Diablo 4 Lord of Hatred expansion brings back Paladin class

Paladin Returns to Sanctuary#

Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed the Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred expansion, which brings back the iconic Paladin class to the action RPG. This is the second major paid expansion for Diablo IV, continuing the “Age of Hatred” saga that began with Vessel of Hatred.

The Paladin returns as a holy warrior class that fans have been requesting since launch. First introduced as a core class in Diablo II (and its Resurrected remake), the Paladin combines martial prowess with divine magic. Players can expect a hybrid playstyle focused on frontline melee combat, tanking, supportive auras, smite attacks, and classic skills like Blessed Hammer. In Diablo IV’s flexible skill tree and paragon board system, the Paladin should offer multiple viable builds, from pure damage dealers to group-support hybrids, filling a long-requested gap between the Barbarian’s raw power and the Druid’s shapeshifting versatility.

With pre-purchase of Lord of Hatred, players gain immediate early access to the Paladin (playable now in the current season). The expansion itself adds two new classes total: the Paladin and a mysterious second class (widely speculated to be the Warlock, a dark counterpart that commands demonic forces). This brings the total roster to eight classes upon launch.

Continuing the Story#

Lord of Hatred advances Diablo IV’s narrative as the next chapter in the conflict involving the Prime Evils. The title points directly at Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred, whose influence has loomed since the base game’s post-credits scene and was further explored in Vessel of Hatred through Neyrelle’s story. Fans of Diablo II will recognize this as unfinished business — Mephisto’s return promises a climactic escalation centered on hatred, corruption, and the fate of Sanctuary.

The expansion introduces a new region: the Skovos Isles, along with a full new campaign. It also includes significant gameplay overhauls, including major updates to skills, itemization, and endgame systems (such as new activities like War Plans and Echoing Hatred). This goes well beyond a typical season, delivering the kind of substantial content players expect from Diablo expansions.

Blizzard’s post-launch support for Diablo IV has been consistent, with seasonal updates introducing new mechanics, quality-of-life improvements, and balance changes based on community feedback. Lord of Hatred builds on that foundation with even greater scope, echoing the impact of past expansions like Diablo II’s Lord of Destruction (which added Act V and new classes) and Diablo III’s Reaper of Souls (which introduced Adventure Mode and the Crusader).

What to Expect#

While full details on new enemy types, legendary items, uniques, and additional endgame features are still rolling out, Blizzard has confirmed meaningful evolution across the board. The Horadric Cube is also expected to make a return in some form. Pricing and exact edition contents vary (with pre-purchase bonuses including Vessel of Hatred access for those who don’t already own it), but the expansion is shaping up to be a major milestone for the game.

Lord of Hatred launches on April 28, 2026, across PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and other platforms.

Are you planning to return to Sanctuary for the Lord of Hatred expansion? Will you jump in early with the Paladin, or wait for the full launch to try both new classes?