Castiel

Castiel, often shortened to Cas, is a powerful angel of the Lord, who was responsible for saving Dean Winchester from Hell, on the archangels' command. It was his job to help prevent Lilith from breaking the 66 Seals that, once broken, would release Lucifer from his cage in Hell. Once Castiel learned that the angels wished to free Lucifer anyway, he defied his angelic brethren and died trying to help Dean prevent Sam Winchester from breaking the last seal. After he was killed by Raphael, Castiel was resurrected by God and joined Sam, Dean and Bobby Singer in a quest to stop both Heaven and Hell to prevent the brothers from becoming the vessels of Michael and Lucifer. When the Apocalypse was averted, he was again resurrected with new powers, being promoted to Seraph. He has been the main antagonist during Season 6 and died several more times, all of which he's been resurrected from. He currently remains an ally and friend to the Winchester brothers.

Early Life
Although not much is known about Castiel's early life, discussions with Uriel suggest the pair were children by Angel standards when Lucifer rebelled against Heaven and refused to bow down to humanity. While his brother was enthralled by Lucifer's power and charisma, Castiel remembered being frightened and disturbed by the rebellious Archangel. Castiel had been stationed on Earth for at least 2,000 years while being in the same garrison as Anael, who acted as his superior and became very close to him, Uriel, Balthazar, Hester, Inias and Bartholomew. Castiel was present when the world was first created, making him several thousands years old biblically. He watched as the first fish emerged from the ocean. He also watched them build the Tower of Babel, among other historic and Biblical events. He also witnessed Cain killing Abel.

21st Century
In 2008, Castiel spoke with his true vessel, Jimmy Novak, in Pontiac, Illinois. When Jimmy was watching television, Castiel's voice distorts the picture and caused him to scream in pain and his body to spasm until he finally blacked out. Later, Castiel told Jimmy to put his arm in boiling water and that he would be unharmed as a way to prove his faith. With his wife believing that he was going crazy, Jimmy asked Castiel what he wants from him and how he can help. Castiel explained that he needs to use Jimmy Novak as a vessel, to which Jimmy agreed to as long as his family is protected. After receiving consent, Castiel possessed Jimmy Novak. Before he left, Castiel was confronted by Jimmy's daughter, Claire, and told her that he is not her father.

Season 4
When Dean Winchester broke the first of the 66 Seals that would allow Lucifer to walk free, the Angels took action. They fought their way to Hell and Castiel freed Dean from the pit. Dean awoke in a grave and made his way to the surface, not knowing how he had been resurrected; the only clue he had was a large imprint of a hand near his shoulder. After reuniting with Bobby Singer and Sam Winchester, Dean tried to learn what had rescued him from Hell. He also discovered that he'd been dead and buried for four months. Eventually, Dean took matters into his own hands and with Bobby's help, set a trap for the creature and protected himself and Bobby with multiple Devil's Traps and other anti-demon devices. Castiel arrived and the hunters shot at him as he passed through the Devil's Traps with ease. Dean stabbed him with Ruby's knife but it had no effect and Castiel quickly knocked out Bobby with a mere touch. Castiel explained who he was to Dean, telling him "I'm an angel of the Lord.", and that God has work for him.

After people who were supposed to be dead seemed to be rising from the grave, Castiel appeared to Dean and explained to him that this was one of the 66 Seals, "The Rising of the Witnesses." Castiel told him that Lilith was attempting to break 66 of the seals which would lead to Lucifer walking free on Earth and then theApocalypse would begin. The Angels had been fighting to stop the demons, but the odds were against them. He explained to Dean that he must help stop the breaking of the seals as well. Castiel also showed that he was not a force to be underestimated or even taken lightly as in a chilling tone, he told Dean to start showing him some respect or he'd change his mind and throw him back into Hell again.

One day when Dean was asleep, he woke up to find Castiel sitting beside him. Castiel, without speaking, tapped Dean and brought him back in time to an important few-day period. It showed Dean the connection between Azazel andMary Winchester, and answered questions that had always been on his mind. Castiel said that the reason he had brought Dean back to that period was to make sure that he was caught up with all of the facts. He also explained that the angels are still unaware of Azazel's endgame. Castiel also told Dean about Sam's developing abilities and that he was going too far down a dark path and that if Sam did not stop using his powers, then the angels would kill him.

Sometime later, Castiel and his partner Uriel met with the Winchesters when they were in the middle of hunting a witch. The angels explained that the witch was trying to summon the demon Samhain from Hell and that this was another one of the 66 Seals. The angels said that they would have to destroy the entire town and all of its residents to ensure that the seal would not be broken. The brothers argued against this and assured Castiel and Uriel that they could stop the witch from summoning Samhain. While Uriel wanted to smite the town anyway and drag Dean and Sam away, Castiel agreed with them, later discussing with Uriel his disdain for humanity and their true orders. Unfortunately, the Winchesters failed and Samhain rose, breaking another seal. After Sam exorcised Samhain with his powers and stopped him, Castiel met with Dean in a park and revealed that the angels true orders were always to follow Dean's orders, not to smite the town and that this was a test of Dean's battlefield leadership. Castiel reveals that he always hoped that Dean would chose to save the town whether or not they failed and that he secretly harbors doubts about Heaven and its plans.

When the angels learned that a woman named Anna Milton could listen in on angel's conversations they grew worried. Castiel knew the truth: Anna had once been his angel superior Anael who disobeyed. She cut out her Grace and fell to Earth, where she was reborn as a human. Castiel and Uriel knew though that the only way to ensure the safety of their plans were to kill Anna. While Castiel was hesitant about this, Uriel enforced the idea that it was absolutely necessary. The angels and demons fought over who would take Anna with Castiel fighting Alastair. Castiel proved no match for the demon, with his powers being useless, but Dean saved him despite being on opposite sides of the Anna situation. In the end, Anna retrieved her Grace and became an angel again and Alastair's body was destroyed, defeating him. Grateful for Dean saving him, Castiel held Uriel back from attacking Dean in revenge and they left to chase after Anna.

When Alastair tried to break another seal by killing two Reapers on the night of the Solstice, Castiel managed to capture him having pretended to be Bobby to send the Winchesters after the seal. The angels held Alastair captive and when seven angels had mysteriously been killed, Castiel assumed that demons were behind the attacks. He and Uriel recruited Dean to interrogate the demon. During the interrogation, Anna returned and spoke with Castiel. She told him that she knew how he was feeling and that he was beginning to develop human emotions. Castiel refused to believe this and yelled at her, causing her to leave.

Castiel later appeared when Dean interrogated Chuck Shurley, who was writing a book series based on the Winchester brothers, explaining that Chuck was a Prophet of the Lord. When Dean asked him for help in saving Sam from Lilith, Castiel was initially hesitant to help, but dropped him a hint by telling him that Prophets are protected by archangels, and that if a Prophet is in the same room with a demon, then the archangel will descend to smite the demon.

Castiel then came to Dean while he was dreaming and told him to meet him at a certain location, saying that he had something to tell them. But when Dean and Sam arrived, they found him unconscious in a wrecked building with dead demons. When he awoke, the brothers found that Castiel had abandoned his vessel, Jimmy Novak, who describes being possessed by Castiel like "being chained to a comet." When Dean, Sam, Jimmy and Jimmy's daughter, Claire, were being held hostage by demons, Jimmy was shot and Castiel returned to possess Claire and helped save them all. While Castiel tried to comfort a dying Jimmy, Jimmy pleaded with Castiel to take him back as a host and Castiel accepted. When Dean asked Castiel what happened, he coldly replied, "I learned my lesson while I was away, Dean. I serve Heaven; I don't serve Man. And I certainly don't serve you."

Later in When the Levee Breaks Castiel was summoned by Dean, who was screaming for three hours for help. When Castiel arrived, Dean asked him what happened in Heaven, but Castiel wouldn't say. Then Castiel recruited Dean in the service of God and his Angels. Castiel told him to wait till the Angels summons him. A few hours later he freed Sam from Bobby's panic room in which he was held captive, because of his addiction. Later Anna confronted Castiel about why he released Sam. Anna said that Sam was even worse than they had expected. Castiel told he has his orders to follow and then said to Anna that she shouldn't have come. The next moment two Angels stood beside her, and took her captive.

Later Zachariah brought Dean to a chamber, so he would be safe for the release ofLucifer. Zachariah told him that the final seal would be broken that night. Later Dean wanted to talk with Sam and summoned Castiel by breaking a Stone Angel on one of the tables. Dean asked to visited Sam, but Castiel said he could go everywhere except to Sam. Dean asked what they were going to do with Sam. Castiel said that Sam is going to do it to himself, but he didn't want to say more. He said it was his destiny. Dean said that destiny was just a bunch of lies, to keep him in line. Dean tried to persuade Castiel to help him, but Castiel said that they would be all be hunted, that they would all be killed. In response, Dean said to him that this is worth dying for. But to Dean's disappointment, Castiel refused and Dean ordered him away. Castiel tried to get Dean to listen, but left when he refused.

Shortly after, Castiel confronted Dean and drew an Angel Banishing Sigil on the wall with his own blood after putting his hand over Dean's mouth to stop him from shouting until he realized Castiel was helping him. Then Zachariah appeared and asked what he was doing. Castiel pressed his bloody hand on the sigil, banishing Zachariah. He then said that Lilithis the final seal and that Sam is going to break it. He said he knew someone that knew where Sam was and teleported Dean with him.

Castiel teleported Dean and himself to Chuck, the prophet of the Lord. Chuck was confused and said that this is not supposed to be, for this was not in the story. Castiel said that they would make it up. When they found out that Sam was at Saint Mary's, Chuck’s computer goes off and bright light fills the room. Castiel said it is the Archangel and teleported Dean to Saint Mary's, so that he could hold the Angel off. At Chuck’s, Castiel looks up at the bright light. Chuck puts his hand on Cas’s shoulder, and when Castiel gives him a look, he removes it.

