Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred Release Date and Overview

Do you love to play Diablo 4? If so, Blizzard is set to launch the game’s first-ever expansion later this year. As such, you can expect a lot of great new content, including a new region to explore, a new co-op dungeon to conquer, and a new class to play.

Read further as we divulge some very juicy details about the upcoming expansion. So, without further ado, here is everything we know about Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred thus far:

Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred Release Date

First announced by Blizzard back at Blizzcon 2023, Diablo 4’s first expansion is called “Vessel of Hatred” and it already has a release date. When is it, exactly?

Well, Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred will launch on October 8 for all supported platforms, including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Plot

In the official trailer for the expansion, it was revealed that Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred will continue the story of the original game. As a refresher, Neyrelle went from the Horadric Vault to the west coast in Kehjistan. There, she took a boat and was prepared to go somewhere. We now know that she is headed south towards the Torajan Jungles, which is known by the locals as Nahantu.

If you have played the game, you know that Neyrelle wanted to “deal with” the Soulstone that houses the soul of the Lord of Hatred himself. Perhaps, it is within the jungles of Nahantu that she may find the answer she is looking for.

Map of Sanctuary

Even though the region is vast, filled with lush foliage and hidden dangers, you will come across some familiar places, especially if you have played Diablo II (or its remastered version, Diablo II: Resurrected). These are the Kurast Docks and Travincal, the latter of which is integral to the story of the second Diablo game.

It is unclear what Neyrelle will find in Nahantu, but something tells us that she will ultimately have a showdown with the Lord of Hatred, Mephisto, at some point during the expansion.

Neyrelle and Mephisto's Soulstone

Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred – New Content

Being the game’s first-ever expansion, Blizzard wants to impress you with a ton of new content, which you can expect in Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred. Let’s start by talking about the new region.

New Region: Nahantu

Nahantu Region

The Nahantu Region, known by outsiders as the Torajan Jungle, is the main setting of Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred. As mentioned earlier, you will find familiar places from previous Diablo games, including Kurast Docks, and Travincal.

For those who do not know, the Kurast Docks were a safe haven for the locals of Kurast in Diablo II Act 3. Ormus cast a protective barrier to protect this place from Mephisto’s corruption.

Kurast Docks

Travincal, on the other hand, served as the Lord of Hatred’s base of operations. He was found in the Durance of Hate, which was situated at the heart of the temple.

Travincal

Because of what transpired in Diablo II, Neyrelle could possibly find the answers she is looking for in the region. However, it is important to note that Mephisto is the most nefarious among the three Prime Evils, so he may already have a plan in place should Neyrelle come close to Travincal.

As for the enemies you will face, they have not been revealed yet. However, it is likely that you are going to come across some Zakarum Priests and Zealots along your way, in addition to the Water Watchers and other swampy horrors.

Aside from the lush foliage of the Torajan Jungles, you can visit the barren deserts of Teganze in the Vessel of Hatred expansion as well. This is the place where the mage clan wars took place, where the Umbaru of the Upper Teganze, tried to rid the place of the Vizjerei Mage Clan. 

To get enough power to defeat the mage clan, the Umbaru sought the help of the demon Zagraal. They got what they wanted, but in exchange, they got corrupted and turned into the Khazra or Goat Men. 

Fortunately, the inhabitants of Lower Teganze employed the help of witch doctors, who were successful in defeating Zagraal and ridding the curse that was cast upon the denizens of the upper region.

It will be interesting to see whether Zagraal’s influence can still be found in certain parts of Teganze. Only time will tell.

New Class: The Spiritborn

One of the major highlights of Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred is the new class: The Spiritborn! According to the developers, this class is an entirely new one for the franchise. Despite that, however, there are some similarities to the Witch Doctor in Diablo III, given that they are from the same region.

