The Legend Of Vox Machina Is Switching Main Characters

Published Sep 15, 2026, 1:30 PM EDT

Laura Hurley has been writing about the entertainment industry for more than twelve years, after a decade as a content producer and editor at CinemaBlend after writing for WhatCulture and Examiner. Attending events like SCAD TVfest and San Diego Comic-Con over the course of her career, she has been immersed in the world of network, streaming, and cable TV. 

Prime Video's The Legend of Vox Machina has become the streaming service's top fantasy series over its past four seasons, and the fifth will wrap up the story of the epic animated saga. At least one big change has already been set up for the ending, and not just because the TV show is based on Critical Role's real-life Dungeons & Dragons campaign that concluded nearly ten years ago. A different character could get much more spotlight before the final credits roll.

Vox Machina has technically always been an ensemble show, with the focus switching between Vex (Laura Bailey), Percy (Taliesin Jaffe), Pike (Ashley Johnson), Vax (Liam O'Brien), Keyleth (Marisha Ray), Scanlan (Sam Riegel), Grog (Travis Willingham), and various characters voiced by Matt Mercer. Percy was definitely the main character in the first season, when the team battled the Briarwoods to reclaim Whitestone for the de Rolos. In every season since, somebody else has been getting more and more of the spotlight: Vax.

Vax made a devastating decision to pledge himself to the Matron of Ravens early in season 2, in exchange for her resurrecting his twin sister. It was enough to make him into the main character. The whole team has been dealing with the consequences of the Matron looming over Vax ever since. Even battling the apocalyptic Chroma Conclave of dragons couldn't put the Matron out of his mind. After the latest brutal twist for his character in season 4, The Legend of Vox Machina season 5 will have to change its approach to who's in the spotlight.

Vax's Death Sets Up A New 'Main Character' For The Legend Of Vox Machina

The clock was ticking for Vax from the start of the fourth season, with the Matron's rot painfully spreading. Despite keeping Vex in the dark while Keyleth was determined to save him, his death seemed all but guaranteed. Vox Machina had to pull out all the stops to battle the Whispered One, and that seemed to involve Vax sacrificing himself. He was briefly spared, but he sealed his fate when he refused to kneel for the newly-ascended Whispered One.

At the end of The Legend of Vox Machina season 4, the villain disintegrate Vax in front of his loved ones, who will have to step up after his death. While this isn't the first time that the show killed off a main character, there are key differences to how the show handled the demises of Vex and Percy that don't bode well for Vax fully coming back. The rest of the team still had access to both of their bodies to resurrect them, whereas Vax's body was entirely destroyed. The Whispered One has no good reason to reconstitute Vax like he did Grog.

Even if Vox Machina finds a way to resurrect Vax, the final season will likely only run for 12 episodes, each of which will likely run under half an hour. There isn't enough time for the action to pause, the characters to bring back Vax, and proceed with him back as the main character. Others will have to step up. Vex and Keyleth seem to be the most likely contenders, as the two who will be the most devastated by his demise.

Vex's bond with Vax didn't get much focus in the fourth season, which could make her all the more determined to avenge her brother in the fifth and final season. Keyleth spent most of season 4 fighting to find a way to save Vax, even when he was resigned to the Matron's plan. She may want to honor his choices to oppose the Whispered One, no matter the cost. Pike may also feel the need for redemption, after her temporary betrayal of the team had dire consequences.

Does Vax Return In The Original Critical Role Campaign?

Courtesy of Prime Video

Vax's death wasn't permanent in Critical Role's original Dungeons & Dragons campaign. In fact, there were a lot more main character deaths and resurrections over the course of the campaign, with the show cutting the total down significantly to just include Vex, Percy, Grog, and Vax. That said, his resurrection wasn't as straightforward as the others. If the show veers back to follow the campaign's story for Vax, his return will be far from triumphant.

In the campaign, Vax didn't return due to a ritual cast by any member of Vox Machina, but rather by another deal with the Matron. He awakened in the Matron's realm, and was sent back one last time to help his friends defeat the Whispered One. It was only a temporary reprieve, despite some heroic plans from Scanlan to save him, and Vax had to return to the Matron in death by the end of the campaign.

Of course, The Legend of Vox Machina has made plenty of changes to the campaign over the years, so Vax's (presumed) return could be very different on Prime Video. Even so, several tragedies from the campaign had to be incorporated into the show for the original story to work. Vex and Percy both needed to die for the plot, and Vax's fate likely needs to be adapted as well.

Regardless of how Vox Machina handles it, Vax's fate wouldn't really affect the events of The Mighty Nein. A lot about how his story truly ends depends on whether the third campaign, which revisits the saga of Vox Machina, is adapted into an animated show. Laudna, one of the key characters from Critical Role's campaign 3, was included in the most recent season.

For now, The Legend of Vox Machina seems likely to end in tragedy for Vax, with the strongest members of Vox Machina needing to step up as main characters despite their heartbreak. All four seasons so far can be found on Prime Video during the wait for the fifth and final season.

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  Laura Bailey

  Vex'ahlia (voice)

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  Taliesin Jaffe

  Percy (voice)

Based on the characters and storylines from the first Dungeons and Dragons campaign in the web series Critical Role, The Legend of Vox Machina chronicles the adventures of a group of heroes for hire named Vox Machina as they attempt to protect the continent of Tal'Dorei.