Warning: contains SPOILERS for Stranger Things season 4, volume 2.
There's a range of possible characters who could kill Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) in Stranger Things season 5. As revealed at the end of season 4, Vecna is still alive in some capacity and has been able to begin merging the Upside Down with the Right Side Up. The main characters are all currently in Hawkins and are recovering from their failed Vecna attack. Max (Sadie Sink), in particular, is in terrible shape after Eleven revived her from death. She is last shown hospitalized in a coma, braindead and blinded, with a precarious fate going into season 5.
Nonetheless, considering the importance that Vecna has in creating the interdimensional trouble surrounding Hawkins, he's going to die for good in Stranger Things's fifth and final season. The attack in season 4 made Vecna seem immortal, just like his Dungeons & Dragons counterpart, but ending Stranger Things without resolving its central villain would make the show feel moot. In addition to killing Vecna, Stranger Things also needs to further explain elements like the Upside Down's origin, Russia's full significance to the show, and Hawkins' well-being after the Upside Down's reign of destruction.
Regarding Vecna's downfall, a key ingredient could actually be a Dungeons & Dragons character. In the D&D World of Greyhawk campaign, Vecna was almost fully defeated by his trusted lieutenant, Kas the Bloody-Handed. Arming himself with a sword and a spiked shield, Kas betrayed Vecna and attempted to slay him, taking Vecna out of his physical body before the evil lich eventually returned. One of theoretical endings is that the entire show is a giant D&D campaign, which holds only so much weight when given the time jumps, added characters, and scope. Nonetheless, it's a testament to how Stranger Things loves to draw inspiration from the iconic role-playing game. Therefore, it's possible that Vecna's demise will fall under a similar pattern as his D&D counterpart. The question is whether Stranger Things' Kas element was already included in the show or is yet to be incorporated, and the answer could also clue in on Vecna's official demise. With this in mind, here are the ways in which the following characters could deliver Vecna's final blow.
Eleven
Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) is surely going to be involved in Vecna's demise, considering how closely tied the two characters are to each other. In fact, it's entirely possible that Eleven could sacrifice herself in Stranger Things's finale in order to kill Vecna because of how close their relationship is. Looking at the Kas angle, Eleven did form a similar Kas-Vecna alliance in her past before betraying Stranger Things' Vecna and sending him to the Upside Down. Vecna as the Hawkins Lab orderly was an authority figure over Eleven who told her how to escape, which showed both a power dynamic and close friendship between the two.
In Stranger Things season 4, volume 2, Eleven plays a huge part in taking Vecna out of his physical form. However, before Vecna evaporates into a cloud of red smoke, he delivers a villain monologue explaining to Eleven the full Vecna-Mind Flayer connection as a way to reform an alliance with her. Vecna claims to have built the Upside Down for both him and Eleven to control, despite Eleven's past betrayal.
In Stranger Things season 4, episode 1 "The Hellfire Club," there's possible Vecna foreshadowing during the D&D game. One interesting clue about Vecna's demise is Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) specifically rolling an 11, which ends up being a miss. D&D's Kas failed to kill Vecna but did deliver a critical blow to him. Likewise, Eleven does considerable damage to Vecna despite failing to fully defeat him. Eleven will surely get another chance at Vecna in season 5, and she'll likely make the final hit considering her importance in the show. Still, she's definitely bound to receive help from her friends.
Will
Stranger Things season 4 hinted at 5, which would be a refreshing jumpstart to his character. Will (Noah Schnapp) remained in Stranger Things from the beginning without garnering much development outside of his generalized connection to the Upside Down, which is frustrating for a show that has a cast of otherwise likable, useful characters. While it would be unfortunate for Stranger Things to wait until its final season to finally give Will a more fleshed-out purpose, season 4 at least builds the potential up for his character to deliver something big.
Will was one of the characters not directly involved in the Vecna attack plan of season 4, volume 2, making it possible that he's the missing link towards defeating him. Looking at a potential Kas angle, Vecna seems to be lurking within Will somehow. With that comes the possibility of Will's eventual servitude to Vecna, thereby making Will a Stranger Things villain. Will becoming a Kas-like character requires him to betray Vecna in some way, breaking away from his influence to deliver a crushing blow.
Regardless of how Stranger Things uses Will to defeat Vecna, it's clear that Will needs to be generally utilized more in the show. For him to not be involved in Vecna's defeat would be a greatly missed opportunity considering how uniquely strong Will's connection is to Vecna and the Upside Down. Luckily, there's definitely potential for his involvement in defeating Vecna in season 5, so long as Stranger Things understands Will's potential.
