Blizzard's 2023 action RPG returned the series to the gothic register that Diablo III had drifted away from, with a properly bleak Sanctuary, a campaign about Lilith that is unusually well directed for the genre, and five classes at launch. The structure is a shared open world with mounts, world bosses and public events, which was new for the series and remains its most divisive change. Underneath is the loop that matters: Nightmare Dungeons, Helltides and the Pit feed a Paragon board and a gear economy where itemisation has been overhauled repeatedly. Seasons run roughly three months with a new mechanic each, and the two expansions moved things considerably - Vessel of Hatred added the Spiritborn and mercenaries, and Lord of Hatred followed with the Paladin and Warlock. The launch itemisation was genuinely poor and Blizzard's response over the following two years was substantial. Played seasonally rather than continuously, it is now in the best state it has been.
Overall
Metacritic
“Lord of Hatred is the expansion Diablo 4 has been waiting for. A focused, emotionally weighty campaign, a Warlock class that will go down as one of Blizzard's best designs, a skill tree rework that quietly fixes the base game, and the return of the Horadric Cube add up to the most complete version of Diablo 4 that has ever existed. It is the capstone the franchise deserved.”
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred earns an 84 on Metacritic with critics praising the new Warlock class, the Mephisto campaign finale, and sweeping endgame improvements.
Diablo IV's Lord of Hatred expansion launches April 28 with the Paladin and Warlock classes, the return of the Horadric Cube, 20 new skill variants, and a campaign set on the island of Skovos.
Mephisto returns, the Paladin is back, and Skovos awaits. Here is a complete breakdown of everything coming to Diablo IV in the Lord of Hatred expansion launching April 28, 2026.
Blizzard's second Diablo IV expansion closes the Age of Hatred saga with two new classes, the Skovos region, and a surprising alliance with Lilith.