Diablo III is thirteen years old, has been replaced by Diablo IV, has another sequel officially waiting in 2029, and apparently has absolutely no intention of going quietly.
Season 40 begins today, October 2, at 5:00 PM CEST, bringing back the Light’s Calling seasonal theme and its wonderfully excessive Angelic Crucibles. At this point Diablo III is less a retired game and more that one Nephalem who keeps turning up for work despite nobody being entirely certain who is still paying them.
And honestly, there are worse problems to have.
Angelic Crucibles Are Back
Light’s Calling originally appeared in Season 27, and its central mechanic remains Angelic Crucibles. These consumable items allow players to Sanctify any equippable Legendary item, transforming it into Ancient-level quality while also giving it one of three special class-specific Sanctified Powers at random.
That makes Season 40 considerably more interesting than a simple numerical reset. Sanctified Powers can fundamentally change how familiar builds behave, and they encourage exactly the sort of ridiculous experimentation Diablo III has become very good at during its later life.
Blizzard is no longer pretending these recurring seasons represent enormous new chapters for the game. Diablo III is firmly in its rotating-season era, something we discussed when asking whether Diablo III is still worth playing in 2026. What keeps the system working is that some of those old themes were genuinely fun, and Light’s Calling belongs near the top of that pile.
Season 40 Haedrig’s Gift Sets
As always, completing Chapters II, III and IV of the Season Journey rewards Haedrig’s Gifts containing pieces of a class set. You only get one complete set this way per season across Hardcore and Non-Hardcore, so opening everything on the character you actually want to play remains highly recommended.
- Barbarian: Horde of the Ninety Savages
- Crusader: Aegis of Valor
- Demon Hunter: Gears of Dreadlands
- Monk: Patterns of Justice
- Witch Doctor: Mundunugu’s Regalia
- Wizard: Typhon’s Veil
- Necromancer: Masquerade of the Burning Carnival
The seasonal Conquests also rotate again, including Speed Demon, Boss Mode, Curses!, Years of War and the challenge to level three Legendary Gems to 65.
Diablo III Somehow Reached Season 40
The number itself deserves a moment.
Season 40.
When Season 38 launched earlier this year, Diablo III already felt like a fascinating survivor from another era of Blizzard. Six months later, we are starting Season 40 while Diablo IV is deep into its own seasonal cycle and Diablo V is officially scheduled for Spring 2029.
Blizzard has increasingly described Diablo as a franchise where older games do not necessarily disappear when the next one arrives. We have already seen that philosophy applied to Diablo IV, with the studio confirming that Diablo IV seasons are expected to continue after Diablo V launches as long as players remain interested.
Diablo III is the evidence that this can actually work.
It no longer receives giant expansions or completely new endgame systems. Instead, Blizzard rotates some of its strongest seasonal ideas back into circulation and gives players another excuse to create a fresh character, rediscover an old build and spend a weekend turning Greater Rifts into brightly coloured particle soup.
Season 40 Begins Today
Blizzard’s official Season 40 preview confirms that Light’s Calling begins today, October 2, with Angelic Crucibles, returning seasonal rewards and the latest Haedrig’s Gift rotation.
There is a new Diablo game coming in three years. Diablo IV is still receiving major seasonal content. Sanctuary currently has considerably more modern ways to consume your free time.
And yet somewhere this evening, thousands of people are going to create another level-one Diablo III character.
Season 40 has arrived.
Apparently Hell still has monsters left.
