Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred Out! New Paladin & Warlock

Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred Expansion Cover

Blizzard Entertainment’s second expansion for Diablo IV, Lord of Hatred, officially launches today (April 28, 2026)! Following the events of Vessel of Hatred, this expansion introduces the new Skovos region, two new classes (Paladin and Warlock), a complete skill tree overhaul, a loot filter, and a series of new endgame activities. It is one of the largest content updates for Diablo IV to date.

Story Background: Battle Mephisto, Lord of Hatred

Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred Opening Cinematic

The plot of Lord of Hatred continues from the previous expansion. The ancient Pools of Creation are pulling Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred, step by step into Sanctuary. Players must lead the Wanderer and join forces with an unlikely ally to stop Mephisto’s schemes before hatred completely twists the world. With time and allies running out, the Wanderer will face a desperate final stand.

New Region: Ancient Holy Land of Skovos

The main stage of this expansion is the historic Skovos, the homeland of Lilith and Inarius, now ruled by the Oracles and the Amazon Queen. Skovos features a Mediterranean-inspired aesthetic with diverse terrain, including volcanic lava coasts, lush tropical jungles, sunken ancient civilizations, temple ruins, and flood-swept reefs, filled with new characters, quests, and demons to discover.

New Class 1: Paladin

The Paladin, a fan-favorite classic from the Diablo series, finally returns in Diablo IV. Using the Holy Light as an indestructible weapon against darkness, the Paladin brings back iconic skills like Blessed Hammer, Auras, and Zeal, while offering four new specializations:

Arbiter: Transforms into an angelic form, gaining divine speed and holy clarity to strike enemies quickly with high mobility.
Zealot: Centered on fanatical faith, significantly increasing fire damage to sweep through demon hordes with an aggressive style.
Inquisitor: Calls down divine lightning and celestial chains to judge enemies with heavenly power over a wide area.
Ironclad: A tank-style class that converts high defense into core damage output—the tougher you are, the harder you hit.

New Class 2: Warlock

The Warlock is a brand-new class introduced in Lord of Hatred. These powerful casters master forbidden knowledge and command demons with an iron will. Warlocks turn the powers of Hell into weapons to protect Sanctuary, offering four distinct specializations:

Legion: Summons an endless army of demons to overwhelm enemies with sheer numbers, perfect for summoner-style players.
Vanguard: A melee-style Warlock capable of transforming into a powerful demon form to charge into battle.
Mastermind: A shadow-manipulation class that uses schemes to control enemies and weaken their will, causing them to turn on each other.
Ritualist: Performs forbidden dark rituals to cast devastating spells, a high-risk, high-reward burst-damage class.

Complete Skill Tree Overhaul

Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred Skill Tree Update

Lord of Hatred features a complete rework of the skill trees for all eight classes, bringing over 40 reworked options, 80 additional skill choices, and a maximum of 83 skill points. This update moves passive skills to Legendary Aspects and Unique items, allowing players to focus points on active skills and create more personalized builds, expected to trigger a massive meta shift.

Finally! New Loot Filter

The long-awaited Loot Filter system officially arrives in Lord of Hatred! Players can now customize rules for gear drops, setting conditions to show or hide specific equipment types, qualities, and affixes, significantly improving the gameplay experience and keeping the farm free of junk.

New Crafting: Horadric Cube & Rune Disks

Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred Crafting System

The iconic Horadric Cube from Diablo II makes its triumphant return! Players can use the Cube for material synthesis and item transformation, continuing the series’ crafting tradition. The new Rune Disk system also allows players to embed rune combinations into gear to unlock diverse attribute effects, providing deep customization for endgame players.

New Endgame Content

Battle Plans: A new high-difficulty challenge mode providing clear progression goals and rich rewards for endgame players.
Resonant Hatred: A new endgame activity themed around the power of hatred, offering high-intensity combat experiences.
Fishing: Yes, Diablo IV now has fishing! This relaxing minigame provides a breather from the high-pressure endgame grind.

Purchase Information

Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred is available today on Battle.net, Xbox, and PlayStation. Players who purchase Lord of Hatred will receive the first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, for free, making it a great catch-up point. Please note that the base Diablo IV game is required to play the expansion.

Whether you are a veteran, a returning Paladin fan, or a new player interested in the Warlock, Lord of Hatred offers a wealth of content to explore. Step into Skovos now and stop Mephisto’s plot!