Season 5
After witnessing the release of Lucifer from Hell, Dean and Sam went to Chuck's house to find Castiel. There they were told by Chuck that the Archangel smoked Castiel - literally - and they even find one of his teeth tangled in Chuck's hair. Later, when the Winchesters are trying to track down Michael's sword in their father's old storage unit, Zachariah and his angels arrived to inform Dean that he is Michael's sword—in other words, Michael's vessel. When Dean refused to give his consent for Michael to possess his body, Zachariah started inflicting various kinds of physical pain on him and Sam (breaking Sam's legs and removing his lungs, and giving Dean stage-four stomach cancer), all the while refusing to kill them. Castiel then miraculously appeared and dispatched Zachariah's men, then forced Zachariah to heal the Winchesters and leave. He then used his powers to carveEnochian Sigils on their ribs, keeping them hidden from all demons and angels, including Lucifer.

After rebelling against the angels, Castiel's powers began to deteriorate whilst he searched for God using Dean's amulet. However, despite his vanishing strength, he continued to be invaluable to the brothers saving them on numerous occasions. Looking for a way to find God, Castiel approached Dean to help him capture Raphael to interrogate him about God's location. After Castiel retrieved Holy Oil for the trap, Dean took him to a strip club after learning that Castiel was a virgin so he wouldn't die as one. Castiel was clearly nervous in the strip club and ended up angering the stripper by telling her that her father left because he hated his job, not her. Castiel and Dean succeeded in trapping Raphael who told them God was dead. Though Raphael demanded his release and threatened them, Castiel left him where he was telling him that "for now you're my little bitch."

When Sam, Dean, Ellen and Jo went after Lucifer, Castiel joined them, drinking shots with Ellen before they took off and taking a picture with the group. In Carthage, Castiel separated from the group to follow a Reaper and was captured and held in Holy Fire by Lucifer who tried to convince the angel to join him. Castiel refused and was held captive by Meg who taunted him. However, Castiel managed to loosen a pipe and use it to knock Meg into the circle where he tried to smiteher only to find he'd lost that power. Castiel used Meg's body as a bridge to escape and teleported Sam and Dean, the only other survivors of the failed mission away from Lucifer.

When the brothers were ambushed and killed by several hunters furious with them for causing the Apocalypse, Castiel warned the brothers that Zachariah was looking for them in Heaven and they should attempt to contact an angel namedJoshua, who was rumored to speak to God. When the brothers returned from death, Sam revealed that God wanted nothing to do with them, causing Castiel to abandon his belief in God and return Dean's amulet, stating that it was worthless. He fell into a depression and drank heavily, but sobered up in time to help defeat the Whore of Babylon.

In Point of No Return, Castiel was angry with Dean's decision to say yes to Michael as he had sacrificed everything to follow Dean as he believed in him. At one point Castiel had beaten him up out of pure rage. When Sam and Dean go to rescue Adam Milligan from Zachariah, Castiel carved an Angel Banishing Sigil into his chest and uses it to banish four angels and himself after showing his lack of faith in Dean by saying at least he won't have to see Dean fail. However, Dean ultimately doesn't go through with saying yes to Michael and kills Zachariah instead.

In Two Minutes to Midnight, Castiel returned powerless, apparently from the banishing sigil. He apologizes to Dean for doubting him and comes to their aid when confronting Pestilence. In his weakened state, Pestilence easily brings Castiel down, but he possesses just a "speck" of his angelic self left, just enough to resist Pestilence's power long enough to cut off his ring and defeat him. Castiel later joins Bobby and Sam in an assault on Niveus to stop the Croatoan Virus, bemoaning his lack of power. Despite this, Castiel does a good job, stopping a truck loaded with the virus from leaving and killing a zombie with a shotgun (which he remarks is actually useful), saving Sam's life.

In Swan Song, now almost completely human, Castiel accompanies Bobby, Dean and Sam to Detroit where Sam will say Yes to Lucifer as part of their plan. Castiel awkwardly says goodbye to Sam and tries to reassure him that they will be okay, but is bad at it. When Sam fails to overpower Lucifer, Castiel loses hope and suggests they get drunk and wait for the end to come. Dean refuses to give up and manages to get Castiel and Bobby to help him. In the final confrontation, when Michael (in the vessel of Adam Milligan) was about to fight Lucifer (in the vessel of Sam) Dean intervened saying he wished to speak with Sam. This prompted Michael to remove Dean, however, before he could respond Castiel teleported into the field with Bobby and threw a molotov of holy fire at Michael sending him back to Heaven for a brief time. Lucifer turned to Castiel, furious by the fact that Castiel harmed his brother. Castiel for the first time showed fear when he realized that he had enraged Lucifer, who snapped his fingers and caused Castiel to explode.

Shortly after the battle between Dean and Lucifer where Sam was able to retake control and throw both himself and Michael into the Pit, Castiel was resurrected by God with his angelic powers restored and upgraded, allowing him to restore Dean's broken bones and Bobby to life. Castiel, now a Seraph, said that he needed to return to Heaven to restore order to the anarchy that will follow Michael's departure.

Season 6
After the Apocalypse was averted, Castiel returned to Heaven where other angels awaited him. He tried to tell them about freedom, but none of them understood. Castiel finds out that the archangel Raphael wanted to take over and followMichael's departure and restart the Apocalypse. Unable to stop him, Castiel wants to turn to Dean, but doesn't because he feels like he's already asked so much from Dean. Then Crowley shows up with a deal to find Purgatory and offers Castiel power to stop Raphael. So Castiel begins a civil war in Heaven. When Sam and Dean found out the plagues were unleashed upon the Earth, they called Castiel for help. Castiel showed up and told them the Angelic Weapons were stolen from Heaven. He also claimed that he didn't know what or whom brought Sam back from Hell.

During their investigation, they find out that an Angel has been moonlighting as a crossroads demon. To locate the angel's name, Castiel performed a ritual to find the angel that bought the soul. When Castiel learned it was his old friend,Balthazar, an angel follower of Raphael showed up and attacked Castiel. Castiel managed to defend himself and let the angel get away, but the angel knew that Balthazar was selling pieces of the Staff of Moses. So Castiel, Dean and Sam try to find Balthazar first, and when they do, Balthazar admitted that he stole the weapons from Heaven and that he want to live in freedom. When Balthazar disappears, Castiel is confronted by angels who want to kill him. Castiel asked them to join him, but they refused and Castiel killed them. Afterwards, Raphael showed up and told him that they were his followers and smashed Castiel. Just as Raphael was about to kill Castiel, Balthazar showed up and used the weapons from Heaven to destroy Raphael's vessel. Eventually, Sam and Dean showed up and were able to trap Balthazar in a circle of holy oil, but Castiel lets Balthazar go after they force him to let go of his hold on the soul with Castiel's reason being that he owed Balthazar his life.

Dean becomes more and more disturbed by Sam's behavior, and prays for Castiel's help. Castiel doesn't respond until Dean calls him about a possible loose nuke, much to Dean's aggravation. Castiel apologizes, but reassures Dean on his theory that Sam is not Lucifer, explaining that all angels would feel his presence if Lucifer was free. Castiel also states he doesn't know what's wrong with Sam, but he promises to make inquiries. Dean calls on Castiel once he has Sam unconscious, and asks for him to diagnose Sam. Castiel informs both brothers that physically, Sam is perfectly healthy, but his soul is missing. He guesses that Sam's soul is still in the cage with Michael and Lucifer. Castiel suggests to Dean that he doesn't think restoring Sam's soul is wise. He supports his statement with the fact that his soul has been locked in the cage with Michael and Lucifer for more than a year, and they have been doing nothing other than taking their frustrations out on Sam. He theorizes that if they try to force the damaged, tortured soul back into Sam, and if they fail to deal with the problems, then Sam will suffer horrifically.

After Sam gets his soul back, Castiel comes to check up on him, and tells Dean that he doesn't think Sam is ever going to wake up. A few hours later Sam wakes up and reunites with his brother. Later on Sam, now with his soul, calls Cas. Castiel comes and tells Sam he is glad to see him well, despite everything, nearly hugging him. Sam catches on and tricks Castiel into telling him the truth.

Castiel is later revealed to be working with Crowley after the Winchesters' encounter with Eve. The truth finally comes out in The Man Who Would Be King, Castiel recounts history from his point of view and how the Winchesters inspired him. Castiel also begins to notice that Sam, Dean and Bobby are getting suspicious of Castiel and believe he is working with Crowley. He also tries to get other angels to embrace freedom, but the angels don't know how. Then Raphael tries to make Castiel bow to him, and Castiel refuses. Due to his misfortune, Castiel is no match for him. Castiel tries to get help from Dean, but seeing Dean retired makes Castiel rethink this. Then Crowley approaches Castiel with a deal, so Cas can become more powerful. Castiel begins his deal with Crowley. With this deal, Castiel starts the civil war in heaven. But when Crowley begins to threaten the Winchester's lives, Castiel becomes protective of them.

Although Castiel managed to keep the secret for a while, he slipped up with information he got from spying on them. Later the boys trapped him in a ring of holy fire and confront him about his betrayal. When demons come, Castiel tells the boys to run and they leave him in the ring of holy fire. Crowley comes in and saves him. Castiel leaves, and comes to Dean, trying to explain the situation. Castiel tells Dean that he did this for Dean but Dean does not want it this way. Castiel responds that Dean can't stop him and says he's sorry and disappears.

