Summary
- Mercenaries return to Diablo 4 in Vessel of Hatred expansion, bringing customizable playstyles for players to enjoy.
- Spiritborn class inspired by Aztec Jaguar warriors introduces fluid melee combat with animal spirit boosts.
- Rumored level cap reduction from 100 to 60 in Vessel of Hatred reworks certain in-game elements for a new experience.
Blizzard has officially revealed the much-awaited new Mercenary companions coming to Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred in a new trailer. Mercenaries, a long-running game mechanic, return to the franchise after not being present in the base version of Diablo 4.
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred is officially launching on October 8 as the first paid DLC expansion for the game. The expansion takes players to the jungle region of Nahantu, bringing in all-new enemies and areas to explore. The DLC also hopes to revitalize the activity of Diablo 4, which has flagged since the hype of its initial launch after some players found its seasonal content lackluster and microtransactions system too aggressive.
Diablo 4 Player Crafts Incredibly Rare Item
One incredibly lucky Diablo 4 player crafts one of the most popular items in Blizzard's RPG with the attribute they wanted most.
In a reveal trailer and discussion on the opening night of Gamescom, Blizzard gave fans their first look at the Mercenaries coming to Vessel of Hatred. Diablo 4 Game Director Brent Gibson introduced the mechanic on stage, showing that the Mercenaries have different playstyles and are fully customizable by the player. While the trailer itself doesn't fully explain each Mercenary's style, opting to introduce their role in the story and show some gameplay clips, it gives a glimpse of how the characters' design choices may hint at specific job classes. There's a demon, what seems to be a paladin, an assassin, and more. Blizzard will likely reveal complete details about Mercenaries as the release date for Vessel of Hatred draws near.
Other New Elements Coming To Vessel of Hatred
- New class: Spiritborn
- Rumored level cap reduction from 100 to 60
The new Mercenary companions aren't the only thing Diablo 4 players are highly awaiting from Vessel of Hatred. The expansion is introducing the Spiritborn class to Diablo 4, heavily inspired by the Aztec Jaguar warriors in the real world. The Spiritborn is a fluid and adaptable melee fighter, powered by the force of different animal spirits such as the jaguar, gorilla, centipede, and eagle that each boosts particular stats and encourages a specific playstyle. It seems to be unlike any other character class in all of Diablo, which contributes to its hype among series fans.
Another big change rumored, but not yet confirmed, is Vessel of Hatred crunching the level cap from 100 to 60. Certain in-game elements observed in Vessel of Hatred gameplay footage suggest that some abilities and upgrades, such as Paragon Boards and potion upgrades at the Alchemist, are being reworked to be unlocked at or just before level 60. Everything still remains to be seen, however, and things can still change with the launch of the expansion still over a month away.
Diablo 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
WHERE TO PLAY
Diablo® IV is the ultimate action-RPG experience with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish dungeons, and legendary loot.
Embark on the epic campaign solo or with friends, meeting memorable characters through a gripping story in a beautifully dark world, or explore an expansive end game: battle iconic bosses for powerful loot, fight back the encroaching onslaught of Hell in Helltides, master the Forge to create your ultimate weapons and progress powerful characters, with cross-play and cross-progression on all available platforms.
Discover the critically acclaimed franchise that defined the Action RPG genre. As the battle between the High Heavens and Burning Hells rages on, hatred devours Sanctuary as evil spreads and a new wave of cultists and worshippers arise to embrace Lilith’s coming. Only a brave few dare to face this threat and bring light to the all-consuming darkness.
Expansive Open WorldForge your own path through the corrupted lands of Sanctuary, an ever-growing, fully explorable world teeming with challenges, quests, enemies, and loot. Join your fellow adventurers, rescue and retake besieged towns, delve into nightmarish dungeons and uncover lost secrets as you fight back evil. The many zones of Sanctuary are yours to explore, and with rotating areas of extreme peril like World Bosses and Helltide, danger lurks at every turn.
Immersive Character DevelopmentCreate and customize your character to face the encroaching darkness. Choose from one of five classes and build your hero with skills, abilities and cosmetics, creating a champion that is uniquely your own. Grow stronger as you progress through powerful Skill Trees and develop even more unique end game specializations with Paragon Boards.
Legendary Gear, Epic BattlesDiscover and experiment with a vast arsenal of powerful weapons, armor and more to fight back against the demons threatening Sanctuary. Explore unique combinations, create your own upgrades and collect a plethora of powerful tools to battle in immersive, action-packed combat against the deadliest of enemies.
Seasons & EventsThe tales of Sanctuary continue to unfold. Create Seasonal Characters and join in fresh adventures - master new mechanics and take on the latest threats in each new Season. Complete harrowing feats of the Season Journey and earn new Battle Pass rewards. Plus, sharpen your swords and get in the spirit of the seasons when Limited-Time Events sweep through Sanctuary.
End Game UndertakingsThere’s even more Diablo® IV to explore as you reach higher levels and more fearsome World Tiers. Face the greatest challenge yet as you take on the most powerful demons in The Pit, steel yourself against Uber Bosses to reap uber unique rewards, fight back overflowing armies of Hell as Helltides emerge across Sanctuary, battle larger-than-life World Bosses, and master the Forge to create the mightiest weapons fit for a hero.
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- All platforms
- Cross Save
- All platforms
- Franchise
- Diablo
- Number of Players
- 1-2 players
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- File Size Xbox Series
- 158.25 GB
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 players (console only)
