Diablo 4 is getting a loot filter, the Horadric Cube, and two new classes: The Mephisto finale in Lord of Hatred sounds like a really big add-on package.
Diablo 4 has a new class: The long-awaited return of the Paladin is a pre-order bonus in Lord of Hatred, the second add-on for Blizzard’s action role-playing game. Anyone who adds one of the three editions of the expansion to their virtual shopping cart now will receive immediate early access to the fighter of light.
Admittedly, the Paladin is only one part of Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred. Upon its release on April 28, 2026 , the expansion will celebrate the conclusion of the Mephisto saga in a new region and introduce a second, as yet secret character class.
What can the Paladin do in Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred?
The developers have playfully modernized the Paladin, familiar from Diablo 2 and replaced by the Crusader in Diablo 3, without ignoring the nostalgia factor. The new Oath system is at the heart of this. It forces you to specialize: Do you want to become an insurmountable fortress as a Moloch (Juggernaut) with your shield, or unleash offensive fury as a Fanatic?
Particularly exciting for veterans is the Judge path, which brings back classic skills such as Blessed Hammer and Heavenly Fury. Those seeking the ultimate heavenly power fantasy should choose the Disciple oath: Here, you temporarily transform into an angelic master figure strongly reminiscent of Tyrael.
New story content meets gameplay innovations
The end of the first add-on, Vessel of Hatred, was one of the most open endings in the series’ history. The villain Mephisto has returned to the mortal world in the guise of a famous clergyman and must be defeated once and for all on the Skovos archipelago.
The home of the Amazons, seen for the first time in a game, is intended to offer a stark contrast to the previous areas, with volcanoes and sunken ruins.
Mechanically, Blizzard is delivering perhaps the biggest update since release. The loot filter, which players have been demanding since 2023, is finally coming, which was long overdue given the flood of items. Even more important for tinkerers: the Horadric Cube is returning and massively expanding crafting. Together with the new talisman system, which enables set bonuses, this should increase build diversity in the endgame.
The endgame itself is structured by war plans, which allow you to determine your own path of progress and modifiers. And if you need a break after the stress of the new Echo of Hatred challenge, you can now actually go fishing in Sanctuary – an almost absurd contrast to the endless hacking and slashing.