In Let It Bleed, Castiel has taken one of the Campbell diaries, and is investigating an incident in which H.P. Lovecraft opened a portal to another world. Sam prays for him, telling Cas that Lisa and Ben have been kidnapped by Crowley, and asks for help. Castiel listens unseen, and does not answer, but goes to confront Crowley. He insists that the demon not harm Lisa and Ben, but Crowley refuses to make such a promise. Balthazar later calls him. He asks Cas if he is planning on opening the door to Purgatory; Cas lies that he is not, but Balthazar is not fooled. Castiel asks if he is with him, or not. Balthazar says he is, and Castiel goes to Dean, arriving just in time to save him from a demon. He apologizes for Lisa and Ben, revealing that he did not know Crowley's plan. Dean is skeptical, and angry. Castiel asks him again to support his decision to tap the souls in Purgatory. He pleads with him that he has always done what the brothers needed him to, asking little in return. Cas asks them to trust in him, and promises to bring him his family afterward. Dean is unwilling, and Castiel leaves.

After Dean and Sam rescue Lisa, Castiel comes to the hospital where the gravely injured Lisa is not expected to survive. He apologizes again, but Dean is not forgiving. Castiel says that he did not come for Dean, then places a hand on Lisa's forehead, healing her. Both Dean and Cas acknowledge that this does not change their situation, but Dean asks for an additional favor. Castiel removes all Lisa and Ben's memories of Dean. Later Castiel finds and takes Dr. Visyak, the creature he needs to open Purgatory.

In The Man Who Knew Too Much, Castiel and Crowley torture Dr. Visyak until they obtain what they need to open Purgatory. She escapes and contacts Bobby and the Winchesters, telling her story before dying in an alley from her injuries. Castiel comes to the three hunters, who are outraged. Dean tries to argue with him again, but Cas cuts him off, saying he no longer cares about Dean's opinion. He then touches Sam's head, breaking the mental wall, and promising to repair him as long as Dean stops the opposition.

Castiel meets with Crowley, who has assembled the necessary ingredients. The angel wants to renegotiate their deal. He will not give Crowley the souls, so Crowley can either flee or die. The demon leaves Castiel with the blood for the ritual. Later, Castiel confronts Balthazar. He says that Dean is coming, and someone among them is a traitor. Balthazar asks him who it is, and Castiel lies that he does not know, and wants Balthazar to investigate. While the other angel is distracted, Castiel stabs and kills him. Just before the ritual is meant to begin, a cloud of demons descends around the building, and Crowley appears. Castiel tries to kill him, but cannot. He has a new partner in Raphael. Castiel is surprised at the partnership with their differing goals, but both seem to think they have taken the best course available. They demand the blood; Castiel throws them a jar and leaves. Crowley conducts the ritual, and though Bobby and Dean try to interrupt, completes it.

Nothing happens and Castiel reappears. Crowley realizes that he switched the blood, and conducted his own ritual. Castiel displays his power briefly in a flash of energy. Crowley, realizing the game is up for the time being, wisely disappears, and Raphael asks for mercy. But Castiel is not in a forgiving mood. He snaps his fingers, obliterating Raphael to pieces in mere seconds. He turns to Dean and Bobby. He was right, he says, and he did save them. Dean nervously agrees, then suggests that Castiel should return the souls, and disarm himself. Castiel says he has Raphael's followers to deal with. Dean is worried, and reminds Castiel that he is family, and he doesn't want to lose him. Castiel says that he has no family anymore; he will not give up the souls.

Using that moment, Sam stabs him from behind with an angel sword, but nothing happens. Castiel greets him, then says the sword will not work because he is not an angel anymore. He says that he is their new God, and that they must venerate him, or be destroyed. As he says those words, Dean, Sam and Bobby look on in horror, realizing with shock that their former ally and friend has become a power-hungry angel who believes that he is God.

Season 7
Castiel waits for Sam, Dean, and Bobby to show their respects. Bobby goes to his knees, and motions for Sam and Dean to do the same. Dean and Sam begin to kneel, but Castiel stops him, and orders Bobby to stand, saying that there is no point if they do not mean what they do. Castiel observes, without turning to look, that Sam is not doing well. Dean reminds Cas that the former angel promised to fix Sam when it was over. Castiel cuts him off; his promise was contingent on Dean not opposing him further, and oppose him Dean did. Castiel tells them he has no need to kill them, though he no longer has any regard for them, and will let them live if they do not plot against him.

Castiel sets out to right the wrongs he sees. He destroys Raphael's followers in Heaven, vaporizing thousands of angels, and tells the survivors that he no longer thinks free will is what Heaven needs. Instead, he will give them a firm hand. He appears in a church, reveals his identity, and smites a hypocritical preacher. He leaves an image of himself in the stained glass as he departs, and accidentally burns a pew as welts appear on his hand.

He finds Crowley hiding in a RV, and tells him that he may retain his position as King of Hell, but that Castiel will choose which souls he receives. He claims that he would have destroyed Hell completely, but he needed it to threaten his enemies, and maintain Michael and Lucifer. It is unknown if he actually had the power to destroy Hell, or he was over his head will all the souls inside him. He leaves after looking at yet more open places on his skin. He gives money to a blind man on the street, and heals the man for his faith. The man is grateful, but surprised when his first sight is of Castiel's blistering face. At a nearby bathroom, he looks in the mirror and stares at the blisters covering his face and hands. His stomach begins to bulge and contort as the Leviathans demand to be let out, whispering to him as he looks down in horror, mumbling "No."

Sam, Dean, and Bobby summon Crowley, who reluctantly gives them a spell to bind Death. They work it, and an irritated Death appears, followed shortly by Castiel. Dean orders Death to kill 'god'. Death says he sees only a mutated angel, one whose vessel is disintegrating. Castiel, sounding uncertain, says he will heal himself when his works are complete. Death replies that Castiel swallowed Leviathans when he emptied Purgatory, not just souls, and that is the danger. Castiel frees Death from Dean's binding spell.

Castiel leaves. At a political election office campaigning for a senator of whom Castiel disapproves, he is stopped by one of her aides. Castiel asks the man to see that he is a good god, that he means the best for his children. He awakes some time later in a pool of blood on the floor. He has slaughtered the entire office. At Bobby's place, Sam prays for Castiel to reconsider and give up the souls. A few minutes later Castiel appears, disheveled, bloody, and looking ill. He says he needs their help.

He listens to Sam's call and agrees to put all the souls back in Purgatory. Before the opening of the door, he expresses regret at what he has done and wishes that he could have restored Sam back to normal, and promised to do so if he survived. After he lets out all the souls, Cas passes out but wakes up. He automatically begins to contort and struggle as the Leviathan had held on to his body are trying to take over.

Castiel is soon overpowered by the Leviathan who in turn take control of him, presumably taking him far away. They begin by throwing Dean and Bobby against a wall before saying that they're going to have fun now. Soon after flinging them, his vessel begins to ooze black blood, and Dean smugly points out that the vessel can't contain the power of the Leviathans. They leave saying they will be back for Dean. The Leviathans are able to guide Castiel's vessel to a water reserve and the vessel explodes in a whirlpool leaving the Leviathans to escape into the water. Later, his trenchcoat is found, Dean folds it up and takes it with him.

Castiel returns in The Born-Again Identity, having been resurrected by God yet again, but has forgotten his previous life as an angel. He now lives as Emmanuel, a healer with his wife. Dean finds him again after word of his healings get out. Dean saves his wife and asks him to heal Sam. After regaining his memories as he is smiting multiple demons, Castiel attempts to rebuild the wall in Sam's mind only to discover that it was destroyed. In one last effort to redeem himself Castiel shifted the hallucinations of Lucifer from Sam's mind to his own in order to save Sam. Castiel then looked on in horror as he could only see Lucifer's face as he is committed to the Mental Institute. Meg becomes a nurse at the hospital to look after him.

In Reading Is Fundamental, Castiel awakens from a coma when The Word of Godis released from the clay containing it, but is still insane with an eccentric personality. Castiel explains what the Word is, but is unable to give Dean the answers he seeks and Dean is still angry with him for what he did to Sam. While talking to Dean, Castiel senses other angels and finds Hester and Inias, two angels from his former garrison. While Inias is happy to see him, Hester is furious due to the damage he caused. Before things can degenerate too far, Dean banishes all three angels. Castiel later meets up with the group on the road to Rufus' Cabin and helps angel-proof it. When Meg returns, he confirms her story that she killed other demons, but warns that she has drawn the attention of the angels. Hester and Inias arrive with two other angels, but in his mental state, Castiel is now a pacifist and refuses to fight, even to save his own life. Castiel is nearly killed by Hester, but Meg kills her and saves him. Afterwards, Inias offers Castiel the chance to return to Heaven, but he chooses not to as he no longer feels like he belongs there. Sam and Dean discover from the translation of The Word of God that they need the blood of a Fallen Angel for the weapon that can kill Leviathans and Castiel happily gives them his blood telling them "always happy to bleed for the Winchesters." Castiel then disappears, not sure where he's going next, something he finds amazing.

In Survival of the Fittest, Castiel has Meg bring him to the Winchesters after learning that the Leviathans have killed all of his garrison. Crowley arrives and is furious to see Castiel alive, but leaves him alone as he is insane and he doesn't want to pick a fight with a crazy person. He also leaves Meg alone when Castiel gets defensive of her, telling Sam and Dean that Castiel is vital to defeating the Leviathans. Castiel denies any knowledge of what he's talking about however. After finding out that the Leviathan leader Dick Roman has made multiple copies of himself, Dean turns to Castiel for the help Crowley said he could give them, but he refuses to do anything due to his new pacifism and briefly leaves during which time Meg reveals that due to being the Leviathans original vessel, he possesses the ability to tell them apart and could identify the real Dick Roman.

