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| AHS 13 Finale Explained: Does Satan Die and How Do the Witches Defeat Him? |
The witches finally discover that defeating Satan requires more than powerful spells and a direct attack in the finale of FX's American Horror Story: 13. After spending much of the season trying to stop Mr Nas, who is eventually revealed to be the Devil himself, Cordelia Goode and her allies realise that killing him is not a realistic option.
Their enemy is simply too powerful to be defeated through conventional magic. Fortunately, Mallory has another idea, and it involves travelling into the past, recovering forgotten witchcraft and making a sacrifice that could change the fate of the world. But does Satan actually die, or do the witches simply find a clever way to keep him out of trouble?
Mallory Finds a Way to Trap Satan
Throughout the season, Satan's influence has been connected to much of the suffering, destruction and chaos experienced by humanity. The witches believe that removing him from the equation could finally give the world a chance to become a better place. Unfortunately, getting rid of the Devil is considerably more complicated than casting a spell and hoping for the best.
The discovery that Satan has taken human form as Mr Nas initially gives Cordelia and her fellow witches a rare opportunity. His mortal appearance makes him seem more vulnerable than the supernatural force they have spent so long fighting. They believe they might finally have a chance to kill him or, at the very least, imprison him before he causes further damage. Their attempt fails in the penultimate episode, leaving the witches with a rather unpleasant problem: their most powerful enemy is still very much around.
However, Satan eventually decides to abandon his plans. Despite coming dangerously close to winning his wager against God and gaining control over humanity, he realises that ruling the world is not particularly appealing. In fact, being responsible for billions of people sounds like an administrative nightmare, even for the Devil.
What he actually enjoys is tormenting humanity, not managing it. Satan would rather watch people struggle than sit on a supernatural throne and deal with the responsibilities of running the planet. Believing that his victory is effectively secured regardless, he walks away from the competition.
Unfortunately for him, Cordelia and Mallory are not prepared to accept that arrangement. They have no intention of allowing Satan to continue influencing the world simply because he has lost interest in his original plan. Their objective remains the same: eliminate his threat once and for all.
When the witches cannot find a solution in their present timeline, Mallory considers whether the answer might exist somewhere in the past. She travels back to Salem, where she encounters and helps the witches of an earlier generation. During this journey, she discovers an ancient spell that has disappeared from their current timeline.
The forgotten magic provides exactly the opportunity they need. Mallory explains that the spell can trap Satan's soul inside a physical object, preventing him from freely moving between bodies or continuing his destructive activities. To explain the concept, she refers to Dorian Gray, whose soul was famously connected to a painting to preserve his youthful appearance.
The witches now have a way to contain Satan, but the spell comes with an enormous price. Powerful magic requires an equally significant sacrifice, and they need someone with a particularly strong connection to the Devil.
That person is Ben, Satan's 13th son.
Ben initially struggles with the idea of giving up his life. He has only recently become a father and finally has something resembling a peaceful future to look forward to. Understandably, sacrificing everything is hardly an attractive proposition when he has a daughter waiting for him at home.
Cordelia, however, reminds him that his daughter's future matters just as much as his own happiness. If Satan remains free, the world she grows up in could become far worse. Ben must decide whether protecting his family means holding on to his new life or making the ultimate sacrifice to protect everyone else.
The Dorian Gray Spell Traps Satan Inside The Last Supper
Eventually, Ben agrees to give his life to complete the spell. His decision becomes the turning point in the witches' final confrontation with Satan.
While Cordelia, Mallory and Ben are discussing how to carry out their plan, Satan suddenly arrives. Under normal circumstances, confronting him directly would be an almost impossible task. However, having two Supremes working together gives the witches enough power to restrain him.
Cordelia and Mallory hold Satan in place while Ben prepares to complete the ritual. His death activates the spell, allowing Satan's soul to separate from his physical body. The witches then transfer his essence into Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, where he takes the place of Judas as the 13th guest.
