Blizzard’s second major Diablo IV expansion, Lord of Hatred, is rolling out today and will be playable in just a few hours. The story continues directly after Vessel of Hatred, once again placing Neyrelle at the heart of the conflict as Mephisto’s influence spreads outward. Instead of a loud, straightforward invasion, this chapter leans into something more unsettling: creeping corruption, tightening control, and a growing sense that Sanctuary is being reshaped from within.
Two new classes arrive with the expansion, and they’re designed to feel dramatically different from one another.
First up is the Paladin, a long-rumored addition that many players expected. Built around holy power and close-quarters combat, the Paladin uses auras to shape fights and reinforce allies while staying aggressive on the front line. The standout feature is Arbiter Form, a temporary angelic transformation that boosts speed and enhances disciple-focused abilities. Rather than functioning like a traditional “stand there and soak damage” tank, the Paladin plays more like a battle mage with a blade—controlling engagements, pressuring enemies, and shifting the tempo of combat.
The second class is the Warlock, kept secret until launch. Where the Paladin channels the Light, the Warlock turns Hell’s power against itself. Blizzard frames the Warlock as a master of forbidden knowledge—someone who doesn’t serve demonic forces, but exploits them, binding them and weaponizing them with ruthless intent. If you enjoy darker magic themes and high-risk, high-impact playstyles, this is the class that’s meant to scratch that itch.
The campaign takes players to Skovos, one of the oldest regions tied to Diablo lore. Known as the birthplace of the Amazons and the earliest human civilization, Skovos brings a distinct atmosphere to the expansion: coastal stretches, storm-soaked forests, and ancient ruins that were never meant to be disturbed. It’s here that Mephisto’s corruption begins to seep inland, setting the tone for a more deliberate and darker story arc than what players saw previously.
For many returning players, the biggest reason to jump in may be the endgame overhaul. Lord of Hatred introduces the War Plans system, which lets you build a structured five-activity path through endgame content. The twist is that you can apply modifiers that carry across those activities, turning an evening’s worth of progression into a more cohesive “build-and-execute” run rather than a scattered grind.
There’s also a new escalating challenge event called Echoing Hatred. Triggered by a special rare drop, it throws increasingly brutal waves of enemies at well-developed late-game characters and rewards those who can survive the pressure as the difficulty ramps.
Longtime Diablo fans will recognize another major return: the Horadric Cube. Here it functions as a gear manipulation system, allowing players to add affixes and transform items directly, reducing the need to rely entirely on lucky drops. Set bonuses are also back, but with a modern approach—using a Charms and Talismans system that activates bonuses based on combinations, rather than forcing players into rigid gear-slot requirements.
Beyond the big-ticket features, the expansion includes a skill tree overhaul, a new level cap of 70, loot filters to help manage item clutter, and even fishing as a side activity for players who want a slower-paced diversion between demon hunts.
Even if you’re not buying the expansion immediately, the base game patch (version 3.0.0) is available to preload for all players, regardless of ownership.
Preloading began on April 23 across Battle.net, PlayStation, and Xbox. The global unlock time is set for 4:00 PM PDT / 7:00 PM EDT on April 27, meaning many players will be able to get in well before midnight on the U.S. East Coast.
Lord of Hatred is launching in Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate editions, starting at $39.99. It also includes Vessel of Hatred for those who don’t already own it, though the base game is still required.