After watching Bobby be put to rest, Castiel takes Dean to retrieve the Impala and explains his reasoning for refusing: he feels that he is bad luck and will cause more harm than good if he gets involved again. He also sees his resurrection as an unending punishment for his actions. Dean finally forgives him for what he did to Sam and Castiel agrees to help, possibly out of loyalty to Dean as Dean believes he will die in the attack. The next day, while Sam rescues Kevin Tran, Castiel and Dean make their way through SucroCorp looking for the real Dick. They dispatch another Leviathan and confront Dick who taunts Castiel about his role in the Leviathan mess. Castiel tries to take Dick on, but is thrown into a wall and easily defeated. This allows Dean to stab Dick with the weapon, but it doesn't work. This causes him to lower his guard and Castiel restrains Dick from behind while Dean stabs him through the neck with the real weapon, killing him. However, Dick pulsates a strange aura and after he explodes, there is no sign of Dean and Castiel. When Dean wakes up, Castiel, with his original personality apparently back, tells him that they are in Purgatory and are more likely to die then get out. He then disappears leaving Dean alone and surrounded by monsters.

Season 8
In We Need To Talk About Kevin, Dean escaped Purgatory with the help of the vampire Benny, but Castiel was not with him. Dean later told Sam that Castiel died in Purgatory, that it got hairy near the end and Castiel "let go." While Dean didn't elaborate, this clearly affected him greatly.

Dean had flashbacks of Castiel and it was revealed in What's Up, Tiger Mommy?that he had succeeded in his relentless search of finding Castiel. After they greeted, Dean asked if he is sane again, which Cas said he was, or in their case, as sane as he could be, seeing as he an angel in Purgatory. He then told Dean that after their arrival in Purgatory, he actually ran away. This lead Dean to believe he left him to fend for himself. Shocked and disbelieving this notion, Castiel elaborated by telling him that he was surrounded by Leviathan and had to get them away from Dean to protect him. Dean firmly insisted that he would not leave Purgatory without him.

Castiel finally escapes Purgatory in A Little Slice of Kevin. He claims he could not remember how he escaped, a story not received well by a doubtful Dean. Castiel aids the Winchesters and Mrs. Tran in saving Kevin and retrieving the tablet from Crowley. He displays much of his previous abilities, but suffers observable fatigue after using them. Castiel displays his wings and goes to smite Crowley who finally retreats, but tries to take the tablet with him. Castiel smashes it in half and Crowley only gets away with one half. The experience causes Castiel to collapse however. After the confrontation with Crowley, Castiel reveals to Dean at the portal that he intentionally wanted to be left behind in Purgatory as a form of penance. Moments after, Castiel finds himself with in Heaven, with another angel. It is then revealed that his escape was orchestrated by the angel Naomi, who sent an incursion that claimed the lives of several angels to aid the seraph. Much to his own surprise, Castiel casually reveals information about the Winchesters and the tablet under the simple request of Naomi. He is then sent back to earth without recollection of the meeting with Naomi and the orders to report into her every so often. He then agrees to help Sam and Dean search for the second half of the tablet and fixes Kevin's cut-off finger.

In Torn and Frayed, he is shown helping people in need, in repentance for his previous actions. He cures a baby of an inguinal hernia (due to which the baby cries incessantly), which couldn't be detected by doctors themselves. He was ordered by Naomi to rescue a fellow angel Samandriel, who was held captive by Crowley in an abandoned building heavily covered with Enochian sigils that he locates with Dean's help. After the removing of the warding he was then able to teleport Samandriel to safety, but not before Samandriel revealed to Crowley the existence of an Angel tablet. Outside, Samandriel warns Castiel about this and that "they're" controlling him. Castiel asks who is and who Naomi is when Samandriel brings her up, but before he can explain, Naomi orders Castiel to kill Samandriel, which he does without hesitation. Under Naomi's orders, Castiel claims he killed Samandriel in self-defence and that he is taking his body to Heaven to be put to rest (in actuality so Naomi can determine how much he broke), but his weird behaviour and the fact that one of his eyes starts bleeding draws their suspicion that something is wrong and that he is being controlled.

In Goodbye Stranger, Castiel has become so indoctrinated to Naomi's control that he has no trouble ruthlessly killing a copy of Dean and is shown to have killed hundreds of others. He is sent to locate the angel tablet which is in one of Lucifer's Crypts and to stop Crowley from getting it. Castiel tortures the demon for information and after learning the location of the being that is telling the demons where to find the crypts, he kills her before she can reveal the truth to Sam and Dean on Naomi's orders. Castiel heads to the hotel the demon indicated without Sam and Dean and kills all of the demons there before they arrive and they find that the hostage is Meg. Castiel is able to get Naomi to let Meg explain the truth as she could be useful and afterwards bandages her wounds. The group travel to the warehouse where the crypt is located and when Dean orders Sam to stay outside, Castiel tells Sam that he is damaged on a level that even Castiel can't heal.

Castiel later explains to Dean that the damage is all the way down to the subatomic level before they find the crypt. Naomi orders Castiel to throw Dean off the trail or kill him, but he is forced to point out the box with the angel tablet in it to Dean as it is angel-proofed. Under Naomi's control, Castiel attacks Dean and tries to kill him, but manages to break free at least somewhat before he kills him after Dean tells him that they are family and that he needs him. When Castiel picks up the angel tablet, it severs Naomi's connection with him and all of her control over him and he heals Dean and explains what happened. However, Castiel senses that for some reason he must keep the tablet safe from Dean as well and disappears with it. Naomi later tells Crowley that Castiel is doing what he is meant to do, which is protect the tablet from all threats. Castiel is later seen riding in a bus with the tablet to an unknown location.

In The Great Escapist, Castiel travels between all of the Biggerson's at once, stopping only for very brief periods to throw the angels off of his trail. Its successful until they slaughter everyone in one of the Biggerson's to force him to stop and learn what happened. While he is distracted, Castiel is captured by Naomi, Ion and Esper. Naomi reveals that Castiel has been involved in many atrocities throughout human history, but that his memory of it has been erased because he never follows orders like he is supposed to. Naomi demands the angel tablet, but Crowley arrives, kills Esper, wounds Ion who is revealed to be working with him and drives Naomi off. Crowley has realized that Castiel is keeping the tablet close to him in case Naomi ever tries to regain control of him again and shoots Castiel in the gut then painfully pulls the angel tablet out of his body. Before he can do more, he gets a call that Kevin has figured out Crowley's trick and Crowley leaves to deal with the problem, leaving Ion to guard Castiel. Castiel pulls the bullet Crowley shot him with out, overpowers Ion and pushes the bullet through his eye, killing him. Castiel later appears on the road in front of Sam and Dean, severely wounded and weakened and asking for their help.

In Clip Show, Castiel is living in the Men of Letters Bunker with Sam and Dean and slowly recovering from his wound. Dean is furious with Castiel and refuses to forgive him for abandoning them again and most importantly, not trusting Dean despite all of Castiel's attempts to apologize. Castiel watches the film they find of a mysterious exorcism and comments that the changed words mean to cleanse or purify. When Sam and Dean leave to check it out, Castiel goes to get them food as they are out, but makes a mess of the store. He gets Dean's favorite beer and porn to try to appease him and also tries to get him pie and is angry and desperate when they are out. Metatron arrives and calms him down and reveals that Heaven has degenerated into many warring factions which Naomi is only the leader of one, not all of Heaven as he had previously believed. Metatron suggests Castiel do the trials to seal up Heaven so that they can lock the angels together and force them to sort out their problems while keeping the war from spilling over onto Earth. Castiel agrees after Metatron reveals that as the Scribe of God, he knows the trials even without the angel tablet and is stunned when the first trial is to kill their waitress and cut out her heart as she is a Nephilim, the child of an angel and a human. When they go after her, Castiel hesitates as she is an innocent woman, but when she attacks him and Metatron, he kills her with his Angel Blade.

In Sacrifice, Metatron reveals that they must get Cupid's bow as the next trial and Castiel asks him about God. Metatron describes him as like one would expect: larger than life, gruff, a bit sexist and eminently fair. As they wait for Cupid to come to make the man, Dwight, fall in love, Castiel goes through personal ads to try to make it go faster by finding him a candidate. While they are waiting, Naomi arrives with two other angels and captures Metatron. Castiel faces off against them with his Angel Blade, but lets them go when Metatron tells him to. Needing help, Castiel goes to Dean who agrees after Sam insists. Castiel and Dean bring the angel tablet to Kevin to translate the last trial and Castiel scares him into doing it when he refuses. As they watch, a woman named Gail approaches Dwight and makes him and one of his regulars fall in love. Castiel prepares to confront Gail while armed, but Dean convinces him to talk first. Gail is worried about the state of Heaven and agrees to give them her bow if they really think they can calm it down, but Castiel must cut it out of her hand. Kevin contacts them to let them know that while he has found the trials, he doesn't see anything about killing a Nephilim or the bow of a Cupid. At that moment, Naomi arrives and though Castiel goes to fight her, she insists she just wants to talk and Dean gets him to hear her out. Naomi tells Castiel that she has learned from Metatron's mind that what he is doing isn't going to seal Heaven up, it will instead expel all angels from it permanently. She expresses remorse for her actions, telling Castiel and Dean that angels were meant to protect humanity and lost sight of that somewhere along the way.

