's death at the claws of a hellhound sent by Lilith — one of the show's most harrowing sequences. Hellhounds also played a role in Season 5, where they were shown to be loyal to certain demons, and in Season 8, where a special hellhound was tracked for its use in the Trials of God.
Real-World Folklore
Supernatural dogs and black dogs appear throughout European folklore. The British Isles have an especially rich tradition: the Black Shuck of East Anglia, the Barghest of Yorkshire, the Cu Sith of Scottish Highlands, and the Cwn Annwn (hounds of the otherworld) of Welsh mythology. In Greek mythology, Cerberus guards the gates of the Underworld. Norse mythology features Garmr, the blood-stained guard dog at the gates of Hel.
The crossroads connection in Supernatural draws from hoodoo and African-American folk magic traditions, where the crossroads is a place of power and deal-making. Robert Johnson's legendary deal with the Devil at the crossroads is the most famous American expression of this belief.
Weaknesses
Hellhounds can be killed with angel blades, Ruby's knife, or the Colt. Goofer dust creates a temporary barrier they cannot cross. Holy fire-scorched glasses allow them to be seen. They are loyal to whoever holds the contract, so controlling the demon who dispatched them can call them off. Salt lines do not work — hellhounds are not standard demons.