Diablo IV announces its second expansion: Lord of Hatred is coming in April 2026

Blizzard took the stage at The Game Awards to announce the next step in the history of Diablo IV. Lord of Hatred will be the name of the second expansion, which already has a release date set for April next year.

The premise will place us right after the events of Vessel of Hatred, with Mephisto’s influence threatening to consume the world in a maelstrom of evil. To stop the Lord of Hatred, players will be forced into an unthinkable alliance: the return of Lilith. The Mother of Sanctuary returns not as the main villain, but as a necessary ally in a race against time, where mutual distrust will be as dangerous as the legions of hell.

New classes and a new land to explore

As you might expect from this expansion, Lord of Hatred will arrive with two new classes, the Paladin being the first announced. This archetype revives the fantasy of the holy warrior who combines melee combat with divine magic. Blizzard has designed this class to feel familiar yet fresh, reintroducing classic abilities such as Blessed Hammer, Auras, and Zeal, but adapted to the visceral engine of Diablo IV.

The Paladin introduces a unique class mechanic called the Oath System, which allows players to align their character with different sacred paths to gain passive bonuses that define their playstyle. In addition, a spectacular transformation ability has been added: the Arbiter form, an avatar of heavenly justice inspired by the aesthetics of Tyrael. For now, the other class coming in this expansion is still shrouded in mystery.

In addition, the expansion will open the doors to Skovos, an ancient and mysterious region never before seen in the franchise, home to the Amazons and cradle of the first civilization. Players will explore volcanic coastlines and flooded ruins while facing new types of enemies. Lord of Hatred will implement profound systemic changes to improve the daily user experience. Noteworthy is the arrival of a loot filter, an essential tool that will allow for more efficient inventory management. The iconic Horadric Cube also returns to enhance item crafting, along with a new Talisman system and updated skill trees that increase strategic depth for all existing classes.

Editions and release date

Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred will come with the Vessel of Hatred expansion included with pre-order, which will also include early access to the Paladin class, as well as some in-game extras and decorative items in World of Warcraft. The expansion will be available in three editions:

• The Standard Edition of Lord of Hatred includes Diablo IV’s first expansion, Vessel of Hatred.
• The Ultimate Edition includes everything from the Standard and Deluxe Editions, as well as the Umbral Knights Armor Bundle (6 class sets), 3,000 Platinum, the Steed of the Shining Realm Bundle, Tymn, Echo of the Spire Back Trophy, the Ascent of the Just Town Portal Skin, and more when the expansion launches.
• The Deluxe Edition includes everything from the Standard Edition, as well as the Mini Chimera Pet Skorch, the Skartaran Basilisk Mount Bundle, the High Heavens guard Cosmetic Bundle, a Premium Battle Pass Bundle, and more when the expansion launches.

Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred arrives on April 28, 2026.

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