Blizzard has revealed details for the Diablo 4 expansion Lord of Hatred, set to launch on April 28, introducing the paladin and warlock classes, a new region, and a skill tree overhaul available to all players. The update accompanies Season 12, which begins March 11 and features the ability to transform into the iconic Butcher enemy. A free paladin trial runs from March 11 to 18, allowing players to experience the class up to level 25.
Diablo 4's Lord of Hatred expansion arrives on April 28, bringing two new playable classes: the paladin and the warlock. The warlock features four specializations—Legion, Ritualist, Vanguard, and Mastermind—each emphasizing demon-summoning, fire-based attacks, or shadow manipulation. For instance, the Legion spec summons a variety of demons, including imp-like creatures and a boss-like entity wielding a large sword, creating a screen-filling spectacle. Players can mix abilities across specs and use a shard system to enhance one specialization.
Alongside the expansion, Blizzard is overhauling the skill tree for all players, regardless of purchase. Each class receives 40 reworked skill choices and over 80 additional options, focusing on active modifications to abilities, such as changing a sorcerer's fiery hydra to cold damage. Expansion owners gain 20 more choices with a level cap increase to 70 from 60. Colin Finer, associate game director, stated, "The top-line goal is we want way more build variety. We want a much deeper, much broader set of builds in the game."
Passive abilities have been moved to the Paragon tree, while keywords like Overpower now function as stackable damage buffs usable across classes. The expansion reintroduces item sets via charms in talismans, offering set bonuses, such as a Barbarian set that enlarges the character beyond 100 Fury for increased damage. The Horadric Cube enables upgrading lower-rarity items to legendary status. Aislyn Hall, game designer, noted, "you will be able to push your character further than you've ever been able to."
New endgame system War Plans allows players to create customized playlists of activities with modifications for rewards and challenges, including teleportation to locations. Fishing is added as a relaxed collection activity across Sanctuary, encouraging exploration without high-stakes combat. Finer added, "Fishing's really an excuse to revisit some of these old areas in the game... and that's a place where you can start to collect things from the old world."
Season 12, Season of Slaughter, launches March 11, introducing transformations into the Butcher via Shrines of Slaughter, Ceremony of Slaughter, or Slaughterhouses—the first such feature in Diablo history. The Butcher, infamous from Diablo 1 for its sudden, aggressive appearances, returns in this form. A free paladin trial from March 11 to 18 lets all players test the class up to level 25 on Battle.net, PlayStation, and Xbox, with progress carrying over to purchases. Additional quality-of-life features include loot filters.
