Outside of the fact that we will get Lord of Hatred in less than half a year, Blizzard has also shared another small but important detail in the expansion overview, and it could have a big impact on how Diablo 4 plays going forward. Buried in the description is a confirmation that the level cap will increase for every class when the expansion launches in April 2026. It is just one line, but it is already causing plenty of discussion between players.
What the Level Cap Increase Changes
Simply put, raising the level cap stretches out character progression. Players will spend more time leveling before hitting the true endgame, instead of getting there as quickly as they do now.
Those extra levels also mean more skill points to play with, giving you more freedom to modify your build, test things out, and put even more focus into new specific builds. The big difference is that you will not feel stuck with one build as early, and progression should feel slower, but also more rewarding.
Endgame Progression Will Take Longer
One major side effect is how this impacts Paragon Boards. Because Paragon only unlocks at the level cap, increasing it pushes endgame a bit further out and requires players to put in more time before getting there.
This might be a good addition, depending on how the skill trees are changed. The expansion also comes with a complete skill tree rework, so having more points to allocate might actually be needed.
Not Everyone Is Convinced
For some, that is a downside, especially players who feel like they are being pushed further away from content they have already unlocked in previous seasons.
Most welcome the change, though, arguing that longer progression makes endgame goals feel more meaningful instead of rushed. Up until now, you could reach endgame in two days and be done with the game after. All those new upcoming systems and adjustments might finally mean that you can extend what you do over the full season, rather than rushing it under a week.
Either way, this small line in the expansion overview could end up being one of Lord of Hatred’s most impactful changes!
For more guides and information about Diablo 4, take a look at our seasonal overview!