She also informs Dean that if Sam completes the trials he will die as he makes the "ultimate sacrifice" to seal Hell. Naomi offers to hear Castiel out if he really wants to return to Heaven before disappearing. When Kevin can't confirm what Naomi told them through the angel tablet, Castiel doesn't believe her, but transports Dean to the church where Sam is curing Crowley before departing for Heaven. There he finds Naomi dead with her own torture device impaled in her brain and is captured by Metatron who reveals that she was telling the truth. Metatron takes Castiel'sGrace as the last ingredient for the spell he is working and sends him to Earth, but not before telling him that he is now human and Metatron wants him to live a human life, die, come to Heaven, find him and tell him about that life. On Earth, Castiel watches as all the angels begin to fall to Earth as Metatron's spell takes effect.

Season 9
In I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here, Castiel has landed in Colorado and nearly gets run over by a truck. Castiel is left stunned by the cuts on his palms from dodging the truck as he has never experience the types of injuries mortals get before and gets a ride from the driver to a gas station. Reluctantly taking money the driver gives him, Castiel goes to call Dean but meets a Fallen Angel named Hael who is looking for guidance. Castiel suggests Hael take advantage of the new life given to her and go see the Grand Canyon that she claims to have created. Deciding to go with her, Castiel first calls Dean and confirms that Ezekiel is a good guy and can help and then is convinced to come help Dean instead of Hael. She knocks Castiel out and kidnaps him, revealing that she plans to possess him as he is strong and her vessel is weak and deteriorating. In order to stop her, Castiel puts on his seatbelt and then crashes the car, incapacitating Hael while surviving with minor injuries. Castiel takes her Angel Blade and declares his intent to guide all angels in their new lives on Earth, but when Hael threatens to broadcast his location to every angel looking for him if he doesn't say "Yes," Castiel kills her. Later, Castiel starts to dry-clean his bloody clothes at a laundry mat, but needing food and water, steals new clothes and buys candy and a water bottle instead.

In I'm No Angel, Castiel travels towards the bunker, living in homeless camps and trying to avoid angels. After being confronted by and killing an angel one night, Castiel has himself warded against angels being able to locate him with a tattoo. In response, the angel Bartholomew sends rouge Reapers after Castiel. While looking for food in a dumpster, Castiel meets April Kelly, not knowing that she is possessed by a Reaper and goes home with her. April cleans the wound he got from the angel he encountered and they have sex, but while searching for his Angel Blade the next morning, she reveals herself as a Reaper, ties him up and tortures him. Castiel tells her how he didn't know about Metatron's spell and that he doesn't know how to reverse it, but that his Grace was the final ingredient and thus he may be the key to the reversal. When Sam and Dean show up, the Reaper kills him with the Blade. After Dean kills the Reaper, Ezekiel takes control of Sam and resurrects Castiel and Dean claims that he made a deal with the Reaper not to kill her if she resurrected him then killed her anyway. Castiel moves to the Bunker with Sam and Dean and is excited by the Bunker's abundance of food and other human necessities and tells a shocked Sam and Dean how he had sex. Castiel sits down to eat, but after learning from Ezekiel that Castiel must leave because the angels are after him, Dean reluctantly tells him so as Ezekiel will be forced to leave Sam and flee otherwise and Sam will die.

In Heaven Can't Wait, While working as a sales associate at a gas station- and also serving as a baby-sitter for his boss, Nora, although he initially assumed it was a date, Castiel calls the Winchesters for help after two people in his area simultaneously combust. With Dean's aid, Castiel determines that the victims were killed by a Rit Zien, a class of angel healers that kill mortally wounded angels. Castiel then goes on what he believes is a date but turns out to be a babysitting gig, growing worried when the baby, Tanya, gets a fever and won't stop crying. Before he can take Tanya to the hospital, the Rit Zien, Ephraim approaches him, having detected his pain. Castiel tries and fails to banish the rogue angel, but before Ephraim can kill him, Dean arrives and tosses him an angel blade, allowing Castiel to kill Ephraim. Castiel then goes back to his normal life at the gas station.

In Holy Terror, Castiel investigates mysterious angel deaths with Sam and Dean. After "Ezekiel" orders him to send Castiel away, Dean does, explaining partially what happened. Feeling helpless, Castiel decides to pray for aid, when his prayers are answered by Muriel, a neutral angel in the war, who explains that the current conflict is between factions led by the angels Bartholomew and Malachi, but the two are captured by Malachi and his ally Theo. Muriel is killed while Malachi tortures Castiel for information about Metatron, revealing that Ezekiel is dead. When Castiel is left alone with Theo, Theo begs him to help him defect to Metatron who he believes Castiel is still working with. Castiel tricks the misguided angel into releasing him, then slits his throat with an angel blade and steals his Grace, restoring his own powers. Castiel then smites Theo and fights his way out. Disgusted with himself but believing it necessary, Castiel calls Dean to warn him that Ezekiel is dead and thus couldn't have been the angel that helped him save Sam.

In Road Trip Castiel, wearing a new suit and trenchcoat, arrives at the bunker to find the main room trashed and a distraught Dean. Dean explains what happened and how he intends to hunt down and kill the angel possessing Sam for revenge even though it will kill Sam. Castiel however, comes up with the idea of havingCrowley do the same thing he did to Samandriel to try to bring out Sam's mind so he can expel the angel. Enlisting Crowley's help, the three take a car that Castiel stole as he can no longer teleport and find the angel. The angel overpowers Dean, but while he's distracted, Castiel knocks him out. After confirming that the angel healed Sam enough that he can finish the job, Castiel watches with Dean as Crowley tortures the angel and follows Dean out when he can't watch anymore. Sympathetic with Dean and forgiving him for kicking him out, Castiel comforts him until Crowley calls them back as he has managed to activate the angel's "factory settings."

Castiel is furious when the angel identifies himself as Gadreel, blaming him for everything that has gone wrong in the world. However, Gadreel regains control, telling them that he can withstand the torture for a very long time and they can't stop him without killing Sam. Desperate, Dean asks Castiel to possess Sam to make him aware of the situation, but Castiel is unable to as he would need Sam's permission to do so. When Crowley offers instead in exchange for his freedom, Castiel is reluctant, but removes Sam's anti-possession tattoo so Crowley can possess him. The plan works and Sam expels Gadreel. After Crowley returns to his body, Castiel notes the appearance of Abaddon and the three leave Crowley to deal with her. A safe distance away, Castiel heals Sam's injuries from the torture and some more of the damage the Trials did to him telling him that while he will have to do it in stages and over time, he will be able to finish Sam's healing. Castiel stands a respectful distance away as Sam and Dean speak about Dean's actions and remains with Sam as Dean leaves, alone.

In First Born, Castiel is staying with Sam in the bunker and has nearly healed him fully. He is also upset about the fact that he has lost the ability to enjoy human food. However, he discovers that some of Gadreel's grace is still inside Sam and is slowly disappearing every time Castiel heals him. Reading a book and file from the Men of Letters left, Castiel learns that the Men believed that if the grace was extracted, it could be used to track the angel it belonged to. Sam and Castiel begin a procedure to remove the grace, but though it proves dangerous as Sam's body starts to revert to its state before Gadreel possessed him, Sam insists that they continue. With Sam's condition deteriorating as they need more grace then can be safely taken, Castiel chooses to finish healing him rather than take the rest of the grace, destroying the last of the grace inside Sam. Castiel explains that his brief humanity caused him to understand that its not worth it to sacrifice others for the sake of what you need and that he understands where Sam is coming from wanting redemption for his acts as he also wants that, but its not worth his life. Sam and Castiel later use the grace they extracted to try the spell, but it proves not to be enough. Telling Sam that he believes that Metatron is the key to setting things right, Castiel sets out to locate him.

In Captives, looking for information on Metatron, Castiel tracks down a follower of Rebecca, a friend of Metatron's. The follower reveals however that Rebecca had set up a faction called the Penitents who coexisted peacefully with humanity before all but him were slaughtered by Bartholomew and his followers. Leaving the other angel alone, Castiel is captured by angels working for Bartholomew. To his surprise, despite having his angel blade taken away, Castiel is warmly greeted by Bartholomew who was a subordinate and friend of his in Heaven. Bartholomew invites Castiel to join him in uniting the angels, believing that together they can unite all of the angels under one rule. Bartholomew also has the resources to track Metatron when he appears on Earth and offers Castiel his help with tracking him. However, when Bartholomew captures Rebecca's follower, Castiel is horrified by the angel's torture. When asked to kill the angel, Castiel refuses, saying he would rather die than needlessly kill another angel, wanting peace between the angels, not more war. To Castiel's horror, Bartholomew kills the angel then attacks Castiel himself. Castiel overpowers Bartholomew, but declaring his refusal to kill, Castiel lets him go and starts to leave. When Bartholomew attacks Castiel while his back is turned, Castiel is forced to kill him in self-defense. Visiting Rebecca's grave, Castiel is stunned when some of Bartholomew's followers approach him to lead them in a more peaceful way of existing.

In Meta Fiction, Castiel follows a strange sound to find the Horn of Gabriel and a bunch of dead angels. He finds Hannah alive and heals her, learning that it was Gadreel who killed all of the angels when they refused to join Metatron. Castiel refuses to lead the angels against Metatron and leaves. He is shocked whenGabriel approaches him for help with dealing with Metatron and the two start heading towards the Bunker with Gabriel trying to convince Castiel to help the angels against Metatron, saying that Castiel has been God more than God himself has been. While at a gas station to get more gas for Castiel's car, Castiel and Gabriel are attacked by angels working for Metatron. Gabriel tells Castiel to leave and lead the angels against Metatron while he sacrifices himself to hold the angels off. However, Castiel realizes that it's just an illusion after noticing that a rip in his trenchcoat is no longer there. Castiel proves it by stabbing Gabriel to no effect. Gabriel admits its not real, but that what he said about Castiel needing to lead the angels is true. Castiel comes out of the illusion to find himself tied down in Metatron's office in Heaven. Metatron gives Castiel all of his knowledge about popular culture and explains that he wants Castiel to lead the angels against him as he wants Castiel to be the villain in his "story." In return, he offers Castiel an endless supply of grace to replace his stolen burning out grace. Castiel refuses and before they can discuss it anymore, an angel alerts Metatron that Sam and Dean have captured Gadreel. Metatron trades Castiel for Gadreel, blowing out holy fire and easily overpowering Sam and Dean. Afterwards, Castiel tells Sam and Dean he is onboard with stopping Metatron and is angry to find out that Dean has taken on the Mark of Cain. He warns Sam to keep an eye on Dean. The next day, Castiel uses the Horn of Gabriel to call a group of angels to him to become their new leader.