The Spiritborn is considered the apex predator of the jungle. Armed with a dual-sided glaive, this class is ready to strike at a moment’s notice. It is revealed that this class utilizes multiple styles and mystical synergies to combat anyone (or anything) foolish enough to come their way.

Although nothing definitive has been revealed as of now, some folks were able to acquire some data from the leaked game files. So, what was discovered from the leaks?

If the leaks are to be believed, the new class in Diablo 4 might use two different resources: Vigor and Allegiance. Vigor represents the Spiritborn’s physical vitality and endurance, which come from their bond with the earth and sky. This is likely what fuels their physical abilities, enabling them to perform feats of strength and agility beyond their normal capabilities.

On the other hand, Allegiance represents the Spiritborn’s spiritual connection to nature and its creatures. Similar to the Witch Doctor who can summon dead souls using soul magic to do their bidding, the Spiritborn could potentially call upon the spirits of nature for aid; either by summoning ethereal allies, or invoking powerful elemental spells.

As previously mentioned, the dual-sided glaive is the weapon of choice for the upcoming character class in Diablo 4. But, aside from stabbing or slashing enemies with it, the glaive is more than just a weapon to the Spiritborn. It is an extension of their spirit and a conduit through which they can channel their power.

It is also possible that the Spiritborn has “empowered” primary and secondary abilities. This idea is not far-fetched considering that this class has been reported to utilize multiple styles. The Spiritborn may require a more dynamic playstyle, so if that is your thing, then you should definitely give this class a try!

Mercenaries

Mercenaries

You will be facing unknown and formidable threats in the Nahantu Region. Thankfully, you are not alone in this fight! The developers have said that the company will introduce Mercenaries to Diablo 4! The concept is somewhat similar to D2R, where you can hire a mercenary to give you a helping hand.

However, there is more to this system than what was first introduced in the second game of the franchise. Tiffany Wat, Production Director for D4, has stated that mercenaries are going to have their own skill trees! This makes them a more valuable addition to your fight against the forces of evil!

Judging from the image above, it seems that you can choose among several different mercenaries that suit your preference. The one who is towering in the middle holds a shield that might be used to defend you from incoming attacks.

The barbarian-looking female on the right seems to be a melee attacker who is ready and able to bash your foes’ skulls without hesitation.

Wielding a bow in his hand, the fellow on the left could be your ranged attacker, able to bombard your enemies with a barrage of deadly arrows at your behest.

Lastly, the mercenary at the bottom who has horns and a reptilian tail, appears to be conjuring fire magic on its right hand. This may imply that this particular individual is a caster of sorts, who can utilize devastating magic to decimate monsters with ease.

As of now, the developers have yet to reveal any new information about mercenaries. But, the notion that some mighty hirelings are coming to aid you in battle does spark excitement, don’t you think?

New Endgame Activity: Co-op Dungeons

New Co-Op Dungeon

There are certain dangers that you just cannot face alone. That is the gist of the upcoming endgame activity: the Co-op Dungeon! Given that Blizzard is also the developer of World of Warcraft, it is likely that this new activity borrows certain elements from the company’s popular MMORPG.

If you do not know, there are raid dungeons in WoW that are populated with terrifying bosses that you could never eliminate alone. You will need a group of well-equipped individuals who have the same goal as you – to conquer these places and obtain your just rewards!

Co-op dungeons could be Blizzard’s way of introducing raids to Diablo 4. If that is the case, now is probably the best time to join clans whose members are willing (and able) to do dungeon runs diligently.

Moreover, each dungeon may have a series of unique mechanics that you need to be aware of. Besides that, the bosses within these areas might have more complicated phases compared to the ones you have already encountered in the game.

These are just some of the things that you can keep in mind. Since we do not have more information about this new endgame activity as of now, all we can really do is speculate until Blizzard reveals things that we do not already know.

Pets

Don’t you just hate the idea of having to loot items on the ground yourself? An integral part of Diablo 4 is to engage in whatever content you like and pick up your rewards after completing them.

