I agree the whole “Typically” to alignment opens up a world of possibilities. Looking through it really only seems to be the demon lords and named devil lords who are defined as a def alignment (Chaotic Evil/lawful Evil). Which makes sense, they are in effect named characters so will be an alignment, all other stats are more generic.
I think the key question is whether its creature type changes if its alignment changes. In 3.5e the creature type would be 'outsider' and definitely doesn't change, but in 5e that's not an actual creature type (most of them are celestials or fiends, but slaad are abominations and modrons are constructs), so if a devil becomes LG does its creature type change to celestial? (this is really only relevant if you have something like a hallow that chooses to affect one but not the other).
Naturally, canon on this is inconsistent. I don't know of any risen fiends, but there's more than one fallen celestial; the one in CoS says to change alignment but not creature type (so presumably LE celestial), but Zariel changed creature type to Fiend (Devil).
I think the key question is whether its creature type changes if its alignment changes. In 3.5e the creature type would be 'outsider' and definitely doesn't change, but in 5e that's not an actual creature type (most of them are celestials or fiends, but slaad are abominations and modrons are constructs), so if a devil becomes LG does its creature type change to celestial?
Naturally, canon on this is inconsistent. I don't know of any risen fiends, but there's more than one fallen celestial; the one in CoS says to change alignment but not creature type (so presumably LE celestial), but Zariel changed creature type to Fiend (Devil).
I would argue that Zariel is a special case because she was originally a celestial, but was deliberately changed by Asmodeus into a fiend. Had that not happened, she would have simply been an evil celestial, like Fazrian. Fazrian is not a fiend because he was never a fiend, and there was no pact that changed his type. Zariel's redemption, if successful, simply breaks Asmodeus' magic and restores her to a celestial. Another point of view is that the word "celestial" refers to a specific class of beings that serve good powers. Could a redeemed fiend not simply switch their alignment to neutral and remain a fiend? Could they not become good and simply serve an ideal rather than a power, or serve nothing at all?
Of course, this will be up to the individual DM, but I think that some very interesting stories could involve redeemed fiends trying to convince heroes that they're good.
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I think the key question is whether its creature type changes if its alignment changes. In 3.5e the creature type would be 'outsider' and definitely doesn't change, but in 5e that's not an actual creature type (most of them are celestials or fiends, but slaad are abominations and modrons are constructs), so if a devil becomes LG does its creature type change to celestial? (this is really only relevant if you have something like a hallow that chooses to affect one but not the other).
Naturally, canon on this is inconsistent. I don't know of any risen fiends, but there's more than one fallen celestial; the one in CoS says to change alignment but not creature type (so presumably LE celestial), but Zariel changed creature type to Fiend (Devil).
I would argue that Zariel is a special case because she was originally a celestial, but was deliberately changed by Asmodeus into a fiend. Had that not happened, she would have simply been an evil celestial, like Fazrian. Fazrian is not a fiend because he was never a fiend, and there was no pact that changed his type. Zariel's redemption, if successful, simply breaks Asmodeus' magic and restores her to a celestial. Another point of view is that the word "celestial" refers to a specific class of beings that serve good powers. Could a redeemed fiend not simply switch their alignment to neutral and remain a fiend? Could they not become good and simply serve an ideal rather than a power, or serve nothing at all?
Of course, this will be up to the individual DM, but I think that some very interesting stories could involve redeemed fiends trying to convince heroes that they're good.