In King of the Damned, Sam and Dean meet Castiel at his new headquarters where he is the leader of most of the angels on Earth. He reveals that having killed Bartholomew and with Malachi dead at Gadreel's hands, all the angels have been turning to him for leadership in the war to retake Heaven. Castiel's men have captured an angel named Ezra who works for Metatron and he wants Sam and Dean to interrogate him. Sam and Dean are able to trick Ezra into revealing that Metatron has an elite ground force and that there is a portal to Heaven that Metatron moves around and controls. Before they can learn more, Ezra is murdered and Crowley calls Sam and Dean to offer the location of the First Blade andAbaddon. Before Sam leaves, Castiel asks him his opinion on Gadreel who Sam believes might have been misunderstood before he murdered Kevin. Castiel sets up a meeting with Gadreel, but comes under attack from two angels that he kills. Castiel later meets with Gadreel again, telling him that Metatron has no honor and asking Gadreel to become his spy. Gadreel refuses due to his own honor not letting him abandon the cause he has dedicated himself to, but Castiel tells him to think on it and leaves.

In Stairway To Heaven, after an angel named Oran kills himself and an ice cream shop full of people including an angel named Ester, Castiel, Sam and Dean investigate. Castiel is stunned as Oran was one of his men and he killed everyone in Castiel's name. Castiel insists that he didn't order the attack though Dean doesn't believe him. While Dean investigates looking for more angels that might be suicide bombers, Castiel and Sam start chasing down a missing angel named Josiah who they come to believe may be the one who killed Ezra and a traitor. During the trip, Castiel is stunned to learn that Abaddon is dead and is worried about the effect the Mark of Cain is having on Dean. Tracking Josiah to Pray, Montana, Sam and Castiel find a building where the door to Heaven apparently is. Passing tests based off of pop culture, they enter a room only to find that its one of Metatron's tricks and that Josiah was caught in a holy fire trap meant for Castiel. Castiel offers to heal Josiah, but he dies rather than owe Castiel his life.

Returning to his base, Castiel finds that Dean apparently killed the Reaper Tessawho was working for him with the First Blade though Dean tells him that Tessa killed herself. Before they can talk more, Metatron contacts Castiel's followers, offering them amnesty if they abandon Castiel and insisting that Castiel ordered the bombers, only cares about himself and the Winchester and tells them about Castiel's dying grace. Metatron's transmission makes Castiel's followers doubt him and Hannah demands he kill Dean in punishment for killing Tessa to prove himself. When Castiel refuses, all of his followers abandon him. Castiel returns to the Bunker with Sam and Dean where the three become determined to stop Metatron and are shocked when Gadreel shows up to offer his help, confirming that Metatron was behind the suicide bombers and asking for a second chance. Dean pretends to give it to him then slashes Gadreel across the chest with the First Blade, seriously wounding him and causing Sam and Castiel to restrain Dean.

In Do You Believe In Miracles?, after locking Dean in the Bunker's dungeon, Sam and Castiel go looking for Gadreel who has fled in fear of his life and find him. Despite Gadreel telling Castiel not to heal him due to his weakening grace, Castiel does so anyway and Gadreel reveals that Metatron's plan is to convert humanity into worshiping him instead of God. After Sam and Castiel tell him that Dean used the First Blade to injure him, Gadreel insists that Dean is their best chance to kill Metatron and reveals that the source of his power is the angel tablet. Gadreel tells them that if they break Metatron's connection to the tablet, he will be a regular angel again and killable.

Castiel decides to sneak into Heaven with Gadreel to find the tablet and has Gadreel pretend that Castiel is his prisoner to get through the portal, getting the idea from Star Wars. In Heaven, Castiel and Gadreel are locked in Heaven's dungeon by Ingrid and Hannah who see through their deception. Castiel tries to convince Hannah to help them stop Metatron, but she refuses to believe him as he promised an end to angel deaths. Gadreel suddenly speaks of his desire to redeem himself being the only thing he focused on since his first imprisonment in the dungeon for thousands of years and how he lost sight of the angels true mission, to protect humanity no matter the cost to themselves. Gadreel warns Castiel and Hannah away and then kills himself, using the same sigil the suicide bombers used to create an explosion to free Castiel. Gadreel's sacrifice convinces Hannah who rejoins Castiel in taking down Metatron.

Taking Ingrid captive, Castiel and Hannah try to force her to tell them where to find the tablet, but when she refuses, Castiel orders Hannah to take her out and searches on his own. Eventually Castiel finds the angel tablet in Metatron's typewriter and smashes the tablet, removing Metatron's incredible powers. When Metatron flees an attack from Sam back to Heaven, he finds Castiel sitting in his chair and chains him down. Metatron taunts Castiel with the fact that he has killed Dean, causing Castiel to fail in his attempt to save him by shattering the tablet and calls all angels "sheep" who will follow him where he wants and shows disgust for humanity. Metatron prepares to kill Castiel, telling him that the angels will never believe him because Castiel can never spin a good story. Castiel agrees, saying that Metatron can however and reveals that he has used the equipment in Metatron's office to broadcast the entire conversation over "angel radio." Before a horrified Metatron can react, Metatron's enraged followers storm his office, overpower Metatron and free Castiel. Castiel however locks Metatron in Heaven's dungeon rather than kill him, something Hannah tells him is the act of a true leader. While the angels now once more want to follow Castiel in rebuilding Heaven, Castiel informs Hannah he wishes to be a normal angel again and not a leader. Hannah reminds him that he will die soon when his grace burns out unless he can replenish it, leaving Castiel contemplating the future.

Appearance
As an angel, experiencing Castiel's true form will result in blindness, deafness, or even death, as the appearance of his natural visage is so overwhelming that it is capable of burning human or demon eyes from their sockets (as seen inLazarus Rising), as he said, "My true form. It can be overwhelming to humans and so can my real voice." However, Castiel stated certain, "special people" are able to tolerate his true appearance and voice. Although his true form has never been seen, it is known that he has two feathered wings. When Castiel was a seraph, he describes himself as a"multidimensional wavelength of celestial intent" and his true form is "approximately the size of your Chrysler Building" in height. As he was promoted to a Seraph, it stands to reason his true form has changed to one of a Seraph's. It is presumed to be very tremendous and terrifying, as the mere image of it was enough to cause Crowley to flee in fear of being smited. Since having his grace removed for Metatron's spell, Castiel has lost his wings, even with Theo and Adina's grace. Though he has since regained the remnants of his grace and been restored to full power, but his wings are still broken.

For humans, they see him as the appearance of his vessel, Jimmy Novak, who is an average man in his thirties. He sports a pair of dress shoes, a black suit, a buttoned white-striped dress shirt, and loosened blue necktie accentuated by a beige trench coat. Although he has a very dire demeanor, his outward appearance radiates a natural calm and serenity which makes conversation easy and direct. He occupied Jimmy's body because he had prayed for it. Since his third resurrection, his appearance has changed. He lost his trench coat upon his third death and when he became amnesic, he wore different clothes. Upon regaining his memories, Dean gave him back his trench coat, but he still wore Emmanuel's clothes until he became insane.

While insane he wore his trench coat and hospital scrubs. While in Purgatory he retained the same outfit, albeit extremely dirty and torn off. Castiel also grew a beard and his hair became messier. After returning from the monster realm, Castiel returned to his original appearance, with his suit and trench coat. He kept this until he lost hisgrace and became human. While he initially kept his usual clothes, they became dirty and he was unable to clean them and get food and water so he abandoned the trenchcoat and suit and took to wearing more casual human clothes, though he did wear a suit when he pretended to be an FBI agent. After becoming an angel again, Castiel donned a new suit and trenchcoat, albeit not as accented as his previous trench, nor as long. He at first didn't wear a tie like before, but after a suggestion from Claire Novak that he looked better in a tie, Castiel donned the blue striped tie from his FBI suit.

Personality
Castiel is a strong, determined, impulsive, competitive, ignorant and naive celestial being. Like most angels, Castiel expresses little to no emotion, which creates flaws and complexities in his persona. Despite this, he does not display the blank apathy or mocking superiority that seem to characterize angels such as Uriel or Lucifer. His lack of emotion and understanding of human behavior such as sarcasm has led to several humorous situations throughout the show, and has occasionally gotten him into trouble with humans, ultimately leaving Dean or Sam to amend the situation. He does, however, become close friends with the brothers, who encourage him to be kinder, more caring and more selfless.

Unlike some of his brethren, Castiel still has faith in God, though not to the zealot-like extent displayed by Michael. While he admits he may not always understand what God wants and may question his reasoning, he always follows his father to the best of his abilities. This, along with his interest in humans, has caused other angels to label him as weak or naive, but also peculiar. Anna and Lucifer have both displayed this attitude, with Anna calling him a hypocrite for refusing to rebel in order to gain more freedom. Castiel briefly loses this faith after Joshua reveals that God doesn't care and falls into a depression for some time. However, when God resurrects him for a second time, his faith returns. Castiel frequently exhibits what could be referred to as affection towards Dean, and seems to express regret, hesitance, and anger at several points.