Unfortunately, when you arrive at the endgame, you will find that there are just so many things that you have to pick up. Is there any way for these items to automatically be looted from the ground? Thankfully, there is!

The Vessel of Hatred expansion not only introduces a new region filled with new threats, but it also brings cute and furry pets that will automatically pick up gold and items for you!

To avail of their services, you must complete a certain quest after pre-ordering the Standard Edition. More about the different “Editions” and pricing later in the article.

Class Updates

The Spiritborn may get all of the attention once Vessel of Hatred is launched, but the good thing is that the existing classes are not forgotten.

According to Blizzard, the expansion is going to have changes to all of the existing classes, such as new skills, Legendary Glyphs, and Paragon Boards, among many others.

Historically, if we look at Diablo III: Reaper of Souls, the said expansion raised the level cap from level 60 to 70. If the company follows a similar trend, we might see the level cap in Diablo 4 raised to 110. If Blizzard does not raise the level cap beyond level 100, then perhaps the only way to make your character stronger is through the Paragon updates.

Base Game Updates

Apart from the reported new endgame activity, Blizzard said that the company will introduce new dungeon types, as well as additional rewards from the Tree of Whispers. Again, details are sparse at the moment. Hopefully, the company will reveal more information about these soon.

Spiritborn Leaks

Diablo 4 developers will reveal more information about the new class, the Spiritborn, in a live stream event on July 18. However, some people were able to dig up some game files from a database leak at the tail-end of last year that could provide the answers we are looking for. Now, keep in mind that these are just datamined info, so take these with a huge grain of salt.

Anyway, the leaks suggest that the Spiritborn could employ four schools of magic, namely Sky, Plains, Forest, and Soil. On top of that, some of the skills that stood out are:

• Razor Wing

• Bat Swarm

• Vine Hook

• Viper Pit

• Dreadful Spiders

• Spore Pod

Another noteworthy thing from the leak suggests that the Spiritborn may have a class mechanic that involves invoking spells or magic. This has been speculated considering that the word “invoke” has been stated numerous times.

The words “Incarnate_Activate” were also found in the game files, which hint at a possible transformation of sorts. Furthermore, “proc_vengeance” may indicate a secondary resource.

Speaking of resources, there might be some items that can help you with Vigor management. We have made that assumption since the words MaxVigor, Vigor Cost Reduction, On-Kill Vigor, Cost Reduction Lesser, and Max Vigor Jewelry have been discovered from the leaked database as well.

Take note that the things that have been mentioned in this section are taken from datamined information. Fortunately, you do not have to wait that long to find out if they are true or not since the class showcase will happen less than a few weeks from now.

Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred Pricing

Blizzard offers three different “Editions” for Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred that you can choose from (four if you include the expansion bundle). Although you can just get the expansion once it arrives in October, you can actually pre-order it right now. Why? Because you’ll get certain bonuses if you do! You can find the prices for the various editions below:

Standard Edition

This is the barebones version of Vessel of Hatred. If you only want to get the expansion, this is the one you should purchase for $39.99.

If you pre-order the Standard Edition right now, you will get Alkor the Snow Leopard Pet. Before you get this furry companion, though, you must complete the Faithful Companion quest first.

To do that, fast travel to Kyovashad, where you will find the quest marker somewhere in the northwestern part of the city. Here, you will find a cute Well-Behaved Dog. Then, all you have to do at this point is pet it to finish the quest.

Well-behaved Dog

As an added bonus for pre-purchasing the Standard Edition, you will also receive the Mother’s Lament Legendary Gem for Diablo Immortal. This gem is so broken because it gives you a huge increase in critical hit chance when you deal damage. As if that is not enough, Mother’s Lament increases your Resonance and Combat Rating as well.

Standard Edition Pre-Order Bonuses

Deluxe Edition 

When you pre-purchase the more expensive variants of the Vessel of Hatred expansion, you will get all of the bonuses from the previous Edition.

