Blizzard Entertainment dropped a massive bomb at The Game Awards 2025, officially unveiling the next major expansion for Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred. This expansion not only continues the grim story of Sanctuary but brings with it a flood of highly-requested features and a massive overhaul to the game’s core systems.
The Lord of Hatred campaign will serve as the climactic finale to the “Age of Hatred Saga,” pitting players in a final stand against the Prime Evil, Mephisto. The narrative will see the Wanderer tracking Mephisto’s deception through the never-before-seen region of Skovos, the ancient birthplace of Sanctuary’s first civilization. In a shocking twist, the trailer hinted at an uneasy alliance, with the return of the original antagonist, Lilith, forcing players into a perilous, necessary partnership.
The biggest news for fans is the introduction of not one, but two new playable classes:
- The Paladin: Making their long-awaited return, the Paladin is a holy “sword-and-board” class that smites foes with Holy Light, hammers, and shields. Players who pre-purchase the expansion gain immediate early access to the Paladin class.
- The Mystery Class: A second, unannounced class was heavily teased as one that “looms on the dark horizon,” promising to reshape the battlefield upon the expansion’s launch.
Lord of Hatred promises to deliver the largest gameplay evolution since the base game’s release, including:
- Skill Tree Reworks and an increased level cap for all classes.
- The long-requested Loot Filter system.
- Enhanced crafting, including the return of the iconic Horadric Cube.
- An overhauled endgame featuring War Plans for customized progression and the brutal Echoing Hatred gauntlet.
- Release Date: The expansion is set to launch on April 28, 2026.
All purchases of Lord of Hatred will also include the previous expansion, Vessel of Hatred, allowing new players to catch up on the saga immediately.