Being around the Winchesters, paired with his experiences in the War, have taught Castiel several "tricks" that have helped him during the show. While not possessing free will in the same sense as a human, Castiel has learned how to bend the rules at times, like in season 4. The best example is when he informs Dean about Chuck's archangel, thereby giving Dean the idea to use him to save Sam from Lilith (The Monster at the End of This Book). He also is able to distract Meg long enough to use her. This was similar to a trick Uriel performed to free Alastair from a ring of holy fire (Abandon All Hope). It is also possible he learned from the demon Crowley to wipe out loyalists of his adversary, Raphael. Castiel also considers himself to be the Winchester's personal guardian angel.

Since becoming human briefly, Castiel has become more human. He expresses more of an appreciation for human things and develops more human emotions such as romantic attraction. He also became less serious, drinking a beer with Sam and Dean and joking around. He proved to be good enough at being human that he was able to fool law enforcement and pose as an FBI agent, something he could never do successfully before even with coaching from Dean. Even after becoming an angel again, Castiel hasn't seemed to lose his human emotions, getting very angry when he realized who Gadreel was and freely expressing it and comforting a distraught Dean, understanding why he was so upset rather than being confused as he would have been in the past. While briefly human, he was ready to embrace his new status, excited to have Sam and Dean as his teachers and seemed to see his return to being an angel as a necessary evil more than something he wanted and his stealing of the grace of Theo as barbaric and something that made him as bad as the other angels. Castiel also seems to now understand human ways better, able to drive and steal a car, a skill he never previously showed, though he still lacks full knowledge of everything as he didn't know to get gas.

Equipment
Castiel carries little around on his person other than an angel blade which is seemingly stuffed up the sleeve of his coat for easy access. After losing his wings and the ability to fly, Castiel steals his own car: a '78 Lincoln Continental Mark V in Jubilee Gold. When Crowley first sees the vechicle, he comments "What are you, a pimp?", to which Castiel replies "I like it" as his reasoning for choosing the car. The car has been modified to be a lowrider, as was seen as it drove away with the hydraulics bouncing to a hip-hop song. Despite such comments, he continues to use the car throughout Seasons 9 & 10.

Original Abilities
Since his first appearance, Castiel has possessed astounding abilities and is one of the most powerful supernatural beings the Winchester brothers have ever met. Uriel seemed so sure of Castiel's powers that he felt confident that if Castiel joined him and his fellow rebels, they would be powerful enough to challenge Heaven and free Lucifer from his Cage. Even Anna, despite having once been Castiel's superior, chose not to directly confront him after Castiel appointed himself as the Winchesters' guardian.

These were Castiel's powers as a common angel. Some of this power depended on his link to Heaven:
 * Angelic Possession - As a spiritual being, like all angels, Castiel needs to use and possess a human vessel to physically interact while on Earth. As an angel, he requires the vessel's permission.
 * Astral Projection - Castiel is able to partially project his true form while inside his vessel, which appeared at the end of the Season 4 episode Lazarus Rising as shadows of his feathery wings on his back to show Dean proof that he was in fact what he claimed.
 * Chronokinesis - Although he has said it isn't easy and is difficult, even with the powers of Heaven at his disposal, Castiel can travel forward and backward in time, and he can take passengers.
 * Dream Walking - Castiel appeared in Dean's dream to deliver him a message.
 * Healing - Castiel can instantly heal the wounds and diseases of humans. Castiel has saved and healed both Sam and Dean many times from their wounds.
 * Immortality - Castiel, as an angel, like all celestial beings, doesn't age over time and is immune to disease. He never tires, and does not need to eat, sleep, drink, or breathe to sustain himself or even his vessel.
 * Invulnerability - As an angel, there are very few things able to kill Castiel as he has shown to be impervious to most forms of harm. He possesses accelerated healing abilities that allow him to heal wounds that would kill a human in seconds, if not instantly. He is unharmed by extreme temperatures. In "Lazarus Rising", he absorbed several shotgun blasts directly to the chest. He even withstood the full force of the Demon-Killing Knife and simply pulled it out of his shoulder before dropping it to the ground. He is immune to all ailments and is immortal, able to fully heal from any non-supernatural wound regardless of its fatality.


 * Smiting - Castiel possesses the ability to kill or exorcise a demon simply by touching his palm to the forehead of it's host. He is able to kill lower-level demons and other beings like monsters with a simple touch. This ability does not work on demons stronger than Castiel as Alastair proved to possess complete immunity from such an attack.
 * Resurrection - Castiel brought Dean and Bobby back from the dead.
 * Sedation - Castiel can cause instant unconsciousness in humans by tapping them or simply placing two fingers on their forehead.
 * Pyrokinesis - Castiel displays the ability to burn through ropes binding him, and uses the same power to burn "Crowley's" bones.
 * Super Strength - As an angel, Castiel is physically much stronger than humans, spirits, monsters, most lesser angels, and most demons. Though he typically seems to attempt to avoid fighting, he is a very formidable physical opponent when need be, and is unstoppable when facing mortal beings. He proved capable of overpowering common angels and humans with ease, and he once beat Dean to nearly a bloody pulp.
 * Expert Swordsman - While not as physically strong as some of his angelic brethren, Castiel is highly skilled in swordplay with angelic blades, having defeated several angels at least as powerful as him on many occasions, despite being outnumbered.
 * Supernatural Perception/Senses - Castiel can see things hidden to humans. He is capable of immediately discovering a person's identity or their prior medical status by simply smelling their remains, regardless of the condition of said remains. He is also capable of speaking to and understanding animals, as well as listen in on radio frequencies. Castiel's vision and hearing are at extreme superhuman levels; he was able to see a symbol on a person's heart that was so small Sam needed a microscopic lens to see it, he saw the true faces of demons from a far enough distance that Dean needed binoculars.
 * Telekinesis - Castiel has the ability to move objects and even people with his mind, imparting kinetic energy on matter with his mind.
 * Telepathy - Castiel is able to read the minds of humans and other lower-level angels.
 * Teleportation - Castiel possesses the ability to transport himself and others to any location as long as the area is not protected by enochian sigils, traveling from one place to another instantly. Like with all angels, whenever he uses this power, this is accompanied with the sound of wings flapping and a sudden rush of air can be heard. But he can Teleport without hearing sound of flapping wings or a rush of air when teleporting short distances. He can take humans with him, though Dean says when Castiel teleports him somewhere he isn't able to poop for a week.
 * Voice Mimicry - Castiel once perfectly imitated Bobby Singer's voice.
 * Protective Charm - Castiel is able to protect someone from harm beforehand, as seen when he prevented his vessel, Jimmy Novak from burning his hand on a pot of boiling water when asked for a sign of faith.
 * Apporting - Castiel is able to teleport Dean to St. Mary's Convent from Chuck's house with a touch of his hand to his forehead, and later teleports him away from Zachariah to his side at a roadside.
 * Spell Casting - As an angel, Castiel has extensive knowledge of Enochian symbols and spells which he has used for a variety of effects. He could draw an Enochian Devil's Trap that could completely suppress and bound a demon as powerful as Alastair. He also knew of symbols that could banish or ward off angels. After his first resurrection, he branded Sam and Dean with a pattern of symbols that would conceal them from every angel in creation, even one as powerful as Lucifer. He later did the same to Adam.
 * Holy White Light - While possessing the grace of a regular angel, Castiel displayed this ability, using it to blast a door open and then on Cain. However, the latter was so powerful the blast of light merely ruffled his hair.
 * Superhuman Intelligence - Castiel explained the reason of his chronokinesis limits by partial differential equations, that shows that he has highly advanced understanding of mathematics, explicitly of mathematical calculus and differential geometry.

Seraph Abilities
After he was killed by Lucifer during the Apocalypse, God resurrected Castiel and endowed him with new and stronger powers, making him stronger than before, as he said, "I do believe he brought me back. New and improved." Not only has he gained greatly enhanced powers - including healing, resurrection, teleporting, smiting, slight reality-warping,soul-reading, psychokinesis removal and chronokinesis - while retaining all previous ones, but now he is independent from Heaven and could function with his powers independently of Heaven. This means he retains his full powers and angelic grace despite being a Fallen Angel and cut off from Heaven.