Having said that, the Deluxe Edition, which is available for $59.99, gives you a lot of amazing goodies that are worth the higher asking price.

Are you tired of riding the same horse in Diablo 4 over and over again? If so, you’ll be happy to know that the Vessel of Hatred Deluxe Edition provides you with the Nahantu War-Cat Mount! You can have it wear armor to give it a more fearsome look.

Nahantu War-Cat

While Alkor, the Snow Leopard is a pet that you can rely on when it comes to looting items off the ground, it could certainly use a friend to keep it company. As part of the Deluxe Edition, you will get Hratli the Canine Pet as well.

Fun fact: Hratli is actually the name of an NPC in Diablo II who sells you some wares and repairs your items for a fee. As you can guess, Hratli can originally be found in the Kurast Docks in Act 3!

To round out the pre-order bonuses for the Deluxe Edition, you are going to receive one premium Battle Pass token. The cool thing about this token is you can actually activate it anytime you want. So, if you do not like what the Battle Pass for the current season offers, you can activate this token in the next season.

Deluxe Edition Pre-Order Bonuses

Ultimate Edition 

The Ultimate Edition is the most expensive variant you can purchase. At $89.99, it is a steep price tag without question. Blizzard understands this, which is why the company is including a lot more goodies to entice you to buy this over the others.

So, what are the things that are included in the Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred Ultimate Edition? Aside from the pre-order bonuses that have already been mentioned, you get some Nahantu-inspired items as well. These include the Unearthed Armor Bundle (which contains armor sets for each of the five existing classes) and the Nahantu-themed Town Portal.

Wings are a type of cosmetic item first introduced in the previous installment of the franchise. While some absolutely abhor them given that they can block certain elements from view, there are those that really love to wear them.

If you are part of the second group, then you’ll be happy to know that the Ultimate Edition also gives you the Wings of Faith cosmetic item!

Additionally, you have 3,000 Platinum to spend. This is the game’s premium currency, which you can use to buy cosmetic items and other things you fancy in the cash shop.

To cap it off, you will gain a third furry companion in the form of Natalya, the Tiger Pet! Here’s another interesting tidbit: the name “Natalya” actually refers to a former assassin-turned-Demon Hunter in Diablo II.

Ultimate Edition Pre-Order Bonuses

Expansion Bundle

If you have not played the game before, but your buddies have convinced you to join them in battle, then purchasing the Expansion Bundle is the way to go.

In this bundle, you will get the base game and, of course, the Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred expansion for just $69.99!

Since this is just a glorified Standard Edition, you are going to receive Alkor the Snow Leopard Pet and Mother’s Lament Legendary Gem as well.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it! Blizzard is set to release a plethora of new content that will surely keep you glued to your seats playing Diablo 4’s first-ever expansion.

Nahantu presents new threats that may culminate in a battle against the Lord of Hatred himself, Mephisto. However, despite the new region, you will visit some familiar sites that could hold useful clues to help Neyrelle deal with the problematic Soulstone in her possession.

The Spiritborn is a class that has never been seen before in the franchise. Since it hails from the same region as the Witch Doctor, you may find some similarities between them in terms of how they harness their abilities. But, make no mistake, this class has some unique things to offer! Be sure to tune into the livestream event on July 18 if you want to learn more about this new class.

Mercenaries played a huge role in Diablo II, especially in the endgame. Thankfully, Blizzard will add Mercenaries to Diablo 4 once the expansion goes live in a few months. 

If you want to do some challenging content with your buddies, the new co-op dungeons might satisfy that. Remember that good communication and coordination are the keys to victory in what appears to be Diablo 4’s take on raids.

With pets coming to the game, gone are the days when you have to painstakingly loot every item on the ground.

Having said all of these things, are you excited for Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred? Don’t forget, the expansion launches on October 8!