Diablo 4's new expansion has a release date, but Lord of Hatred feels like the end for Blizzard's divisive ARPG

It's been over a year since we took to the jungles of Nahantu, a realm built on the foundations of ancient mysticism and traditional folklore. It brought Kurast, my favorite Diablo 2 zone, to vibrant life, and finally let my favorite Prime Evil, the malevolent Mephisto, take center stage. But it feels like Diablo 4's next DLC, whatever it may be, is his real spotlight moment. Well, tonight at The Game Awards, Blizzard has unveiled Lord of Hatred, the next chapter of Santuary's saga of strife. But, perhaps more importantly, Paladin is real, and there's another class on the way. Excited doesn't even come close.

Now, we've had to wait a little while for this expansion. While Blizzard initially said that we'd get a new Diablo 4 DLC every year, Lord of Hatred was pushed into 2026 following a somewhat lukewarm response to the game's ongoing seasonal model. It's spent the vast majority of 2025 refining the core gameplay, fixing balance, tightening up the endgame experience, and really honing in on what makes Diablo, well, Diablo.

Coming into Lord of Hatred, the game feels like it's in a better state than ever before. Described as the "Age of Hatred's culmination," this may imply that it's the last big DLC we'll see (previous Diablo games only had one expac each), or that this is simply the last entry in Mephisto's chapter. As we gear up to end the Prime Evil once and for all, we'll need to forge a perilous alliance with the Daughter of Hatred herself, Lilith, as we cap off what's already been an epic journey.

But let's start with the most important part: classes. Yes, the rumors are true; we're finally getting a Paladin. This holy warrior wields a hammer (or sword) and shield, alongside raw, blessed energy, with various skills that harken back to the dark days of Diablo 2. Their kit focuses on Auras (passive skills that affect the caster and/or nearby enemies) and Conjurations (kind of what it says on the tin), but adds a brand new, Tyrael-inspired Arbiter form that'll no doubt dish out even more damage. Plus, it has angel wings, and that's pretty cool.

Expect to see Blessed Hammer, Blessed Shield, Condemn, Heaven's Fury, and Zeal make a return, blended with the new Oath system, which allows you to hard-commit to one specific playstyle. Disciple leans into the class' holy aspects, Judicator is conjuration-focused, Juggernaut relies on shield-based combat, and Zealot is more aggressive. As an Aasimar player in D&D, I know exactly what Oath I'm taking.

But there's even more to get excited about here. Since the birth of Sanctuary, Diablo games have always capped out at seven classes (Diablo 1 had six, and while Immortal currently has eight, it isn't considered a mainline game). Diablo 4 will be the first to break the rule of seven, with another mysterious class set to drop during Lord of Hatred's lifecycle. Expected at the same time as the DLC, the only description we have is that "its power [is] undeniable, its arrival poised to reshape the battlefield." That really could be anything, but I suspect we may see some sort of Amazon-style character.

Why? Well, we're heading to Skovos, the former home of Inarius and Lilith, as well as the Amazon's home realm. We've never seen it in-game before, but its volcanic coasts and watery themes sound perfect for me, if not slightly inhospitable.

But Lord of Hatred isn't just about the story. There are a slew of new endgame features, too, including - deep breaths - a loot filter. While initially Blizzard said we wouldn't be getting one, consistent requests (and perhaps Path of Exile 2's release) have prompted the team to re-evaluate. You'll now be able to cut out the chaff with ease, meaning you can focus on picking up all of the best gear.

Skill trees are being reworked, as is crafting (the Horadric Cube is back!), and there are new endgame activities, too. War Plans will let you plot out your own unique progression path, meaning you can choose your favorite activities and modifiers to focus on the content you want to do. Then there's the Echoing Hatred, which will test even the most veteran players.

My favorite of these, however, is fishing. Stardew Valley has it. Skyrim eventually got it. Now, Diablo has it. While I'm not quite sure what aquatic beasties you'll encounter (I feel like they're going to have a lot of eyes), I am very, very excited about this one.

Diablo 4 Lord of Hatred launches on Tuesday April 28, 2026. Given that the 'Age of Hatred' reaches its climax with this expansion, it may be the last major DLC we see for the game.

Lord of Hatred will include the Vessel of Hatred storyline, and if you pre-purchase it you'll gain access to that content immediately. Pre-purchasing also grants early access to the Paladin class, and extra stash tab, two character slots, and three decor items for use in World of Warcraft: Midnight. There's a Deluxe and Ultimate edition, too, each of which comes with a collection of cosmetics.

While I'm excited to see what Lord of Hatred has in store, the fact that the mainline story may come to a close is bittersweet. I'm excited to try out Paladin, my fingers are crossed for an Amazon (Poison Javazon, let's gooo), and we'll hopefully see a path laid for the next chapter of Sanctuary's story. Diablo 5, anyone?