His Seraph abilities include:
 * Advanced Chronokinesis - As a Seraph, Castiel can not only travel through time, but can now send people back through time and bring them back without having to physically be there with them. However, the further back he sends someone, the harder it is to retrieve them. This was evidenced by the time he sent Sam and Dean to the 1800's, he could only send them for 24 hours or else he would be unable to bring them back and they would be lost to them.
 * Invisibility - Castiel can become invisible to humans. He used this ability to spy on Dean living a normal life and again when trying to see how much Dean, Sam, and Bobby have learned about his and alliance with Crowley.
 * Mental Manipulation - By placing his hand on a person's forehead, Castiel is able to manipulate a person's mind, being able to create, erase or alter memories or simply alter their perception of events altogether. He easily tore down the mental dam inserted by Death on Sam that protected him from the memories of him being tortured in Lucifer's Cage. Though he was unable to cure Sam from the resulting madness it caused, he was able to transfer the mental damage from Sam to himself. He is also able to show a person the true version of their memories, not just the version they choose to remember. This is shown when he makes Dean see what really happened when he escaped Purgatory. He is also able to enter other people's minds and take someone with him as he entered Fred Jones' mind with Sam. However, this requires him to maintain physical contact with both parties. Also he could perform a process to remove Fred's powers, due to them being mentally based, presumably by causing damage to specific parts of his mind, as he ended in a completely catatonic, unresponsive state at the end of the process.
 * Advanced Pyrokinesis - Castiel can now no longer just create fire, but he can manipulate and extinguish it effectively. Castiel displayed this ability when he extinguished the circle of holy fire that trapped Balthazar.
 * Reality Warping - Cas, in one instance, altered reality, by shaking a 'Sorry' board-game, and having everything instantly set up. He was later able to fill a vial with his blood just holding it tight in his hand and not making any cuts. His highest capability in this area was when he was able to change his appearance and clothes into his original one after returning from Purgatory, or he apported every hair and fiber of dirt off his face and coat.
 * Enhanced Superhuman Strength - Being a Seraph, Castiel has exhibited higher levels of physical strength than he did as a common angel. However, against the Archangels, such as seen with Raphael, Castiel was still inferior against them. Though he could still be outmatched and killed by the Leviathans, Castiel proved capable of standing up against them. In Purgatory managed to briefly hold off two Leviathans, and ultimately incapacitate them with Dean's help. Castiel also proved to be strong enough to lift a 1 ton anvil with ease and without effort and was also able to rupture a stone wall just by merely touching it.
 * Advanced Smiting - Castiel's angelic killing touch became much more powerful after his resurrection. He could instantly kill several demons with great ease by using this ability. He was also capable of killing various monsters using this ability such as creatures even in Purgatory. However, more powerful beings such as the archangel Raphael, were immune to this power and could also extend this protection to lesser beings such as demons. It is revealed that this power burns out the eyes of the being it is used on and liquifies all of their organs.
 * Advanced Healing - Castiel has displayed the ability to not only heal any wound, but can also cure people of infections that will turn them into monsters as shown when he cured Dean of his transformation into a Jefferson Starship. He was also able to cure Charlie Bradbury of her carpal tunnel while simultaneously healing a bullet wound, though he suggested she still wear a wrist brace at night. On one occasion while healing a gunshot wound his hand glowed though he usually heals without any visible sign besides the injury healing. However, there are some things even he can't heal. According to Castiel, Sam is damaged on the subatomic level from his trials and it is beyond his power to fix that. However, after Gadreel heals most of the damage done to Sam, Castiel was able to finish the job over time in stages. Despite his fully restored powers, Castiel was unable to heal the damage a Grigori did to Amelia Novak, something that stunned him as he'd never encountered that problem before.
 * Vessel Locking - Castiel has displayed the ability to grab a demon's smoke form and force it back into its body to smite it.
 * Soul Reading/Channeling - By pushing his hand into a person's chest, Castiel can determine the presence and condition of a person's soul, and if the soul was branded by a deal. The process is extremely painful and delicate, having been noted by Castiel as putting one's hand into a nuclear reactor and causing the person to explode should anything go wrong.
 * Leviathan Perception/Sensing - Due to having been used as a vessel for the Leviathans, Castiel can see past their vessels and shape-shifting abilities and correctly identify them. This ability allowed him to identify the real Dick Roman, so he and Dean could kill him. While in Purgatory, Castiel was able to sense the presence of two nearby Leviathans before they could attack the group while Dean and Benny were completely unaware of them and later sensed two more approaching as he and Dean neared the escape portal.
 * Enhanced Astral Projection - As a Seraph, Castiel's true visage is now far more hazardous and far more terrifying to creatures such as humans, demons, and other earthly monsters. While projecting his true form from his vessel, his irises gained a deep and bright blue glow, his body emitted a powerful pinkish-white light and the shadows of his wings appeared on his back. Even in a weakened state, he was able to intimidate Crowley into retreat, despite the demon's position as the current King of Hell.
 * Advanced Telepathy - By touching Rowena's forehead and concentrating, he was able to see her memory of Oskar.

Soul Enhanced Abilities
After absorbing the millions of souls from Purgatory (including a large number of Leviathans), Castiel was endowed with god-like abilities that made him both highly dangerous and unstable due to the power intoxicating him and clouding his judgement. However his new powers took a serious toll on his vessel, as it started to melt as a result of him being unable to contain that much power in his physical form. Death had also referred to him as a mutated angel, which was noted by the lack of the common sound of wings flapping when he teleported from place to place; implying that his true form, or spirit, was significantly altered.

His soul-imbued powers included:
 * Advanced Holy White Light - Castiel was able to emit a powerful white light from the palm of his hand in a similar fashion to that of an Archangel. He used this power to temporarily banish Raphael and kill at least a dozen Jefferson Starships at the diner where he, Sam and Dean were being held by Eve. This ability apparently relied on his target having their eyes open as he yelled for Sam, Dean and Bobby to shut their eyes when he used it and they were unaffected as a result.
 * Power Negation - He was capable of neutralizing the power of other creatures, including an Archangel's powers.
 * Molecular Combustion - With a snapping of his fingers, Castiel could speed up molecules to the point where it can cause an individual to explode.
 * Nigh-Omnipotence - After absorbing souls in Purgatory, Castiel became one of the most powerful beings in the universe, as the souls endowed him with unspeakable power, allowing him to do almost anything he wished. He could kill humans with a single thought or word; such as when he said to a hypocritical church preacher, "He who lies in my name shall choke on his own false tongue," causing the preacher to literally choke on his own tongue. As well as perform miracles like making the blind see, curing an entire colony of lepers, and unbound Death with a snap of his fingers. Castiel even told Crowley of his initial intention to eliminate Hell, an entire spiritual realm. However, it is unknown if he was actually capable of doing this, or he overestimated his power. Also, despite his new-found power, Castiel showed concern with keeping Michael and Lucifer sealed within the Cage, suggesting that he was at the very least concerned that they, either together or individually, would be able to defeat him.
 * Nigh-Invincibility - Due to his massive absorption of the Purgatory souls, Castiel became immune to nearly any form of harm as seen when he was unfazed from being stabbed in the back by an angel blade. Enochian signs were now useless against him as seen when he tracked down and cornered Crowley in his sigil-covered trailer. He was also vulnerable to the mass of souls (and Leviathans) inside him, which, according to multiple individuals, would eventually cause Castiel's human vessel to explode due to his inability to properly contain so many souls and control all of that power.
 * Spell Negation - With a simple snap of his fingers, Castiel was able to break the powerful spell that Sam, Dean and Bobby had cast to bind Death, something even the latter was unable to do, although the fact that he was bound was probably at least partially responsible for this.
 * Highly Advanced Smiting - When Castiel was powered by souls, he smote Lenore, a vampire, in a powerful, unusual way. The light that emerged from her face, was pure white, and didn't have the usual tinge of yellow. Also, unlike any other smiting we have seen, the holy light didn't just leave her eyes and mouth, but it broke through her skin, burning her whole face.
 * Monster Curing - While imbued by a great number of souls, Castiel was able reverse the monster transformation on humans. This is shown when Eve turned Dean into a Jefferson Starship, and Castiel turned him back into a human.

Weaknesses

 * Angel Banishing Sigil - As an angel, Castiel can be banished by the sigil.
 * Holy Fire - Like all angels, Castiel can be trapped by holy fire. He has been trapped in holy fire at least twice.
 * Angel Blade - Can kill any angel though he was briefly rendered immune to it when he had all of the souls ofPurgatory.
 * Archangel Blade/ Angel Sword - Stronger version of the angel blade.
 * High-Tier Demons (formerly) - As a regular angel, Castiel was no match for Alastair, a weakness he seemed to lose after becoming a Seraphim as he was able to scare the King of Hell Crowley with a threat of power despite being severely weakened at the time.
 * Seraphim (formerly) - When he was just a regular angel, Castiel was vulnerable to Seraphim such as Zachariah shown by his subservience to him. He lost this weakness when he became a Seraphim himself.
 * Archangels - While he was a regular angel and even as a Seraphim, Castiel is no match for the archangels. When he first rebelled, Raphael easily smote him into pieces. After banishing Michael with holy fire, Lucifer did the same.Gabriel was able to casually overpower him during Changing Channels and when Castiel faced Raphael in a physical fight during The Third Man, he was completely outclassed even after his promotion and only saved by Balthazar's intervention.
 * Grigori - Despite being a Seraphim, Castiel was outclassed by the Grigori Tamiel even with Sam and Dean's help and was only saved from death when Claire Novak killed him from behind.
 * Eve - Eve was able to render Castiel completely powerless through her mere presence in a town.
 * Leviathans - Like all angels, Castiel is vulnerable to the Leviathans, as they pre-date angels and are God's very first beasts. He was killed for the third time when the Leviathans possession of him caused him to implode and feared assaulting SucroCorp to stop them, believing he would likely die again in the attempt. In Purgatory, Castiel was nearly killed by Leviathans on at least two occasions, forcing Dean and Benny Lafitte to save him, but he was able to hold his own briefly in one instance though he still lost.
 * Grace Removal - Metatron's removal of his grace briefly rendered Castiel human.
 * Mortality (formerly) - While human, Castiel was susceptible to human mortality and all that came with it. He lost this weakness upon becoming an angel again.
 * The First Blade - It has the power to kill angels.
 * Witches - Rowena was able to simultaneously restrain both Castiel and Crowley and then force Castiel to attack Crowley with a simple incantation.
 * Death's Scythe - Death's scythe can kill anything.

Deaths
Castiel has died a total number of four times throughout the series. He was brought back three times by God but the final time was by Gadreel whilst he was still human.
 * Imploded by Raphael (off-screen) in Lucifer Rising.
 * Imploded by Lucifer in Swan Song.
 * Died from the effects of containing multiple Leviathans in Meet The New Boss.
 * Sent to Purgatory the death of Dick Roman; this isn't classed as a real death.
 * Stabbed with an Angel Blade by April Kelly in I'm No Angel.