I’ve been eagerly awaiting more stories from the world of Diablo IV since the credits rolled, and the new expansion, Vessel of Hatred, is finally here—and it’s packed with content. Blizzard has really outdone themselves with this expansion, delivering a significant amount of content that not only expands the world of Sanctuary but also introduces exciting new gameplay mechanics that breathe fresh life into the demon-slaying action we’ve come to love.
For anyone who has played through the main story of Diablo IV, it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. Neyrelle takes the soul stone containing Mephisto and embarks on a pilgrimage to finally put an end to the Lord of Hatred. However, as we’ve seen in the past, things rarely go according to plan. As she travels the lands of Sanctuary, she leaves a wake of destruction caused by the evil and corruption constantly seeping from Mephisto’s trapped soul. She’s also tormented by the Lord of Hell as she attempts to complete her quest.
It’s a fantastic setup that instantly sets the stage for Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred. Over the course of the base game, Neyrelle has evolved into one of the more humanizing characters in a story filled with ancient evil and prophecy, so watching her slowly unravel is both heartbreaking and compelling. This mission feels more personal and grounded than some of the other Diablo stories we’ve seen.
I’m also thrilled to see Blizzard continue Mephisto’s story in Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred. As he’s brought to life in Diablo IV, Mephisto is easily one of the best villains in the series—equal parts charming and horrifying. Watching the extent to which he manipulates and corrupts people is chilling, and Vessel of Hatred gives us more of that sinister brilliance.
“Blizzard picks up the story and runs with it, making Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred a great starting point that fuels the expansion with the urgency the series thrives on.”
Blizzard picks up the story and runs with it, making Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred a great starting point that fuels the expansion with the urgency the series thrives on. Players are quickly thrown into the lush yet treacherous jungles of Nahantu, a new region that is a visual feast. With dense foliage, ancient ruins, and eerie swamps, the atmosphere balances wonder and dread perfectly. It’s a stark contrast to the snowy peaks and arid deserts from before, and the change of scenery is very welcome. The art team has truly outdone themselves, creating a world that feels alive and teeming with both beauty and danger.
While the expansion doesn’t introduce a vast array of new enemies, what it does include, paired with the new setting, provides a welcome change for anyone feeling fatigued by the familiar creatures of Diablo IV. The Nahantu region does a fantastic job of showcasing the capabilities of the Diablo IV engine, offering a glimpse of a world untouched by the civilization we’ve seen so far. Drawing inspiration from ancient South American cultures, the region feels authentic and distinct, even though it doesn’t directly reference any one culture.
While the setting is a fantastic addition, many players will be eyeing this expansion for one major feature: the new class. The Spiritborn is a welcome addition to the Diablo pantheon, offering a fresh experience that feels unlike anything we’ve seen in the series before. As a jack-of-all-trades class, it shakes up the formula with unprecedented customization options. The Spiritborn can channel the power of four guardian spirits—the eagle, gorilla, jaguar, and centipede—each offering unique abilities and playstyles.
Want to zip around the battlefield dealing lightning damage? Choose the eagle. Prefer to tank hits and smash demons with brute force? The gorilla’s got you covered. Or, like me, you can focus on poison, with the centipede becoming my go-to for most of my playthrough. It’s a versatile class that gives players plenty of ways to approach combat, depending on their preferences.
While you can stick with one spirit and fully embrace its strengths, what’s truly impressive about the Spiritborn is how effortlessly you can mix and match abilities from different spirits. This customization opens the door to some truly creative builds, catering to a wide range of playstyles. During my playthrough, I constantly experimented with different combinations, searching for the perfect synergy between abilities. While I loved using the centipede’s poison, there were times when I wanted more speed or power, and playing around with the build made it incredibly fun.
It’s a testament to Blizzard’s design that even after dozens of hours, I was still finding new and exciting ways to play. Right up until I sat down to write this review, I kept experimenting with different skill combinations to craft the best possible build. I spent over an hour tweaking various builds during runs of the Kurast Undercity (more on that later) just to see how far I could push my character. It’s addicting to see how each change can completely transform the playstyle, and it kept me coming back for more.
At its core, the Spiritborn is primarily a melee class, similar to the Rogue or Sorcerer, with elements of the Witch Doctor from Diablo III. It features skills for crowd control, direct combat, and powerful ultimate abilities tied to its guardian spirits, capable of clearing entire areas of enemies with a single cast. While it can be challenging early on, with the right equipment and effort, the Spiritborn becomes an immensely powerful character as you tackle the story and extra content in Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred.
As expected, the story in Vessel of Hatred delves deep into the lore of the ancient Nahantu civilization and the Spiritborn class, offering a compelling narrative that ties seamlessly into the overarching Diablo storyline. Without giving too much away, I’ll just say that fans of Diablo II will find plenty of callbacks and references to enjoy. The main questline is substantial and engaging, with several surprising twists and turns that kept me hooked from beginning to end. It ventures into some incredibly dark places, consistent with the themes of the base game. However, be warned—it ends on a cliffhanger, leaving you wanting more.