Max
Max received a considerable amount of importance to the show in Stranger Things season 4. She became the final victim Vecna needed in order to open the rift between the Upside Down and Right Side Up, but the merging was temporarily halted when Eleven saved her. Max's Stranger Things season 5 return would need to pay off, considering that near-deaths can often seem like mere fan service.
The apparent implication of Eleven being in an empty void while trying to psychically find Max is that Vecna has taken her very being. She's not gone entirely, but Vecna does seem to be trapping her. Like Will, Max could be under Vecna's servitude in Stranger Things season 5, which thus leads to a Kas-like betrayal.
Another key Kas connection to Max is the resurrection aspect between the two characters. In D&D, Kas is banished into the Quasi-Elemental Plane of Ash where his exposure to the realm eventually transforms him into a vampire. Likewise, Max is brought back to life after her time in another space. Max's Stranger Things season 4 transformation into someone not entirely of the current plane of existence alludes to a Kas-like vampire connection. However Max comes back in Stranger Things season 5, her resurrection and the added mysteries about her existence suggest that there's more to her connection with Vecna and his eventual demise.
Eddie
Eddie (Joseph Quinn) is undeniably dead, but the Kas theory circulating around him makes his season 5 return possible. Of all the Stranger Things characters with a modicum of Kas proof, Eddie has the most glaring foreshadowing surrounding such a transformation. It comes to the point that not providing any payoff for a Kas-Eddie situation would almost seem odd on the show's part, even if the Duffer brothers are confirming that his death is final.
The brushed-off aftermath of Eddie's Stranger Things death keeps the possibility open that his body is still in the Upside Down. His "puppet master" forearm tattoo and "Master of Puppets" guitar scene provide further potential that Eddie's body in the Upside Down is there for Vecna's taking. It depends on what Vecna's full capabilities are, but the fact that he made the Upside Down into what it is presents the wide scope of his powers. If Vecna can bring back the dead within the Upside Down, it's certainly in line with his character to possess Eddie and use him for his own benefit. It would also make sense as to why Vecna keeps his victims around the Creel House. Knowing Vecna's character, he more than likely could be keeping his dead victims for his future benefit.
Eddie wasn't one of Vecna's victims, but the additional Kas symbolism surrounding him suggests his possible return nonetheless. One of Eddie's Stranger Things tattoos is a black widow on his chest, which connects to Vecna. Eddie had no part in actually fighting Vecna directly — he was Demobat bait. However, if this black widow tattoo is any proof, there could be a deeper Eddie-Vecna connection moving forward. A key element about D&D's Kas is his loyalty to Vecna, which Eddie of course hasn't shown. However, if Vecna possesses Eddie in his favor, then this opens Eddie up for an eventual Kas-like betrayal. It would also show Eddie being reborn into something else, just like Kas.
Another key Kas element is the spiked shield that Eddie and Dustin used. A spiked shield is one of Kas's staple weapons, and giving one to Dustin and Eddie seems like purposeful foreshadowing. For Eddie to then use the spiked shield more prominently than Dustin, however, makes his Kas connection more blatant. Of course, there's a reason why Eddie died in Stranger Things season 4, and there would need to be a solid reason to resurrect him. Bringing a character back from the dead in any form is a risky move that may seem more pandering than useful to the show, but the incredibly strong Kas-Eddie connections could justify Eddie's resurrection.
Steve
Steve (Joe Keery) could play a bigger part in killing Vecna than it may seem. Despite being attacked by Demobats and being choked by vines for a considerable amount of time, Steve survived Stranger Things season 4. His Kas connection comes mainly from his Demobat bites, which provide some speculation that this could tie into him becoming a vampiric creature like the D&D character. That said, he may not become Stranger Things's Kas. Still, his Demobat attack could their significance to him. Being that the Stranger Things so late in the show's existence speaks to their importance going into the end, and there's still more about them that's yet to be revealed.
Regardless of whether Steve connects to Kas or not, he's still important enough in the show to provide a major hit against Vecna. He already ed Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Robin (Maya Hawke) in throwing Molotov cocktails at Vecna in the Stranger Things season 4 finale, but the job isn't done. Steve will undoubtedly remain in the fight against Vecna, yet the importance of his role in the attack will be further revealed in Stranger Things season 5.
Want more Stranger Things season 4 articles? Check out our essential content below...
- Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 2 Ending Explained (In Detail)
- Everything We Know About Stranger Things Season 5: Cast, Setting & Story
- Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 2 Easter Eggs & References
- Stranger Things' Vecna Identity, Powers & Origin Fully Explained
- How Many Kids Were In Hawkins' Lab (& How Many Are Dead)
- Why THAT Character Died In The Stranger Things Season 4 Finale
- Of Course Eddie's Upside Down Song Was Perfect!
- Stranger Things: Biggest Unanswered Questions & Mysteries After Season 4