Blizzard has officially unveiled Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred, the next major expansion for Diablo IV, launching April 28, 2026.
Revealed during the Diablo 30th Anniversary Spotlight, the expansion introduces new classes, a brand-new region, sweeping skill system changes, and a major endgame overhaul.
This is shaping up to be the most ambitious Diablo IV update since the game’s original release.
A New Region: Skovos
Lord of Hatred takes players to Skovos, a dangerous new region filled with volcanic terrain, ancient ruins, and coastal horrors.
The zone is designed to expand Diablo IV’s world with:
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Volcanic landscapes and ruined temples
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Ocean-themed threats and sea monsters
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New dungeons and exploration systems
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A darker narrative tone tied to Mephisto
Blizzard is positioning Skovos as a central battlefield in the ongoing conflict against the Prime Evils.
Two New Classes: Paladin and Warlock
The expansion introduces two major new classes to Diablo IV.
Paladin
The Paladin returns as a heavily armored holy warrior focused on auras, defensive support, and frontline combat.
Players who pre-purchase the expansion will gain early access to the Paladin before launch.
Warlock
The Warlock is a darker spellcaster built around summoning and manipulating demonic forces. Unlike traditional summoners, the Warlock emphasizes selfish power, using demons to empower personal abilities rather than supporting allies.
A full Warlock gameplay deep dive is scheduled for a developer livestream on March 5.
Story Focus: Confronting Mephisto
The Lord of Hatred expansion continues Diablo IV’s main storyline with a climactic confrontation against Mephisto.
The narrative centers on:
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The Pools of Creation
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The growing influence of Hatred across Sanctuary
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A large-scale conflict against hellish forces
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New cinematic story moments
Blizzard has confirmed this will be one of the most story-driven updates for Diablo IV so far.
Massive Skill Tree Overhaul (Free for All Players)
One of the biggest changes coming alongside the expansion is a complete skill tree overhaul, available to all Diablo IV players — even those who don’t purchase the expansion.
Key improvements include:
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Up to 12 points per skill (previously 5)
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Branching upgrade paths
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New passive and transformation options
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More than 80 new skill choices
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Over 40 reworked existing nodes
This dramatically expands build diversity. For example, skills like Hydra can now evolve into entirely different playstyles, including frost-based explosions or speed-focused variants.
The new system aims to make builds more customizable and meaningful across all classes.
Pre-Purchase Bonuses
Players who pre-purchase Lord of Hatred will receive several bonuses:
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Early Paladin access
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Cosmetic mounts, pets, and armor sets
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3,000 Platinum
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Additional character slots and stash space
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Cross-game cosmetic rewards
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Access to Vessel of Hatred content
These incentives are designed to bridge progression between current Diablo IV content and the expansion.
Why This Expansion Matters
Lord of Hatred is more than just a new region and story chapter. It represents a major evolution of Diablo IV’s core systems.
Between:
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Two new classes
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A massive skill tree overhaul
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New endgame systems
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A major story arc against Mephisto
the expansion is expected to redefine how Diablo IV plays heading into its next era.
Final Thoughts
With its April 2026 release date approaching, Lord of Hatred is quickly becoming one of the most anticipated Diablo IV updates yet. The combination of new classes, deeper customization, and large-scale system changes signals Blizzard’s long-term commitment to evolving the game.
More details, including the full Warlock class reveal, are expected in the coming weeks.