“… the Spiritborn becomes an immensely powerful character as you tackle the story and extra content in Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred.”
As with any Diablo experience, the story is only part of the adventure. Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred is packed with side quests and activities that flesh out the world of Nahantu and its inhabitants. From helping local tribes fend off demonic invasions to uncovering the secrets of ancient temples, there’s always something to do. These side activities aren’t just filler; many offer unique rewards and insights into the region’s history and culture, making them well worth your time. Even without diving into the main questline, there’s plenty to experience in Nahantu—and that’s before even touching on the new features that make exploring this expansion so engaging.
Beyond the side missions, a welcome feature for fans of Diablo III is the new hireable mercenaries system. These AI companions can be recruited to fight alongside you, each with their own unique abilities and progression systems. It’s a fantastic addition for solo players who want some backup, adding an extra layer of strategy to party composition. While mercenaries need to be unlocked through a series of questlines, they offer a new way to tackle the hordes of hell. Whether you choose a tanky Raheir to soak up damage or a character like the half-demon Aldkin to mix up the battlefield, the system adds a lot of replayability and strategic depth to the game.
As I mentioned earlier, Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred introduces the Kurast Undercity, a new timed challenge area that will be a welcome addition for anyone who loved the rifts from Diablo III. Available once you reach level 15, this area allows players to push themselves either for leveling up or obtaining new loot. It’s also a great farming spot if you’re prepping for a late-game boss or just need better gear for endgame content. The Kurast Undercity can be further customized with Spirit Tributes to deliver better loot or increase the challenge, offering a rewarding risk-reward dynamic for those looking to test their limits.
Speaking of loot, it wouldn’t be a Diablo expansion without new gear to deck out your character, and Vessel of Hatred delivers where it matters most. The new gear sets and unique items are not only visually stunning but also provide some game-changing effects. I found myself constantly excited to see what new piece of equipment would drop and how it might alter my playstyle. The itemization feels well-balanced, offering powerful options without breaking the game’s balance.
The endgame content in Vessel of Hatred is robust and challenging. New types of dungeons and world events keep things fresh, and the expanded Paragon system offers even more ways to customize and strengthen your character. The new Torment difficulties provide a serious challenge for even the most seasoned players, ensuring that there’s always room for improvement and progression.
Speaking of new loot, Vessel of Hatred introduces a special collectible that adds a fresh twist to the Diablo formula: Runewords. These offer a new way to mix up your character build, granting access to skills from other classes as well as standard buffs like increased movement speed and skill enhancements. There are 17 Runes of Ritual and 28 Runes of Invocation available in the expansion, which can be unlocked through an NPC known as Ormus. However, you’ll need to be at least level 20 to equip them. While I only experienced a handful during my review, I can see players pushing their character builds to the limit once they get their hands on them.
“Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred feels very much like the classic expansions Blizzard used to release, packed with features, story, and gameplay elements that expand on an already great game.”
Multiplayer remains a strong focus in Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred, with new features like the improved party finder making it easier than ever to team up with other players. This expansion also introduces a host of quality-of-life improvements. The new party finder system is especially helpful for those without a regular group of friends to play with. Additionally, Vessel of Hatred raises the level cap to 60, splits Paragon and Character Levels, restructures World Tiers into Standard and Torment Difficulties, and gives each class one new skill, five new passives, and new class legendaries and uniques. The paragon system has also seen some updates, along with other changes that players will welcome.
That brings me to the last major addition in Vessel of Hatred’s endgame: the Dark Citadel. This new area combines multiplayer with a PvE endgame experience designed for groups of 2 to 4 players. It features complex dungeons and boss fights that demand teamwork, with multiple paths leading to new challenges. As expected, the Dark Citadel offers plenty of opportunities for exciting loot and new cosmetic rewards. Personally, I love sections like this, where players can tackle endgame content together.
It’s important to note that the Dark Citadel is only accessible once Torment I is unlocked, which makes sense as it’s built for players looking to push their end-game limits. If you’re not at Torment I by then, you’re missing out on some of the best loot and challenges Diablo IV has to offer.
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred feels very much like the classic expansions Blizzard used to release, packed with features, story, and gameplay elements that expand on an already great game. The team has done an amazing job introducing features and improvements that enhance the overall experience. That said, I do have some concerns about how the new Spiritborn class will fit into the online community. While the class is incredibly fun to play, it feels a bit overpowered compared to the original classes—but that remains to be seen.
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred is a fantastic expansion that breathes new life into an already excellent game. The new region is stunning and packed with content, the Spiritborn class offers unprecedented customization, and the endgame additions ensure that players will have plenty to do for months. While it’s not perfect, it comes damn close, and it’s easily one of the best expansions Blizzard has produced in the past decade.
If you’ve been waiting for a reason to return to Sanctuary, Vessel of Hatred is it. Just be ready to lose countless hours to its addictive gameplay and immersive world. The forces of Hell await, and they’ve never looked so good.