It is a particularly fitting choice of prison, considering Satan's enormous vanity. Throughout the season, his handsome human appearance reflects his desire to be admired and recognised. He wants people to look at him, appreciate his beauty and give him the attention he believes he deserves.
The Last Supper offers exactly that kind of attention. It is one of the most recognisable paintings in history, admired and discussed across generations. By trapping Satan inside such an iconic artwork, the witches turn his obsession with admiration into part of his own punishment.
The choice also has a practical purpose. The witches need an object capable of containing his soul, rather than simply placing him in another temporary human body. The painting becomes his prison, with his vanity helping to establish the connection required for the spell.
When the magic takes effect, the original Judas disappears from the artwork and Mr Nas appears in his place. It is the confirmation the witches have been waiting for: their plan has worked, and Satan is now trapped inside the painting.
Mallory understandably wonders whether somebody will need to watch over the artwork for eternity. Cordelia, however, appears confident that such precautions are unnecessary. Considering everything they have experienced, that confidence might be slightly premature.
Does Satan Really Die in AHS 13?
The short answer is no, not in the conventional sense. The witches do not destroy Satan's soul or permanently erase his existence. Instead, they separate it from his physical body and imprison it inside The Last Supper.
This distinction is important because the Devil's defeat is based on containment rather than destruction. The witches have successfully stopped him from operating freely, but that does not necessarily mean his supernatural influence has disappeared.
There are also several details suggesting that their victory might not be as secure as Cordelia believes. Satan has known descendants still living on Earth, including at least two daughters. Their existence raises questions about whether his influence could continue through his family, even while his soul remains trapped.
Ben's death introduces another unsettling possibility. After his body turns to ash, a mysterious shadow escapes from the remains and disappears into the fire. The moment is brief, but it leaves room for speculation about what exactly survived.
Could it represent the Devil's influence escaping through his son? Or might it be Ben's own soul attempting to find another way back? The finale does not provide a definitive answer, which makes the scene particularly interesting when considering the witches' supposedly successful plan.
There is also the obvious problem of underestimating Satan. A being who has spent centuries manipulating humanity is unlikely to accept imprisonment without eventually looking for an escape route. Even if the spell works perfectly, the witches cannot be entirely certain that their chosen prison will hold forever.
Cordelia's decision not to maintain constant supervision over the painting could therefore become a serious mistake. Mallory's concerns seem considerably more reasonable, especially when the consequences of failure could affect the entire world.
Our Opinion: AHS 13 Gives Satan a Rather Unusual Defeat
The finale makes an interesting choice by refusing to give the witches a straightforward victory. Destroying Satan through an enormous magical battle would have been the obvious route, but trapping him inside a famous painting is considerably more entertaining. It also suits the character, whose obsession with beauty and attention ultimately becomes part of his downfall. Ben's sacrifice adds emotional weight to the conclusion, particularly because he has only just discovered what it means to have a family and a future worth protecting.
However, the final moments leave enough unanswered questions to prevent the ending from feeling completely settled. Cordelia's confidence is understandable, but trusting a painting to contain the Devil forever seems like a rather optimistic security arrangement. Mallory is arguably the more sensible one here. The witches have won an important battle, but whether they have actually ended Satan's influence remains another question entirely.
Ultimately, AHS 13 ends with Satan imprisoned rather than dead, giving the witches a victory that feels satisfying without making the threat disappear completely. The Last Supper becomes an unexpected supernatural prison, Ben's sacrifice gives the spell its power, and Mallory's journey into the past provides the missing piece of magic.
Still, the mysterious shadow escaping after Ben's death and Satan's remaining descendants leave plenty of room for doubt. Was Cordelia right to believe the painting would hold forever, or did the witches simply postpone another confrontation with the Devil? What do you think Ben's final shadow represents? Share your interpretation and whether you believe Satan will eventually escape.